Buddha's Shadow

Based on Old Buddhist scriptures

Pattana Thaivanich

WGA Register

+66-89-228-5114 [email protected]

FADE IN:

TITLE OVER BLACK: Based on true stories from an oldest Buddhist scripture.

CHANTING fills the air.

Snapshots of 's Bodhgaya temple in the present time.

SUPERIMPOSE: The UNESCO's World Heritage site: India's Bodhgaya Temple, where Buddha attained enlightenment under a sacred tree over 2,600 years ago.

EXT. BODHGAYA TEMPLE - PRESENT DAY

A leaf DRIFTS down, passes a blond head, her closed eyes, her pretty face.

DAPHNE (23) sits in a meditation pose. The leaf falls onto her lap.

The sacred tree branches over her. Her face glows in a surreal light.

CHANTING fades away.

SERIES OF SHOTS - FLASHBACK

--- A MONK stumbles. It's an old dream that wakes Daphne up gasping for air.

--- In the local dress store, Daphne tries on an Indian dress. Astonishing, she looks at herself in the mirror.

--- Daphne mails a postcard from India.

--- NATHAN (26) stands next to his apartment mailbox in New York reading Daphne's postcard from India.

DAPHNE (V.O.) Nate, I wish you had a chance to know .

EXT. BODHGAYA TEMPLE - PRESENT DAY

With her eyes closed, Daphne's face looks emotional.

Leaves rustle in the wind.

2.

INT. HARVARD STUDENT HOUSE - FLASHBACK

A typical college party.

Young WOMAN and Nathan embrace in a DARK corner.

Daphne walks into this and storms out.

Nathan runs after calling out.

Daphne grabs a glass of wine and splashes it to his chest.

INT. LIBRARY - FLASHBACK

Daphne sits alone in a hidden corner.

Her face changes from angry to sad to determined.

She pulls a ring off her finger and throws it into the trash can.

INT. HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL'S BUILDING - FLASHBACK

Daphne and STUDENTS walk into the Harvard Divinity school's lecture hall.

A POSTER: "Welcome the World's Happiest Man: Venerable " under a PICTURE of the famous Caucasian MONK.

DAPHNE Our guest speaker today is a monk?

CHLOE (French accent) Not an ordinary monk but a Ph.D who'd forsaken all the fame and fun in Paris to live in the Himalayas.

DAPHNE Where can I find a man like that? Pure and unassuming? Blue blooded, maybe?

The friend rolls her eyes.

CHLOE Himalayas?

EXT. TIBETAN TEMPLE - FLASHBACK

Daphne walks into the temple overlooking the Himalayas.

3.

INT. TIBETAN TEMPLE - FLASHBACK

MONKS chant inside the temple.

Daphne stares at TIBETANS who prostrate on the bare floor to a Buddha statue.

They smile to her.

Daphne prostrates to the Buddha statue.

EXT. BODHGAYA-TEMPLE - PRESENT DAY

Daphne sits in the same pose.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Daydreaming in meditation?

The voice mystifies her but she just flinches and still keeps her eyes closed.

Suddenly Daphne's body glows and dissolves into sparkling diamond dust. Diamond dust gathers to form a SPOTLIGHT at her forehead while her body dissolves into the surroundings.

THE SPOTLIGHT WASHES OVER THE SCREEN.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

-- The clouds.

-- The sky.

-- The spotlight soars freewheeling across the globe.

THE SPOTLIGHT WASHES OVER THE SCREEN.

EXT. OUTER SPACE - DARK

SPACE MUSIC.

We see a vast emptiness in the OUTER SPACE.

The spotlight zips across the dark vacuum and gazes back to the luminous blue sphere: the world as it gets smaller.

The blue sphere becomes the "pale blue dot": a tiny speck among blinking dots of stars in the timeless outer space.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Your existence is insignificant in the

4.

ultimate reality.

SPACE MUSIC fades away.

The spotlight tumbles back to the world, pulls into India and the temple site.

EXT. BUDDHSIT TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Around 2,600 years ago.

A tree casts over ANANDA, an old Buddhist MONK sitting on a wooden platform.

OLD ANANDA (little smile) Daydreaming in meditation. What's the problem?

Birds chirp. Daphne baffled looks around and at him.

DAPHNE Where am I? Who are you?

OLD ANANDA They called me Buddha's shadow. I was his PA.

DAPHNE Budd -- Buddha's -- PA?

Ananda smiles enigmatically.

OLD ANANDA Welcome to the 5th century BC. Just twenty years after Buddha passed away into peri-.

DAPHNE Fifth century BC?

Ananda nods.

DAPHNE (CONT'D) Wow, really -- am I dreaming? Or I must be really good in my meditation this time.

Ananda tries to suppress his grin.

5.

OLD ANANDA Or perhaps with help from someone somewhere in time.

Daphne gazes at his face and the yellow robe.

DAPHNE Buddha's shadow? (palms together) You must be the Buddha's cousin: Venerable Ananda. Your name is everywhere in Buddhist scriptures. Do you know we still study them even to this day?

OLD ANANDA True wisdom can be found inside. Buddha looked inside and became enlightened.

DAPHNE (tap at her temple) Look inside? Into this mental walkie- talkie?

OLD ANANDA (smile) Buddha might've started just like you.

DAPHNE Yes, such disillusionment. How did Buddha become enlightened looking inside exactly?

OLD ANANDA Why don't we go further back in time? To see Prince Siddhartha, Buddha-to-be before he left the palace to become monk searching for enlightenment he barely understood.

His Holiness Ananda's face MATCH DISSOLVES into PRINCE ANANDA's.

INT. ROYAL PALACE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

-- Prince Ananda (21) listens to anxious KING FATHER (55) who gestures to the courtyard where PRINCE SIDDHARTHA (29) strolls alone in absorption.

6.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) That day my uncle, the king asked me to come over. He was concerned.

-- PRINCESS YASODARA (29) sleeps soundly in her room with a BABY in a crib nearby.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) (CONT'D) When Prince Siddhartha left the palace, Princess Yasodara -- his wife just gave birth to Prince Rahula.

INTERCUT: EXT. /INT. ROYAL PALACE

BUDDHIST TEMPLE:

Like CRYSTAL idols, Ananda and Daphne's bodies are transparent and sparkling in the meditation posture.

The air particles around the bodies shimmer.

ROYAL PALACE:

Prince Ananda watches Prince Siddhartha walking back and forth further way.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Prince Siddhartha was my idol. I felt like we were twins, though in fact we were very different.

DAPHNE (V.O.) Wow. This is amazing. I feel like in virtual reality.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Prince Siddhartha attends a meeting, stays detached, and daydreams among arrogant PRINCES.

--- Prince Ananda attends royal affairs and charms DIPLOMATS.

--- Prince Siddhartha nods absentmindedly to an eager STATESMAN at a dining table. He ponders a seductive PRINCESS trying to catch his attention. It seems he can see all the people's trouble and scheme.

--- Prince Ananda, gregarious and easy going talks to a group of beautiful WOMEN.

7.

EXT. ROYAL GARDEN - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Full MOON rises above the deep-blue sky and its refection shimmers over a pond's still surface.

Prince Ananda sits at the same place watching Prince Siddhartha.

Prince Siddhartha looks at the moon and realizes the time.

Both get on the waiting carriage.

EXT./INT. MANSION - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

SOUND of the carriage WHEELS.

They drive past a mansion in silence.

From the mansion's window, a young pretty PRINCESS KISA plays a musical instrument and looks at Prince Siddhartha.

They glance up at her and the carriage stops.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) It was a puzzle that Kisa turned down all the marriage proposals. But now it was clear why.

She finishes playing and tempts Prince Siddhartha with her smile and pose.

Feeling sympathetic with her unavailing attempt, Prince Siddhartha takes off his necklace and hands it to CARRIAGE DRIVER to give it to her.

Her dreamy eyes watch as they leave.

Prince Siddhartha shakes his head.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) (CONT'D) Kisa might misinterpret Prince Siddhartha's kindness. She thought that now his wife would be busy with a newborn --

DAPHNE (V.O.) Oh I know! Seductions and rivalries are common in this world!

SERIES OF SHOTS:

8.

--- Everyone sleeps.

--- Prince Siddhartha escapes on a horse.

--- Royal STAFF in chaos run around, wide eyes, talking to each other in terror.

--- Kisa screams holding Prince Siddhartha's necklace in her bosom.

--- Prince Siddhartha becomes BUDDHA (36), a wandering monk in an orange robe.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

DAPHNE Wow! So was Kisa the reason Buddha left?

OLD ANANDA No, he'd planned much ahead of that day.

DAPHNE When I read that Prince Siddhartha left because he saw sick, aging, and dying people and hoped to overcome such sufferings, I was like uh?

OLD ANANDA Yes, we all know that eventually everyone is aging, dying, and going.

DAPHNE Exactly.

OLD ANANDA And you're here because I shall depart in seven days.

DAPHNE You, you have only seven more days to live?

OLD ANANDA As a matter-of-fact. I've out lived everyone I've known far too long.

DAPHNE Heading to nirvana?

9.

OLD ANANDA Nirvana's in the now. Not just the afterlife utopia most people dream of. Let's see how Buddha attained enlightenment so you understand.

EXT. FOREST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

BUDDHA studies yoga with YOGI MASTER.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) For six years, Buddha had spent time in the forest searching for enlightenment before he could find the right path.

DAPHNE (V.O.) The idea of enlightenment existed at that time?

Buddha practices concentration meditation.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Of course. It was the zeitgeist of spiritual practices. Gossips at that time were about whose religious leaders had attained enlightenment or nirvana or awakening or liberation. Same meanings.

Buddha self mortifies and starves among yogis. Buddha's effort is the most extreme. He becomes a skeleton.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) At first he'd gone off the beaten paths.

DAPHNE (V.O.) What drove Buddha to search for enlightenment?

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) He'd like to know the ultimate truth, ultimate nature of life. And not just when he was Prince Siddhartha --

EXT. ANCIENT CITY - SOME 5000 YEARS AGO

Human corpses. People are dying from plagues.

In a costume of some 5000 years ago, Buddha MEDITATES sending

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LIGHT to the dying and the dead.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) But countless lifetimes before that he'd made the resolution to realize the ultimate nature of life so he could help suffering beings.

INT. ROYAL PALACE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

--- King Father (62) receives a message and shakes his head.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) We were told that Prince Siddhartha was dead.

--- PRINCE RAHULA (6) innocently plays with Prince Ananda (28).

--- Princess Yasodara (36) sobs in her prayer.

DAPHNE (V.O.) I can't put myself in her shoes.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Yasodara'd been devoted to Buddha not just this time but many countless lifetimes before.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

OLD ANANDA Where there is love, there is malady.

Daphne SHRUGS.

DAPHNE I doubt I'll find anyone worth my love in this lifetime.

Ananda smiles enigmatically.

EXT. FOREST - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Full MOON.

Looking radiant, Buddha sits in the meditation pose under a tree.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Eventually he found the path to

11.

enlightenment in the that steered clear of both extreme indulgence or extreme mortification.

His body slowly becomes transparent tinged with hints of gold dust blended with the surroundings.

At the center of Buddha's body, a luminous SPHERE contains a few dark SPOTS that slowly disappear.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) (CONT'D) Buddha focused his mind inward until it reached its pinnacle and all impurities were eradicated from his mind.

Now the luminous crystal SPHERE radiates fine filaments of LIGHT spreading out the COSMOS.

DAPHNE (V.O.) What did the Buddha see in the enlightenment?

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) The ultimate reality.

Buddha sees human beings in a transparent form. He Sees just their MIND: a SPHERE of LIGHT in the CENTER of their bodies.

When persons die, their spheres of light go in different realms such as HELL, HEAVEN or a state-of-the-art ALIEN'S WORLD.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

DAPHNE I'm not quite convinced --

OLD ANANDA The simple term: ultimate reality is more than meets the eye. Languages can be deficient to describe what an enlightened mind can see.

DAPHNE A superpower mind.

OLD ANANDA Right, a superpower mind that can defy time and space traveling into the past or the future or invisible realms such

12.

as Heaven and Hell. All interconnected by the law of cause and effect.

His words enthrall her. He meets her gaze firmly and smiles grimly.

OLD ANANDA (CONT'D) Someone's waiting.

INTERCUT: HELL'S REALM/EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE

HELL'S REALM:

Darkness but a visible darkness like being submerged in MUD. A deep rhythmic pounding, distant yet so strong that each BEAT grinds you. GONG!

A FACE bubbles out of the mud like the face in the painting of Edvard Munch called: Scream . Hands pressing on ears, he GROANS and SCREECHES. HELP!

DAPHNE'S CYSTAL FACE:

Eyes wide shut. Grimace. Difficult breathing.

DAPHNE (V.O.) Take me back!

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda gets up from the meditation pose. He looks solemn. He walks pass Daphne to a patio.

OLD ANANDA You've forgotten your promise. He's been waiting.

DAPHNE (rapid fire) Who's waiting? Was it you in my dreams calling me here? Why did you leave the palace and become Monk?

OLD ANANDA I wanted to be with Buddha.

EXT. KAPILAVASTU'S CITY GATE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Prince Ananda (28) watches Buddha in silent awe.

13.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) When he came back home for the first time -- after seven years it was such an exciting sight.

Buddha leads a long row of hundreds of peaceful looking MONKS; each carrying his alms bowl.

When Buddha reaches the city gate, he stops.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) It looked as though he was thinking how should a Buddha go for alms around his hometown?

Buddha starts at the first house at the entrance of the city and stops at every house in the middle-class neighborhood.

There are more PEOPLE watching them in amazement than PEOPLE them food.

INT/EXT. ROYAL PALACE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Princess Yasodara waits anxiously by the window to catch the first glimpse of Buddha.

A member of HOUSE STAFF reports something to King Father.

KING FATHER (shocking) Begging for food?

King Father angrily rushes to Buddha. Prince Ananda cuts in front trying to protect Buddha.

