PARADISE

After running into an old love interest, a young man becomes entangled in a mission that might just save the planet. FADE IN:

INT. BETTER COMPANY (CO.) WAREHOUSE - DAY Desperate, rowdy crowds of people form dozens of lines inside the BETTER CO. FOOD & WATER WAREHOUSE. The flood of their shouting, coughing, and crying are as piercing to the ears as to that of slaughterhouse. Lines of television sets hang from the ceiling, producing a looping advertisement of a BETTER CO. EXECUTIVE smiling, over- enthusiastically on the television screen. BETTER CO. EXECUTIVE (ON TV) Remember to take your daily Better Co. Vitamins, because life is better with Better Co. A young man, mid-20’s, arrives at the front of one of the lines. He steps up towards the Better Co. automated KIOSK. BETTER CO. KIOSK (friendly, feminine voice) Hello, please insert your identification allowance card. RAMI, pulls out his ID allowance card from his tattered flannel button-up shirt pocket. He inserts the card. The kiosk begins dispensing his rations when-- GRETA Rami? GRETA, a young woman about the same age as Rami, smiles from the kiosk next to him. She’s wearing a torn dirty jacket and stained shirt. RAMI Greta? How are you? How’s the shelter? They hug each other. GRETA Good, good. Your dad promoted me to a manager position at the shelter recently. He says you guys haven’t really talked since the funeral-- RAMI (interrupting) Haven’t really had the time. 2.

Both take their pills, almost simultaneously with the dozens of other people at the other kiosks. They drink their daily cup of water afterward.

EXT. BETTER COMPANY (CO.) WAREHOUSE -- DAY Rami and Greta walk outside to the front of the warehouse together. She grabs Rami’s phone from his pocket. GRETA Just so you know, miss you. Call me whenever you want. She hugs him and they both part ways. Greta stops and turns around. GRETA (CONT'D) Hey! Call your dad, he misses you too. Even if you don’t. Rami turns around to look at Greta. She walks closer towards him. GRETA (CONT'D) Actually, come with me. You’ll like it. Come on! She grabs Rami’s hand and runs down the sidewalk, Rami sluggishly following.

EXT. SMALL TOWN - SUNSET The heat of the blaring sun shines down onto the hazy, small, pollution-filled town. A beach can be seen not too far away. Greta drags Rami along passing by countless of sick and poor people seemingly dying on the sidewalks. A homeless person holds a radio. RADIO HOST (O.S.) Today is the anniversary of the last plant sighting--24 years flies by. Makes you wonder if hope is still a viable option? Is the doomsday coming? Has it come already? They pass by a variety of flower/plant shops and restaurants, each with signs that say: “CLOSED DUE TO AGRICULTURAL FAMINE NO GREENS HERE.” 3.

A group of armored militia drive passed in their Humvee. The Humvee has a “Better Co.” sign on its side. Much farther down the road, one building towers above the rest: at a staggering 40 floors, the Better Co. Business Building, gazes down at the musty town below. The pair turn toward an alleyway in the small town. They reach a door at . A sign above the door reads: “Los Angeles Animal Shelter” Greta takes her keys out and attempts to open the door. RAMI (under his breath) I actually missed you too, by the way. Greta turns and smiles at him. GRETA (smiling) Don’t expect there to be many animals here by the way. They’ve cut funding and there haven’t been enough rations, as you know. She continues trying to open the door with different keys. GRETA (CONT'D) I think your dad changed the locks again. I swear I-- The door swings open. Rami’s father, CALLUM, answer the door and pulls the pair in hurriedly.

INT. LOS ANGELES ANIMAL SHELTER - SUNSET Callum throws the two into the building. He shuts the door and locks it frantically. Callum turns toward the two of them, eyes filled with tears of joy. CALLUM (excitedly) Rami! I’m so glad you could be here for this. Come with me. Thank you for this Greta. Callum grabs Rami by the wrist and towards a door in the back of the shelter. An emaciated dog appears behind them as Greta follows suit. She picks up a SLEDGEHAMMER that’s been leaning on a wall. 4.

RAMI (looking at dog) Dad, I...Is that Teddy? CALLUM (walking faster) Yes. He’s made it this far. He’s a trooper. I made that promise to your mother too. They reach a wall at the end of the shelter hall. Boom boom. A banging noise could be heard coming from the front door of the shelter. They all turn around. BETTER CO. MILITIA Callum! We know you’re in there. We know you’ve taken one of our packages. Open the door, and we’ll lessen your punishment! RAMI Dad, what’s going on? Callum pushes a button on the wall. The wall pushes inward and reveals a passage through. It’s bright and glowing inside. Callum pulls out an ENVELOPE and hands it to Rami. CALLUM I was selfish. This was meant for you, from your mother. I just wanted to keep you safe. Greta, you know what to do. Take the package and get to the boat. Go. Callum grabs the sledgehammer from Greta and walks towards the front door. Greta grabs Rami by the arm and heads into the shelter, Teddy the dog following behind. RAMI (pulling loose from Greta) Dad, wait! GRETA Rami, we have to go! I’ll explain on the way. They run through the passage. Inside, there are hundreds of plants lining the walls. It’s beautiful--more color than Rami has ever seen in years. She grabs as many as she can carry and urges Rami to do the same. Suddenly a yell-- Bang bang. Gunfire, and a thud of a body. The militia move in, as Rami, Greta, and Teddy move out. 5.

They run across a dry, cracked field, Rami holding Teddy. They all begin to cry, pushing forward into .

EXT. PIER ON THE BEACH - NIGHTFALL The two reach the broken-down pier. Underneath it, lies a small boat. Greta uncovers it and begins to push it out towards the water, as does Rami. They all hop in. RAMI Greta... what is this? I don’t understand-- GRETA Your dad and I met some people who want to help. They’re not ruled by corporate greed. Ego doesn’t drive them. A spotlight can be seen through the haze above the ocean water. A larger boat pulls up closer. They all get pulled up by the crew on the boat. They have European accents. CREW MEMBER Do you have the package? Greta hands it to them. They open it up. The package contains a large plant, growing vegetables. The crew cry of happiness and start the boat towards the course. Rami opens his ENVELOPE. Inside, a letter from his mother: “Dear Rami, There comes a time when you have to take action against those who cause the world harm. Your father and I knew this. They had given us warnings, and I think I’m gonna be punished for it first. Do what you have to survive. But remember: when the time comes, will you act for others as you would for yourself? Love you, Always. Angela DATED: August 6th, 2045” Rami looks up towards the pollution-filled sky. Greta hugs him from his side. Teddy cuddles nearby. They sit at the edge of the boat, holding each other, as it sails away into the night. FADE OUT.