A Sea Faring City

By
David Nguyen, Shuyan Jin and Louise Reily

2015

David Nguyen (Writer):

david.nguyen1995@gmail.com
Shuyan Jin (Writer):
z5012057@zmail.unsw.edu.au
Louise Reily (Producer):
z5034839@zmail.unsw.edu.au

INT. KYLES CAR - DAY

KLYE drives home from work. His staff badge reads "Kyle Pool Cleaner". His car is filled with water but this is
normal for Kyle. The radio blares the weather report.
Kyle fiddles with the radio controls and an upbeat pop
song plays.
EXT. TOWN CENTRE - DAY
Kyle drives past a big sign that reads "Welcome to
Sitnalta" and into the town centre.
The whole town is underwater. The city is bustling, full
of life. There are many mermen and mermaids like Kyle
going home on the street. All the mermen are extremely
polite and friendly, greeting each other with enthusiasm.
The towns people take pride in their city. Cleaners
rappel down windows to clean sky scrapers with soapy
sponges.
A variety of shops and vendors are open, each proudly
showcasing their wares and services. A travel agent
advertises its cheap submarine cruises and snorkelling
adventures, a store has a popular sale on swimming pool
installations, while another sells barbecue wares and
cooking utensils. The barbecues are emblazoned with the
words "Highly Heat Resistant!".
Amongst all the pleasantry, signs are scattered around the
town and read "It is against the law to swim near the
waters surface." and "Remember. Dont be dim, know where
to swim! - Sitnalta Water-Leaks Police."
EXT. KYLES CAR - DAY
Kyle drives
The suburbs
fences line
crustaceans
flourishing

out of the town centre and into the suburbs.

are picturesque. White symmetrical coral
homely but luxurious properties while friendly
and mermaids work together to grow elegant,
anemone gardens.

Kyle is driving along when a clear, plastic bottle drops

from the surface and lands in front of his car.
Kyle stops the car and opens the door. The scales of his
fish tail gleam in the rays of sunlight. He swims out to
pick up the bottle.
As he inspects the bottle his gills pump water more slowly
in concentration.
He notices the bottle is labelled Water and he becomes
confused. He looks at the water surrounding him and back
at the bottle in disbelief.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

(2)

2.

Kyle opens bottle extremely cautiously. Fresh water floats

gently upwards and he waves his hands around it,
frantically trying to catch it and place it back in the
bottle. He has never seen fresh water before.
He attempts to smell the dispelled water and recoils
immediately. He frantically closes the lid.
He turns the bottle around and sees a label that reads,
"Spring Valley Fresh Water".
Kyle continues reading, "Selling the freshest water above
sea level since 1987"
Curious and confused, he carefully puts the bottle in his
car and drives off.
INT. KYLES HOME - NIGHT
Kyle enters his warm and comfortable home and throws
himself on a large shell bed. He is tired and collapses
face down in a sea sponge pillow.
He turns over, contemplating what he has found. He walks
to his bag and takes out the plastic bottle. He examines
it carefully under the light and wonders.
Kyle goes into another room and brings out a bunch of old
papers. He rummages through them and finds a newspaper.
The headline reads, "Researchers denied funding to find
what is above the surface again!"
He picks up the bottle again and looks more closely at the
label. Contemplating what he has found, he decides to take
action.
EXT. KYLES HOME - NIGHT
Kyle swims back to his car with the water bottle in his
hand.
EXT. KYLES CAR - NIGHT
The car screeches down the road and zooms around the
corner and back to the town centre.
EXT. TOWN CENTER - NIGHT
The town has a completely different feel at night. Shadows
lurk in corners and in the distance is the sound of an old
man wailing.

CONTINUED:

(2)

3.

