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End of the Line
Kurnia C. Putra as Chris and the Infomercial Guy. Ajeng S. as Julie and the Singer.
Scene 1
Int. of a Rover (some kind of a 4wd vehicle for extraterrestrial zones). Near the front of a very
long line of Rovers in front of a massive building a gigantic door that admits them one by one.
5 people inside the Rover, Sian (19 yo), Sam (20 yo), Eve (15 yo), on the back. Julie (45 yo)
on the passenger seat in the front and Chris (42 yo) on the wheel.
The Radio (they call it the ‘airwaves’ these days) is on. Chris is switching between
programs rapidly.
Radio: (a guitar and a dramatic soprano singing voice) Once the earth was peaceful and
happy—(news announcer)— have been made by the representatives of all Terran districts. This
treaty will affect all citizens left on Earth until the departure of the next Pathfinder Mission—(an
infomercial)—this stylish spacesuit right now you'll get one free oxygen tank for two! So call
now: 555—(the voice continues in the background, returning to the song).
Sam: Jeez, turn it off. Nobody listens to this garbage anymore. Julie: Darling, stop abusing the
receiver.
Chris: It’s too quiet, honey. Hey, don’t you guys think it’s too quiet?
Sian: We’re almost at the front of the line, Chris. You’ve ruined the complete six hours of silence
we’ve had. It was very peaceful.
Eve: I wouldn’t call the silence peaceful. For example, I’d find that at night, the
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streets are very silent, but a lot of things are happening inside people’s house units. And right
now, a lot of things are happening inside our heads. None of them are necessarily peaceful.
Chris: Thank you very much, Eve. That was an excellent use of simile.
Chris: --we can now discuss it. Namely: why is nobody talking to each other? Sam: Uhh,
because we hate each other?
Sian: Well, mystery solved. Now let’s move on with our lives.
Sian: Mother, there will be no problem if we can just stop talking right now.
Julie: Okay, I know the last 5 months has been very confusing for the three of you—
Julie: I just want all of you to promise that you will take care of each other when we arrived at
the colonies, okay?
Sian: What? There’s no way I’m going to spend another minute with dumb and
Sam: Well, that’s rich coming from you Missus Dollface and Nothing Else.
Sam: They didn’t reject me, I refused to join. I happen to think the journey to the second Alpha
Centauri star is a waste of time.
Chris: Enough of that, please. Your mother has something to tell you. Julie: (pause) Chris…
Chris: Oh fine. You guys know why Julie and I entered the citizen partnership
Eve: You said she was very beautiful// like the morning sun before it turned into a giant red ball
that will// swallow us all into oblivion.
Sam: Oh great, not this// again. We’ve had tons of this lovesick nonsense already.//
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Sian: Arrgh, I don’t want// to hear another word about your—your courtship!
Wooing! Flirting!//
Momentary silence.
Julie: You told them I look like a giant ball of gas? Chris: It used to be romantic, you know.
Sian: Yeah, the popular romance of last millennia, maybe. That was also the time when parents
feed their children fairytales to hide the bitter truth, Chris. Like your very convincing story of
being actually in love with my mother!
Julie: Sian, that’s enough. You’re too old for this childish tantrum of yours.
Sam: Hold on a second, your snottyness, archaic? Take a good hard look at your own elitist
attitude and you’ll find that it’s dated billions of years old.
be prioritized for evacuation lottery and I realised the importance of them saving our lives, but
Mother, once we’re off-planet, there’s no obligation for us to stay together. We can even apply
for different residence numbers. We’ve tried for the last 5 months, and this happy family thing
will never be a reality.
Eve: I think you’re not that bad. You’re not exactly my favorite person, but
Sian: (not amused) What I’m saying is, Eve, wouldn’t you and Sam be happier together without
me and my mother? We can finally get back to our old lives.
Sam: I hate to say this, but I agree with her. Dad, we don’t buy your stupid romance story. The
two of you doesn’t even try to act the part of a loving couple, so why exactly do we need to
continue this charade after we got there?
Chris: (pause) Sam, just because we’re not acting like newlyweds, doesn’t mean
Sam: No, that’s just another crappy excuse coming out of your mouth!
