12:27 a.m. - 2003-09-06
final final final... say it three times and its final
Film Synopsis:
We are a world obsessed with health and beauty. Patients at the hospital waiting room discuss about the drugs they take and the operations they planned for the coming weekend while the television churns out daily statistics of people diagnosed with a list of illnesses (e.g. Aids, Cancer, Acne, Height Shortages, Fatness, Thinness) and the death counter keeps rising. Lucky for us, the body is a malleable thing. It can be shaped, reformed and moulded, like the advertisements said.
Rick is a doctor, a self-hating doctor. His daily life consists of examining the hypochrondiac masses in his small office and hanging around with his fellow colleagues at the hospital canteen, ingesting cups of caffeine-free coffee and listening to them gripe proudly about their �battles at the warfront�, creating new bio-technological weapons, like the TK 49, to aid in the Great War.
One day, a man is admitted to the hospital. He has a pain in his legs that comes in sudden bouts. Treatments, drugs and nerve injections do not work at all. The man is Rick�s father. For Rick, the war has gotten complicated, how does a fallen doctor save the person who gave him his imperfect genes?
This is not a Science Fiction Movie. It does not have any expensive special effects or awesome computer-enhanced graphics. It is set in a world much like our own.
This is a Science Fiction Movie. It is about medical science and humans and how the two intertwine together. Health is important to life.
This is not a Science Fiction Movie. It is about the relationship between a son and his father. Health is only an attitude to life.
This is (not) a Science Fiction Movie.
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FADE IN:
1. INT. HOSPITAL SEMINAR ROOM. MORNING 1.
A darkened room, slides being flashed onto a white screen.
A montage sequence starting with various mathematical diagrams of 3D vortexes and curves, strange monsters, alien movie posters, sci-fi book covers (Bladerunner: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), transformer toys transforming in animation, blurry photos of flying saucers, drawings of giant squids, a diagram of the iron core of Earth, calendar pages falling onto the floor played back in reverse motion, finally a slide showing title-text printed white against a black background: This is not a Science Fiction Movie
RICK (V/O)
(monotonous. synch with the visuals.)
This is not a Science Fiction Movie.
There are no time machines, no monsters from outerspace;
there are no androids counting sheep, and no robots turning into trucks, cars, aeroplanes or motorcycles� and twisting back into robots again�
there are no green aliens, or flying saucers from planet Mars.
There are no expeditions deep into the sea,
nor are there creatures in the Earth�s centre.
This is not about the future, nor will it bring back the past.
This is not a Science Fiction Movie.
With a click, the title-slide changes to a picture of a diseased lung with blocks of text around it. And a man enters the frame. He is in his late 20s, with short neatly cropped hair, dressed in a doctor�s coat and holding a slide remote switch in his hand. His name is RICK. He gestures towards the screen.
RICK
(Business-like tone)
And these are the figures we have for lung cancer in the last quarter.
As RICK is about to click the handheld switcher to the next slide, someone in the room makes a remark.
O/S VOICE
(chuckling)
Ho-ho�
We get more lungs like that, we�ll be exporting pencil lead.
The other doctors in the small seminar room broke into laughter. RICK pauses, not understanding the joke, but he laughs along anyway and proceeds to the next slide, showing 3D bar graphs.
RICK
That�s very funny, Richard� Okay, here are the figures of the production of the new drugs Follicle-49, Tension 16, Aria version 3, GH-10, an immuno-suppressant�
(RICK�s voice fades out, but he continues to gesticulate at the slides.)
RICK (V/O)
I hate myself.
The slides on the screen change to a picture of a balding man�s before and after photos. A sad face for BEFORE and a smiling face for AFTER.
CUT TO:
2. INT HOSPITAL CANTEEN AFTERNOON 2.
A rather cosy hospital canteen, furnished with small round formica tables with orange chairs and a television set hung from the ceiling displaying the day�s programming, its volume audible in the background.
