A Beautiful Curse (2021) - full transcript

This is a public announcement.

All the ferry services
have been suspended.

If you are still on the island,

contact the authorities
at 555-2368.

If you are not able
to quench your thirst,

are feeling tired
or lightheaded,

do not stay by yourself.

Call immediately.
555-2368. We can help.

Let's find us some shelter.

How about there?

No.



Ah, what about there?

Yeah. Looks big.

What do you think?

Looks good, yeah?

Hell-lo?

Let's find you a home.

Yeah...

I'm going to call you Apple.

Stella.

Your name is Stella.

Hey.

Hi.

Hi.

Coffee.



Yeah, it keeps you awake.

Uh, I'm, uh... I'm... I'm Samuel.

What do you want?

Uh, I just wanted
to introduce myself.

I thought maybe
we could talk about

- what's been happening here.
- What are you doing here?

No one invited you, and you...
You can't just walk in.

Stella, wait!

How do you know my name?

There's still
no logical explanation

for what's happening
to the folks

on the island off
the west coast.

The government
fears the phenomenon

could spread
to the rest of the country.

Entering the area
is strictly forbidden

and could be
extremely dangerous.

In a few moments...

It's time to get up.

What are you doing here?

No one invited you, and you...
You can't just walk in.

Uh, I just
wanted to introduce myself.

I'm, uh... I'm... I'm Samuel.

What do you want?

I thought maybe we could talk

about what's
been happening here.

No one invited you,

and you...
You can't just walk in.

Stella, wait!

How do you know my name?

Did anyone see you walk in here?

I don't think so.

You don't think so?

Who are you?

I'm a photographer.

I've been, um,
sent here to document

what's been happening here.

You're here for money?

Sneaking around
and taking pictures.

If I could've
asked permission, I would've.

I was the last one to be hit.

Who was the first?

The piano teacher.

She used to call the numbers
at the village hall on Sundays

'cause Bingo is pretty popular
around here.

And, uh, right in the middle of
reading out a card, she just...

fell asleep.

What did people do?
That must've been, like, scary.

Mm-hmm.

They called the doctor.

And there's
no indication whatsoever

that there's anything wrong
with her.

Well, apart from
the fact that she's asleep

and no one can
wake her up, of course.

Aye.

That's when
it really got complicated.

Every time
someone who's asleep is moved

even a few meters
from where they fell asleep...

their pulse
goes up dramatically.

Like, really dramatically.

The authorities told us
that moving them could...

It could cause
their hearts to explode.

But...
that hasn't been reported.

Tick... tick... tick...

Boom!

No one's come up
with a... a logical explanation?

No one has any idea
how it started or how to end it.

It's... No sign of disease on
the sleeping people, no fever.

People don't lose weight.
They don't get bedsores.

They just... they just...
sleep peacefully.

That must have
been really s... scary for you,

seeing people
get hit one by one.

I wasn't scared.

It was just really odd.

Just this, like, calm,
weary feeling took over

more and more and I kept having
these crazy dreams,

and... I felt

just a bit dizzy,
but not in a bad way.

Like...
Like, you know that feeling

when you've smoked a joint and
your body feels all relaxed?

You smoke pot?

Mm-hmm, don't you?

No, no, I barely even drink.

I mean, I might have a beer
if I'm stressed, but no.

Wow. Part-ay.

Mainly I remember
getting really, really thirsty,

but no matter how much
I drank, I couldn't quench it.

And these really weird
dreamy hallucinations.

But mainly I remember
getting more and more thirsty.

Do you know... do you...

What do you think it is?

You wanna know what I think?

Maybe everyone just watched

the same boring TV show
too many times.

Maybe...

This is a public announcement.

If you are still on the island,

contact the authorities
at 555-2368.

It is extremely dangerous
for you to stay here.

In a statement today,

the prime minister
promised more resources

to the authorities trying to
solve the mysterious phenomenon

on the island
off the west coast.

The government fears
the phenomenon could spread

to the rest of the country,

and authorities
are patrolling the area

from the ground and the air

to make sure
no one enters the island.

I have to leave.

And, uh, I'm sorry.
It's too risky for me to stay.

Are you
afraid of getting infected?

More of a hygiene thing.

I'm actually almost never ill

because I... I keep
my hands clean.

Well, you can get sick
from being afraid

of getting sick,
did you know that?

What exactly are you doing here?

What am I doing here?

Um, I'm here on
a photography assignment.

Yeah, I know,
but why are you really here?

Um...

I c...

I, um...

I didn't just come here
to take pictures.

I, uh,

uh, also came here...

for... you.

Yeah.

Um, no, I, um...

I came at, um... last summer.

I was actually here
with some friends.

I, uh, saw you
in the supermarket.

