TEXT: A BRIEF SLEEP LATER
EXT. NEWTOPIA BEACH - AFTERNOON
CU of Leslie’s eyes flickering open. MCU of Leslie’s face. She turns to her left slightly. MS of Owen from side-on, sitting cross-legged beside Leslie, looking out at the horizon. Leslie sits up.
LESLIE
Can you remember anything?
Owen sighs.
OWEN
I was hoping you would. I’ve been trying for ages
and I can’t remember a thing. I don’t even know my name.
LESLIE
Me either.
Owen looks behind him. The sand stretches for twenty metres before reaching dense forest. Trees make a wall along the beach, separating the sand from the forest. To Owen and Leslie’s left is a large mountain of rocks. Owen turns his attention back to the sea.
OWEN
This place doesn’t seem familiar at all.
How did we get here?
LESLIE
All I remember is waking up. We must have
washed in from the ocean. I think we almost drowned.
Owen shoots Leslie a look of disgust.
OWEN
Of course we almost drowned. We woke up wet
and vomiting on a beach! What else would have happened?
Leslie appears offended. Owen’s aggressive manner decreases and he looks away.
OWEN
Sorry. I’m no good after near death experiences.
LESLIE
Yeah. (pause) Wait. How do you know?
Do you remember something?
OWEN
Nah. I was hoping if I talked about the past, I’d
remember it. But then, I’ve always had a terrible memory.
Leslie looks at Owen curiously, as a glimmer of hope crosses his face. It is promptly extinguished.
OWEN
Dammit! Nothing.
Leslie laughs.
OWEN
This is ridiculous. We don’t know where we
are or how we got here. What are we meant to do?
LESLIE
I don’t know. Maybe we could look around
and try to find something we recognize. For
all we know we could just be at our local beach.
Owen again looks at her with disdain.
OWEN
Look around you. This isn’t a local beach.
It’s an island or something.
LESLIE
Well, maybe the island is populated.
We should look for people.
Owen shakes his head.
OWEN
There’s no one around. Look!
WS of the beach, empty of presence other than Owen and Leslie.
OWEN
We need food and shelter. That’s what we
have to look for. We can keep an eye out
for people as we go.
Leslie looks to her right at the long beach and then turns back to Owen.
LESLIE
Okay.
They wearily get up. Once on their feet, both Owen and Leslie take a moment to register their surroundings. After a few moments, Leslie starts walking toward the other side of the beach whilst Owen moves toward the tree-line. It takes a little while before Owen realises Leslie is not beside him and turns.
OWEN
Where are you going?
LESLIE
The other side of the beach.
OWEN
Why?
LESLIE
There might be a clearing. Some evidence of life.
OWEN
But we’re looking for food.
LESLIE
You said we could look for people.
OWEN
My words are not to be twisted! I said we’d look for food
and shelter, then people. We’ve got to go into the forest.
LESLIE
What if we get lost in there? It looks pretty dense.
OWEN
And you look pretty daft. What’s your point?
Only idiots get lost in the forest.
Leslie is momentarily offended by Owen’s comment, but continues with her argument.
LESLIE
I just think it would be better if we canvassed
the whole beach to make sure there’s no people around.
Owen rolls his eyes and his body drops slightly as he throws his arms sideward, annoyed.
OWEN
Oh, for Christ’s sake! Look around you.
We are the only things on this bloody beach!
Can’t you get it through that annoying face of yours?
Owen is infuriated, staring at Leslie intensely. She is quite upset. Suddenly, in the distance, a “meow” of a cat is heard. Leslie and Owen turn and see something further up the beach. MS of Chook, soaking wet and exhausted. He limps toward the two as they move to meet with him. When they come together, Leslie kneels and picks Chook up gently.
LESLIE
Hey little guy. What are you doing here? (pets Chook affectionately)
Aw, you’re soaking. (turns to Owen with a look of mild superiority)
Only things on this bloody beach, huh?
OWEN
Good. We’ve found food. Maybe we can make
some shelter out of his bones and skin.
Owen goes to grab the cat but Leslie pulls violently away.
LESLIE
We’re not eating Chook!
As soon as she utters the creature’s name, Leslie is shocked. Owen is equally startled. Chook rubs his head comfortably against Leslie’s breast. She smiles down at him.
EXT. DOORSTEP - DAY (FLASHBACK)
Owen sits on the doorstep of a house, waiting for Leslie. He is staring at the ground when a shadow appears over him. He looks up and Leslie is standing ahead, holding a slightly younger looking Chook.
OWEN
That’s the surprise? You got a cat?
Leslie smiles warmly as she holds her new friend.
LESLIE
His name’s Chook. Isn’t he gorgeous?
She cuddles the cat tenderly as Owen watched.
OWEN
Chook is such a misleading name.
