Swimming
By
Arif Iqbal
Int. United Alien Police Headquarter. Night.
Eerie green lighting flashing in and flashing off with huge siren around the headquarter. People screaming can be heard from distance as if they are talking about something urgent. In the Alien Detection Room, there is some busy activity on the screen. The screen is projecting a map. In the map the system is indicating a certain place, extra-terrestrial life is found, and it’s in Park Lake, only an hour distance from the HQ.
Ext. Park Lake. Night. Light of the Moon.
Sound of footsteps is coming forward crushing through the pitch dark woods. Jason walks out of it and keeps his journey along the path. Though nothing exciting ever happens here, Jason is still alert. It has become a habit of him to stay alert ever since he left his regular life and took this job as park ranger 7 years ago. His thoughts were pulling him to his past but he force himself to come back to present and concentrate on his patrols. He’s not really fond of his past. Suddenly he stopped. “Did he hear a noise? Is it coming from the lake? It’s too quiet.” Then he hears it again. Someone is drowning. He can tell by the sound because the person who is drowning is throwing his/her limbs everywhere like a drowning person do. Jason starts to run to the lake. As he reaches on the bank of the lake he hears no sound. Jason’s heart stopped in an unknown fear of loss and tragedy. If he could not find the person soon, he won’t be saving a life tonight. Then he saw it, a tiny kid floating on the lake, a strange aura is glowing around it. Jason jumps in the water to save the little kid and starts to swim. He feels lucky that the kid’s clothes are shining or it would be very difficult for him to find him/her even in the light of the moon. As he gets very close to the kid, Jason notices that it’s a small girl, he spreads his hand to catch her clothes and unexpected thing happened. Jason felt like a huge volt of electricity just rushed through his body, he feels like he’s getting paralysed and he realize he is about to lose his sense. Perhaps the shock came from the girl’s costume. It’s a weird costume, it looks like it’s made out of metal but it should be very light otherwise the girl would be at the bottom of the lake. Jason will have to do something now to save both his and the girls life before he loses his conscious. He looked around and saw a big stick is floating right next to him. He grabbed the stick and starts to push the girl towards the shore. Everything around him is getting dark and dizzy, Jason is feeling very weak. Just a few more metres to the shore.
Int. Jason’s cabin. Night.
Jason is trying to make some soup. He gained his conscious about fifteen minutes ago; don’t remember much of how he saved the girl. The girl is sleeping in his bed. Jason was more surprised than anxious because the girl has pale blue skin and a strange silver suit which looks almost attached to her body. And this suit is which was giving electric shock to him every time he was trying to hold the girl. He thanks his luck that it was not too late for both of them that he realized the SHOCKING character of the suit. She has an unusually larger head. All of these are unreal. Jason even punched his own face just to see if he’s not going through some nightmare or dream. Or maybe a dream within a dream. His thoughts are cut as he sees the girl moving. The girl slowly opened her eyes and looks around. Her sight comes to a halt she sees Jason. Jason tries to stand as politely as he could so the girl won’t think of him as threatening.
Jason:
Hi, I am Jason, JAY-SON. I saved you
From drowning. You are safe with me.
Girl:
&)(**&(^^&%^&%$%
Jason moves his shoulder to show he’s confused and didn’t’ understand a single word the girl said. He put his hands on his chest and says again,
Jason:
‘Jason’, ‘friend’. I am your friend.
Girl:
‘Nuhash.’
Nuhash points a finger to herself. She starts to tune some of the keys attached to the disk on her head. After few minutes of tuning,
Nuhash:
Ah now I can understand you, this place is as you call it, Earth. Third planet of Solar System.
Jason becomes very confused and the Nuhash continued-
Nuhash:
As you might already know, I am not from your planet.
Jason:
No I didn’t knew.
Nuhash:
Alright. I am from Gliese 581g planet; located 20 light years away from Earth in the constellation Libra. I am a Physicist and the subject I was researching on is Time Warp.