RICK is sitting at one of the coffee-cup strewn tables, together with three other colleagues in white coats, RICHARD, PATRICK and ANNIE. He is sitting back in his chair, looking at his colleagues talking animatedly with a bemused expression on his face.
RICK (V/O)
I hate them.
Laughter breaks out around the table. RICHARD slaps his thigh, holds up a finger to get their attention
RICHARD
(exuberantly)
And just yesterday the test results were out. The new drug TK49 had a 14 percent success rate with our subjects. And I believe, with some tweaking this week, we could up that to around� say� 25 percent.
PATRICK & ANNIE
(clapping, cheering encouragement)
That�s great! Good! Alright!
The mood around the table is upbeat and enthusiastic.
RICHARD
Yeah, you can�t believe how tired I am now. Working in the lab the whole week.
(sinks back into chair and shakes head in mock exhaustion.)
ANNIE
Ar� it�s not that bad, right?
RICHARD shrugs.
PATRICK
Can�t blame it. We�re the ones at the front. Have to keep on fighting.
RICHARD
Yeah� and I think our stock will hit 26 dollars once the report goes public.
ANNIE
That�s great. But about the report, I think that rectosplean 29 �
(AUDIO FADE-OUT)
PAN TO:
RICK, who is sitting at a corner of the discussion, brings a cup labelled DecaF to his lips, turns his head slowly and looks at the television screen.
The television is showing a news program with an attractive NEWSCASTER reading the news.
CUT TO:
3. INT HOSPITAL CANTEEN (CU: TELEVISION SCREEN) AFTERNOON 3.
NEWSCASTER
The Milton Hospital released its annual quarter report this morning. The figures are High blood pressure 50.9; Renal transplants 69.6, Leukemia 34, Aids 23, Hair Loss 34, Acne Vulgaris 67, Obesity 19, Hepatitis A 77 and Strageron Divultis 66. The standard med index stands at thousand-nine-two-four (1924), rising four point two five (4.25) since this morning. The global mortality rate is currently four thousand nine hundred and twenty nine (4929). We shall continue with the report on genetic differences after the break.
The news program cuts to an ad selling toothpaste. It shows a man with yellowed teeth, brushing his teeth facing a mirror. He brushes and brushes and the foam he spits out is red. He rinses and examines his teeth. They are still yellow. Then a doctor enters the ad and introduces a brand of toothpaste to him.
AUDIO FADE-IN: ANNIE nudging RICK.
ANNIE
(Softer): Rick� Rick�
(Louder): Rick, are you okay?
CUT TO:
4. INT HOSPITAL CANTEEN AFTERNOON 4.
RICK
(Startling out of his reverie)
Huh, huh? Oh yea, I�m okay� (Looks around him, the others are staring at him with looks ranging from concern to amusement.) I�m sorry. I got to go to the gents.
RICK rises from the table and upsets a cup of coffee. Fortunately, there was only a little coffee in it, so the spill was not too bad. RICK apologises again and stumbles towards the toilet.
CUT TO:
5. INT HOSPITAL TOILET AFTERNOON 5.
RICK bends down over the running faucet and splashes water onto his face again and again. His face is scrunched up as if in pain. He pats at his eyes and cheeks and stares at the water-speckled mirror, with water dripping down his chin.
CUT TO:
6. INT/EXT HOSPITAL WARD MORNING 6.
A NURSE pushes a trolley of medicines into a ward full of patients and proceeds to dispense the drugs. She picks up a brown glass bottle and taps out some yellow tablets and walks towards two patients, PATIENT A and PATIENT B, who are sitting facing each other on their beds.
NURSE
(To PATIENT A) Here�s your medicine. I�ll get you a glass of water.
PATIENT A
Thanks missy. (Looks at the nurse as she walks away to pour a glass of water).
(Turns to PATIENT B). So, what are you in here for?
PATIENT B
They say I killed my wife.
PATIENT A
(Pause) What are you talking about?
This is a hospital.