Julie: Samuel!
Chris: Julie, it’s okay. I understand why you’re angry, Sam. I’ve done some things, some…
absurd, impulsive, stupid things. Remember when I tried to modify the government drone that
crash-landed on our backyard?
Chris: And all I was trying to do was to turn it into a sprinkler for the potato field!
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Well, the point is, your mother was the brain of the family, and I was trying to fill her shoes
when, you know… I failed to realise that you guys need your father too. (pause) Uuh, this, me
and Julie, started as one of those attempts of me trying to be responsible.
Chris: Right! The thing is… We did agree to marry because of the three of you.
And I know, Sam, Eve, that you resent me for that because you love me very much and you
want me to be happy for myself. Right? (trying to coax Sam and Eve into responding) Right?
Aww, c’mon. Evie, baby, you do love me right? Sam? Sammo? Some love for the old man?
Chris: Come here you little critters. (rustling sound and protests from Eve and Sam
Sam and Eve let out a relieved breath when Chris finally let them go.
Sam: The fact that I let you do that even though I’m now a 20 year old adult
Chris laughs for a while. The laughter ended up sounding sad at the end.
Silence.
Julie: Guys. The citizen partnership grant. It’s not for us.
Julie: (stern voice) Quiet. (pause) The registration process was very long. The first two months
were only the vetting period. We had to fill in endless paperwork about personal details. There
were interviews where it felt like
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they actually want to take our brains apart and look for any single reason that could make us
bad role models for our children. They asked about the books we’ve read, things we’ve
watched, we’ve listened. They made sure that we’re just appropriate enough to raise ‘compliant’
children. And then, after 5 months.... After 5 months, they just had to change the rules. They
said there’s no place left in the colonies. In the colonies, if you’re older than 40, you can’t be
productive. No point sending you if you can’t adapt to the atmosphere like the young ones do.
(pause) But 5 months was more than enough.
Julie: There was a lot that you can learn from each other in 5 months. Just enough to make
you care. Just enough to, maybe, hope for a better future together.
An archived recording.
Scene 2
son; 2 heterosexual parents, registered for the partnership grant list 5 months ago. This file
contains partial recording of some members of the family, taken the day they passed through
the gate, created for the purpose of Colonial Citizen Board review. For full version, please
contact Terran HQ.
A buzzing sound.
Officer A: (from a distance) You and your wife’s permit is only for 3 earth-day cycle, correct?
Officer A: Are your children okay with this? Chris: We’ve… We’ve talked about it, yes.
Officer A: (pause) You just recently met your partner, yes? Chris: Right.
Chris: Well… When you meet the right person, I suppose… Anything could
happen.
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Officer A: No, I mean, how did you two decide to be together at all? Was it only because of the
grant?
Chris: (beat) Our last partners died two years ago. There was a heat wave in our district.
Apparently, the power plant hotwired, and some of the house units caught fire. Including mine. I
got home from work to find my son and my daughter freaking out, yelling about their mother who
was trapped in our bedroom. She died in the fire. Alone. Julie’s house was two blocks away.
Her husband died one week after the fire. He was hurt really bad from saving Eve. Me and Julie
met at therapy. We just decided that… well, we don’t want to die alone.
A buzzing sound.
Officer A: (from the distance) What do you want to do in the future when you’ve
Sam: I want to join the Pathfinder Army. I want to find a new habitable planet in Alpha Centauri
with a more suitable atmosphere for human, and maybe… be the next colonial leader.
Officer A: Really? That’s big. It’s great to hear you’re still holding onto your
childhood dream.
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EREHWON?
By: Bukit Mertajam High School
00:00/14:31
Click the play button
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
You may be worn from all the years of serving, Yet you’re too precious to be put away. Mirror,
mirror show me anything,
MIRROR:
Good day, your highness. You seem to be blue today. How can I serve you?
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
I am the only prince of Willowshire and I’m the heir of this kingdom. I have everything.
Gold, diamonds, horses and men serving me. Name it and I have it. But what am I
lacking of?