Okay.

Yeah, um, um, you were so, um...

What was I?

Um, photogenic?
As pretty as a picture?

Um, well, I don't know.
You were so, like, um...

Yeah, it's difficult to explain.

You had a sort of energy about
you, like, um, you know, cool.

I don't know. Like, I just
guess... I guess I wanted to,

uh, get to know you somehow.

I actually saw you later.

Uh, I went out for some food
with some friends.

Uh, the restaurant
was full of people,

and, uh, you actually sat
over there.

Yeah, right there. And I... I sat
here at this table.

And you were having...
You were having fun.

You were laughing and
joking and throwing things.

And I was... I actually wanted
to come over and talk to you.

You know, it could've been fun.
Why didn't you?

I actually... I planned to.

I thought I'd do it after
you finished your mains,

and then after your desserts,

and then after you fin...
You know, paid the bill,

and by that time it was, uh...
It was too late.

So, what stopped you?

Shit...

Good morning.

How are ya?

Self-service today?

Yeah? Okay.

Let me see. Ah.

But, you know,
if you had risked it

and come over,
what would you have said?

Um... well, I su...

I suppose I would have,
uh, introduced myself,

and, uh, been like, "Hey, um,

do you wanna grab
some coffee sometime?"

Oh, wow, coffee.

Oh, God.

That sounds epic.

No, or, you know, have pizza
in a restaurant, I dunno.

What... Would you have said...

...yeah?

Amazing Things: tape number one.

People
who bite their fingernails.

The tapping sound
of a typewriter.

Wearing flip-flops
when you shouldn't.

Lasagna.

A wine glass full of beer.

Getting into bed
with clean sheets

after you've just shaved
your legs.

Barbie dolls,
if their head is cut off.

Balloons.

Driving your car
on the beach in wintertime.

Unexpected phone calls.

Owning musical instruments
you don't even know how to play.

Apples.

Eating two bags of wine gums

in a row after smoking a joint.

Old wooden religious symbols.

The periodic table of elements.

Wearing underwear
just out of the dryer.

Growing your very own herbs.

Old magazines.

Hey, where do you wanna go?

Um, I dunno.

Wake up, come on!

I thought
I was the one sleeping here.

- Do you have a car?
- I don't have a car.

- Oh.
- Let's find one.

- No. No, no, no.
- Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Hey, you can't steal a car.

- Come on!
- Stella.

You can't steal a car!

Oh, look what we have here.

Samuel, what do you think?

Nah, looks a bit dull,
doesn't it?

Hey, what about this one?

Samuel?
Come on over.

We just need something
with a bit more... power.

- Power?
- Style.

- Style?
- Bit classier?

Right. Style.

Ha-ha-ha!
There we go.

That is the one for us.

What do you think?

I think we should take
this one, it looks good.

Let's take it.

Aw, it's locked.

That's a shame.
Oh, what a shame.

Let's go and walk, come on.

We need the keys,
we need the keys!

This way.

Absolutely not.
Absolutely not!

- No, no.
- Come on!

- Stella. No, no.
- Samuel.

Don't be such a wimp, come on!

Stella...

Hello?

Wow, this place is,
uh... is pretty minimalist.

Come on.

Do you know him?

Not really, but I... I've
seen him in the supermarket.

Are we allowed to be here?

Coming from you?

Seriously?

Hey, dude, we're just
going to borrow your car,

but we're going to take
really good care of it.

Samuel, is he a jacket type,

a dresser type
or a kitchen counter type?

What do you mean?

Where does he put the keys?

Ah, I'm going to go find them.

Have you found them?

Are those his?

Yeah!
You wouldn't have thought, huh?

You can't just take his things.

Who cares?

You know, maybe
he's actually a jacket type.

Bingo!

No...

Do you know what, Samuel?

What?

Let's get killed.

I don't have a license.

Not bad, huh?

No, it's nice.

The sun is so nice.

Do you know that feeling
when you have cold toes

and a warm face?

I always have cold toes.

- Now you wanna take a photo?
- Yeah.

Unbelievable.

Have I told you you've
got a really photogenic face?

- Oh, photogenic?
- Yeah.

Is that good or bad
or is that boring?

Okay, you've taken enough.

Oh, yeah, I've...
Yeah, I've... I've...

- I've stopped.
- Good.

It's nice out here.

It's so calm.

Mm-hmm.

What?

Quiet.

Yeah, quiet.
That's a cool scarf.

You can wear it if you want.

Yeah?

Seventy.

Thirty-six-point-six.

Let's move on, shall we?

Stuff that I dream of.

To feel less vulnerable.

To ride a flamingo.

A furry friend.

A constant smile to look at.

Getting a letter
from a stranger.

Less loneliness.