Leslie laughs.
LESLIE
I know.
She continues playing with Chook as Owen watches, a slight grin unable to hide itself any longer.
EXT. NEWTOPIA BEACH - AFTERNOON (PRESENT)
Leslie is holding the wet cat as Owen stands opposite her, incredulous.
OWEN
So you remember a cat’s name but not mine!
LESLIE
Well, Chook’s being nice to me.
OWEN
And I’m not?
LESLIE
No.
OWEN
Shut up! I’ve been nicer than a thousand Christmas’s!
You’re the one who’s ordering me around with your
“canvas the beach” and “don’t eat the pussy”.
I should be not remembering your name.
LESLIE
You don’t remember my name!
Owen pints his finger at Leslie, accusingly.
OWEN
Semantics!
Owen walks past Leslie in a huff and continues along the beach, now going in the direction he didn’t want to go. Leslie and Chook look at each other.
LESLIE
Is he always like this?
Chook coughs up a hair ball into Leslie’s face in response. She wipes her face with one free hand before following Owen. She catches up to him.
LESLIE
What do you think we are to each other?
Owen is still walking fast and Leslie is obviously having to walk extra fast to keep up. Owen’s eyes roll up and then to the side, annoyed.
OWEN
What do you mean?
LESLIE
Well, we washed up on the beach together. That must
mean that we were together when... Whatever happened
to us. We must have some kind of relationship.
Owen stops suddenly.
OWEN
Relationship? Whoa, no. We’re probably brother and sister.
That would explain why you’re so annoying and bitchy and
your laugh is like a thousand Cherokee Indians stabbing my ears with hot axes.
Leslie is aghast at Owen’s rudeness.
LESLIE
What’s your problem?
OWEN
I’m just in a bad mood. Your constant talking is driving me crazy.
LESLIE
Well you’re hardly the crown prince of pleasantries.
Owen faces Leslie.
OWEN
(sarcastically)
Ha ha HA!
Owen turns away from her again and continues walking. Leslie follows him, an angry expression plastered on her face.
LESLIE
You’re right. We must be brother and sister.
There’s no way I’d go out with someone like you.
OWEN
Ditto, sweet cheeks.
The two walk silently for a while. ZOOM in on Owen’s head.
INT. MEMORY HALL - DAY
The middle door is open, the bright white light emanating from it. The two doors on either side of the middle one have labels on them, reading: “MEMORY 7049762” and “MEMORY 7049764”. ZOOM fast into the middle door’s light until it engulfs the screen.
EXT. PARK - DAY (FLASHBACK)
Owen and Leslie stand together in a park, much greenness around them, kissing.
EXT. NEWTOPIA BEACH - AFTERNOON (BACK TO PRESENT)
Owen is puzzled by the memory. He shakes his head.
OWEN
(to himself)
It was a family kiss.
Leslie looks, having overheard him.
LESLIE
What?
OWEN
(impersonating Leslie)
What?
Leslie scowls and keeps walking. Owen appears to feel a twinge of guilt. He walks slightly behind Leslie as we ZOOM in on her head.
INT. MEMORY HALL 2 - DAY
The middle door is open again. On either side of it, the doors labels read: “MEMORY 9472895” and “MEMORY 9472897”. ZOOM quickly into the light until it engulfs the screen.
INT. PAT’S LOUNGE ROOM - DAY (FLASHBACK)
Owen and Leslie are sitting on the couch, holding hands and watching TV when Chook approaches on the ground. He sets up in front of Leslie and leaps up onto her. She looks down at him as he promptly sits down on Owen’s lap. Owen eyes Chook disapprovingly before looking at Leslie and offering a resigned happy look. She smiles and rests her head on his shoulder.
EXT. NEWTOPIA BEACH - AFTERNOON (BACK TO PRESENT)
Leslie and Owen are still walking. She shakes her head, confused by the memory.
LESLIE
No way.
Owen overhears from behind her.
OWEN
Huh?
LESLIE
I said “you’re gay”.
OWEN
No I’m not.
LESLIE
Yes you are. I remember.
Owen points his finger at Leslie again.
OWEN
Lies!
Owen storms off ahead of her, feeling his arse, as if to check, as he does so. Leslie smiles, finding his movement cute. She then follows. Time elapses and they are halfway along the beach. Owen moans in frustration.
OWEN
Oh! There’s no clearing. It’s just more rocks and trees.
See, I told you we should’ve gone straight into the bush.
LESLIE
Okay, okay, fine. You were right, I was wrong.
Owen’s gaze turns to the sky as he acknowledges the Gods.
OWEN
Finally she admits it! Follow me. I’ll find some shelter.
Behave and I might even share it with you.
Owen trudges off in the direction of the trees. Leslie eventually follows, annoyed.