PRINCE ANANDA Uncle, no --

King Father pushes Prince Ananda aside.

KING FATHER (to Buddha) Do you think we don't have enough food for all of your monks?

BUDDHA (compassionate) Great King, it's a tradition of monks to visit each and every house to bless them. Monk's asking for alms shows humility and goodwill.

14.

King watches the serenity from Buddha and MONKS in silent awe.

Prince Ananda carries Buddha's alms bowl and follows King Father who leads Buddha into the royal house.

INT. ROYAL DINING HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

MONKS, sitting in neat rows take their meal from their alms bowl quietly.

Also taking his meal from his alms bowl, Buddha sits on a platform surrounded by Prince Ananda, Prince Raula (7), King Father, QUEEN STEPMOTHER GOTAMI (50).

INT/EXT. YASODARA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Princess Yasodara sits alone in her chamber.

Buddha with VENERABLE SARIPUTTA (35) at his right and VENERABLE MOGGALLANA (35) at his left arrive at the door.

King Father and Prince Ananda follow behind.

BUDDHA (to both monks) Let's overlook the rule of monk's conduct for once. Let Yasodara greet me the way she wants.

Both monks accept in solemn bows.

Buddha sits on the chair prepared for him.

Everyone follows in silence.

Princess Yasodara dresses in a robe resembling Buddha's, crawls over to Buddha touching his feet with her hands and forehead.

She tries to speak but cannot let out any word.

She holds Buddha's ankles, hides her face on his feet and sobs.

Buddha looks at her with compassion. Light radiates from Buddha.

INT. YASODARA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Running her fingers through his hair, Princess Yasodara has

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Prince Rahula on her lap.

PRINCESS YASODARA Son, Buddha is your father. Tomorrow you must hang around him, cling to him, ask him for your birthright. Don't let him go.

EXT. KAPILAVASTU'S CITY GATE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Buddha leads monks out of the city, walking in a row.

Rahula, now shaved and adorned in a tiny monk robe, toddles alongside Sariputta, who gently puts his arm around him. Prince Ananda bids farewell at the gate looking thoughtful.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Buddha's arrival changed everything for me.

EXT. VELUVANA'S MAIN TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

A group of PRINCES including Prince Ananda shaved and adorned with monk robes receives an ordination from Buddha.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Being a monk in the beginning was an awesome change.

Venerable Ananda (29) teaches Novice Rahula (8) to play a pebble dash game.

When Novice Rahula sees Buddha coming from a distance, he runs to sit in the meditation hall and pretends to meditate.

Ananda smiles after him.

INT. MEDITATION HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Buddha arrives and sits down next to Novice Rahula.

Buddha raises a coconut shell in his hand, pours a few drops of water out, and gently flips it upside down.

BUDDHA (kindly) Rahula - for those who pretend, their noble characters are empty like this. You must be mindful even with a small intention.

16.

EXT. TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

MONKS perform walking meditations.

MONKS perform sitting meditations.

MONKS discuss in a group.

MONKS sweep off leafs near a pond.

Ananda sits with Buddha looking around contentedly.

YOUNG ANANDA My lord, to be with noble monks like this is like reaching half way to nirvana.

BUDDHA Ananda, don't speak like that. Monks should determine in this path from the start.

Ananda's face drops.

Later he slips away.

Looking lost, he wanders and faces a distinguished monk named VENERABLE PUNNA (40) sweeping the floor.

VENERABLE PUNNA Ananda, where're you going? You look sad.

YOUNG ANANDA I, I think I need -- a quiet place to really do meditation.

VENERABLE PUNNA (seeing into Ananda's mind) Ananda, all sufferings come from the fixations with 'I', 'me', 'my'. Like one minute, my Lord Buddha, I am reaching to nirvana. Another he's disappointed in me.

YOUNG ANANDA (surprised) What to do with such I, me, my?

VENERABLE PUNNA .

17.

YOUNG ANANDA Mindfulness?

VENERABLE PUNNA Have you ever felt elated one minute then things happen and you feel depressed in the next?

YOUNG ANANDA Yes!

VENERABLE PUNNA That's the nature of our mind. Flickering like a flame because of I, me, my.

YOUNG ANANDA Flickering flame?

VENERABLE PUNNA Keep observing its ebb and flow. Next time you see a flick, your mind won't be tricked into its transient high and low.

YOUNG ANANDA Oh Venerable Punna. To be with noble monks like this, I shall be able to walk this path to the end.

VENERABLE PUNNA But Ananda, don't forget to practice concentration. is the foundation of all things.

YOUNG ANANDA (gulp) Concentration? That will be a real trial.

Venerable Punna smiles knowingly.

With gratitude, Ananda bows.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Daphne contemplates while looking at Ananda.

DAPHNE You seemed to care a lot -- about how Buddha thought of you.

18.

OLD ANANDA Yes, I really did.

DAPHNE (stammer) You left the palace to be with Buddha. Didn't you think about -- the people, the people whom you left behind?

OLD ANANDA In our younger days, things often evolved around 'I', 'me', 'my'. Didn't they?

INT. BEDROOM - FLASHBACK

Young Daphne (14) looking bored reads a book.

MOTHER (45) looking sad folds her cloths and packs them in a suitcase.

Mother talks to her but she just SHRUGS.

DAPHNE (V.O.) She chose to marry the wrong man herself!

INT. HOME - FLASHBACK

Daphne's FATHER (48) and a young WOMAN in a glamorous dress are about to leave the house. They laugh in the face of Daphne (14) oblivious to her loneliness.

Daphne sneaks into their bathroom. She dips their electric toothbrushes in the toilet bowl.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) I know how you must've felt. But in a wink of time you grew up and left the house.

INT. JFK DEPARTURE TERMINAL - FLASHBACK

Father (55) looking emotional hugs Daphne (21).

FATHER Call me when you land, OK?

She already turns to walk away.

19.

FATHER I love you!

INT. BOSTON LOGAN ARRIVAL TERMINAL - FLASHBACK

Daphne (21) walks out of the gate. Nate (24) waits among people. She runs into Nate's arms. They laugh and kiss.

INT. OFFICE - FLASHBACK

Father, looking lonely and stressed works in the office. He looks at 11:15 PM on his watch shaking his head.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

OLD ANANDA You don't care about your mother and father that you left behind?

DAPHNE I guess.

OLD ANANDA They've given everything you wanted.

DAPHNE Except a happy family. When my parents divorced, I was relief.

OLD ANANDA You're speaking from the self-centered viewpoint of I-me-my.

EXT. MANSION'S GATE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Two Buddhist MONKS arrive at an excited CROWD in front of the mansion.

The crowd looks at a very tall pole. A wood-carved alms bowl sticks on top of the pole.

A MAN turns to them.

MAN The rich man hangs the sandalwood alms bowl for a monk who can fly. It's been hanging for days now.

PINDOLA, the much younger monk glances at MOGGALANA, the older one.

20.

PINDOLA Layman, there're monks who have such power. Just look at this monk in front of me.

MOGGALANA (quietly) Pindola, please don't speak like that.

MAN (excitedly) Aren't you one of Buddha's monks? Demonstrate some powers. Eliminate our doubts so we'll gain true faith!

PINDOLA looks at MOGGALANA who stands motionless and turns to the expectant crowd.

Pindola then closes his eyes and meditates.

His body levitates.

He grabs the bowl and comes down.

Everything happens so quick! The pole does not even stir.

People gasp.

MAN on the balcony applauds.

People erupt with applause, thrilled.

INT. TEMPLE'S HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

MONKS meditate in silence.

Ananda sits among them near Buddha.

FACES of MONKS: a handsome versus an unappealing face.

PAUSE at MONK who can hear people's crazy thoughts like a SOUND of radio changing channels.

PAUSE at Another MONK who can see FAIRIES in his mind.

LAYMEN and LAYWOMEN in a variety of attires meditate in neat rows behind.

COMMOTIONS and NOISES erupt outside the hall.

Pindola and Moggalana walk in.

21.

Pindola crawls to Buddha, pays homage and proudly lays the bowl in front of Buddha.

MOGGALANA Pindola flew over to obtain it, my Lord. Now these men following us want to be devotees. Some want to be monks, my Lord.

BUDDHA (announce firmly) Monks, I disapprove the use of supra- mundane power. It has no use in awakening or morality. In fact, it potentially leads people astray.

Buddha chants in to bless people and ends the meeting. Everyone bows to him.

Buddha leaves and all disperse.

Ananda leaves with VENERABLE (31), a darkly handsome monk.

YOUNG ANANDA Poor Pindola.

DEVADATTA (shake his head in amusement) Yeah. (more serious) Oh last night, in my meditation practice I could get into someone's mind-stream.

YOUNG ANANDA (excitedly) Who?

DEVADATTA Start with an S?

YOUNG ANANDA Who? Devadatta, I never doubt your power.

DEVADATTA And you? Must be taking things easy the way you always do?

Ananda smiles delicately.

22.

DEVADATTA (CONT'D) Ananda, what do you really want out of donning a robe and following Buddha?

YOUNG ANANDA I always wanted to be with Buddha.

Devadatta glides away rolling his eyes.

EXT. VAST PLAIN - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Blazing SUN.

Dots of ORANGE robes on WHITE snow-capped mountains. Buddha slowly leads a long row of MONKS.

Dots of ORANGE robes on GREEN rice fields. Buddha slowly leads a long row of MONKS.

Next to Buddha, Ananda carries his alms bowl in one hand and a heavy bag on his shoulder.

Each monk follows one another quietly.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Devadatta seldom came along these trips.

INT. TEMPLE'S HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Devadatta sits in a grand temple's hall with a group of MONKS.

EXT. RICE FIELD - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda sets up a primitive resting space under a tree.

FARMERS and their dying RELATIVES sit in front of Buddha and pour out sorrow and grievances. Buddha blesses them.

INT. TEMPLE'S HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

CROWN PRINCE AJATSATTU (18) comes in to pay homage to Devadatta. SOLDIERS and STAFF trail behind.

Royal SERVANTS busily carry food, drinks, flowers into the dining hall.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Devadatta had gained respect from the Crown Prince and became his mentor.

23.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda stares at the pond.

Daphne walks next to him.

OLD ANANDA Prosperity and fame can be like growing cancers for a healthy mind.

DAPHNE I know Devadatta's end. I've read it somewhere. Buddhism portrays him as valiant. Buddhism says he'd later gain enlightenment and become a Buddha.

OLD ANANDA I know you've been wanting to know the truth.

DAPHNE Right. I dropped out of Harvard to immerse myself in Buddhism.

OLD ANANDA More like an escape, I say.

EXT. HARVARD SQUARE - FLASHBACK

Nate and WOMAN (23) walk out of an ice cream shop looking happy.

Daphne ducks into a shop and SPIES on them from the window.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Daphne gasps. She looks at Ananda.

DAPHNE You can see those?

OLD ANANDA I can see everything and have you see them too.

DAPHNE I used to doubt --

OLD ANANDA To know things, you'll have to devote

24.

yourself to serious meditations. Not just reading books and traveling to the Buddhist countries.

DAPHNE I can meditate quite well.

OLD ANANDA Right. And you're torn between Theravada versus______Mahayana Buddhism, perhaps?

DAPHNE (surprised, defiance) So which one are you? An austere Theravada monk? Life is all sufferings, I want to get out of here to nirvana? (sarcastic) Or you're a lighthearted Mahayana monk? Jolly, loosely in robe? Vowing to be born indefinitely to help ALL sentient beings? (pause, timidly) And did you have someone before you left to ordain?

OLD ANANDA I guess it's OK for a love triangle between you, Mahayana and Theravada. The point is there was no such thing as Theravada versus Mahayana in Buddha's time. (smile) And -- for someone before I was ordained?

INT. ROYAL PALACE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Prince Siddhartha (25) weds Princess Yasodara at a grand ceremony.

Prince Ananda's eyes follow PRINCESS (17). She walks behind the bride as one of the bridesmaids.

Princess Maya hypnotizes Prince Ananda (17) with her glance.

Prince Ananda and Princess Maya whisper. Both look in love.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Princess Maya.

25.

DAPHNE (V.O.) You fell in love with her? This is unknown in the Buddhist history!

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) But fate had its own plan.

Prince Ananda (20) attends a wedding ceremony between Prince Devadatta (23) and Princess Maya (20) who appears to be happy.

Prince Ananda offers congratulations, looking happy for them.

Prince Ananda wanders away, stands alone, looks dejected and vulnerable.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

OLD ANANDA Devadatta was Prince Siddhartha's brother-in-law so it was a perfectly arranged marriage. After they married I hardly saw them.

DAPHNE Wow! You had been in love before you left to be ordained! With Devadatta's wife! They had children?

OLD ANANDA No.

DAPHNE What about your monkhood life? Ever disenchanted? Restless?

OLD ANANDA Monks were free from daily grinds and family demands. We had time and solitude. But desires? Yes. Until we could become enlightened, we meditated to obtain an inner peace.

EXT. ROHINI RIVERSIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

The Rohini River Basin is in drought. Rice paddies look yellow.

ARMIES gather at both sides of the river preparing to fight.

Although one side is much larger, the smaller side prepares

26. to fight to death. They say goodbye to their WOMEN. BABIES cry.

Suddenly a FIGURE in yellow appears over a small plot of land in the middle of the river.

The voice comes out from him, penetrating all NOISES made from ELEPHANTS and HORSES.

BUDDHA (speak to the larger army) Disciples, behold!

GENERAL #1 Crown Prince Siddhartha?

GENERAL #2 Buddha!

SOLDIERS (whisper to one another) Buddha! Buddha!

SOLDIERS in the larger army side drop down to the ground to pay homage.

BUDDHA What's causing the war?

GENERAL #1 We're protecting our river, my Lord. Water is only enough for our side this year.

BUDDHA Is water worth more than the lives of your soldiers?

GENERALS avoid the Buddha's gaze.