Jason:
Whoa! But you look too young to achieve all these!
Nuhash:
Yes I am seven years old according to our time. But our brain develops faster and that’s why we are so good in science and invention. And if I am right I have invented time warp… not in a way I would have expected. All I remember is, I was connecting two tubes which carry negative and positive charges of Nano-tron into a part of my time warp device. Next thing I felt was this dizzy feeling and then I discovered myself fighting to travel into your water source.
Jason:
Oh wow! You travelled here by time warp and you don’t know how to swim?
Nuhash:
No I don’t.
Jason points his finger to Nuhash’s clothes and asked very calmly
Jason:
What’s with your outfit? It kept shocking me every time I tried to catch you.
Nuhash:
Oh this is our uniform.it sticks to us for our protection. It saves us from virus or bacteria, maintains heat around us so we feel comfortable and also gives us protection from to be harmed by others. That’s why you were getting shocks. The tiny sensors attached to it thought you are trying to attack me. We get this suit every day from Security Deck.
Jason:
So you are telling me people in your planet have only one suit to wear all your life?
Nuhash:
Nooooh! Hehe… at the end of the day we have to get back to the security deck and they change our suit back again.
For a few minutes there are silence. Jason breaks it by saying
Jason:
Listen kid I listened to you, you look like a good kid and the sotry is good, now let me call your parents so they can take you home ok?
EXT. Jason’s Cabin: Night
A shadowy figure slowly approaches the cabin.as it reaches the door it knocks on the door.
INT. Jason’s cabin: Night
Jason and Nuhash looks at each other. Jason points his finger to Nuhash to hide while he checks who’s at the door. Nuhash silently jumps from bed. As she went out of Jason’s sight he goes to the door.
Jason:
Who’s this?
Person outside the door:
This is Dean Sharlock, I am from the government. Can you open the door cause I need to talk to you about some matters.
Jason opens the door and looks at Dean and says
Jason:
How can I help?
Dean:
This might sound bit crazy, but we are from government’s department who are tracing extra-terrestrial life forms. Have you seen anything suspicious tonight? By the way here is my ID if that helps. I guess now you know I am not a mental person and this is my job to trace aliens?
Jason:
Yeah I am ok. it’s an everyday situation for me. I can’t tell you how many days I had to open the door for those who are trying to trace aliens. It’s cool man. And what do you do when you find them.
Dean:
Well, we interrogate them, dissect them sometimes. Depends on situation.
Jason:
Interrogation and dissection! That sounds friendly. Imagine there are aliens and they are trying to communicate with us thinking we are an intelligent race. Then you go there try to cut them into pieces and steal their technology. I think we are done here. I haven’t seen anything like what you are looking for.
Dean:
Keep your eyes open and do let me know if you see anything suspicious. It’s a matter of national security. We don’t know what’s the extra-terrestrial’s intentions are.
Int. Jason’s Cabin. Night
Jason nods and then closes the door. Steadily moves to his cooker so the guy outside doesn’t suspect anything. As the footsteps sound gone weak Nuhash comes out from hiding. She look frightened. Jason looks at her with anxiety
Jason:
This is not an ideal place for your stay. They might find you here and I don’t want to think about what’s gonna happen next. We have to go to some other place. And I also need to know are you planning to live here or you have some sort of plan to get back to your planet.
Nuhash:
I already made contact with my parents. They are coming to rescue me. But it will take them about an hour of earth time to reach here.
Jason:
20 light years in about an hour. Impressive. Let me pack up some stuff in case we need them. Is there anyway you can turn your suit off from shocking me?
Nuhash:
I am afraid, no. the controller for my suit is in my lab. I had no idea I am going to travel
Jason:
Now we certainly can’t cross 20 light years distance for a suit controller. Good that you have a suit which protects you from germs, fixes temperature and also put sort of shield around you. Ok let’s get going then.
EXT. At the bank of the Park Lake: 2 hours till dawn.
Jason and Nuhash are hiding behind a bush. Jason has his eyes and ears open.