MIRROR:
Well, man is a fool. You’re poor despite everything you have. You are blinded with the luxury
around you! But you are still missing something that you can’t buy.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
The mirror displayed an image of the prince in dirty clothes and messy hair but with a wide smile
on his face.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
MIRROR:
You self-centered fool! You don’t even know how mud feels like.
This is a story about aspiration in life. It focuses on Prince Saphius’ journey on finding his
happiness. We present you, “EREHWON”.
Once upon a time, there lived a lonely prince who goes by the name, Saphius. Feeling offended
with what the mirror had said, he felt the urge to step out of the castle.
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PRINCE SAPHIUS:
MOTHER:
No! Goodness gracious. Do you know how unsafe the outside world is?
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Immediately after that, the prince took his horse and rode into the jungle. He rode passed a sign
that says ‘EREHWON’. “What a funny name!” After a long ride, he realised that he kept on
coming back to the same spot.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
…..(rustling sound)…..
Out of the blue, a talking tree came to life and spoke to the prince. He is the hoarder of the
jungle, also known as Mr. Grandeur.
MR. GRANDEUR:
Your stubbornness has brought you here. What your mother did was to protect you and help
you. Now, it is YOU who have to help someone else in order to repay for your mistake. DO
WHAT IS RIGHT!
Upon hearing the last sentence from Mr. Grandeur, he took a right and continued on until he
sees a small cottage.
The prince gasped. In front of him stood an ugly looking creature staring back at him with only a
golden eye. He noticed that the other eye was covered with a patch.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
DOCTOR RUBERT:
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
I am lost and don’t know the way out. Perhaps you can help me?
DOCTOR RUBERT:
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Princey lost? Me can help you. But Princey must help me first. Me was a human just like
Princey can help me break the evil witch’s spell by looking for three special ingredients. Me
make a potion to break the spell. But me cannot tell you the special ingredients.
Only the talking tree, Mr. Grandeur knows. Mr. Grandeur will tell Princey three riddles for
Princey to find the ingredients. Princey find ingredients, me show you the way out of the jungle.
Deal?
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Okay, I’ll make sure that you get all the ingredients needed.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
MR. GRANDEUR:
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
MR. GRANDEUR:
Young man,
It sparkles under the sunlight, Plunge into it and you’ll find out.
What you’re finding for may be in your sight, But it belongs to someone wandering about.
Remember; do not be fooled by its beauty.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
What? I need your help. Doctor Rubert asked me to look for you!!!
The favor was not returned. Mr. Grandeur just stood still.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
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Wait, was that a clue? It sparkles under the sunlight….OH I KNOW! It’s jewellery.
The prince looked high and low for the jewellery but in vain.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
How am I supposed to find jewellery in a place like this? Hmm. I’ll just take a short rest
here.
As he was leaning against Mr. Grandeur, something shiny caught his attention.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
He realised that Mr. Grandeur was talking about the stream. He dived into it and looked around
for a clue. He saw a waterfall at the end of the stream and swam pass through it.
To his surprise, he saw a mermaid sitting on a rock playing with her hair.
As his gaze met hers, he was mesmerized and thought “oh my, what a beautiful creature
she is.”
MERMAID:
Oh hello there. Sorry, I don’t get visitors very often. So, what brings you here, little
prince charming?
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
MERMAID:
Hahaha..aww you sweet funny little thing. I am Queen Izanami of the Underworld. I smell
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Ohh….
MERMAID:
So, here’s an idea. Why don’t you drag your man feet here and sit next to me?
Well, come on. Don’t you want to be with me forever and ever and ever? Aww don’t be shy, little
prince charming. I won’t bite.
The prince took one step after another towards the mermaid. As each time he did, the smirk on
her face just grew wider.
MERMAID:
Yeah, yeah. That’s it, little prince. Come, come a little closer to me.
And that was when the prince snapped out of the trance.
“Do not be fooled by its beauty.” “Do not be fooled by its beauty.” “Do not be fooled by its
beauty.” He said to himself.
MERMAID:
Little did the mermaid know, the prince ran up to her just like she yearned for but instead took
something that was so dear to her, the ancient necklace.