BUDDHA (point to the other side) What about the lives of your neighbors?

On the opposite river bank, SOLDIERS in the smaller trope throw away weapons and cross the river to Buddha.

EXT. FUNERAL GROUND - 5 YEARS LATER

The King: Buddha's Father's BODY lies on the funeral PYRE.

27.

Buddha (41) leads a chant with Ananda (33) and MONKS.

Princess Yasodara (41) and Princess Maya (33) sit next to Queen Mother Gotami (55).

Looking sad and painful, Princess Yasodara tries not to look at Buddha.

Princess Maya steals a glance at Ananda.

INT. ROYAL PALACE COURTYARD - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda sits alone in the courtyard.

Looking beautiful in a melancholy way, Princess Maya crawls to Ananda's feet.

She cradles two packages of robes tied with RIBBONS as gifts.

PRINCESS MAYA Venerable Ananda, please accept these monk robes from me. I weaved and dyed them myself. This one is for you. That's for Venerable Devadatta. How's he doing?

Ananda restrains himself from looking at her and focuses his attention on the gift.

Princess Maya gazes at Venerable Ananda's greenish shaved head, which accentuates his long eyelashes above his soft brown eyes.

The orange robe he wears enhances his glowing looks.

Ananda feeling her gaze, absentmindedly strokes the gift.

YOUNG ANANDA I've hardly seen him these days. But I heard he's doing well obtaining a disciple like the famous Crown Prince Ajatsattu. And how are you doing?

PRINCESS MAYA (playing with hair) It's a trying time. The palace is so empty. Yasodara withdraws even more. Rahula did not come. Are we to be forgotten and forsaken? (whisper) Will he ever come back?

28.

YOUNG ANANDA Rahula's doing well, so probably--

Princess Maya stares at a crude stitch on his old robe and is overwhelmed with an emotion. She wishes she could take care of the mending for him.

PRINCESS MAYA (voice breaking) Yes, it's probably better not to meet if it's going to be very hard when departing.

Ananda glances down and catches Maya brimming with tears.

He smiles delicately.

YOUNG ANANDA Devadatta'll certainly be delighted to receive this robe. You'll be in our prayers.

PRINCESS MAYA In your____ prayers I'll be delighted!

Long silence as if they meditate and can only hear: SOUND OF HEARTBEATS.

YOUNG ANANDA (dryly) Let's go to see how Yasodara's doing, shall we?

EXT. GARDEN - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Walking together in silence, Ananda and Princess Maya spot PRINCE VIDUDABHA (18), who stands farther away on their route.

They look at each other and avoid him by turning left.

INT. CEREMONY HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda and Princess Maya walk to a MAID scrubbing and washing a seat.

Angrily working on the seat, she does not see them coming.

MAID (mumble complains) Urr, dirty, dirty! Servant's son

29.

thinks he's royal, ugh? He should know his mother used to be a servant like me! Urr, they dressed her into fake princess to marry King . Urr, because NO Sakyan princess wanted to marry the old King of Kosala!

Prince Vidudabha storms out of nowhere into this. His face distorts with anger. His STAFF rushes after in terror.

PRINCE VIDUDABHA (threaten) What did you just say? My mother a servant, a fake Sakyan princess?

Prince Vidudabha is about to kick the maid.

YOUNG ANANDA Prince Vidudabha, wait!

PRINCE VIDUDABHA (angrily) Venerable Ananda, she said my mother the queen is not a real Sakyan princess.

Prince Vidudabha storms out extremely enraged.

PRINCE VIDUDABHA Good! I'm no longer blood related to your Sakyan clan!

Ananda and Princess Maya look at each other in shock.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda observes Daphne totally absorbed as if in a trance.

OLD ANANDA The long-kept secret was out. Luck was still with us then because his father the King was Buddha's devotee. (sigh) But my relatives would later pay the price when the prince got into the throne.

DAPHNE (breathless) What happened?

FLASH FORWARD:

30.

--- KING Vidudabha (35) marches with an ARMY approaching the palace.

--- SOLDIERS kill Sakyan's PRINCES and STAFF without mercy.

--- King Vidudabha orders soldiers to smear BLOOD at the spot where the maid scrubs the seat. He laughs.

--- Princess Maya runs for her life in the dark.

--- A vigil prayer in a temple being held by MONKS.

CUT BACK TO:

EXT. FUNERAL GROUND

The King's body sets AFLAME on the funeral pyre.

Ananda watches Queen Mother Gomati with sympathy. She speaks to Buddha.

QUEEN MOTHER GOTAMI Now that the king has died, I want to take in ordination. Please ordain me, my Lord.

BUDDHA Queen Gomati, living as a monk depends on charity from others. It'll be difficult for you.

QUEEN MOTHER GOTAMI I can live in simplicity and devote my life to practicing, my Lord.

Buddha silently rejects her request.

Ananda looks at Queen Mother Gomati who wipes her tears.

EXT. TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Buddha ordains poor and outcast MEN into monkhood.

EXT. TEMPLE'S GATE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) I was surprised to see Queen Mother a week later.

Queen Mother Gomati and her ENTOURAGE wear white robes and no jewelry.

31.

Queen Mother Gomati drops to the ground to pay homage to Ananda. She begs.

YOUNG ANANDA Queen Mother, I'll see what I can do.

INT. BUDDHA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda comes into the room and pays homage to Buddha.

YOUNG ANANDA Lord Buddha, Queen Mother left the palace taking the long journey to be here. She really wants to be ordained.

Long silence.

YOUNG ANANDA (CONT'D) Please consider allowing women to have an active role in Buddhism, my Lord.

BUDDHA Ananda, the presence of the opposite sex in our temples as residence monks can potentially be advantageous as well as detrimental. You shall see.

Ananda contemplates.

YOUNG ANANDA But my lord, if female monks try to practice as hard as men, will they be able to reach nirvana?

BUDDHA Yes, Ananda. They will. In fact, not only female monks but also ordinary females if they practice as hard as men.

YOUNG ANANDA If that's so, please accept Queen Mother into the monkhood. Besides, she nurtured you as her own son since the departure of your mother.

Buddha smiles mysteriously as if he had foreseen Ananda's role in this matter all along.

BUDDHA Ananda, you have valid points. If

32.

Queen Mother and the women accept stricter rules, then their wish to get ordained shall be fulfilled.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Ananda speaks to Queen Mother Gomati. Queen Mother Gomati smiles with tears and drops to the ground to pay respects.

--- Queen Mother Gomati shaved and adorned in a yellow robe receives her ordination from Buddha.

--- WOMEN receive ordination from Ananda.

EXT. VILLAGE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda (35) approaches a WELL in the sun.

He carries his alms bowl, walking toward a pretty servant who has just drawn some water out with a bucket.

GOGILA (20) looks bored and tired. Her dress is dirty.

YOUNG ANANDA Sister, will you please give me some water to drink?

The deep, husky voice and stunning looks of Ananda hypnotizes her. She steps back and sinks to her knees.

GOGILA Oh lord! I, I do not dare pouring water in an alms bowl. I, I -- ain't worthy.

YOUNG ANANDA Persons are worthy or not because of actions not birth status. As a Buddha's monk, I consider people of all castes equal.

GOGILA Lord, I'm a servant, I'm not pure. I'll commit sin if I pour the water for you.

YOUNG ANANDA (smile) Sin will occur only by harmful non- virtuous actions -- certainly not by giving me water with kindness.

33.

Gogila glances coyly at Ananda.

She steps closer.

He leans forward to receive water.

She breathes in his fresh scent. Her hands shake as she pours the water into his bowl.

She stares dreamily at him as he quenches his thirst.

YOUNG ANANDA (CONT'D) (smile) Sadhu, bless you.

GOGILA Oh my lord! I, I never heard anyone saying such beautiful things. May I know your name to keep blessing my heart?

YOUNG ANANDA I'm Ananda. You may have heard of Buddha's disciple who's also his cousin.

GOGILA You're Venerable Ananda? The prince?

YOUNG ANANDA Well, I ought to head back. I wish you blessings from Dharma.

Gogila follows him as if she is in a trance. She stumbles and snaps back into the reality.

Her eyes brim with tears.

MONTAGE:

--- Gogila gathers barley grains in the field. She collects cow dung and dries it for fuel. She performs these tasks absentmindedly.

--- BOSS yells at her. But her ears just hear ANANDA's VOICE: "I'm Ananda, I'm Ananda, I'm Ananda".

--- Her mind flashes his face, his smile.

--- At night she cannot sleep.

34.

--- At dawn she does her chores quickly.

--- In the bed-room she combs her long hair.

EXT. VILLAGE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Gogila waits anxiously at the WELL.

A MONK walks by for alms. A few more MONKS walk by.

Gogila looks sad and disappointed.

Then a FEMALE MONK walks by for alms.

Slowly, Gogila's eyes widen. She runs after the female monk.

GOGILA Sister, wait! How'd you get ordained at Buddha's temple? Tell me!

INT. SERVANT ROOM - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Gogila folds her colorful Saree, sighs, and puts it under the bed.

EXT. TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Gogila's head is being shaved.

Her tears flow when she sees her long hair falling onto the ground.

FEMALE MONKS wrap Gogila with a robe.

She walks out to pay homage to female-monk Mother Gomati and receives an ordination.

INT. FEMALE MONK QUARTER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Gogila sits among a group of female monks in the lecture hall.

She stares dreamily at Ananda who gives a Dharma lecture to them.

EXT. GARDEN - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Gogila tiptoes after Ananda, unaware of her. He passes through a garden.

A heavyset MONK spies on them.

35.

Gogila brushes against a flower pot. CRASH! She flees.

Ananda turns back to investigate. She slips and falls down.

YOUNG ANANDA Friend, are you alright?

She gets up, arranges her robe, and pays homage to Ananda.

The heavyset MONK eavesdrops behind.

GOGILA (stammer) I, I met you a few days ago, remember?

She tries to cover her bald-head with her monk-shawl.

YOUNG ANANDA (smile with recognition) Oh, yes. You're the young lady who gave me water at the well. It's good to see you turning into a Buddha's daughter. Sadhu! (more serious tone) Well, you're new and should know that it's a serious offense to be here alone in the male-monk residence.

GOGILA (whisper) I'm here to pay homage to you and to talk to you.

YOUNG ANANDA You can do that at the lecture hall when I'm there to teach the female monks tomorrow. You should go back now.

INT. GOGILA' S BEDROOM - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Gogila squirms in bed and murmurs in her sleep.

A FEMALE MONK comes in, touches her head and looks concerned.

FEMALE MONK You're feverish. Should I get some help?

GOGILA Help? Yes, I'm really sick. I won't

36.

make it to Venerable Ananda's sermons anymore. But I want to hear him. Please tell him to come.

The female monk shakes her head and sighs.

INT. GOGILA' S BEDROOM - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda comes in and stops at the door. He glances at Gogila in bed, loosely wrapped in a thin robe. Gogila quickly rises up.

GOGILA (flushing) I -- I miss y--

Ananda steps in leading his ASSISTANT MONK into the room with him.

She pulls a blanket to cover herself and lies down.

Ananda stands silently for an awkward moment.

YOUNG ANANDA (icy) Gogila, they told me you asked for me and it's my ascetic duty to come to preach.

GOGILA I'm really unwell. I can't get up.

YOUNG ANANDA Gogila, you're now one of Buddha's daughters. You've proclaimed an ascetic vow. I salute your bravery.

GOGILA I think I'm dying.

YOUNG ANANDA You're not dying.

GOGILA Oh, I really miss you.

YOUNG ANANDA You're one of Buddha's daughters. Don't allow things to tempt you into inappropriate actions.

37.

Gogila sobs. Ananda looks solemn.

She gets up, wraps the blanket over herself and crawls to Ananda's feet.

She tries to suppress her cry until her body shakes.

The assistant monk turns away.

YOUNG ANANDA (CONT'D) Gogila, don't cry.

GOGILA (sob) I love you. I love you with all my heart, my lord. I know, I know I'm just a servant. How can it be possible? Please forgive me that I forgot my root.

YOUNG ANANDA Oh Gogila, it's not that I think you're unworthy.

Gogila looks up.

YOUNG ANANDA (CONT'D) But it's your desire that isn't proper for our monkhood vow. You must stop such fervent feeling.

Religious BELL rattles softly.

YOUNG ANANDA (CONT'D) Think of me as your brother and you'll feel love that is pure and harmonious.

Gogila trembles.

EXT. TEMPLE'S GARDEN - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda sits alone looking at the pond.

He lets out a long sigh.

The heavyset MONK spies on him.

INT. BUDDHA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda walks into the room where Buddha sits in a meditation pose.

38.

With the knowing glance, Buddha smiles.

Ananda shares the incident with Buddha.

INT. TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Thousands of MONKS sit in meditation poses in front of Buddha.

Dead silence.

All eyes look up upon Buddha and all ears prepare to hear his teaching.

Faces of people such as Punna, Pindola, Female-monk Queen Mother, and Novice Rahula. All EXCEPT, Ananda.

The heavyset monk cranes his neck looking for Ananda and sees Gogila shedding tears.

Buddha gazes at the crowd and stops at Gogila.

BUDDHA (to Gogila) Disciple, observe a wrongful desire with equanimity. Cultivate endurance which is a great virtue to have.

A clear LIGHT shines from Buddha to Gogila.

BUDDHA (CONT'D) Your feeling shall subside by the law of . Nothing is fixed and forever.

Gogila trembles.

TEARDROPS on her face shine like diamond.

EXT. FOREST - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

A Pitch-black NIGHT.

Sound of CRICKETS.

Ananda walks back and forth in a meditative state between two poles of candle light.

A TIGER sits nearby staring at him.

Ananda senses the tiger, looks up, and freezes.

39.

The tiger ROARS.

Shocking with fear, Ananda shakes.

To gather mental courages, He closes his eyes. A long pause.

The tiger crouches tamely like a dog now. It continues staring at him.

