Come Back
2022
Short Film Screenplay
EXT. BULIM AVENUE – DAY
We see a bloody arm outstretched, twitching slightly on the road. A yellow car in the far background. SHOUTS AND EXCLAIMS RING OUT FROM BYSTANDERS. The SCENE BLURS and a RINGING GRADUALLY GETS LOUDER, muffling the sounds of bystanders and ambulances until it gets louder and louder until…
MATCH CUT TO:
INT. ALO’S BEDROOM – DAY
The same arm, clean this time, lying on a bed, as the alarm clock RINGS INCESSANTLY, its face showing 7.20a.m. ALO LIZAM (26) lays awake with a nonchalant expression as if it was just another normal day. His long hair is a mess. He sits up, and winces at a slight pain in his head, but only a little.
He glances at the closed drawer next to his bed. A photo frame of him and two people whose faces we don’t see next to him. His face falls, a flash of guilt. He leaves quickly.
EXT. ALO’S HOUSE – LATER
Alo is wearing his work suit. He closes the gate and locks it, wincing again and rubs his head. He switches on his phone and the time flashes 7.20a.m. He clicks it off, the sound ECHOES slightly in the silent corridor of his flat.
EXT. BOON LAY VIEW – MOMENTS LATER
Alo’s footsteps ECHO SLIGHTLY. He steps on a dried leaf, and flinches as it cracks louder than expected. He passes by a parked yellow car. He glimpses at it and suddenly a memory flashes. The whole world dissolves around Alo.
EXT. BULIM AVENUE – CONTINUOUS
He is back on the road in the beginning. The yellow car comes straight at him, HORN BLARING. Alo cowers, hands over his face bracing for impact. The car comes closer.
CUT TO:
EXT. BOON LAY VIEW – CONTINUOUS
He stays in the same position, eyes squeezed shut. He then realises that he is back to where he was before.
ALO
W-Wha- What the- What just…
Alo checks himself, disoriented, no blood or injury, he is the same. He runs a hand through his hair, face creased with confusion. He checks his phone. The time flashes 7.20a.m, and he realises, horrified, flashing back to when he checked his phone in his flat, then to the memory of his bloody hand from the start.
ALO
Am I…
He looks up in the sky. A BLANK SLATE OF LIFELESS GREY.
MATCH CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL – CONTINUOUS
A BEEPING HEART MONITOR. Alo lays on a hospital bed with a bandaged head, EYES OPEN BUT NOT RESPONDING. His parents, ROHANA LIZAM (60) and NIJAT LIZAM (62) hover over his bed, weeping.
ALO (V.O.)
Dead…?
EXT. BOON LAY VIEW – MOMENTS LATER
Alo sits on a bench, restless and unsure. He tries pinching his arm, slapping himself, he remains.
ALO
Ow… This has to be some dream…
Alo waits impatiently. His phone rings, searing through the silence. It’s Rohana, his mother. A flash of guilt on his face, quickly replaced with confusion. He hangs up and his head droops. A sudden pang of pain in his head. He groans.
INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT
Alo’s EYES CLOSE. Nijat sleeps, but Rohana is awake to witness it. She is shocked and cries silently.
EXT. BOON LAY VIEW – MOMENTS LATER
Alo huffs due to the aftermath of the pain and rubs his temples. He tilts his head back and sighs, getting up slowly.
ALO
Might as well… sleep it off? I don’t know lah.
He turns back to his flat, rubbing his eyes. That’s when he sees: His whole flat has turned ENTIRELY GREY, like an old 90s silent film. The grey that covered the entire flat SNAKES DOWN to the ground like tendrils, spreading to the surrounding plants. As soon as it touches the plants, the plants BECOME DEVOID OF COLOUR AND WILT. The grey continues to steadily approach him.
ALO
No way… Is this purgatory or something?!
He backs away hastily when the grey gets too close to his feet. He looks around, and looks back at it. It seems to not spread as quickly as before. He cautiously approaches it. Suddenly it speeds up, almost leaping out at Alo. He dodges it in the nick of time and stumbles back far away from it. The grey spreads around him almost forming a circle.