MERMAID:
No, no, no! What are you doing? You can’t take that. You men are food! Nothing more.
The prince dived into the water and swam as fast as he could away from Queen Izanami.
MERMAID:
Oh, no. I’m all alone again. All men are the same.
Prince Saphius took the necklace and rushed to Doctor Rubert’s place.
DOCTOR RUBERT:
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
DOCTOR RUBERT:
Me don’t need the necklace. Me only need the pearl inside the necklace.
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The prince removed the necklace and took out the pearl inside it without him being aware of the
carving, ‘EREHWON’ on it. He handed the necklace and the pearl over to Doctor Rubert.
DOCTOR RUBERT:
Princey just keep the necklace. Now off Princey go looking for the next ingredient.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Mr. Grandeur! Mr. Grandeur! I’m here for the next clue!
MR. GRANDEUR:
They are easily convinced with what you have to offer, A tear or two would be the answer.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Riiight.
Prince Saphius decided to try his luck by heading wherever his horse takes him. While he was
on his way, he saw a herd of elephants. There was a calf crying in pain and its mother
trumpeted in frustration. It clicked and finally everything makes sense. He made his way
towards the elephants and saw the reason to why the calf was crying. The calf’s leg was pricked
by a thorn and none of them could get it out.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Prince Saphius looked around for something to hold the tears. His eyes landed on a coconut
shell lying on the ground and thought to himself, “This is perfect.” After pulling out the thorn from
the calf’s leg, Prince Saphius collected its tears with the coconut shell.
Feeling contented, Prince Saphius returned to Doctor Rubert’s cottage and handed him the
elephant tears.
DOCTOR RUBERT:
What have Princey brought this time? Oh, elephant’s tears! Well done, Princey! One more
ingredient and Princey is out of the jungle.
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PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Prince Saphius felt determined to find the last ingredient as he was a step closer to freedom. He
went looking for Mr. Grandeur again.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Mr. Grandeur! Mr. Grandeur! I’m here for the last clue.
MR. GRANDEUR:
Last but definitely not least, This is the trickiest of them all,
It is your goal to escape as a whole, Look for gold around the coal.
He stared blankly at the tree trying to figure what it meant. It was getting late, and he thought he
might as well figure out the clue the next day. To the cottage he went.
The prince couldn’t get any sleep that night because he felt unaccomplished. So, he
DOCTOR RUBERT:
(mumbling)
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
*music starts*
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As soon as, Prince Saphius looked into Doctor Rubert’s golden eye, he saw an image of Mr.
Grandeur. He immediately got up, hop onto his horse, and rushed to look for Mr.
Grandeur.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Mr. Grandeur?
Mr. Grandeur did not respond. This made Prince Saphius disappointed. As he looked around
impatiently, he spotted a golden leaf from one of the trees.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Prince Saphius made his way towards Mr. Grandeur and plucked the golden leaf. He handed
the last ingredient to Doctor Rubert.
DOCTOR RUBERT:
Yes! The last ingredient! Now me can start making the potion and turn into a human like
Princey.
My! What an ugly creature I was! Your kind deed changed my life, your highness. I will be
forever grateful and indebted to you. I’m so overwhelmed and speechless that all I can manage
to say right this minute is thank you, thank you and thank you.
Now, as promised, I’ll tell you the way out of the jungle. Go straight until you find a tree with a
yellow trunk, turn left three times and turn right nine times, you’ll find a stone that is hexagon in
shape. Take it and throw it as far as you can and you’ll be back in the castle in no time.
Prince Saphius left the cottage feeling accomplished. He looked dirty and messy but he was
happy.
*flashback*
The mirror displayed an image of the prince in dirty clothes and messy hair but with a wide smile
on his face.
He finally understood what the mirror meant. After he found the stone, he did exactly as what
was instructed by Doctor Rubert and he teleported back to the castle, safe and sound.
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After a few days…
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
Again, nothing appeared and he only saw himself. That is when he noticed the carvings on the
necklace spelled backwards.
PRINCE SAPHIUS:
EREHWON….NO WHERE?
-THE END-
CHARACTERS:
INSTITUTION:
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