He resumes his not looking back at the tiger.

The candles melt and extinguish.

Ananda sits in a meditation pose. The tiger disappears from its spot.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Old Ananda and Daphne stand at the patio and look at the pond below.

OLD ANANDA I practiced very hard at that time, but I was not near enlightened.

DAPHNE What happened to her, Gogila?

OLD ANANDA People talked. She moved away, but continued in the monkhood for life.

DAPHNE It must be hard. (whisper) Celibacy.

OLD ANANDA Buddha has been my idol. I was inspired to follow his path. I've had faith in him that seeing the ultimate truth, the ultimate reality is more delicious than sexual ecstasy.

DAPHNE What is the ultimate reality?

OLD ANANDA The world you perceive isn't the ultimate reality. Human cognitive

40.

evolution hides the true truth from our eyes. Have you ever wondered: what's really composed of the thing called consciousness? Or is there an invisible realm of existence?

The pond they stare at MATCH DISSOLVES into --

EXT. HARVARD'S DIVINITY SCHOOL ENTRANCE

Daphne (18) looks bookish with eyeglasses walking into the Harvard's Divinity School.

INT. HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL LIBRARY

SERIES OF SHOT:

--- Nathan (21) winks and smiles flirtatiously at a LIBRARIAN. She blushes and looks away and he sneaks a cup of coffee into the library.

--- Nathan places the cup of coffee in front of Daphne sitting in a hidden corner reading a book.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Is this a real life? Or just a fantasy?

--- Daphne giggles when he fishes out a sandwich from his overcoat. Egg yolks ooze out deliciously on the bread. Bits of cheese land on the books.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) (CONT'D) (chuckle) Soap-opera?

EXT. CAPE COD BEACH - SUNSET TIME

--- Nathan (25) and Daphne (22) sit in a convertible watching the sunset. They kiss, slow and passionate.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) The soap you're seeing now can't be an absolute reality, right? It's constructed from your mind and can't ever come back in the reality.

INT. HARVARD STUDENT HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT

--- Daphne looks out of place among people. Being irritated, she is looking for Nathan.

41.

--- In a dark corner, Nathan tries to console an upset WOMAN. They slowly embrace.

--- Daphne walks into this and storms out.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) (CONT'D) See how emotions could distort your perception. Very often, you don't see things the way they're.

--- Nathan runs after calling out.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) (CONT'D) The most importance of all is this question to you --

SERIES OF SHOTS:

In an INFRARED LIGHT, we see Nathan and the woman embrace.

Watching them through a MICROSCOPE, we penetrate Nathan's skin, cut through layers of muscles into his bones, blood and intestine.

His GUT squeezes food with the digestive juices. Things move along the large INTESTINE.

FECAL matter moves in his small INTESTINE.

We zoom into his CELLS and into each atomic NUCLEUS which is synthesizing nutrients and dissipating waste.

Peer down on innumerable NUCLEI. Waste is expelled through skins shredding microscopic PARTICLES into the AIR.

Freeze-frame.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Is one life merely a biological dot among billions in the galaxy?

Now we see the visual similarity to the OUTER SPACE on P.3.

BLACK OUT.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Ananda glances at Daphne still staring ahead.

A FISH jumping out of the water wakes her up into reality.

42.

DAPHNE Was I wrong about Nate? About life?

OLD ANANDA Life is an illusion.

The pond shines in the surreal light. Its water becomes sparkling with rainbow colors, each atom of H2O blends in the air.

OLD ANANDA (CONT'D) From the light, the mass, the biochemistry of the brain, you have something I call an optical illusion.

DAPHNE An optical illusion?

Ananda nods.

OLD ANANDA Yes, and you think this is absolutely real. In fact it's just a world you're weaving from the optical illusion and electrical pulses as feelings. So one day you loved him, another day hated him. All these are not the ultimate reality.

DAPHNE Nothing is real?

OLD ANANDA Just like a flash of lightning in the sky.

DAPHNE I live in an unreal world imagined by myself?

OLD ANANDA More like Daphne's soap opera is insignificant in the ultimate reality. Are the actors, the scenes in it real? When nothing's really there behind the screen? It's only the movie projector or your mind that's rolling the soap.

DAPHNE I'm ready to take the red pill.

43.

OLD ANANDA Just know that you can only see the conventional reality. Beneath it, there is much more unknown to you.

DAPHNE Is this the essence of Buddhism?

OLD ANANDA Close. To experience the ultimate reality through meditation is the essence. Only then you'll be truly transformed and won't be affected by any drama in life. Like Buddha.

Birds CHIRP. Daphne reflects.

OLD ANANDA (CONT'D) Now -- why are you drifting? What are you searching for?

DAPHNE I --- I've been feeling like ---like-- a Man in Motion.

OLD ANANDA Wonder: who am I?

DAPHNE (murmur) Somewhere out there --- someday I hope I'll find someone who can melt the emptiness in me. Someone, pure unassuming, kind. Someone I can truly love.

OLD ANANDA Wonder who were you in the past-life?

FLASHBACK: The dream that wakes Daphne up -- a MONK seen from behind stumbling.

INT. ROYAL PALACE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Dim candle lights. Sensual MUSIC. Seductive DANCE.

COURTESANS and MAIDS scatter in the room.

COURTESAN #1 (whisper) Today's a farewell party. Rumors! Our

44.

prince decided to join Buddha in monkhood.

COURTESAN #2 He's gonna be a monk?

She gestures to Prince Devadatta (31) in bed making out with a few COURTESANS.

COURTESAN #1 Yeah, I wonder what Princess Maya will say now?

They gloat over this.

INT. BEDROOM - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Prince Devadatta stands in front of Princess Maya (28) in bed.

PRINCE DEVADATTA Today in the meeting, they announced four princes will be ordained -- joining Buddha in monkhood.

PRINCESS MAYA Our cousins?

PRINCE DEVADATTA Yes, and Prince Ananda is earnest in taking the robe and following Buddha.

Princess Maya BLINKS. Prince Devadatta observes this and shrugs.

PRINCE DEVADATTA (CONT'D) And they got Prince Mahanama elected to be the Crown Prince instead of me.

PRINCESS MAYA Well, Prince Mahanama is much more senior than you.

PRINCE DEVADATTA I know. That's why I'm taking the robe too.

PRINCESS MAYA (shocking) You? Oh, no!

45.

PRINCE DEVADATTA People say Buddha's monks have supernatural powers. They can fly, vanish, and travel through time and space!

PRINCESS MAYA (terrifying) Oh, my love!

DEVADATTA How can I stay behind? Even a powerful emperor like has become Buddha's disciple. After all I am Buddha's brother-in-law.

She throws herself into his embrace. He rolls her into the bed.

EXT. FOREST - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Prince Devadatta and Ananda ride on a carriage. ENTOURAGE follows through the forest.

A group of PRINCES including Prince Ananda and Devadatta is shaved and adorned with monk robes. They receive an ordination from Buddha.

INT. BUDDHA CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

SOUND of faint preaching. Buddha (46) meditating on his bench- bed gets up.

BUDDHA Ananda, Let's go to hear Sariputta's sermon.

EXT. MEDITATION HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Buddha and Ananda (38) arrive at the entrance. The door is shut. SOUNDS of ongoing discussions inside.

Buddha stands outside and listens with an appreciation.

INT. MEDITATION HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- SARIPUTTA (45) on a pulpit gives sermons to a large group of monks.

46.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Sariputta was the Buddha's right- handed monk.

DAPHNE (V.O.) I know. His name is everywhere in Buddhist scriptures like yours.

--- Devadatta (41) looks uninterested. He closes his eyes and meditates.

--- Devadatta's body glows and a sparkling cloud gathers above his head.

--- The cloud diffuses into the air leaving his head.

--- Devadatta's body, his duplicity appears attentive to the sermon.

EXT. BAZAAR - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Devadatta reappears as a prince wearing exquisite clothes and a colorful turban, which his shaven head is hidden under.

DAPHNE (V.O.) Wow.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Meditators can obtain some supernatural power once they've attained the highest state of consciousness. Some other Buddha's monks could do even more.

Devadatta looks around and licks his lips.

EXT. MEDITATION HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Winds blow some snowy drops off leaves. Ananda glances at Buddha who stands listening in absorption. Ananda takes off his monk shawl and puts it on Buddha.

EXT/INT. TEMPLE IN HIMALAYAN RANGE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Dawn. Birds CHIRP.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Snow-peaked Himalayan mountains.

--- MONKS assemble in the hall chanting.

47.

--- MONKS perform meditations sitting or walking.

--- MONKS listen to Buddha's teachings.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Buddha inspired and we were all keen to realize the ultimate reality.

--- Ananda sits in meditation concentrating on his breathing.

--- Devadatta levitates off the floor.

--- Sariputta (45) looks serene sweeping leaves in the garden.

EXT. TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Snow-capped Himalayan Mountains.

Devadatta (41) packs his stuff, ready to travel somewhere.

He passes Ananda (38) mending an old robe.

Devadatta's monk robe is well cut from luxurious fabric, a contrast to Ananda's.

YOUNG ANANDA Devadatta, going somewhere?

DEVADATTA (laugh) Ananda, you're still mending that old robe? How many do you want? I'll cast a spell and make it into Cashmere.

Devadatta sits down, leans closely toward Ananda and focuses on the old robe Ananda attempts to mend. Ananda pulls the robe back, pauses and sniffs.

YOUNG ANANDA Devadatta, you smell like perfume!

Devadatta laughs and shrugs. ANANDA tries to suppress his smiles.

DEVADATTA Suit yourself with the pleasant robe then. I have to go. Crown Prince Ajatsattu needs me.

48.

YOUNG ANANDA Please Devadatta, don't just flaunt your power. Buddha said such gift can lead people astray.

Devadatta glides away rolling his eyes.

INT. ANANDA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda packs his stuff for travel.

EXT. JETAVAN TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

PEOPLE dressed in white walk in radiant surroundings. SERVANTS trail along, carrying food and drinks into the grand temple.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) This was our center at that time. Welcome to Jetavan temple.

Celestial BEINGS in clear light float along. They talk among themselves using their mental power without speaking. A few extraordinary MONKS see this and share an esoteric smile among their circle.

DAPHNE (V.O.) Wow! How grand was the past! It was just a pile of rocks when I saw it.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- QUEEN weaves a MONK-ROBE.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) The Queen wanted to offer the robe to a Buddhist monk but no monks wanted to come.

--- CONCUBINES scatter in revealing dresses.

--- Buddhist MONKS shake their head "NO" to Buddha.

--- Buddha turns to Ananda and smiles enigmatically.

--- Ananda walks into the royal palace.

--- Ananda receives the robe from the QUEEN.

--- Ananda presides in pulpit preaching.

49.

--- Ananda adjusts his new robe made of luxurious fabric to wrap perfectly to his well-built body before climbing down from the pulpit. A number of sexy WOMEN swoon.

--- CONCUBINES surround him to offer robes.

--- Ananda looks uncomfortable among the WOMEN in revealing dresses.

INT. ROYAL GARDEN - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

KING KOSALA (60) and Ananda sit at the terrace sipping tea. The king glances at Ananda's new robe.

KING KOSALA (a bit disdainful) I heard my concubines donated many robes to you. What is a monk like you going to do with that many?

YOUNG ANANDA We have thousands of monks at many temples farer away. I'm sending the robes to places that need them.

KING KOSALA (surprised) What did your monks do with the OLD robes?

YOUNG ANANDA We sewed them into bed sheets, blankets, rugs, doormats, travel bags, sleeping bags.

KING KOSALA (soften) Oh.

Ananda smiles.

EXT. JETAVAN TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Ananda meditates in a garden.

--- A young MONK looks for him, stops, and hesitates.

--- Ananda opens his eyes and speaks to the monk.

50.

--- They arrive at the temple's reception hall, where CONCUBINES wait there with robe offerings.

--- Concubines gasp when seeing Ananda. They rush forward crawling to get the closest spots to hand their robes to Ananda.

--- Two old WOMEN sitting farther away observe the scene.

OLD WOMEN #1 Oh, rowdy women. Venerable Ananda is too handsome to be a monk.

OLD WOMEN #2 Don't say that! He's our Guardian of Dharma -- the title even Buddha bestowed upon him.

OLD WOMEN #1 Yes, I heard he can memorize every thing Buddha has said.

INT. BUDDHA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Buddha sits on his bench-bed in a meditation pose. Ananda fans Buddha with peacock feathers.

YOUNG ANANDA My Lord, how shall monks relate to women?

BUDDHA (smile) Do not look at them.

YOUNG ANANDA But what if we see them, my lord?

BUDDHA (grin) Do not talk to them.

YOUNG ANANDA But what if they talk to us, my lord?

BUDDHA Think of them as your sister, your aunty or your mother according to their ages. Stay mindful.

51.

YOUNG ANANDA (gulp) Lord --

BUDDHA Yes, Ananda?

YOUNG ANANDA A friend from Vajji -- he came to me yesterday looking miserable.

Ananda looks uncomfortable. Buddha's soft gaze encourages Ananda to continue.

YOUNG ANANDA (CONT'D) He committed sexual acts while in robe and left without confession to live with the woman. Now they broke up. I, I really feel bad for him, my Lord. I -- I think we should bend the rule and let him come back into monkhood.

BUDDHA Ananda, we can't bend the rules just for him. With such conduct, he has automatically disavowed and disrobed. (pause) But robe or robe-less, does it really matter?

Ananda stops fanning and perks up.

Buddha smiles with the sense of knowing.

EXT. VIRMALAKIRTI'S MANSION - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Virmalakirti's mansion portrays his wealth.

VIRMALAKIRTI (40) a dignified man wearing a white robe rises up before dawn and meditates.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Buddha made me think of this layman: Virmalakirti, whom I have to admit was more enlightened than me in many ways.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Virmalakirti offers food to Young Ananda on an alms round. His WIFE and CHILDREN offer food to other MONKS.

52.