He scrambles to his feet and runs.
EXT. NIJAT’S OUTDOOR GARDEN – LATER
Alo almost falls over as he stops running. He doubles over, catching his breath, his work suit dishevelled, hair even more of a mess. He looks up to see where he is.
A GATE next to the road. A colourful sign hangs over it cheering “NIJAT’s OUTDOOR GARDEN”, the words a little sloppily painted, with splotches of different coloured paint all around it.
Alo gulps, unwilling to enter. He looks around. The grey, though far away, was still spreading and in sight. Alo’s breath hitches and he pushes through the gate to enter.
INT. NIJAT’S OUTDOOR GARDEN – CONTINUOUS
It’s almost as if Alo enters into another world. Plants flourished all around him.
Fresh vegetables, colourful flowers. Everything is alive. Alo sighs as he touches a plant’s leaf tenderly.
ALO
Abah1 never stopped taking care of all this.
He strolls through the garden, breathing in deeply, careful not to trip over the various potted plants. Suddenly, a distant rustling, then a CHILD’S LAUGHTER. Alo walks further into the garden, arriving at a patch of just Vanda Miss Joaquim flowers growing everywhere. There he sees:
YOUNGER ALO (8) and NIJAT (44) playing around with the soil, as Nijat teaches Alo about plants. Nijat’s hair here is much shorter and his face is shaved. ROHANA (42) sits on a nearby bench, wearing a beautifully patterned hijab. She munches on some sandwiches, smiling at the playful duo.
Alo approaches them curiously, recognising his younger self. Younger Alo suddenly runs past, RUNS THROUGH HIM. Alo stumbles back in shock like he took a blow, and it is as if a WARM FEELING passed through him. He pats his stomach and then his face and chuckles a bit.
Younger Alo and Nijat join Rohana on the bench. Younger Alo snatches a sandwich from Rohana’s packet and begins devouring it. Nijat pinches his cheeks.
NIJAT
Aiyo Alo, that’s your mak’s2 food lah! If you hungry then say so!
Younger Alo laughs cheekily and kicks his feet. Rohana ruffles his hair as he continues to chomp on it. The three of them all occupy the entire bench, so Alo just stands aside watching with intense longing. He steps forward to try to join, but stops midstep, afraid that this happy memory would disappear all of a sudden.
His hands brush past his pocket, and he instinctively takes out his phone and scrolls through his contacts, which only consists of Rohana and Nijat’s, named “Ma” and “Abah” respectively. His thumb hover over each of their contacts. He looks over to the cheery trio on the bench and back at his phone. He sighs, shoulders drooping as he turns off his phone.
NIJAT
Come! Let’s go eat real lunch. You want roti jala3, Alo?
Younger Alo claps his hands excitedly. The trio gets up and leaves the garden. Alo trails behind them, close but not too close.
INT. KOPITIAM – MOMENTS LATER
The whole kopitiam is EMPTY, rows of Malay food stalls with no stall vendors, but the trio seems to brighten it up. They eat nasi lemak4 and roti jala. Younger Alo eats it all messily, Rohana chuckles and cleans up his mouth, Nijat playfully scolds Younger Alo for making a mess.
Alo sits silently a table away, watching the lively sight, almost smelling the fragrant scent of the rice.
The world dissolves again, but only half. Behind him, shows a dull memory of Alo eating cold Chinese food in front of a television, barely paying attention to anything. A drastic contrast to the bright atmosphere on the other half.
The depressing memory fades into grey, distorting and melting like candle wax into the ground. Alo falls backwards. It disappears, and he’s back at the kopitiam again. The trio chatting happily takes no notice. Alo gets up and turns back to them. Tears well up in his eyes but he blinks them away.
ALO
Why can’t you all be with me?
He treads forward to the trio. Alo shakily hovers over Nijat’s shoulder.
ALO
Abah…?
Nijat abruptly turns around, a giant grin on his face.
ALO
Abah! I–
NIJAT
You don’t deserve us.