PATIENT B
Oh, oh� yea (suddenly remembering, laughs to himself, points to book he is holding: a crime novel)
yea� Doctor Patrick Tang. I�m here to get my appendix removed. Lousy useless thing�
PATIENT A
(with a look of surprise)
Remove your appendix?!
I thought everyone removed theirs the day they were born. It�s a two-in-one combo, together with your birth!
NURSE comes between them with glass of water and places it on PATIENT A�s moveable table. PATIENT A looks up at her and smiles.
PATIENT A
Thanks.
NURSE nods and smiles and walks away.
PATIENT B
(head lowered, apologetic tone)
Yea� I guess my mom forgot that or the doctor was too busy that day. I�ve not been sleeping well. I�m losing my head.
PATIENT A
(shakes his head in sympathy)
Sigh� but at least you�re not born without a head. Look at me! I�m a shortie.
I hope my height-correction exercise works.
PATIENT B looks up, smiles politely and tries to say something but is interrupted by a cry. Opposite their beds, at a corner of the ward is an OLD MAN tossing and turning in his bed underneath his blankets. He is in pain and he rubs his shins and back of his thighs with his hands profusely, trying to soothe the pain in them. He groans loudly and his face is red; he starts to cry in pain.
OLD MAN
Argh� argh�
The NURSE hurries over to his side and tries to soothe him as his cries got louder.
PATIENT A
(looks at the OLD MAN)
With him making a din like that, who can sleep well?
RICK enters the ward, glances at the OLD MAN and continues with his work routinely. He walks to PATIENT A�s bed, picks up the file at the foot of the bed and flips through the papers judiciously.
BACKGROUND AUDIO: OLD MAN groaning.
RICK
(making conversation)
Feeling fine, Ernie?
PATIENT A (ERNIE)
(Lies back on his bed in a faux tired fashion)
Yea yea� Doctor Rick� So, you planned it all out? I dun want to end up with one leg shorter or longer than the other.
RICK
(Looking at the papers in the file intently)
Don�t worry, we have rulers here.
The OLD MAN�s anguished cries reached a climax. RICK closed the file with a snap, drops it back into place and swiftly turns and walks towards the OLD MAN.
RICK looks down at the OLD MAN lying on the bed. The OLD MAN has stopped crying but he is still breathing heavily. The NURSE pats his back, glances at RICK and moves away to get her medicines.
RICK
(Trying to control his emotions)
How are you feeling?
The OLD MAN nods, his eyes watery and looking elsewhere. RICK sighs and signals the NURSE to bring the medicine over.
RICK
Your operation will be the day after tommorrow. Doctor Annie will attend to you. I have something that day.
The OLD MAN shifts and looks RICK in his eyes.
Pause.
RICK falters, turns and walks out of the room hurriedly, his clipboard clenched tight under his armpit. The NURSE moves to the OLD MAN�s side with a glass of water and several large red and yellow capsules.
RICK hurries out of the ward and walks along the corridoor, wiping his sweated brow.
He passes by a television set in the visitor�s corner. The familiar NEWSCASTER program is showing then. He glances at it and continues walking; his steps breaking into a stumble, his eyes turning blurry and his head lolling a bit.
SUPERIMPOSED:
IMAGES and AUDIO from the news program and various photos of diseases swarm in.
IMAGES: NEWSCASTER talking cheerfully, file photos of enzema, glaucoma, ringworms, thick yellow lumps of fat, hare-lips, RICK washing his hands with a bar of soap furiously.
AUDIO FADE IN: NEWCASTER (�Many people have expressed their new found joy in LIFE after the discovery of stem-cell research has many uses and babies are born and some die and new life is found.�) PATIENT (�Doctor, I am sick., I have fever and now this.�) ADVERTISEMENT (�Wash with DynaWhite to get rid of the stains! All new improved formula!�)
The cacophony of sounds and clashing images rise to a climax.
FADE TO WHITE:
FADE-IN:
7. INT EXAMINATION ROOM FLASHBACK: ONE WEEK AGO 7.
The OLD MAN and RICK are alone in the room. The OLD MAN is sitting on a wheelchair and RICK is sitting behind his doctor�s desk.