--- Virmalakirti and Young Ananda visit Virmalakirti's charity home. Thousands of YOGIS and BEGGARS receive a free meal.

--- Virmalakirti visits drinking parlors and a courtesan's home. He does not sip, gamble or flirt. He comes with a mission.

--- Virmalakirti greets the GAMBLERS and COURTESAN at his mansion and leads them to a meditation hall. people meditate in silence.

EXT. ROAD SIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Ananda carries an alms bowl, walks in a hurry and does not notice Virmakakirti standing on his path.

VIRMALAKIRTI Ananda, where are you going?

YOUNG ANANDA Buddha is having a stomach sickness. I'm going to get some medicine.

VIRMALAKIRTI Ananda, don't utter such foolish words! How can Buddha become sick? What happens to all his immeasurable power? If non-believers hear such talk -- they'll think why should they call him Buddha? How can he help others if he can't even help himself?

Ananda looks ashamed and confused. Virmakakirti laughs.

VIRMALAKIRTI (CONT'D) Ananda, I'm teasing. Of course, Buddha is a human under the same condition like us in aging, sickness, and death. Only his mind that is beyond our comprehension. So go, go, get some medicine!

Ananda smiles almost wanting to run away from him.

EXT. TEMPLE GATE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) So I escaped the sharp Virmakakirti to the acclaimed Isigili Mountain.

53.

An arid MOUNTAIN looms faraway.

Buddha sits under a tree outside the gate with Ananda.

They watch MONKS of different kinds heading up the mountain.

A group of long-haired, long bearded MONKS walks past. CLOSE UP to hairs sticking out from armpits.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) (CONT'D) With remote hills and caves in the mountain, monks of all kinds congregate here for retreats.

Another group of unkempt MONKS appears. They wear only thin loins to cover their genital parts. Bamboo poles, peacock feathers, earthenware bowls and pots stick out from their woven baskets.

The last group of MONKS in NUDITY follow.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

OLD ANANDA It was the Club Med for monks of my time, so to speak.

DAPHNE Club Med?

Daphne grins at Ananda.

DAPHNE Oh, I wish I were Buddha's PA.

OLD ANANDA It's also a favorite spot for Niganthas, whose practice is one of the extremes. On a basis of No Pain No Gain.

DAPHNE (laugh) No pain no gain?

EXT. ISIGILI MOUNTAIN - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Many YOGIS stand in the one-leg-mouth-open position.

A few YOGIS sit in a meditation pose looking frail and thin on a fasting mission.

54.

A naked YOGI lies down in the blazing sun on a needle bed.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Sunbathe?

DAPHNE (V.O.) Why're they doing these? To gain a deep samadhi or realization?

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Not really. These people thought that they were paying for the sins of being bad in their past life. One time Buddha came here trying to shake them awake.

Buddha and Ananda walk to a group of badly sunburned YOGIS standing with the one-leg-mouth-open position.

BUDDHA Are you trying to purify your sin? But do you know for sure that you'd done something very bad in the past life?

YOGI#1 Venerable Gotama, we don't know for sure. But doing this, our master promises a liberation in this life or otherwise a good reborn in the afterlife.

BUDDHA How much have you purified the sins so far? And how much are left to purify until you'll be liberated?

YOGIS confused look at each other.

YOGI#2 Venerable, we don't know.

Buddha and Young Ananda look at each other shaking head.

YOUNG ANANDA (tease) No Pain no gain?

DAPHNE (V.O.) No Pain, No Gain, No Brain.

55.

YOGI#3 Look, you criticize us? What about your own concept: do nothing -- the meditation. It hasn't taken you far either, right?

YOGI#2 Right, compared to you, King Bimbisara is living grander, happier than penniless baldheads like you!

With that, ALL YOGIS lose their balances and wildly flap their arms to stay in the one-leg-mouth-open position.

Buddha and Ananda shake heads to each other.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) We had no interest to compete in this show-off business. But people keep leaving them to become Buddha's disciples until things escalated to a well-known debate in the city called Vesali.

EXT. ROAD SIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

SACCAKA: a dark-skinned, UGLY MAN gazes intensely at a Buddhist MONK: ASSAJI (40s) walking by.

Under Saccaka's tight belt, a large IRON PLATE presses over his super-fat tummy.

While he is walking toward the Buddhist monk, his tummy sways maniacally left, right, left, right in SLOW-MOTION.

SACCAKA Monk Assaji, wait!

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

OLD ANANDA Notorious man -- Saccaka.

DAPHNE What's with him, the belt and the iron plate? Buckled so tight that his tummy could burst out spilling his guts at any time!

OLD ANANDA No, he said it's his swelling

56.

knowledge inside instead that could burst out!

SMASH CUT TO:

Virtual reality motion pictures of Saccaka's tummy bursting out under the IRON PLATE.

ANIMATION LETTERS such as FAT, GLUTTON, INTESTINE fly all over the air.

CUT BACK TO:

OLD ANANDA (CONT'D) That's why he needed that iron plate pressing over!

Daphne bursts out laughing.

They GRIN at each other.

EXT. ROAD SIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

SACCAKA Monk Assaji, how does your master: Monk Gotama teach his disciples?

VENERABLE ASSAJI To expound ideology of non-self in a body, a feeling, a perception, a thought and our consciousness.

SACCAKA These are all wrong. I'd like to debate with him to correct his wrong !

EXT. MAHAVAN FOREST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

PEOPLE crowd for the debate. PRINCES and PRIESTS sit at both sides of the platform stage.

Buddha and Saccaka sit in front ready for the debate.

SACCAKA (arrogantly, confidently) Venerable Lord Buddha. I'd like to start the debate with an example.

BUDDHA Please proceed.

57.

SACCAKA All seeds and trees depend on soil to grow. Likewise, our virtues or sins depend on self. Although we cannot see this self with a naked eye, self or the permanent existing soul has an absolute power behind everything we do or can do.

Everyone nods and Saccaka pleased with himself sneers.

SACCAKA (CONT'D) Yet Lord Buddha, you deny the existence of SELF and stubbornly cling to the ideology of NON-SELF. Am I correct?

Glancing at Buddha, Saccaka must've felt that he is shooting an arrow to an emptiness. He sees the equanimity and feels a hint of compassion from Buddha. Blinking rapidly, he looks confused.

BUDDHA (sublime smile) Saccaka, are you saying that the "self" of you can do everything to you?

SACCAKA (breathing loudly) Yes, my body is under my self control. Same with my feelings, my perceptions, my thinkings, my consciousness.

BUDDHA (poker face tease) You said the body is under your self control. Then why is this self not able to stay like the Saccaka years ago?

SMASH CUT TO:

An image of teenage Saccaka who is fit and muscular.

CUT BACK TO:

Saccaka seems confused, blinking rapidly.

Ananda tries to suppress his grin.

58.

BUDDHA (CONT'D) Saccaka, blinking too fast will blast your head into seven pieces.

SMASH CUT TO:

Virtual reality motion pictures of Saccaka's head bursting into pieces.

CUT BACK TO:

With the Buddha's supernatural power, Saccaka can see the virtual reality motion picture. He gasps and stops blinking. His eyes widening with fears, he rushes to Buddha's feet.

SACCAKA Venerable Gotama, wha- what? What's the question? I'll answer now.

BUDDHA Can Self or the so-called Atta control your reflexes?

SACCAKA My lord, it cannot.

BUDDHA Can Atta make you feel only what you want to feel? No bad feeling?

SACCAKA My lord, it cannot.

BUDDHA Can Atta make you choose to recall only blissful memories? No bad memory?

SACCAKA My lord, it cannot.

BUDDHA Can Atta make you form only virtuous thoughts? No bad thought?

SACCAKA My lord, it cannot.

BUDDHA Do you have Atta that has the absolute power?

59.

Saccaka sweats profusely looking dazed.

SACCAKA No, my lord.

BUDDHA Is this pile of our self existence, which is comprising of bones and blood including mental parts such as feelings, memories, thinkings changeable or unchanging?

SACCAKA Changeable, my lord.

BUDDHA And is changeable always pleasant?

SACCAKA Not always pleasant, my lord.

BUDDHA And is it fitting to regard our existence that is changeable and possibly unpleasant as Atta: I, me, my?

SACCAKA No, my lord.

BUDDHA With this, shall we contemplate the pile of our self existence, comprising of bones and blood including mental parts such as feelings, memories, thinkings as self or non-self?

SACCAKA Non-self, my lord.

BUDDHA Saccaka, you had boasted in public that nobody could ever withstand you under debate. Whenever, you interrogate them, they will sweat profusely under armpits.

Saccaka soaks in sweat looking embarrassed.

60.

BUDDHA (CONT'D) (tease) Now look.

Buddha lifts his robe a little to show his golden hue dry armpit.

People laugh at Buddha's tease and Saccaka's pitiful state.

Buddha smiles at Saccaka who breaks into laughter.

Everyone laughs loudly.

Ananda hands Saccaka his monk's handkerchief.

Using Ananda's handkerchief, Saccaka wipes his sweat on the face and the armpits.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Daphne grins at Old Ananda.

DAPHNE Oh, I wish I were Buddha's PA.

OLD ANANDA Before I took the position, there was high turnover.

DAPHNE Really? Why?

OLD ANANDA Most Buddha's PAs were young monks. Being busy as Buddha's Personnel Assistant, they had no time for themselves. So they stepped down saying they'd like to devote their time to solitary practice.

DAPHNE Yeah, the solitary practice dedicated to their personal nirvana.

OLD ANANDA (smile) "Do nothing" like the one-leg-mouth- open yogis' accusation?

61.

DAPHNE (grin) Right.

OLD ANANDA The spiritual path should begin with solitary practices to gain an inner transformation. With that, a monk can truly contribute to society. But I should not be the one who says this.

INT. BUDDHA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Ananda looks anguished, fanning Buddha who sits in a meditation pose on his bench bed.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Because even after decades in robes, I, myself was not near the nirvana transformation.

YOUNG ANANDA Lord --

BUDDHA Yes, Ananda?

YOUNG ANANDA The weather has been good.

BUDDHA Yes.

YOUNG ANANDA We should take advantage of the good weather to -- to go somewhere. To preach up north.

BUDDHA Ananda -- we can't run away from problems.

Ananda sighs seeing that Buddha can read his mind.

YOUNG ANANDA But Lord, I am very, very sad when I hear the slander about you. How can they say such things?

BUDDHA This is the truth of samsara. Fame and

62.

defame, happiness and afflictions are inevitable conditions during our lives.

YOUNG ANANDA But how can they say such things about you?

BUDDHA Use this as an opportunity to practice and master your own mind to live in peace and happiness in any condition.

EXT. JETAVAN TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda looks distressed and tries to meditate under a tree.

Ananda's POV: GINJAVIKA, a sexy woman heavily pregnant strides into the temple passing a group of FEMALE disciples.

The women come to rest under a tree. Ananda sits behind the tree silently.

WOMAN #1 Ginjavika has no shame.

WOMAN #2 They should kick her out -- and never let her back in.

OLD WOMAN Buddha won't let them do such a thing.

WOMAN #2 Aunty? You believe her?

OLD WOMAN Oh no, no, no. But Buddha is setting an example of a right response I think.

WOMAN #1 But allowing her to come in and out every day like this -- isn't it like accepting her words?

They sigh. They walk out of sight. Ananda sighs.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Ginjavika started coming here seven months ago.

63.

SERIES OF SHOT:

--- Ginjavika in the voluptuous shape of a young woman walks into the temple.

--- FEMALE MONKS greet her, showing her to the temple hall.

--- She sits among PEOPLE listening to Buddha's preaching.

--- Her dress is crumpled, Ginjavika smilingly walks out of the temple passing PEOPLE walking in to offer foods to MONKS at DAWN.

--- Each time she comes, her tummy gets bigger.

--- PEOPLE gossip.

--- Ginjavika strokes her pregnant belly and cries to a group of women.

--- A group of malicious-looking YOGIS nod and gesture to Buddha's chamber.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) (CONT'D) They spread the gossip that she was pregnant with a Buddha's child.

DAPHNE (V.O.) No way!

INT. DINING HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

MONK #1 Did you see that Ginjavika was at Lord's preaching again today?

MONK #2 Yes, but I hope they know she used to hang out with those cunning Niganthas.

INT. MEDITATION HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Buddha preaches on a pulpit.

A large number of MONKS and LAYPEOPLE sit in neat rows.

Ginjavika stands up with one hand on her hip.

GINJAVIKA Oh how you preach to the crowd. So sweet!

64.

Buddha stops.

GINJAVIKA (CONT'D) As sweet as your love making in bed.

EVERYONE gasps. Buddha is emotionless.

BUDDHA (even tone) Child. Truth you and I know.

The Buddha's piercing calm voice with no dispute shakes her confidence.

She paces up and down pointing her finger to Buddha and her belly.

GINJAVIKA Of course, of course, only you and I know. How can anyone else know what happened in your private chamber.

Her hand strokes her pregnant belly hard.

GINJAVIKA (CONT'D) This's the evidence! I'll have to go to my hometown to deliver your baby.

BUDDHA (same even tone) Truth you and I know.

She squirms seeing the calmness of Buddha and everyone's disdainful stare.

GINJAVIKA (shout) Look at my belly! Your baby is coming out any day now.

She dances furiously.

A piece of wood wrapped in cloth DROPS out of her belly.

The end of the cloth tangles inside her dress like an umbilical cord.

She struggles to get up and crawls away. In such funniness madness, she delivers the fake baby right in front of everyone.

65.

PEOPLE laugh and yell at her.

DAPHNE (V.O.) (chuckle) What happened to her afterward?

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) She ran out and disappeared like a flash.

EXT. RAJAGRAH CITY - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Shots through the grandeur of this ancient metropolis.

A bazaar where we pass through shops selling a variety of goods: gold and silver jewelry, silk, colorful spices.

A COW roams leisurely among PEOPLE.