Nijat keeps grinning. But he isn’t happy anymore.
ALO
I– What? No, wait–
Rohana stares at Alo coldly and he is taken aback, a strange look for Rohana to have.
ALO
Ma?
Younger Alo looks up at Alo with an innocent look, munching on some roti jala.
YOUNGER ALO
What did you expect? It’s your fault.
ALO
No… Please, wait..
Their faces DISTORT AND MELT, like heating wax, followed by their whole bodies till they fall to the floor and disappear.
ALO
No… No, no, no!
His voice ECHOES louder than before. The whole world is silent, TERRIBLE, COLD SILENCE. Alo struggles to breathe, grabbing onto a chair for support. He looks around frantically, his vision blurring.
Then in front of him, the grey is back, spreading throughout the kopitiam faster and more aggressively. The fluorescent lights all flicker off. Shrouding the kopitiam in darkness as everything turns grey. Chairs and tables were seemingly being KNOCKED OVER by the grey. Alo tries to run, but he trips in doing so, and the grey leaps out and touches his shoes, quickly COVERING HIS LOWER BODY. His screams echo.
INT. HOSPITAL – CONTINUOUS
It’s chaos. Alo’s heart rate has spiked, and the heart monitor BEEPS RAPIDLY. Doctors and nurses rush to his bedside.
NIJAT
What, what is going on?! What’s happening to him?!
Rohana is holding Alo’s limp hand, crying even more. Nijat hugs Rohana. One of the doctor’s injects Alo with something, his heart rate goes down slightly, but is still at risk.
NIJAT
Sayang5, sayang, it’s gonna be okay. He will be alright soon.
Note: Rohana’s and Nijat’s following dialogue is in sign language.
ROHANA
What is happening to him?
NIJAT
I don’t know.
INT. KOPITIAM – CONTINUOUS
Alo is still on the ground. It’s like time has slowed for a moment. The grey spreads in slow motion. The grey on his lower body begins to climb its way up to his stomach. His breathing is the only sound, a RINGING SOUND gets louder…
His phone rings. He shakily takes it out of his pocket. It’s Nijat. He lowers his head, and sucks in a determined breath. Alo pushes himself up, crawling away from the grey. He eventually forces himself up to his feet, and runs away as fast as he can, clenching his phone as it VIBRATES AND RINGS. He leaves behind the mess, chairs and tables tipped over, the darkness and lifelessness of the kopitiam.
EXT. NIJAT’S OUTDOOR GARDEN – MOMENTS LATER
Alo huffs and looks at his phone. It’s still ringing. He looks around, the grey has spilled out of the kopitiam heading directly towards him. He quickly picks up the phone and puts it ON SPEAKER as he walks briskly.
NIJAT
Alo–
ALO
Abah… It’s you…
Alo suddenly shouts out in pain. The grey clinging to his stomach climbs up his body. He flinches and clutches his sides, and the phone slips out of his hands, CLATTERING TOO LOUDLY on the floor.
ALO
DAMN IT!
The screen of his phone is broken, glitching.
NIJAT
(garbled)
Please…. don’t…
ALO
Hold on. I might be able to salvage this–
NIJAT
…come back.
Alo freezes. The phone’s screen turns off entirely and goes silent. Alo slowly picks it up and tries to switch it on, again and again and again, desperate for any response.
ALO
No, please, come back, I… want to come back… I’m sorry.
He drops the phone and leans against the garden gate in defeat, sliding onto the ground. He shouts in frustration, punching the gate. He looks up into the garden, a hand on the handle about to turn it. But stops when he sees that the grey is spreading there too. The beautiful plants and vegetables wilt away, now just a grave.
Alo falls to his knees, his shoulders rise and fall with his breathing. Tears drip down onto the ground.
Suddenly, he hears a FAINT CHILD’S LAUGHTER coming from the garden. He looks up into the garden and sees the bench far away, a PLASTIC SANDWICH PACKET.
Alo gets up and runs, this time he knows where he’s going.