OLD MAN
It comes and it goes. Morphine and nerve injections have not worked. The pain is still there. I�m suffering you know.
RICK
But do you understand the dangers of an invasive surgery?
It will be on your spine where there are lots of nerve connections; its complicated and there are the risks�
OLD MAN
(staring at his legs, listens and nods)
Don�t say no more, Rick� its been years, this pain.
RICK starts to protest, to dissuade him. But the OLD MAN waved his hand to silence him. The Old MAN stares at the ground for a while, looks up and says solemnly.
OLD MAN
I want you to operate on me, (pause) son.
AUDIO LEAD IN: Panting, difficulty of breath.
CUT TO:
8. INT RICK�S HOME (LIVINGROOM) NIGHT OF OPERATION 8.
RICK is running on a treadmill in his living room. He is sweating and panting, and watching a news programme on the television. He runs for a while. All is quiet, save for the sound of his determined breaths and the tv in the background. The advertisements come on. It is an advertisement for liposuction and has a doctor using a vacuum cleaner analogy.
VACUUM DOCTOR
(demonstrating with a dustbuster tube)
We can suck away the fat and lipid acids, as easy as this: Point, click, suck. Fat, bye bye! (with a smile).
RICK steps off the treadmill and walks to a table, picks up a bottle from a tray of bottles and pours out some tablets. He pops them into his mouth and downs a glass of water. He stares at his reflection from the glass cabinet. He sees his skinny body. The sounds from the television ads go on in the background. RICK stands there, silent.
CUT TO:
9. INT HOSPITAL CANTEEN FLASHBACK: FEW DAYS AGO 9.
ANNIE and RICK sitting alone at a round table. The whole canteen is deserted, save the two of them.
RICK holds a papercup of coffee with both hands, looking silently at the swirling foam.
ANNIE
Rick. Why?
RICK
I can�t do it, Annie. I can�t do the operation. (runs his fingers through his hair slowly.)
ANNIE
But he is your father.
RICK
Exactly. (RICK just stares at the lines of his palm.)
I am the way I am now because of him.
Annie purses her lips and contemplates silently.
INTERCUT SCENE WITH:
10. INT HOSPITAL NIGHT OF OPERATION 10.
A pair of nurses walk into the patient�s ward and lifts the OLD MAN onto a trolley bed. They wheel him down the long flourescent-lighted corridoors, through a doorway and into the operation room. DOCTOR ANNIE, in a green surgery robe, hair cap and facemask, looks over the OLD MAN and talks to him reassuringly with a hand by his side. Another nurse, similarly dressed, walks over to DOCTOR ANNIE and helps her put on her surgical gloves. Other nurses proceed to help the OLD MAN onto the operating table.
CUT TO:
11. INT RICK�S HOME (LIVINGROOM) NIGHT OF OPERATION 11.
Rick is still staring at his reflection from the glass cabinet. Everything is silent, save the television in the background.
The phone rings suddenly.
RICK shifts, as if from a trance, and walks to pick up the phone. It is a call from the hospital.
RICK
Hello�
What?!!
Ok, I�ll be there as soon as I can!
RICK dashes out of his house.
CUT TO:
12. EXT STREETS NIGHT 12.
RICK runs along the streets, his shoes pounding the pavement. He is still dressed in his gym singlet and shorts. He runs and pants hard.
RICK (V/O)
I finally get it. I�m going crazy everyday staring at myself and thinking how I can improve myself by buying some treatments or some new exercise equipment and I finally get it. The body is not my enemy. This is not a war.
RICK jumps across a paperbag of groceries placed on the pavement beside a HOUSEWIFE. He stumbles but keeps on running, running for his life.
RICK (V/O continued)
Well, this is crazy too. Running to the hospital. I�ll never get there in time.
RICK halts his running and waves for a cab. A cab pulls up immediately and he hops into the back seat.
RICK
(To cab-driver)
Milton Hospital! Faster!