INT. KYLES CAR - NIGHT

Kyle constantly looks back at the bottle in the passenger
seat.
He is heading towards the police station in the distance
and stops his car at a red light, anxious and eager to
show the bottle to the police.
The light turns green. Kyle is just about to slam his foot
on the accelerator when he hears a knock on the his driver
side window.
Kyle is startled by the sound, he turns to look out his
driver side window.
EXT. TOWN CENTER - NIGHT
There is a CRAZY OLD MERMAN wearing a goofy coloured cape,
out of place with the scary surroundings of the town and
standing beside his car.
The old man seems looks amused and is stupidly cheerful
despite the menacing atmosphere, setting and obnoxious red
eyes are hidden within the shadows of the town.
Kyle sighs in impatience as if he has encountered the Old
Merman previously.
INT. KYLES CAR - NIGHT
The Crazy Old Merman hands Kyle a variety of pamphlets
that read "Sitnalta: The Conspiracy", "Sitnalta: Myth?
Legend?", "Sitnalta: Smoke and Mirrors" and "Sitnalta:
Its a conspiracy!".
Kyle repeatedly attempts to refuse the pamphlets but ends
up taking them. Kyle puts a hand to his face in
frustration with an exasperated groan.
The Crazy Old Merman takes a deep breath and begins.
CRAZY OLD MERMAN
I ask you what myth is so daring
To mirror a city sea faring?
Mirror that city which sunk but
never rose. How? God knows.
Mirror that myth that would
proclaim, so much to fame but
leave such shame!
There is a slow and awkward pause where the Crazy Old
Merman stares past Kyle in horror and disbelief.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

(2)

4.

Kyle follows his gaze and realises that he is staring at

the water bottle resting in the passenger seat. Kyle
slowly picks it up and brings it closer to the merman.
The Crazy Old Merman grabs the water bottle in a tight
grip and stares at Kyle in an agitated manner. Kyle is
about to speak but is interrupted as he realises the Crazy
Old Merman is no longer paying attention to Kyle and is
instead, frantically waving his arms and pointing towards
the rear of the street where Kyle drove past earlier.
Kyle leans out of the car window and cranes his neck to
look in the direction which the Crazy Old Merman is
gesturing.
EXT. TOWN CENTER - NIGHT
Several white assorted cars and vans are lined in a
menacingly symmetrical fashion along the road. All the
cars turn their headlights on high beam and rev their
engines simultaneously. A loudspeaker is heard.
POLICEMAN
Drop the hazardous object, weve
been watching your movement. You
are now a convicted criminal.
The lights blind Kyle and sirens fill the night air.
Each car has "Water-Leaks Conspiracy Police" emblazoned on
their sides similarly to police vehicles.
EXT. KYLES CAR - NIGHT
The Crazy Old Merman throws the bottle back at Kyle. Kyle
fumbles, but catches it.
He turns towards the Crazy Old Merman but sees him running
towards the cars screaming and pointing at Kyle.
The police begin to draw firearms.
INT. KYLES CAR - NIGHT
Kyle panics, secures himself inside his car and slams the
accelerator pedal to speed up.
INT. TOWN OUTSKIRTS - NIGHT
He keeps going straight and checks the rear mirror to
ensure the policemen havent caught up. He looks ahead to
see that there is a folding bridge in its upright position
which blocks his path.
Kyle looks around quickly and realizes that there is no
other way to go. He takes a deep breath and speeds up,
heading directly towards the folding bridge.

CONTINUED:

(2)

5.

EXT. TOWN OUTSKIRTS - NIGHT

The car launches off the bridge which acts as a ramp
rapidly ascends. It flies past the tops of the houses and
skyscrapers while the police cars come to a halt at the
base of the bridge.
INT. KYLES CAR - NIGHT
Kyle realises his momentum is slowing. He grabs the water
bottle beside him and concentrates one last time on the
text, above sea-level.
He opens the door of his car and launches himself out of
the car.
EXT. TOWN OUTSKIRTS - NIGHT
Kyle swims to the surface with his all strength. He sees
the police behind him, too scared to follow, they linger
in the deep ocean. The water around him becomes lighter as
he swims upwards. A faint sound of a motor can be heard.
He is filled with hope as he gets closer to the surface.
The motor sound gets louder and louder. Just as Kyle is
about to break through the water he is hit by a speeding
boat. He collides with it with such force that part of it
falls apart and he becomes unconscious.
He floats gently back down into the ocean depths. Pieces
of metallic glass from the boat float around him and
follow him down.
Kyle lies motionless on the bottom of the ocean. Shards of
glass from the boat have settled around him. Reflected in
one of the pieces is the same "Welcome to Sitnalta" sign
from the beginning. It is reflected backwards and appears
to read "atlantiS ot emocleW".