INT. CHILDHOOD HDB FLAT – LATER
Alo stands in the old elevator. The elevator CREAKS NOISILY as it ascends, like it’s gonna fall apart at any moment. A PATHETIC DING as it slows to a stop.
ELEVATOR
8th floor.
The elevator door creaks open. Alo steps out like a timid child. The flat is older than Alo’s flat. Cracks etch across walls and ceilings, but the whole corridor is adorned with plants and flowers, like a miniature version of Nijat’s garden. Alive, even though it’s all empty.
He stops at the door at the end of the corridor. His childhood house. Alo opens the gate. A cartoon plant sticker is pasted on the worn wooden door. He touches it, a fragment of a memory. He squeezes his eyes close, a memory resurfacing behind the door as he listens on the other side, peeking through the peephole in the door.
NIJAT (58) and PAST ALO (22) argue.
NIJAT
I just don’t understand–
PAST ALO
Why do I have to always listen to you?!
NIJAT
You can become a doctor and yet…
PAST ALO
My job pays well and I like it. What’s so wrong with that?!
NIJAT
Doctor pays better!
PAST ALO
But being a stupid… gardener doesn’t!
Nijat slaps Past Alo. Both fall deadly silent. Past Alo storms out the door. Alo continues to stand, listening to this memory, rubbing his cheek as if the pain of the slap is still there. Another memory resurfaces behind the door. NIJAT (61) is on the phone and ROHANA (59) sits on a chair next to him.
NIJAT
(on the phone)
When can you visit?
(beat)
Busy, busy, busy! You never make time for me and your poor mother!
Rohana CAN’T HEAR what they are saying, but she grows worried looking at the anger on Nijat’s face. She reaches out to rub his hand to calm him down. He SNATCHES HIS HAND AWAY.
NIJAT
Fine! Then we might as well die!
Nijat throws his phone onto the table and marches off, leaving Rohana in the dark, confused and disheartened.
Going back to the present. Alo wrings his hands so tightly that he might break it. He sits at the doorstep, burying his head in his hands.
Alo stays like that for a moment. Then the wooden door opens. Rohana steps out and sits with Alo. He raises his head a little. Rohana smiles. She signs something but he doesn’t recognise it. He shakes his head.
ALO
Sorry. I haven’t remembered a lot of words in sign language.
Rohana goes back into the house. Alo sighs and goes back to sulking. She comes back with a notepad and pen. She scribbles something down and nudges Alo to take the paper. He takes it.
ROHANA
I said: Why don’t you say hi to your mother?
She hands him the pen.
ALO
Hello, Ma.
ROHANA
I’m glad you came.
The grey spreads up Alo’s entire chest, beginning to spread to his shoulders.
ALO
Well, I didn’t have a choice. But it’s nice to be back here again.
ROHANA
Is it?
Alo pauses.
ALO
Are you mad at me? Are you disappointed in me Ma?
Rohana sighs and begins to write. Alo looks the other way.
ROHANA
No. I’m sad that you don’t come visit more often. Work is important. But family is more important.
Alo takes the note and lowers his head. Rohana takes his hand and he FLINCHES, REGRETTING it immediately. He quickly writes.
ALO
It’s been difficult. Boss has been wanting us to work longer hours than before or else he cut pay.
Alo stops writing for a moment. Rohana waits patiently.
ALO
…And I’m afraid of meeting you and Abah again. Afraid that
(beat)
You wont accept me into the family again.
NIJAT
That’s stupid.
Alo jumps and turns around. Nijat stands at the entrance.
ALO
Abah!
NIJAT
You’re my son. Why would I do that?
Alo gets up, meeting Nijat’s hard gaze.
NIJAT
Even if time stops. Even if Earth explode. Even death will never do us part.
ALO
Abah, I’m so sorry.
Nijat’s face softens and he hugs Alo, who hugs back as tightly as possible.
NIJAT
Saya minta maaf6. I’m sorry too.
Rohana gets up and joins the hug. They stay like this, a heartwarming moment. The grey that has covered Alo’s shoulders snakes down slowly, decreasing.