RICK sinks back onto the cushion, his eyes watery with sweat or tears. The cab speeds away down the street.
CUT TO
13. INT OPERATING ROOM NIGHT 13.
A group of surgeons in green surround a man lying face-down on the operating table. Various tubes run from softly vibrating machines to the man. The beeping of the heart oscillograph runs like a metronome in the background. ANNIE, clothed in surgeons� robes and mask, is focusing all her attention in the surgical operation. She mutters some instructions and requests for tools to the team.
ANNIE
Calipers.
A surgeon beside her, passes the calipers into her slightly bloodied rubber-latex-gloved hand.
ANNIE (cont�d)
Check lung pressure.
At this point in time, the sliding door slides open and RICK, dressed in surgeons� robe, haircap and mask steps into the operating room. ANNIE hears the sound, turns and looks up. ANNIE and RICK stare at each other briefly.
SURGEON (O/S)
Lung presuure seventy, running stable.
ANNIE nods to the SURGEON in acknowledgment and continues to operate. RICK stares at his father lying on the operating table, the transparent oxygen mask clasped over his mouth, his light breaths fogging it intermittently. His father (OLD MAN) looks serene and peaceful.
RICK steps forward. Some surgeons walked past behind him,others gave way to him. RICK comes gingerly beside ANNIE.
RICK
Can� can I help
ANNIE pauses for a beat.
ANNIE
Sure. (And continues to concentrate on the operation.)
Pass scalpel, and hold the calipers in position.
RICK passes a scalpel into ANNIE�s hands. They continue to work in intense concentration on the surgery.
The camera pulls away from the both of them and slowly pans across the room, showing the massive array of machines with LED lights lighting randomly, pumps moving like clockwork accordians, oscillographs scrolling out paper printed with jaggy lines and various life-support equipment.
The sounds (release of gases, beeping, paper rolling, etc) coming from these machines, mixed with the firm commands from the surgeons, rise and flow like a little symphony.
The pan ends with a closeup on OLD MAN�s face cupped with an oxygen mask.
FADE TO:
14. INT PATIENT�S WARD MORNING 14.
Sunlight filters through the blinds into the ward, rays of warm orange light falling on the OLD MAN�s face. He is lying in bed, tucked snugly into the sheets. RICK sits on a chair beside him, head slumped back dozing away. With a soft groan, the OLD MAN shifts his body and flutters his eyes open. He examines his surroundings slowly, finally noticing RICK who is still sleeping away, exhausted. The OLD MAN, still slightly numbed from the anaesthesia, stares at RICK for a while.
DISSOLVE TO:
15. INT A SMALL BEDROOM FLASHBACK 15.
A child�s bedroom. A little CHILD (YOUNG RICK) lies on a mattress, snug under his blanket, with a cold plaster bandage pasted across his forehead. He coughs. A benevolent looking woman (RICK�S MOTHER) pats his chest soothingly. A DOCTOR and a MAN (RICK�S FATHER) stand at the door of the bedroom. They are holding a conversation and looking at the CHILD at the same time.
CHILD
(coughs)
Mom, can I have ice cream?
RICK�S MOTHER
Ricky, you can have some when you�re feeling better.
CHILD
(innocently)
When will I get well, mom?
The DOCTOR, carrying a bulky leather briefcase, turns from looking at the CHILD and speaks to the MAN.
DOCTOR
Mr. Decker, young Rick has been ill for the fourth time in three months. I ran a couple of tests on him and it seems that he has a genetic defect---
MAN
(Interrupts, shocked)
What!?
DOCTOR (cont�d)
Uh� yes, the prognosis is that the genetic defect is causing his immune system to---
MAN
(Interrupts again)
Doctor please you have to help my child.
(fearful)
Is it because of me and my wife? Did we spread a disease to our son?
DOCTOR
No, its not really what you think� the genetic defect---
MAN
(Interrupts)
Please help my son. Please�
The MAN leans against the doorpost and stares hard at his CHILD.