A Hindu temple where a PRIEST chants in sacred words. DEVOTEES pray to idols.

A GOAT's head lies on a tray. Evidence of superstition and animal sacrifices.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Rajagrah was the capital city where King Bimbisara resided.

We pass the busy market to a golden GATE of a grand palace.

INT. PALACE HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

A QUEEN (50) sits on a platform overseeing royal MAIDS arranging colorful flowers for decorations.

King BIMBISARA (50) sits on the throne.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) King Bimbisara and his first queen. She was the sister of that King, who asked me about the robes, remember? Ancient marriage alliances.

Crown Prince Ajatsattu (28) lionizes Venerable Devadatta (42) among the staff.

DAPHNE (V.O.) Crown Prince Ajatsattu and Devadatta. What a small world!

66.

A younger queen: (30) appears at a corner.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Khema was one of King Bimbisara's queens.

The young queen is so gorgeous that Devadatta stops the discussion, glances at her, and has quite a hard time taking his eyes away from her.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) She was famous for her beauty and she knew it.

EXT. ROYAL GARDEN - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

King Bimbisara and Queen Khema enjoy their afternoon tea.

KING BIMBISARA Khema, Buddha's giving a talk about living a blessed life at Veluvanna temple this weekend. I want you there with me.

QUEEN KHEMA Is beauty one of the blessings in life? I heard Buddha opposes beauty as of vanity.

KING BIMBISARA Not really. In fact, he said beauty as wisdom or even wealth is a result of good deeds. Just come with me to see the magnificent temple I've built and donated for them. Didn't you hear the gossip about its lotus pond?

QUEEN KHEMA What about, Lord?

KING BIMBISARA Angels hang out there.

Queen Khema perks up.

EXT. GARDEN TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Queen Khema tiptoes with a few MAIDS trailing behind.

Birds CHIRP. The surroundings glow in soft morning light. An emerald green lotus pond comes into view. The women gasp.

67.

Their POV: the back of a MONK sitting in a meditation pose facing the pond. Facing them, an ANGEL fans the monk. The angel's beauty is so stunning that Queen Khema stares in awe.

BUDDHA Queen Khema, observe the beauty carefully.

In SLOW motion, the angel's smooth radiant skin becomes wrinkles, her lustrous hair falls out, and her graceful body hunches. The angel dissolves into a pile of bones at the feet of Buddha.

Light shines from Buddha to Queen Khema.

BUDDHA (CONT'D) Queen Khema, you don't think you will grow old ultimately?

Queen Khema crawls to Buddha to pay homage. A halo is on topof her head.

INT. MEDITATION HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Queen Khema, shaved and adorned with a monk robe presides onthe pulpit leading a dharma discourse to a group of LAYPEOPLE.

King Bimbisara sits among them, palms pressing together in a salutation.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) After Khema achieved enlightenment, she became a Buddha's chief female disciple.

EXT. RIVERSIDE - YEARS LATER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Time does not let itself linger.

Ananda (52) washes and spreads Buddha's robe to dry on a smooth rock.

In the river, Buddha (60) partially submerges in the shimmering water bathing.

The setting sun sprinkles the silver sandy beach with a golden light.

Buddha wearing a wet waist cloth comes out of the water.

68.

Ananda hands the robe to Buddha.

Ananda POV: Buddha's torso, arms, and skin show signs of aging.

BUDDHA Ananda, being young is to become old. Being alive is to become dead. Nobody can avoid this nature.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Three decades passed since Buddha's enlightenment. He never stopped spreading dharma and the ultimate truth.

EXT. VILLAGE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Yasodara (60), dressed in a monk robe gives a sermon to a group of female monks.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Yasodara followed the path Queen Mother Gotami paved for women. She became enlightened soon after her ordination, meditating on sufferings until she gained an insight leading to liberation.

DAPHNE (V.O.) I had no idea about her.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Yes, she preferred to remain hidden.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) (CONT'D) The only time she appeared in front of Buddha and everyone was --

INT. JETAVAN TEMPLE HALL - FLASHFORWARD

Buddha (78) sits on a stage in front of many MONKS and LAYPEOPLE all in a meditation post.

Yasodara (78) leads a large group of FEMALE MONKS walking gracefully in TWO ROWS into the HALL.

Yasodara crawls in to pay homage to Buddha.

All EYES on them.

69.

YASODARA Lord, I'm passing away tonight. Since this is our last life together, I am bidding farewell.

Yasodara CAPS the sky with an enormous jeweled PLASMA, which sheds blue rays and emits diamond dust.

People look up and sigh with admiration on the scenes reeling on the plasma screen.

SERIES OF SHOTS ON THE PLASMA SCREEN:

--- Buddha and Yasodara morph into a HUMAN BIRD form with their courtship in the surreal snow-capped mountains.

--- Buddha and Yasodara as FARMERS working in a rice field.

--- Buddha and Yasodara as a PRINCE and PRINCESS in an opulent palace.

--- Buddha and Yasodara as a YOGI and YOGINI practicing meditation in a forest.

YASODARA (CONT'D) Lord, with so many past-lives together, it was unavoidable that I must have done offensive things to you. Pardon me. That's all I wanted to tell you before my departure to peri- nirvana.

BUDDHA You've been a blessing, Yasodara.

YASODARA Goodbye my Lord.

She prostrates to Buddha. Buddha and Yasodara look at each other with compassion.

FLASHBACK - THE FALL OF THE BUDDHA'S HOMETOWN

--- King Vidudabha (35) marches with an ARMY approaching the palace.

--- SOLDIERS kill Sakyan's PRINCES and STAFF without mercy.

--- Where the maid washes and scrubs the seat, King Vidudabha orders the blood to smear the spot. He laughs.

70.

--- A vigil prayer in a temple being held by MONKS.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) When I heard about the war, I was overwhelmed with sadness.

--- The beautiful melancholy Princess Maya crawls to Ananda's feet and hands out packages of robes wrapped as gift.

INT. ANANDA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Candle LIGHT shines at the corner of small room.

Ananda sits in the meditation pose on his bench-bed. Tears roll down his cheeks glittering in the soft dim light.

The old ribbon, used to tie the robe gift from Princess Maya sits on a shelf among a few possessions.

The room suddenly illuminates. An exquisite body of clear light, a male DEITY, floats into the room and circumnavigates Ananda three times.

DEITY Dear Ananda, an Eye in the Sky has been looking upon you with a great admiration for your dedication to Lord Buddha.

Ananda's body appears golden in the radiant light.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA O Deity!

DEITY We've hoped that you'll soon be enlightened to shine the dharma light to the world like Buddha. But, are you going to sacrifice your own nirvana over --

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA O Deity! Why gain a personal nirvana, while human beings are still suffering in this world?

DEITY O Blessed one, you have memorized all of Buddha's discourses. Put them into practice.

71.

The deity slowly disappears.

EXT. VELUVANNA TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

In the soft morning light, MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA mends a robe in the garden.

A MONK sweeps off leaves.

A MONK tends to a flower pot.

A MONK walks in with Princess Maya (52) holding a garland of flowers.

MONK Venerable Ananda --

As Ananda looks up, he stops short.

Ananda glances up at the sky and turns to her.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA (smile) Hello, Maya.

Maya crawls to Ananda's feet to pay homage.

She offers the garland to Ananda with trembling hands.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA We'd prayed so much for you.

He holds the garland near his heart.

She sees the robe on his lap. She gasps when seeing stitches, needle and thread hanging from the robe that he is mending.

SMASH CUT TO:

Younger Maya stares at Ananda's robe and the stitch.

CUT BACK TO:

Maya is overwhelmed with emotion.

MAYA (elusive) It's probably better to meet this time when there'll be no departing.

72.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA Where are you staying?

MAYA In the palace with the help from the Crown Prince Ajatsattu. Venerable Devadatta's influence --

MIDDLE-AGED AN:ANDA Wonderful! How did you escape?

SMASH CUT TO:

Maya runs for her life in the dark. She collapses in front of a FEMALE MONK.

CUT BACK TO:

MAYA (voices breaking) A female monk hid me in her hut.

Maya and Ananda look at each other.

INT. KITCHEN - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Maya prepares breakfast in the kitchen.

Using her finger, she tastes the food and smiles elusively.

INT. PALACE'S DINING HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Maya carries a tray with food into the royal dining hall. She sets the tray at the head of a long table.

A large group of MONKS sit at the table. Devadatta (55) presides at the spot with Maya's tray in front of him.

Royal STAFF put trays of food onto the table.

Crown Prince Ajatsattu (41) sits with his pregnant WIFE. Devadatta glances at Maya sitting among the PATRONAGES.

Maya gazes at Devadatta and sees that he takes a spoon from her dish. He chews slowly, glances at her and smiles. Maya smiles.

Maya gazes at Crown Prince Ajatsattu and his wife flirting with each other.

Maya has a yearning look.

73.

INT. BEDROOM - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Maya weaves a new monk robe with tenderness.

EXT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Old Ananda and Daphne walk past the pond.

OLD ANANDA In the end, I came back here. My hometown Kapilavastu.

EXT. ROHINI RIVERSIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda leads Daphne to a beach, looking over an abundant overflowing river.

Daphne stepping into the water, takes it all in.

OLD ANANDA This is Rohini river where Buddha came to stop the war between two sides, remember?

Daphne nods.

Ananda points to a small plot of land in the middle of the river.

OLD ANANDA That is where he stood.

FLASHBACK: The scene where armies prepare to fight.

DAPHNE People never change. In my time they fight for oil instead.

Old Ananda glances at Daphne staring emotionally at the island in the stream.

INT. TEMPLE HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Last time I saw Devadatta, he came with many monks and laypeople, his followers.

Devadatta sits in front of Buddha. His ENTOURAGE pays attention to the conversation.

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DEVADATTA Lord, you are -- getting old.

Ananda looks anxious.

BUDDHA So is everyone.

DEVADATTA But you are Lord Buddha. You ought to retire instead of working. I'll take the responsibility.

BUDDHA (as a matter of fact) Devadatta, are you willing to just swallow the saliva that someone spits out?

The exclamation "OOOOOH" comes out from his entourage.

Devadatta stares at the floor biting his lip. Buddha's equanimity is sublime.

He pays homage and leaves.

Devadatta passes Ananda at the corridor. Devadatta does not stop.

Ananda gazes after him, pained.

EXT/INT. ROYAL PRISON CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

The prison tower looms ahead.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Crown Prince Ajatsattu couldn't wait for the throne, seized the power from his father King Bimbisara and threw his father into jail. We all knew Devadatta was behind this.

Heavy GUARDS post outside the tower's gate.

King Bimbisara meditates inside the prison chamber.

INT. PALACE'S COURTYARD - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

King Ajatsattu sits on the throne. Royal STAFF surround him.

His queen who is heavily pregnant sits behind him.

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A STAFF MEMBER comes in and whispers to the king.

The king frowns and leaves with the staff.

INT. ROYAL STUDY CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Venerable Devadatta and King Ajatsattu are alone in the study.

DEVADATTA My King, you're building a drum with a fox in it.

KING AJATSATTU The Queen Mother pleads to let him out every day.

DEVADATTA King, don't waiver. Make the old king die quickly.

KING AJATSATTU Teacher! He's my father.

DEVADATTA Just deprive him of food and drink. He has other sons. Do you want to risk a coup d'etat?

EXT. VELUVANNA TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Looming in the full moon is the royal prison tower.

Buddha meditates in a garden. Light shines from Buddha to thetower.

Ananda sits in a meditation pose nearby but cannot concentrate so he walks back and forth thinking.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) I wish I could talk to Devadatta to release King Bimbisara who was my good friend.

A MONK walks to Ananda.

MONK (whisper) Venerable Ananda, we heard King Bimbisara has passed away.

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Tears well up in Ananda's eyes.

When the monk leaves, Ananda buries his face in his hands and silently sobs.

EXT. FOREST - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC.

Buddha performs walking meditation near a pond.

Ananda fills water from the pond into an earthen pot. Ananda carries the pot walking to Buddha.

Ananda stops dead in his tracks. The pot falls onto the ground. CRASH!

A HUNTER is aiming his arrow at Buddha, frozen in a stony position, unable to release it. His face appears fearful with sweat. Buddha sees him but is emotionless. In stead, there are only compassion and calmness from Buddha.

BUDDHA Don't be afraid. You can come in now.

The hunter can move now. He drops the weapon, comes to Buddha's feet and pays homage.

HUNTER#1 Please forgive me, Lord Buddha.

BUDDHA Hunter, may peace be with you. Remember this -- when you go back, don't use the same route you took.

EXT. FOREST - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Two HUNTERS appear fully equipped with bows and arrows.

They see Buddha sits in the meditation pose alone.

They come in and pay homage.

HUNTER#2 Lord Buddha, we're looking for a hunter.

BUDDHA I told him to escape on a different route. So should you.

More HUNTERS follow.

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EXT. FOOTHILL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda performs walking meditation, keeping an eye on Buddha, who sits in a meditation pose in the shade under the foothill.

A sudden NOISE rumbles and the ground shakes.

Ananda looks up and gasps with fear.

A huge BOULDER comes rolling down toward Buddha with an accelerating speed! With such speed, dust and rock SPLINTERS flying along with it.

Ananda shouts out, desperate.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA Lord!

Miraculously the boulder comes to a stop just a few meters away from Buddha.

Ananda runs to Buddha.

Two STONES that have blocked the boulder's path come into his view.

A noise from the hilltop makes Ananda glance up, seeing Devadatta peering at them.

Devadatta flees.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA (CONT'D) (voice breaking) Oh -- Lord.

A splinter cuts into Buddha's feet creating active bleeding.

Ananda tears a top part of his robe and wraps the wound up tightly.

EXT. HIGH STREET - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

The road is unusually empty.

Buddha leads a row of MONKS on alms.

Terrified, PEOPLE peer from windows or rooftops looking at them.