Jason:
What we have here is about 30 to 50 people looking for you. We have like 20 minutes till they reach where we are hiding now. So we will have to move from this place.
Nuhash:
What are we waiting for then?
Jason:
They know you are at this part of the lake. They will be busy with this part. So we have to go to the other side of the lake.
Nuhash:
Good idea! Let’s go!
Nuhash gets on her feet and starts walking. Jason grabs her hand and tell her,
Jason: Sit down. We can’t go to the otherside by land. There are too many of them and I think I heard dogs barking. They can trace us. We need to swim across the lake.
Nuhash: that’s crazy! You know I can’t swim.
Jason: Yeah I know. And thanks to your suit, I can’t even carry you on my back. But I can teach you how to swim.
Nuhash: In such a short time? Is it that easy?
Jason: Well I was a sports swimmer while ago. I had this talent with swimming so I guess I can do my part. But it also depends on how soon you can learn.
Nuhash: you were an sports swimmer? Sounds like you really liked it as sport. Why did you quit?
Jason suddenly turns very quiet. In the the light of the moon his face looked very sad.
Nuhash: are you alright?
Jason: yeah, I am alright. Please don’t ask me why I quit sports swimming. I don’t want to talk about it.
Nuhash: come on Jason. I will leave in about an hour. If you don’t tell me now, you will never get to tell me. And it will hurt me to know someone who helped me to save my life is sad for reasons I don’t know. Maybe I can even help.
Jason: well, it was final year of school. I was swimming in the inter school competitions. Those who are going first place can play in Olympic 2004. My coach told me I had all potential to earn the gold medal in Olympics. My parents were so proud of me and they were so looking forward to see me in the Olympics.
Nuhash: and then?
Jason: well, before my event, one of my competitions gave me a drink. I was thirsty so I didn’t mind. But I didn’t know in that drink my competition has mixed some drugs which is not allowed by the sports committee. So I got disqualified. No matter how much I told everyone what happened, nobody believed me. Most hurtful was, it shattered my coach’s and my parents’ dream of me winning an Olympic gold medal. I quit my favourite sports that day.
Nuhash: Ah… that’s sad. I am sorry I had to brought it up. But shouldn’t you be trying to get back at your opponent and show them that they are wrong? And also try to make your parents and your coach happy by fulfilling their dreams?
Jason: I lost my heart that day. I felt ashamed and decided not to turn back ever again. And I think talking about my past can stop now for it brings nothing but sad memories. This is not a time to think of personal concerns. Those who are trying to captive you can be here any moment now.
Jason walks into the water and when the water surface was at his waist level he turns to Nuhash and says,
Jason: come on now. I am gonna hold your hands. You will do what I am going to ask you.
Nuhash walks into the water and stretches her hands forward so Jason can hold them. Jason holds her hand and tells her,
Jason: release your body weight, try to paddle your leg. Be steady and slow. Try to keep flipping your legs in a regular tempo. Keep your nose above the water surface and breathe normally. Don’t drink water. Keep your mouth closed. Now, let’s go.
Nuhash releases her weight and starts to follow jason’s instruction. As she starts flipping, she feels amazing that her body is getting lifted. Her lips are tight so no water can get in her mouth. As she started to float on the water she looks at Jason with utmost joy. Jason smiles at her too with satisfaction.
Jason: See? It’s complete… now if you just keep flipping and hold my hands, I can drag you to across the lake.
Both Jason and Nuhash hears human voice coming to their direction from distance.
Jason: don’t make any sound. Relax when you flip. If you flip hard, they might hear us. Ok?
Nuhash: ok. Jason…
Jason: yes little one?
Nuhash: thank you.
Jason: haha… save it for a happy ending.
Jason holds Nuhash’s hand and starts to swim. He stays really careful that not any part of Nuhash’s uniform touches him. Nuhash keeps flipping gently and starts to move as Jason moves. They can hear the voice of the people coming near. Deep in his mind Jason prays that before those people comes to the shore, he can drag Nuhash far away so those people won’t see her shiny costume in the dark. His prayers are heard and soon they get disappeared in the dark.