FADE TO BLACK
16. INT EXAMINATION ROOM DAY 16.
A black screen lights up with a click, showing the x-ray photo diagrams of a spine.
RICK peers at the photos, looking at it intently, searching for information. ANNIE sits on a chair behind him, biting her fingernail as she thinks hard.
RICK
Annie, will you take a look at this?
ANNIE moves out of her thoughts and looks up.
ANNE
Yea, sure.
She stands up and moves closer to the photos.
RICK
I dun understand� the spinal disc was not damaged� the decompression operation should have---
A small red light among rows of LEDs on the desk light up and a urgent beeping sound emits from a small speaker. RICK looks at the light and rushes out of the room. ANNIE presses a button on the desk, which stops the beeping sound. Then she also exits the room.
CUT TO:
17. INT PATIENT�S WARD DAY 17.
The OLD MAN is tossing and turning about on his bed. The bed sheets and pillows have been pushed aside, onto the ground. He groans in pain and holds his knees close to his body in a fetal position, rubbing his shins hard and exasperatedly.
RICK runs into the ward, just as a few other nurses arrive. RICK comes to the OLD MAN and tries to soothe him. He strokes the OLD MAN�S legs and feet in a sweeping motion.
RICK
Relax� relax� take deep breaths�
The OLD MAN continues to be in pain.
RICK
(to a nurse)
Quick, get the morphine!
AUDIO IN BACKGROUND: OLD MAN GROANING LOUDLY.
A NURSE comes quickly to RICK, holding a syringe in her hand. She passes it to RICK. RICK takes the syringe, looks at the markings and in a steady motion, inserts the needle into the OLD MAN�s upper arm. A brief moment and the OLD MAN cease his cries. He slumps back, relaxes and slips into sleep.
RICK stands where he was, silent, looking at his father.
FADE TO:
18. INT PATIENT�S WARD MORNING 18.
A man (SLEEPING MAN) lying on the same bed, sleeping on his side such that we cannot see his face. His shins are bandaged.
PATRICK walks into the ward, whistling, a joyful mood. He walks to the SLEEPING MAN�s bed and picks up the file from the foot of the bed. PATRICK takes the file and opens it.
PATRICK
(upbeat)
Hey wake up now! Time for your check-up!
The SLEEPING MAN lying on the bed stirs. PATRICK laughs and takes the file and knocks it with a clatter against the bedstead.
PATRICK
Wakey wakey sleepyhead!
SLEEPING MAN
(awakes, irritated)
What the hell-
At this point, we realise that the SLEEPING MAN is actually PATIENT A, the patient who wanted to lengthen his legs. He rubs his eyes and looks up.
PATIENT A
(sarcastically)
Oh! It�s Dr. Patrick. What a pleasant surprise.
PATRICK
(still upbeat)
Good Morning, Ernie. How are you feeling?
PATIENT A
Like shit. Like a thousand needles burning hot sticking into my leg and a headache coming behind to join the fun. How would you like to be disturbed in your sleep? What are you here for anyway?
PATRICK
Oh Ernie. Don�t be so grouchy early in the morning� I�m here to do your check-up.
PATIENT A
(surprised)
Check-up? I thought Dr. Rick is in charge of my case.
PATRICK
(explaining)
Oh, he has resigned from the hospital.
PATIENT A
(even more surprised)
What?! He quit?! Dr. Rick?!
PATRICK
Yes yes, Dr. Rick (mild emphasis here)
has quit.
CUT TO:
19. INT RICK�S HOME DAY 19.
RICK and his father together in a room. The OLD MAN lying in bed. RICK feeding him porridge.
PATRICK (V/O)
He said he wants to take care of his father.
RICK and the OLD MAN look at each other briefly. RICK blows gently at the spoon of hot porridge to make it cooler and slowly feeds the OLD MAN.
PATRICK (V/O cont�d)
Man� he doesn�t know whats he missing here�
The OLD MAN chews slowly and smiles at RICK.
FADE TO BLACK
THE END.