To be able to be invisible.

To find someone to really trust.

I, uh... I read this story...

This sort of ancient story

about how long,
long, long, long ago,

humans lived as one piece.

Two souls formed as one,

woven together.

Together, the soul
was incredibly powerful,

and they were challenging the
gods, and then Zeus comes down.

And he, um...
He cuts them in half,

and he separates them.

And so, they live separately,

and that's why
we talk about, um,

trying to find your other half.

Do you think
there's one person for everyone?

I'd like to think so.

But how do you know
if you've found the right one?

I guess you just feel it.

I dunno.

Have you?

Found the right one?

Um...

Have you?

I thought I had once, but...

Now I'm just happy
being by myself.

I just want you to wake up.

I just want to meet you.

I want you to wake up.

This is a public announcement.

If you are not able
to quench your thirst,

are feeling tired...

...or lightheaded,
do not stay by yourself.

Contact the authorities
at 555-2368.

It is extremely dangerous
for you to stay here.

Hey.

Hey, buddy!
Hey, hey, Apple!

Look what I got for you
in the supermarket.

Yeah.

Dinner, hey?

Come on.

Okay. Hey!

Yeah, do you like your plant?

Lasagna!

Voila.

After you, sir, thank you.

Cheers!

Mm-hmm.

Beer in a wine glass.
Yeah.

Hey, hello. Hey, you.

So, I went to
the, uh, supermarket today,

and I picked up
all of your ingredients...

You think you know me,
but you don't.

Okay.
I feel like, um, I do.

In some ways.

Tape number two:
Not So Amazing Things.

I don't feel I'm good enough.

I'm lonely,
even with other people.

The antique pictures I buy
from the flea market

because they help me feel
like I have a real family.

My parents told me
my grandfather died

before I was born.

They don't know
I know he's still alive.

You can't get to know
someone by going

through their stuff
and watching them sleep.

What do you... I don't
know what you want me to...

What do you want me to do?

I feel like I...

want to know everything
about you.

But that's what I feel,
and I don't know why,

and that's what... um,
that's what I've got to do.

I want to know
everything about you.

I don't think
that's such a good idea.

I think you can, uh,

learn a lot about somebody...

by not just listening
to what they tell you...

but by hearing
what's under the words.

I find it hard to surrender.

I don't feel beautiful.

You don't even know me.

I wish I never came here.

Well, what's stopping
you from leaving?

Fuck off. Fuck off!

What are you talking about?

I would be way too much for you.

Yeah, I think you would.

Okay, well, I guess that's it.

Yeah, I guess
this will never work.

Bye, then.

I have a good feeling.

Okay...

Shit...

- Samuel?
- Hey.

I've been thinking.

I don't think
I can change for you.

I've been... I've been thinking,
too. You shouldn't have to.

I am who I am.

I like who you are.

But you've only imagined me.

I think this can work.

How?

We don't even know each other.

I'll show you.

But what if you fall asleep?

The longer you stay here, the
more likely you are to be hit.

I can't tell you what to do.

You don't have to.

I just want you to know...

no one has ever made me feel
the way you make me feel.

You make me feel so happy.
You make me feel so free.

You do that.

You, um...

I'm just...

I'm just scared...

that... we will... never meet.

It's time
to decide how this goes.

Oh, fuck.

Mainly I remember

being really, really thirsty.

But no matter how much
I drank, I couldn't quench it.

I'm not leaving.

Ow.

Hello?

Um...

Hey.

Hello?

Hey?

Hey!
Come on.

Hey! Wake up!

This isn't real.

Uh, did you put that
on my picture?

Okay. I'm just gonna
let you... stay there.

Hey, did you
eat all of my apples?

Hey!

Oh, what?

Okay, now I have a fish?

Hey, did you make this?

It's pretty good.

Have you been
looking in my diary?

You... You listened
to my tapes?

The fuck is wrong with you!

Why did you do that?

Fucking hell.

Now it's my turn
to really get to know you.

Have you ever been
caught masturbating?

- Uh, what? Um, no...
- Clock's ticking!

Okay, um, have I... Yes, I have.

- By who?
- Um...

Uh, my mom.

- Where?
- Where?

In my garage.

If a family
member needed a kidney

and you were the only match,
would you give one up?

Would you give one up?

Depends on who.

- Your father?
- Difficult.

- Mother?
- Absolutely.

Have you ever killed an animal?

Never.

Do you ever
rehearse a phone call

before making it?

Um, yeah. Um, well,

it depends on
who I'm talking to.

Let's say me.

Then I would definitely
rehearse it.

Do you have many friends?

Do you feel alone?

Not right now.

Have you ever been in love?

Yeah.

Hi.

Hi.

I'm Samuel.

I'm Stella.