Ananda walks right behind Buddha gripping his alms bowl

78. tightly, keeping his eyes cast down.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) My chest was pounding. Last night, disciples came to warn us not to go on an alms round in the morning. They said the palace inebriated the mighty beast with tons of liquor. I heard beating drums all night.

An elephant TRUMPETS, followed by the crashing SOUNDS of its destruction.

Buddha walks steadily toward the sound.

The ELEPHANT emerges, raises its trunk, stomps on the ground, then runs toward Buddha.

Ananda quickly cuts in front of Buddha.

BUDDHA Ananda, move behind.

Ananda steps further facing the elephant approaching with speed. TRUMPET.

BUDDHA (CONT'D) Ananda, move!

Ananda grounds his feet on the shaking ground and closes his eyes.

Suddenly a superpower force blows and Ananda finds himself standing far behind Buddha with the group of terrified monks.

A terrified baby CAT scratching a locked door cries out "MEOW, MEOW" for its disappearing mother.

The elephant sways toward the cat, driven by a bloodthirsty instinct to kill.

BUDDHA (CONT'D) O Nalagiri, Don't kill the cat. Come to me.

Buddha's powerful gentle voice stops the elephant: Nalagiri short. It stares at Buddha, its ears spread.

BUDDHA O Nalagiri. Behave yourself. Don't do wild things. Don't be angry. Don't

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kill. Cast your loving kindness towards beings.

Nalagiri's ears dangle down.

It drops its tusks toward the ground, walks slowly toward Buddha and sinks on its knees at Buddha's feet.

People cheer and rush down from their rooftops toward the scene.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Because things were out in the open this time, the palace cut ties with Devadatta.

INT. HOUSE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Maya packs a few belongings into a bag and moves out of the palace house.

Maya, shaved and adorned in a robe receives an ordination from Ananda.

EXT. VELUVANNA TEMPLE GATE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

A number of MONKS follows Devadatta out of the temple.

ONLOOKERS watch with shock and curiosity.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) They left to the Gayasisa Mountain and built a rival sect. The schism was full blown.

EXT. HIGH STREET - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Maya walks with an alms bowl. PEOPLE avoid her.

LAYWOMEN give her dirty looks.

WOMAN#1 (whisper) Devadatta's ex-wife.

WOMAN #2 (louder) No shame. No shame.

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WOMAN #3 (shout) Go away traitor!

Maya keeps her head down and walks away.

EXT. VELUVANNA TEMPLE GATE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Maya walks into the gate defeated. She spots Ananda with a group of MONKS. The monks spot her and stop the conversation.

Ananda turns to see Maya wandering away.

Monks stare at Ananda walking toward her.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA Maya, wait.

MONKS throw a disapproving look.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA (CONT'D) Good morning, Maya. How are things?

He notices her empty bowl. Maya avoids his gaze and tries to hide her begging bowl.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA (CONT'D) Let's have breakfast together.

MAYA Oh Venerable Ananda. People will talk. I can't do this.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA (firmly) Maya, sharing is a good thing. Just follow me.

INT. DINING HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Maya follows Ananda to the dining hall full of MONKS and LAYPEOPLE offering monks food.

They stop short and stare at Ananda and Maya.

Ananda sits at a corner platform reserved for senior monks and takes some food from his alms bowl into hers.

Maya looks at the floor feeling an eerie silence. All EYES are on them.

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Ananda seems lost gazing at her bare head, her pale face and her skeleton frame in the robe.

Maya glances up and catches his concern.

He smiles reassuringly.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA Maya, let's share food every day so you don't need to go out for alms, OK?

Maya, on the verge of crying crawls away with her bowl.

INT. TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

The temple looks deserted.

Devadatta lying down looks depressed.

He shoots up, coughs violently, and vomits blood.

EXT. JETAVANNA TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Maya waits for someone anxiously at the temple gate.

Ananda stands in the background with a number of monks.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) We heard Devadatta was coming.

MEN carry Devadatta into the temple on a stretcher.

Devadatta gestures for them to stop.

Devadatta gets out of the stretcher and vomits blood.

Ananda moves toward Devadatta but stops when seeing Maya walk toward him.

Devadatta and Maya look at each other.

DEVADATTA Maya --

MAYA Devadatta -- How are you?

DEVADATTA I'm here to ask for the Lord's forgiveness before I shall die.

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MAYA Oh Devadatta --

DEVADATTA Maya, will you -- remember me in your prayers?

MAYA I will - I promise, Devadatta.

Devadatta chokes in tears.

DEVADATTA Goodbye, Maya.

MAYA Goodbye, Devadatta.

Devadatta starts limping toward Buddha's chamber. Maya's eyes follow him.

Earth suddenly quakes, the ground rifts apart, and the LORD OF DEATH appears.

Maya sees Devadatta from behind stumbling.

DAPHNE (V.O.) Oh no!

FLASHBACK: Daphne's dream of a monk seen from behind stumbling.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Daphne's dream MATCH DISSOLVES into Maya's POV seeing Devadatta's stumble.

--- The Lord of Death pulls Devadatta into a crevasse.

--- Devadatta has only his chin above the ground and he shouts.

DEVADATTA Lord, I'm sorry!

SMASH CUT TO:

Buddha in a meditation pose.

BUDDHA (V.O.) Devadatta, be patient. You'll be a

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Buddha one day.

CUT BACK TO:

EXT. ROHINI RIVERSIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

SUNSET in the surreal light.

Daphne looks at Ananda.

His Holiness Ananda's face MATCH DISSOLVES into Prince Ananda's.

INT. ROYAL'S WEDDINGS - FLASHBACK

PRINCE SIDDHARTHA'S WEDDING:

Princess Maya hypnotizes Prince Ananda with her glance. Both look in love.

PRINCESS MAYA'S WEDDING:

Prince Ananda wanders away, stands alone, looks dejected and vulnerable.

INT. MAYA'S WEDDING - IN DAPHNE'S MIND

Princess Maya suddenly runs after Prince Ananda.

MAYA Ananda, I love you! I did not want to make the mistake by marrying Devadatta!

Princess Maya throws herself onto him. He embraces her, smiles, and looks into her eyes.

Princess Maya leans in for a kiss gingerly.

Prince Ananda is tempted to kiss back. He pulls back and kisses Maya's forehead.

PRINCE ANANDA You're having a prince-charming illusion.

MAYA Your love will be real.

PRINCE ANANDA My love? A root of romances is often

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one-of-a-kind emphasis on I, me, my. Eventually I would've left you to be with Buddha.

EXT. ROHINI RIVERSIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Old Ananda looks at Daphne compassionately.

OLD ANANDA Don't look back and feel that you should've married someone better. Life's impossible to progress without the contrast in love and pain.

DAPHNE But I don't want pain.

OLD ANANDA While love simply gives us joyful, grateful for life, pain does more. Pain can lead to patience, endurance, forgiveness -- all greater virtues.

Tears roll down Daphne's face.

OLD ANANDA (CONT'D) And Remember?

INT. HELL REALM - FLASHBACK

The grotesque FACE out of HELL bubbles out of the mud and SCREAMS.

DEVADATTA (V.O.) Help!

EXT. ROHINI RIVERSIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Tears roll down on Daphne's face.

DAPHNE Yes, I made the promise to Devadatta.

OLD ANANDA True love is unconditional, altruistic, expansive. It is not about I, me, my.

Anada and Daphne look at each other.

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OLD ANANDA (CONT'D) You'll continue to evolve until you'll be awaken by a power of true love.

DAPHNE Had I been awaken in the life of Maya?

Daphne's face MATCH DISSOLVES to Maya's face in the dark.

INT. CAVE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Maya sits on a bench-bed in the meditation pose.

--- Her mind flashes Ananda's face.

--- She sighs and gets up.

--- She performs walking meditations.

--- Days and nights pass.

--- She falls into unconsciousness and jolts up.

--- She forces herself to walk between two poles of the candle light.

--- She falls down again. She looks very ill.

--- She CRAWLS between two poles in frustration.

--- Her mind flashes Ananda's fragile smile.

INT. BUDDHA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Buddha looks sick and pale. He sits in the meditation pose.

Ananda peeks into the room looking worried.

Ananda serves Buddha food in an alms bowl and a glass of juice.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA Lord, please take some food.

Buddha ignores him and continues his deep meditation.

EXT. BUDDHA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda looks distressed, leans against a tree, and weeps.

86.

INT. TEMPLE DINNING HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda gives a NOVICE food and gestures to him to bring food to Maya.

INT. MAYA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Novice walks into Maya's empty chamber.

Female monk Khema walks in.

KHEMA Maya has gone to a silent retreat. Please tell Venerable Ananda that she wanted to say goodbye but --

Khema explains.

EXT. BUDDHA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda sweeps the floor outside the hut.

The young novice walks back with the food.

NOVICE Maya has gone into a silent retreat and will come out only when she has attained enlightenment.

Ananda takes it in with a soft smile.

INT. BUDDHA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Candle light.

Buddha opens his eyes.

MONKS gather in the room.

BUDDHA Monks, where is Ananda?

MONK He might still be outside weeping, Lord.

Ananda crawls in.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA Lord --

87.

BUDDHA Ananda, didn't I tell you that all beings shall get old, sick and part with loved ones eventually? Things are impermanent, what appears will disappear.

INT. BUDDHA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

BUDDHA Ananda, let's go to Vesali.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA Yes, my lord.

EXT. RICE FIELD - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

A blazing SUN.

Buddha (80) slowly leads a long row of MONKS.

Each monk carries an alms bowl and a bag.

EXT. HILL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Female monk Khema climbs up the hill, carrying food and supplies.

EXT. CAVE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Khema walks into the cave.

KHEMA Maya, I bring some supplies for you.

INT. CAVE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

KHEMA Maya? Maya?

Maya lies face down on the floor.

Khema holds a lifeless body of Maya and murmurs a blessing.

INT. ANANDA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda sits in a meditation pose.

Suddenly sparkling white clouds forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions appears in front of him.

88.

In a white diamond clad dress, Princess Maya splendid in a transparent ANGEL'S BODY slowly appears.

She glides through the air, sits in front, and pays homage to Ananda.

MAYA Venerable Ananda, I want to thank you before I go. You've been so kind to me and I'll treasure this virtue in my heart. Forever. I'm sure you'll gain enlightenment in this very life. You'll ascend to the nirvana realm that I can't reach. Goodbye, my lord.

Ananda looks at the sad Maya.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA (nothing else but kindness) Goodbye, Maya. Time is an illusion and I hope we'll meet again.

The ANGEL Maya slowly disappears.

He closes his eyes and is engulfed in mixed emotions.

EXT. ROHINI RIVERSIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

A SHOOTING STAR. Baby Daphne is born.

Daphne tries to suppress her emotion. Ananda consoles her from the distance.

OLD ANANDA Life is a cycle of death and in the imprisonment called samsara. After Maya's departure, you were born in Heaven.

DAPHNE (murmur) I used to dream about the highway to heaven.

OLD ANANDA Samsara also includes a possibility of life on earth or in Hell, and even other invisible. All life is struggling one way or the other -- physically or mentally -- in this imprisonment. Buddha taught us to get

89. out of this imprisonment.

DAPHNE But life has flavors even with its up and down. I'm not sure I want to get out.

OLD ANANDA I know how you feel. You're like a child who still loves to play with toys. After countless living in the repeated cycle of old-ages and deaths, someday you'll rethink of this.

DAPHNE Yes, sometimes I want to have the ultimate forever peace: the nirvana after a terrible day.

OLD ANANDA To start, begin with mindfulness to fill your mind with wholesome energy since your happiness in life will depend on this.

DAPHNE What is more important? A wholesome mind or a charitable kind act or a sweet honest word?

OLD ANANDA (tap at his heart) Buddha said mind is most important. Stay mindful and you'll know.

DAPHNE (tap at her temple) Mind is not in here?

OLD ANANDA (CONT'D) Mind is not the brain. Its nature is similar to an invisible energy. And remember this: mind has no boundary in the space and time. Its potential can be infinite. The science of your days is long way to unwrap the entity of the mind.

90.

EXT. FOREST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

BUDDHA Monks, I shall pass into peri-nirvana in Kusinara in three months.

Ananda (72) wipes his tears.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) I was still far from enlightened, even though I'd been in robe for some forty odd years.

Some MONKS have a fearful expression.

Some MONKS have a sad expression.

Some MONKS have a calm expression.

EXT. VESALI CITYGATE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

BUDDHA Ananda, this is my last visit to Vesali.

Prince Ananda walks behind Prince Siddhartha.

The image MATCH DISSOLVES into Venerable Ananda (72) following Buddha (80). Buddha's shadow falls on Ananda walking behind in serenity.

Buddha leads a long row of MONKS out of the city slowly.

Buddha blesses aging, dying and sick VILLAGERS on the way.

OLD ANANDA (V.O) It was like the old time, except this time Buddha came to bless everyone goodbye.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Map of the last journey from VESALI to KUSINARA.

--- An ANIMATION arrow moves from the start to the end point.

EXT. FOREST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Buddha lies down on a platform in surreal light.

A large group of MONKS meditates in front of him.

91.

FLOWERS bloom everywhere.

GOLD DUST shimmers and FLOWERS drop from the sky.

CELESTIAL BEINGS, palms pressing together, float in the air.

MUSIC comes from the sky.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA My lord, don't pass away in Kusinara. It's a small town.

BUDDHA Ananda, Kusinara was once a flourishing empire of an Emperor named Maha Sudassana who ruled with justice, peace, and morality.

EXT. TEMPLE'S GATE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

MONKS, YOGIS, PEOPLE flock to the temple dressed in a variety of attires.

Ananda arranges proper places for KING, LAYPEOPLE, MONKS to pay homage to Buddha.

Ananda receives food and other necessities from PEOPLE and distributes the donations to MONKS and PILGRIMS.

Ananda overseas the camping site for guests.

A dignified YOGI walks to him.

YOGI Ananda, did lord assign someone to take on his role after he passes into peri-nirvana?