EXT. NEWTOPIA FOREST - AFTERNOON
Owen and Leslie are making their way through dense bush land. Leslie is carrying Chook. The ground is rife with plants and logs. Trees leer around the two humans, massive and numerous. Leslie is in front. She trips over a log slightly but maintains her balance.
LESLIE
Grrr. Why do I have to lead? You’re the navigator.
OWEN
Correct, which means I’m the only one who knows
how to get where we need to be. That means I must
be kept safe at all costs to ensure our arrival at said destination.
LESLIE
What about my safety?
OWEN
Your job is my safety. Don’t worry about your own.
LESLIE
No. The job of a navigator is to lead others to
a destination. Those others are more important
than the navigator. You should be keeping me safe!
OWEN
Ridiculous! How can I keep you safe and navigate
at the same time? I’d need ten eyes!
LESLIE
(under her breath)
Or one brain.
OWEN
Fine. I’ll lead.
Owen speeds up and brushes past Leslie, bumping her slightly. She looks at him angrily.
OWEN
Women. You always go on about equal opportunity
and all that feminist garbage, but when a little hard
work comes by you all just run off to a dimly lit corner
and you apply make-up and cry. It’s pathetic. No wonder
there’s never been a female Prime Minister. If there was, the
stupid girl would probably put a tax on fun and make some
ridiculous policy about owning handbags. Pfft. Women.
God’s mistake.
Leslie, slightly behind Owen, is in awe of his blatant rudeness as they continue walking.
TIME ELAPSES
Owen and Leslie are deeper into the forest, appearing exhausted. Owen, still leading the two, is puffing. He takes a seat on a log. Leslie stops beside him.
LESLIE
What are you doing?
OWEN
Having a break. I know you must be exhausted.
Leslie rolls her eyes.
LESLIE
Sure. You’re puffing pretty badly. Are you all right?
OWEN
Yes, I’m fine. No need to play doctor.
LESLIE
Okay. No need to be snappy.
Leslie sits beside Owen, petting Chook. Owen looks at the cat disdainfully.
OWEN
Why are you carrying that thing around?
It’s not a baby. It can walk.
LESLIE
He almost drowned.
OWEN
So did I, but you don’t hear me asking for
piggybacks and to have my stomach fondled.
Anyway, you’re getting too close to the animal.
I’ve seen web-sites with pictures of sickos like you.
LESLIE
Gross!
OWEN
I know, but you just can’t stop yourself from doing
it, can you? It’s an addiction, isn’t it? You filthy little
deviant. I should report you.
LESLIE
Shut up, you idiot.
Leslie eyes away from Owen and then looks to Chook awkwardly. She stops petting him. Owen watches this and has to stifle laughter with his hand. Leslie finally turns her attention to Owen again.
LESLIE
So, what exactly are we looking for?
Owen sighs, annoyed by the question.
OWEN
A flat clearing. We don’t want to sleep on a slope
because it’s uncomfortable and we can’t set up
shelter underneath a tree incase a branch falls off and crushes us.
Leslie is perplexed.
LESLIE
We’re looking for a flat clearing?
OWEN
Yes.
LESLIE
So that we’re in no danger of being crushed by branches?
OWEN
Yes!
Leslie looks around her.
LESLIE
Then why did we wander into the middle
of the bush where all the branches are?
We could’ve set up shelter on the sand.
OWEN
Oh, what is it with you and the beach?
LESLIE
What is it with you and being antagonistic?
OWEN
You want to know? It’s you! Your presence is
just... annoying. I wish I’d woken up by myself
so I didn’t have to put up with it.
Leslie is shocked. Finally, Owen’s attitude has overstepped the bounds of rudeness and become outright offensive. Owen, reading Leslie’s face, instantly knows he’s done the wrong thing.
OWEN
I’m sorry. That was mean.
LESLIE
Yeah, it was. You’re disgusting.
Owen looks slightly hurt as Leslie gets up with Chook in hand and starts walking. Owen gets up and catches up to her.
OWEN
Look. I really am sorry. I know I’m being
a bastard, but I just can’t help it.
Leslie just continues walking.
OWEN
Ever since I woke up, I’ve had this really primal
anger and it’s all directed at you. I don’t know why,
but it’s like the only piece of memory I have at the moment.
This... madness at you.
LESLIE
Can’t you fight it and try to be nice?
OWEN
I am. It’s hard, though. I woke up with nothing
except this one feeling. If I throw it away, what have I got left?
Leslie sighs.
LESLIE
I know. I have a feeling like that too.
OWEN
Yeah?
LESLIE
Except it’s the opposite. I really like you.
Owen smiles.
LESLIE
At least, I did. Until you started acting like a prick.
Now I don’t know what to think.
It ain't Lost, but it ain't derived from Lost either.
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