EXT: across Park Lake: One Hour till Dawn.
Jason and Nuhash are standing on an open place surrounded by big bushes. They are both looking at the sky.
Nuhash: I don’t know why you saved me, I am a complete stranger. But I am glad you helped to save my life.
Jason: I was just human Nuhash.
Nuhash: But human’s don’t quit on their goals. They reached their goals no matter how much problems they have faced and survived for millions of years. Why don’t you start over to fulfil your dreams?
Jason: I lost my chance Nuhash. I can live with my loss.
Nuhash: what if you get your chance again? Will you get back to swimming.
Jason thinks for a while.
Jason: I never thought about it before, but hearing your speech on human race, I definitely will get back to it if the chance comes back to me. But it’s not gonna happen.
Suddenly there is a bright light in the sky rushing unimaginably fast towards Jason and Nuhash. As the star shaped air craft comes closer with a humming sound Nuhash speaks up,
Nuhash: that’s my parents. They are going to lift me up now. Thank you for saving my life. Can you make me a promise?
Jason: Yes?
Nuhash: when you will compete, you will win. Ok?
Jason smiles, with a heavy heart he says,
Jason: yes little one, I will win. I will win for my coach, my parents and you- but you have to understand I am not going back to swimming. It’s too late for me now.
Nuhash: never is too late. Do not under estimate science Jason.
Nuhash and Jason hugs. When they releases each other, Nuhash steps back. A strong force field sorrounds her and starts to lift her up in the air. Withing seconds nuhash gets inside the star shaped flying craft. A lot of light suddenly turns night into day and with unimaginable speed the ship flys out of Jason’s sight, into deep space. It’s only first light of dawn and sounds of lake’s reptiles around Jason. He feels like he just woke up from a dream.
After few minutes Jason starts to walk back to his cabin. When he reached the shore of the lake, he decides to swim back again. Jason dives in the lake and starts to swim. He thinks of last night, he thinks of dean sharlock, about his aprents, his coach. He thinks of what nuhash told him about getting back to swimming. Suddenly he hears a voice in his head,
Nuhash:
Thank you again for helping me Jason, here is a little something from me for you. I hope you will use my gift well to fulfil what you are destined to do.
All of a sudden Jason feels very sleepy. He tries to stay awake but he cannot do anything else but to surrender to sleep. His body starts to drown in the icy grasp of unknown.
Int. Indoor Gym. Day
Jason looks surprisingly around him, a lot of busy people walking around him. He saw his coach is approaching him,
Coach:
In a few minutes you will swim for your place. Are you ready Jason?
Jason is still surprised, looks around.
Coach:
Are you alright?
Jason: yeah. Thanks coach.
Coach leaves him. Jason looks around and saw his parents sitting in the gallery waving at him. Jason smiles at them and waves back. And then he discovers Nuhash beside them. In his head he hears,
Nuhash: I send you back in time. It’s my gift to make you time travel so you can meet your true destiny. Now good luck with your swimming.
Jason smiles at Nuhash. His concentration was broken as he hears some noise on his back. He saw two police man carrying out a boy on… the same boy who drugged Jason. Jason sees his coach standing next to him:
Coach:
What a shame, someone reported to police and police found this boy carrying drugs.
Jason looks back at Nuhash in the gallery and see she’s laughing.
Coach: Ok Boy, it’s your time. Hit the pool and grab your rank.
EXT. Indoor Gym. Afternoon.
Coach and Jason walks off the Indoor gym.
Coach: that was brilliant. It’s a world record. I am really looking forward to your Olympic performance now. Surprise me Jason.
Jason looks around searching for Nuhash. He didn’t see he in the gallery. She’s just nowhere. He has a feeling she left. He looks up in the sky and says,
Jason: I will surprise you coach. And I will do it for you, for my parents, and a very good friend.