Rohana gestures to come inside the house.
NIJAT
She has some food prepared. Eat with us.
Alo enters the house.
INT. CHILDHOOD HOUSE – LATER
They eat silently. An awkward atmosphere. Alo looks up at Nijat and Rohana.
ALO
Uh, the food is very good!
Rohana smiles, confused. Nijat sighs and translates for her in sign language. She nods. Alo looks down, embarrassed.
Rohana goes to the kitchen and brings out a bowl of roti jala and places it in front of Alo.
ROHANA
(signs)
Your favourite.
Alo is taken aback.
NIJAT
Your favourite.
ALO
No, I know. All this, for me?
Nijat stops eating and sighs, scratching his head.
NIJAT
Then? For the ants, ah? Eat, your mother worked very hard to cook for you, you know?
Alo takes a first bite. Tears roll down his cheeks as he chews. Rohana chuckles and wipes his tears. Nijat scoffs, but smiles a little afterwards.
ALO
I promise, to visit you every once a month, and, I will relearn sign language, so I can talk to you, Ma!
Alo writes it down on paper and passes it to Rohana. She smiles and rubs his hand. Nijat ruffles his hair.
NIJAT
You better.
Rohana gets up and hugs Alo, kissing his cheek.
ALO
Deep down I know that both of you will always be there. I can feel it, but I’m scared that I will be wrong.
Nijat punches Alo’s shoulder lightheartedly.
NIJAT
Alo. You are family. We are family. What makes you think we won’t be there?
He hugs Rohana and Nijat once more.
ALO
Aku sayangkan kau7.
NIJAT
Aku sayangkan kau.
Rohana signs, her middle and ring finger only touching her palm while raising her other fingers.
ROHANA
I love you.
Alo and Nijat do the same thing, and they link their pinkies, like making a promise.
For a moment nothing happens. Then, the grey on Alo’s body disappears, and he is in full colour again. Alo laughs in disbelief and embraces his mother and father as colour returns to everything around them.
ALO
See you soon.
The sky outside comes alive again, a beautiful shade of blue. The sun shines…
FADE TO WHITE:
INT. HOSPITAL – DAY
The heart monitor BEEPS. Both Nijat and Rohana are asleep. Alo’s eyes slowly open, squinting due to the bright light. He turns his head, which is still bandaged.
ALO
(weak)
Abah… Ma…
Nijat stirs awake, followed by Rohana. Their eyes widen and rush to his side.
NIJAT
You’re finally awake!
Rohana practically tumbles onto Alo as she hugs him, tears staining the blanket.
NIJAT
I’m glad you’re alive. Thought you’d leave us for good.
Alo lets out a weak laugh.
ALO
I will never leave you. Never again.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BULIM AVENUE – DAY
Cars and buses whizz past a busy street. Alo walks across, wearing casual clothes, his hair now neatly tied in a ponytail. He squints as he looks up at the clear blue sky. He holds a plastic bag of roti jala he made himself.
INT. CHILDHOOD HDB FLAT – LATER
Alo walks through the corridor, hand brushing one of the plants. He stops at the last door at the end and knocks. It opens almost immediately by an excited Rohana.
Note: The following conversation is in sign language.
ROHANA
You came!
ALO
Of course. I made roti jala, including the sauce.
ROHANA
Handmade?
ALO
I tried.
Rohana laughs and takes the plastic bag and gestures to come in.
INT. CHILDHOOD HOUSE – CONTINUOUS
The table is already set with food, Alo takes in the fragrant scent. Nijat sits at the table, slapping his back.
NIJAT
About time you came. The food cold already like that.
ALO
I’m not that late!
Nijat laughs heartily. They all take a seat and eat and chat together.
FADE TO BLACK.
1 Malay word for ‘Father’ or ‘Dad’.
2 Malay word for ‘Mother’.
3 Popular Malay tea time snack.
4 A Malay cuisine dish.
5 Malay for ‘Darling’.
6 Malay for “I am sorry”.
7 Malay for “I love you”.