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA No . Lord did not need that because we have his teachings to lead us forward.

EXT. FOREST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) People came from all over, including yogis from different faiths that used to debate with Lord Buddha.

Buddha sits in a meditation pose, giving the last speech to

92. the congregation. Saccaka in a Buddhist robe sits among MONKS.

BUDDHA Disciples, all things are subject to change. Nothing lasts. Strive to liberate yourself and mankind. This is my last advice to you.

Buddha resigns into the BUDDHA'S RECLINING POSE.

EXT. FOREST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Full MOON.

Buddha stays in the reclining pose, barely breathing.

Many MONKS meditate in front of him.

Venerable ANURUDD (80) meditates next to Ananda.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA (whisper) Venerable Anurudd. Has Lord passed away into peri-nirvana yet?

ANURUDD Ananda, Lord has not passed away yet. He has been meditating Samapatti.

Ananda gazes at Buddha.

SOFT THUNDERS.

COLORFUL RAINBOWS.

BRIGHT STARS.

Shimmering GOLD DUST drops from heaven.

CELESTIAL BEINGS, palms pressing together, float in the air.

ANURUDD (CONT'D) Ananda, how much have you worried, cried and tried to prevent this? Nature won't have mercy on you. Whatever's alive will become lifeless.

Ananda weeps.

93.

ANURUDD (CONT'D) Ananda, Lord Buddha is ending his life without any attachment to his identity, submitting himself to the ultimate reality totally. He won't be born again in any form - human, god or deity.

At the center of Buddha's body, a luminous crystal ball radiates fine filaments of pure white LIGHT reaching far away to Hell, Heaven, and Cosmos penetrating time and space.

The LIGHT diffuses into the environment and permeates EVERYBODY. PEOPLE have calm, happy faces. The body of lifeless Buddha glows.

ANURUDD (CONT'D) Ananda, Lord Buddha's job is done. Now yours? Strive with diligence to liberate yourself. This will be your ultimate act of devotion to Buddha.

EXT. ROYAL CREMATORIUM - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Buddha's body lies on a funeral PYRE.

PEOPLE come to worship the body.

Venerable Maha KASSAPA (80) arrives with MONKS.

He clasps his hands and walks to Buddha's feet to pay homage, placing his head on Buddha's feet.

He steps back and Buddha's body lights into flames.

PEOPLE cry. Ananda cries.

INT. TEMPLE HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Venerable Maha Kassapa stands in front of a large group of MONKS.

KASSAPA Monks, in three months, a council of five hundred enlightened monks will convene to summarize all Buddha's dharma into an official record.

MONKS Sadhu. Sadhu. Sadhu.

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KASSAPA The council will lay a systematic framework for future generations to study Buddha's teachings as well as for monks to follow an established rule of conduct.

MONKS Sadhu. Sadhu. Sadhu.

EXT. TEMPLE HALL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Venerable Maha Kassapa and Ananda leave the meeting together.

KASSAPA (solemnly) Ananda, only enlightened monks should participate in this complicated task as you can understand.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA Yes, I understand.

KASSAPA Ananda, you must strive with diligence to become enlightened within three months before the meeting. You're the only person who has memorized all Buddha's words and his teachings. We need you.

Ananda SWALLOWS.

EXT. ROHINI RIVERSIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Full moon.

DAPHNE This is how the oldest Buddhist scripture called tripitaka in Pali was born.

Ananda nods.

DAPHNE (CONT'D) How did they know if you did become enlightened?

OLD ANANDA For an enlightened monk, to see if one was enlightened or not was quite

95.

simple.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Venerable Maha Kassapa walks pass a funny MONK.

--- Venerable Maha Kassapa's POV: Waves of light come out of the monk's head. Crystal. Red. Blue. Green. In different wave- lengths.

--- Venerable Maha Kassapa connects to the light and materializes the electric and magnetic waves into wholesome and unwholesome images.

--- Venerable Maha Kassapa walks pass another sublime serenity MONK.

--- Venerable Maha Kassapa's POV:

--- This monk emits no stream of light above his head. At the center of his body, a luminous crystal ball radiates fine filaments of pure white light.

EXT. TEMPLE'S GARDEN - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Ananda meditates in a garden.

--- A young MONK looks for him, stops, and hesitates.

--- Ananda opens his eyes and speaks to the monk.

--- They arrive at the temple's reception hall, where a large group of PEOPLE wait for him.

--- Once they see Ananda, they crawl to his feet and cry.

--- Ananda consoles them and cries with them.

INT. ANANDA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

CANDLELIGHT. Ananda gathers himself to prepare for meditation. He looks sad and unsure.

INT. ANANDA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

The candle melts and extinguishes.

The light of DAWN.

96.

Ananda looks pale and tired, having sat all night in the meditation pose.

INT. BUDDHA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Buddha's meditation mat lays on the bench-bed.

Tears in his eyes, Ananda places an alms bowl with food and a glass of water in front of the mat and pays homage to the Buddha's seat.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) I missed him every day. My attachment prevented me from reaching nirvana.

EXT. ENTRANCE TO CAVE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

A pavilion that can seat a large group of monks.

Three carved wood stools stand at the presenter's stage.

Meditation mats lay in neat rows for audience monks facing the stage.

King Ajatsattu oversees decorations.

Busy STAFF carry food, flowers, drinks, candles.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) The council took place here. It'd be starting tomorrow morning. And I'd not yet enlightened.

INT. CAVE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Candles illuminate the cave.

A number of MONKS including Venerable ANURUDD meditate in front of a golden jar containing Buddha's relics.

PEOPLE come to pay homage to Buddha's relics.

They see Ananda meditating among the MONKS and come to greet him. They cry in front of Ananda. Ananda consoles them and looks sad.

Anurudd notices Ananda crying with the people. Anurudd sighs.

EXT. ENTRANCE TO CAVE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Anurudd walks to Ananda who stands alone looking sad.

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ANURUDD Ananda, the great council is starting tomorrow. And you've still not achieved your monastic aim.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA Anurudd, Whenever I go, people cry in front of me. I can't neglect them.

ANURUDD You are the reminder of Buddha. But Ananda this's not the time to think about anything. Stay put with equanimity, Ananda.

Ananda GULPS.

EXT. VEBARA HILL - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

PEOPLE flock toward the cave.

A group of PRINCES and PRINCESSES sees Ananda leaving the cave.

They come to pay homage to Ananda.

Princesses cry. Ananda consoles them crying with them.

Venerable Maha Kassapa looks on.

E XT. FOREST TEMPLE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Venerable Maha Kassapa catches up with Ananda walking back to his camp.

KASSAPA (sigh) Ananda, how will you achieve your monastic goal if you're busily consoling laypeople? The council is starting tomorrow.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA (stammer) Venerable, people cry -- I can't neglect them.

KASSAPA Ananda, you can have compassion but do not become emotional. Stay put with mindfulness.

98.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA Mindfulness. Oh thank you, Venerable. I shall go to my chamber and will not come out until tomorrow.

KASSAPA Start with concentration and stay put throughout with mindfulness.

Ananda SWALLOWS.

EXT. ANANDA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

SERIES OF SHOTS:

--- Ananda has performed walking meditation for many hours until the sun sets.

--- Ananda looks exhausted from the walking meditation. He switches to sitting meditation and looks unsure.

--- The moon rises. The clock ticks. Ananda swallows hard.

KASSAPA (V.O.) Start with concentration and stay put throughout with mindfulness.

ANURUDD (V.O.) Ananda this's not the time to think about anything. Stay put with equanimity.

E XT. ANANDA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

The light of DAWN.

Ananda walks barefoot on a spotless dirt path in serenity.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Time flew. Finally, I felt phenomenal and blissful like never before.

Ananda's POV: Each piece of GRAVEL on the ground becomes crystal clear -- the difference in size, the deep color contrast among the pieces of gravel.

Each speck of gravel shines in the surreal light. The only SOUND Ananda hears is his slow HEARTBEAT.

Sudden STORM. LIGHTNING. THUNDER.

99.

ELECTRIC CHARGES fly in the air.

Ananda glances up.

BUDDHA (V.O.) Ananda, you've accumulated plenty good deeds. Practice attentively, you will certainly succeed.

Ananda smiles softly.

Ananda walks to the entrance of his chamber.

To wash his feet, Ananda DIPS them in the small BASIN in front of his chamber.

He pays no attention to LIGHTNING and THUNDERS.

Suddenly RAIN pours.

His POV: Each drop of rain blends into the water in the basin. ONENESS.

The air looks sparkling with the rainbow colors. Each atom of H2O blends with the air creating some sparks of electric charge.

Ananda's life-force energy passes through everything around him creating divine rainbow colors.

Ananda glances at a tree focusing at its trunk. His vision penetrates its bark passing each annual ring into its pith seeing the chemical reaction between water, minerals and oxygen.

Ananda's face shows equanimity, peace, and calmness.

INT. ANANDA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda absorbs in his mindfulness.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) I decided to rest a bit before continuing.

Ananda leans onto his bench-bed SLOWLY.

His head inches above a wooden pillow

Soft THUNDERS.

100.

Shimmering LIGHT.

The room illuminates.

At the center of Ananda's body, a luminous crystal ball radiates fine filaments of pure white LIGHT.

OLD ANANDA (V.O.) Suddenly I had the realization of ultimate nature of things, the ultimate reality.

The LIGHT at the center of his body diffuses into the environment.

The LIGHT permeates every SUBJECT in the room including an ANT on the floor, a MOSQUITO on the wall.

The DEITY in the previous Act floats in and circumnavigates Ananda three times.

DEITY (smile) Congratulations.

EXT. ANANDA'S CHAMBER - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Ananda walks out to the serene surreal light.

CELESTIAL BEINGS float in the air, clasping hands to pay homage to him.

EXT. ROHINI RIVERSIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

DAPHNE How did you feel? How did you know that you've achieved it?

OLD ANANDA It started with supreme tranquility and razor-sharp consciousness. Then I'd seen the origin of my mind. Only this could fathom the ultimate reality then I've reached the state of Nirvana.

DAPHNE When will my time come?

OLD ANANDA The road to ascend is to be

101.

altruistic. Make a difference while you're alive on the planet.

EXT. ENTRANCE TO CAVE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Hundred MONKS sit cross legged in neat rows under the pavilion's rooftop.

On the presenter stage, Venerable Ananda, Venerable Maha Kassapa, and Venerable UPALI (80) sit cross legged on the stools that stand facing the audiences.

Every monk looks at Ananda with joyous compassion.

Ananda looks serene and confident showing no emotion. This Ananda is so unlike the previous Ananda.

MIDDLE-AGED ANANDA (chants the famous word) Thus I've heard --

EXT. ROHINI RIVERSIDE - THE FIFTH CENTURY BC

Daphne and His Holiness Ananda watch the sunrise.

Daphne gazes at the glowing body of Ananda.

OLD ANANDA Everything has been revealed to you. Now it is up to you to decide your future.

DAPHNE It's time for you to go?

OLD ANANDA I've told you I had seven days to live.

DAPHNE Heading to peri-nirvana.

Ananda smiles.

OLD ANANDA It's time for you to go back too.

Tears roll down her cheeks.

OLD ANANDA (CONT'D) My disciples are waiting. Both sides

102.

of the river want me to pass into peri- nirvana on their side. I have to go and fulfill their wishes.

Daphne teases with tears.

DAPHNE At least -- no armies prepare to fight this time.

OLD ANANDA (smile) Am I worth less than the water?

Daphne laughs and cries at the same time.

The air particles around his body shimmer.

DAPHNE (voices breaking) His Holiness Ananda, will -- will I see you again someday?

OLD ANANDA I will be a part of you, of every being, everywhere. You just need to reach out with your mind.

DAPHNE See you.

The light shines from Ananda to Daphne.

Ananda walks away to the large group of DISCIPLES waiting at both sides of the river.

PEOPLE rush to him.

PEOPLE cry in front of him.

PEOPLE AT THIS SIDE (murmur) Blessed One, please pass away into peri-nirvana at this side of the river.

PEOPLE AT THE OTHER SIDE (shout) Blessed One, please have compassion on us too. Please come to our side of the river.

103.

Ananda walks to the bank of the river.

PEOPLE AT THE OTHER SIDE (shout louder) Blessed One, please have compassion on us too. Please come to our side.

His Holiness Ananda disappears. PEOPLE gasp.

A BOY points to the sky above the river.

BOY There. There.

PEOPLE (murmur) Look! Look!

They gaze up.

At the middle of the river, Ananda sits in a meditation pose mid-air.

His Holiness body becomes transparent, sparkling with diamond dust.

Diamond dust gathers to form a spotlight at the center of his body.

The luminous sphere radiates fine filaments of pure white LIGHT.

WHITE LIGHT WASHES OVER THE SCREEN.

EXT. BODHGAYA TEMPLE - PRESENT DAY

CHANTING fills the air.

Sitting in the same pose, Daphne emerges from her meditation and opens her eyes. She feels fresh, light and remarkably contented.

She sees the leaf on her lap.

She looks up to the sacred tree that branches over her and smiles.

INT. JFK ARRIVAL TERMINAL - DAY

Daphne, full of love and gratitude hugs her father.

104.

INT. HOUSE - DAY

Daphne, full of love and gratitude hugs her mother.

EXT. HARVARD SQUARE - DAY

Daphne walks out of a bookstore running into Nate and WOMAN.

Daphne smiles and greets them compassionately. They smile back a little awkwardly.

Daphne leaves in serenity.

They can't help doing a double take and see her body glow in the surreal light.

SUPERIMPOSE:

All historical characters in the movie exist in the Buddha's time recorded in Buddhist scriptures. Except Maya, the only fictional character.

Ananda is still venerated till today as the Guardian of Dharma.

In old Buddhist scriptures, every sermon starts with "Thus I have heard". This is the Ananda's word at the council meeting when recounting each of the Buddha's sermons.

FADE OUT: