WHERE DREAMS REST

Written by

Elaine Wong

*All dialogue, unless specified otherwise, is spoken in mandarin

with a strong southern Chinese accent.

yw.elaine@gmail.com Draft v.16

WGA REGISTRATION: 1931682 2-27-2018
 FADE IN:

1 EXT. LOS ANGELES - DAY/NIGHT 1

Different landmarks of Los Angeles are shown in vintage/stock

footage style as if on an old TV. They are perceptions of Los
Angeles.

The palm trees in Beverly Hills

The ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier

The Disney Concert Hall in LA downtown

The busy freeway

The Hollywood sign

FADE OUT.

2 TO A BLACK SCREEN, SOME CHINESE CHARACTERS ARE TYPED FROM 2

TOP TO BOTTOM, RIGHT TO LEFT:

though dreams may fall to the earth,

their shattered pieces form a new shape.

3 EXT. DESERT - TIMELAPSE 3

The moving sky of the desert.

SUPER: WHERE DREAMS REST (MENG GUI CHU)

A man with a hoarse voice talks on the phone.

LAO GE
(O.S.)
It’s okay. Mostly office work.
They’re sponsoring my visa. When
the time is right, come over.

A girl’s sweet voice replies on the other end of the phone.

AH WEI
(O.S.)
You don’t want to see me sooner?
 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)2.

LAO GE
(O.S.)
Of course I do. But don’t be silly,
Ah Wei. It’s dangerous.

CUT TO:

4 INT. TUNNEL - NIGHT 4

Darkness until flashlights start to be turned on. The light

beams shine in all directions. RICARDO, a Mexican guide,
leader of the group, yells.

RICARDO
(In Spanish)
Wait! Be still. No se muevan.

A group of CHINESE MIGRANTS (10) and MEXICAN MIGRANTS (10)

sit or squat side by side in the entrance of the tunnel.

A Chinese girl with short hair, AH Wei (24), sits with her
head down. Everyone grabs onto their loose jackets and
sweaters. Ah Wei bites on one strand of her hair, nervous.
Another Chinese woman, BEI BEI (34), sits next to her. A few
other Chinese migrants, PENG DA, SHAO JING, SHAN XIANG, talk
among themselves in Chinese.

PENG DA
It's waiting and waiting again.
Where are you guys headed to after
you cross?

SHAO JING
My cousin lives in New York. What
about you?

SHAN XIANG
(Sighs)
Isn't it too early to talk about
that? It's better you save some
breath for the crossing.

Taking all this in quietly, Bei Bei turns and looks at Ah

Wei.

BEI BEI
Do you have a kid already?

AH WEI
(Smiles)
Nah.
 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)3.

BEI BEI
I have two. When I left, they
smiled and waved good bye like any
other day.

Ah Wei clenches her fist. There is something inside of her

palm.

BEI BEI (cont’d)

What are you holding there in your
hand? Better put it away to keep
your hands free.

AH WEI
Oh, it’s nothing... Just a
postcard.

Ah Wei straightens the thing. It’s a postcard that depicts

the gorgeous Ocean View from the California Pacific Coast
Highway.

Then she quickly puts it away in her pocket.

BEI BEI
Your loved one sent this to you?

Ah Wei nods.

Then suddenly, Ricardo yells.

RICARDO
(In Spanish)
Hurry up! We’re not waiting for
nobody! Apuarenle, no vamos a
esperar a nadie.

Bei Bei and Ah Wei stand up and start walking.

BEI BEI
Put on sunscreen.

AH WEI
Huh?

BEI BEI
Remember to bring sunscreen when
you do go. You don't want to get
tan. You will be ugly and wrinkly
when you get old.

Ah Wei giggles.
 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)4.

As they walk deeper into the tunnel that seems to have no

ends, Ah Wei follows tightly.

AH WEI
(O.S.)
I just want to see America. White
people are beautiful, huh?

LAO GE
(O.S.)
I don’t see many white people
around. What about Latinos? Are
they your cup of tea?

AH WEI
(O.S.)
What are you talking about? You, on
the other hand... Three years now
in America. I always wonder if
you...

LAO GE
(O.S.)
If I what?

AH WEI
(O.S.)
Nothing.

LAO GE
(O.S.)
I work all the time! How would I
have the time for something like
that? I mean you think I whore
myself out to get you money?

5 INT. TUNNEL - NIGHT 5

Ah Wei follows everyone down the underground tunnel. Some of

them have worn headlights, some carry with them flash light
on one hand, and water bottle on the other.

Footsteps are fast. Everyone tries their best to move

forward.

Sweat runs down Ah Wei’s forehead from her hair. She treks on
slowly along with other fellow Chinese travelers, mumbling
among themselves.

The Mexican travelers, RODRIGUEZ(48), ALEJANDRO (18), CARLOS

(32) talk in Spanish.
 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)5.

RODRIGUEZ
What are they doing here? ¿Qué
estan haciendo estos, aqui?

CARLOS
I don't know, but they're movin'
slow. No sé, pero caminan muy
despacio.

RODRIGUEZ
If the "chinese girls don't hurry
up we're gonna get caught. Si las
chinitas no se apuran, nos van a
agarran.

ALEJANDRO
Yeah, well, we're not gonna get
caught. No, pero no nos van a
agarrar.

Someone hits his foot on a rock, and whimpers.

In front of Ah Wei, KARLA, a teenage Latino girl (16) trips

and falls. Ah Wei lifts her up gently. Karla refuses to keep
walking.

KARLA
(In Spanish)
I am tired. Can we take a small
break? Estoy bien cansada. ¿Nos
podemos sentar un ratito?

HUGO (56) the father of the girl, comforts her.

HUGO
(In Spanish)
It's OK, baby girl. We are almost
there. Nomas un poquito más. Ya
mero llegamos.

Then, he nods and acknowledges Ah Wei.

HUGO (cont’d)
(In Spanish)
Thank you. Gracias.

Ah Wei smiles, bites her lips, and keeps on going.

 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)6.

AH WEI
(O.S.)
Hey. When I get to America, let’s
go to Santa Monica Pier, okay?

LAO GE
(O.S.)
What’s there to see? The ocean’s
the same everywhere.

AH WEI
(O.S.)
Can you at least try being a bit
more romantic?

LAO GE
(O.S.)
Enough about me. How’s everything
at home? How’s my mom’s knees?

AH WEI
(O.S.)
Mm. Same old.

6 INT. TUNNEL - NIGHT 6

Everyone’s overheated. Sweating and panting all around.

Ah Wei’s already taken her shirt off. Her sweats seep through
her bras and see-through tank top.

Suddenly a mouse appears in front of Ah Wei, Ah Wei yelps.

The people squash behind her, lose their balance and fall
over. A Chinese migrant, Shan Xiang, screams.

SHAN XIANG
Quiet down!

The others begin to make a ruckus.

7 INT. TUNNEL EXIT - DAWN 7

Ricardo looks out of the exit.

RICARDO
(In Spanish)
All clear. Come out! No hay moros
en la costa. Salgan!
 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)7.

All immigrants can’t help but grin at the end of this

journey, and slowly climb out of the exit.

But suddenly, Ah Wei notices something is off... People ahead

start screaming.

People in front of Ah Wei suddenly turn back and run. Some

people struggle with the BORDER PATROLS, LANCE, BRAD, and
JASON.

LANCE, one of the border patrol agents, yells.

LANCE
Freaking illegals! STOP!

Some even step on others in order to flee.

RODRIGUEZ
(In Spanish)
Cop! La migra!

The straight line now crumbles. Everyone dash towards

different directions. Some head back to where they have come
from.

Ah Wei starts to escape too.

In the dark, people slowly get caught one by one.

Lance approaches Ah Wei, tries to grab her.

However, thin and small, Ah Wei sneaks pass.

Lance chases after Ah Wei.

But Ricardo, grabs Ah Wei, and a few others. They run. Full
force. Not looking back.

8 EXT. DESERT - MORNING 8

Ah Wei runs and arrives at an empty field. The sky remains a

pure blue, waiting for the sun to arise.

Ah Wei finds a place near a small bush and ducts down.

Ricardo throws her and a few others under a brown canvas, and
they lie there, motionless. Ah Wei looks out through the tiny
opening between the canvas and her face.

AH WEI
(O.S.)
But Auntie Xie can take care of
her, too. Just let me join you now.
 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)8.

LAO GE
(O.S.)
My mom needs not just anyone to
take care of her. You know that.

AH WEI
(O.S.)
So you give up on our future
because of that? I’m going to make
it out there. Just you watch.

LAO GE
(O.S.)
Ah Wei!

Ah wei hangs up the phone.

The sun rises and lights seeps in, Ah Wei squints her eyes
from the morning brightness.

A SCREECHING sound of a van enters.

FADE TO:

9 INT/EXT. VAN - NIGHT 9

Inside the small van, the Chinese smuggler, NIE CONG (32),
sits in the front passenger with a Chinese DRIVER next to
him.

NIE CONG
I've contacted your relatives. They
will come pick you up.

10 EXT. ABANDONED PARKING LOT - NIGHT 10

The small van screeches on the road, and comes to a stop at

an abandoned parking lot near a rundown river dock, with the
LA skyline in the back.

Nie Cong pushes Ah Wei and a few others off the van.

NIE CONG
You guys better finish off paying
the debt soon. Or else we will
track you and your family back home
down!

Ah Wei drops onto her knees as she is pushed from the car.

LAO GE, 32, a scruffy Chinese man with brown dyed hair, walks
towards Ah Wei and lifts her up.
 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)9.

Ah Wei brushes off the dirt on her body, stands up, brushes
her hair, before she lifts her head and takes a good look at
Lao ge.

Lao Ge tries to give a hug, but stops himself midway.

Instead, he raises his voice.

LAO GE
Why didn’t you listen to me?

AH WEI
I am here, aren’t I?

Lao Ge looks at Ah Wei intensely.

LAO GE
You could have lost your life.

AH WEI
You did the same thing!

CUT TO:

11 INT/EXT. CAR - NIGHT 11

Ah Wei and Lao Ge stay silent on the car ride home. Lao Ge
wipes his sweaty hands on his jeans.

Ah Wei looks out of the window curiously, as the car drives

into a neighborhood where all the storefront signs are in
Chinese.

12 EXT. SAN GABRIEL VALLEY - NIGHT 12

Then the car drifts into a quiet residential area.

The exterior of the residential area looks pleasant.

13 EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT 13

Lao Ge leads Ah Wei through a narrow alleyway.

14 INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS 14

Lao Ge and Ah Wei steps into a single house. But once they
are in the house, Ah Wei sees many shoes on a shoe rack, and
realizes the house is shared among others.

Ah Wei grabs onto Lao Ge's arms, following behind Lao Ge.
 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)10.

15 INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS 15

Ah Wei sits at the dining table. Lao Ge smokes by the window.

LAO GE
Let me get you some to-go... What
do you feel like?

Ah Wei tries to smile, but she plays with her fingers, and
does not answer.

LAO GE (cont’d)
You must be tired. What about you
can go clean up first?

Ah Wei scratches her pants nervously. She stands up.

AH WEI
Ok. Let me go to the rest room.

Lao Ge leads Ah Wei to the Bedroom.

16 INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS 16

Lao Ge points to the bathroom and sits on the bed. Ah Wei

walks to bathroom.

17 INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS 17

The bathroom is stained and messy. Ah Wei washes her face,

takes a pee. Then when she tries to flush, the toilet does
not flush. Ah Wei finally can no longer control her temper.
She kicks the toilet.

18 INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS 18

She stomps out in a fury, looks Lao Ge in the eyes.

AH WEI
You don’t hold an office job?

Lao Ge turns his head away, dabs on the cigarette in the ash
tray, does not respond.

Ah Wei stares at the empty table. A cup noodle and a bread

package that has been emptied. Her eyes get reddened.

AH WEI (cont’d)
And you’ve just been saving enough
to scape by.
 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)11.

Lao Ge gets angst in his voice now, too.

LAO GE
That’s enough! No one forced you to
come here, alright?

Ah Wei curls her knees up to let her knees touch her

forehead. She hides her face. She keeps her voice down now.

AH WEI
How are we supposed to pay back the
Snakehead...?

LAO GE
70,000 per head. What do you think?

Lao Ge chuckles as if it's nothing, but pain inevitably

shows.

CUT TO:

19 INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS 19

Ah Wei throws on a new bedsheet and puts up new curtain with

a kind of admirable dexterity.

It's the same small room. With a little bit of decorations

from Ah Wei, the bare room becomes a little bit more cozy.

Lao Ge is already in bed. Ah Wei runs her fingers on the

blanket that is covering Lao Ge. Then she gradually takes her
clothes off.

Ah Wei lies in the small bed, staring into the popcorn

ceiling. Lao Ge comes gradually as he moves on top of Ah Wei.

In a blur, from Ah Wei’s point of view, through the familiar

hair of Lao Ge, all she can sees is the ceiling shaking.
Unceasingly.

Lao Ge has fallen asleep.

Wiped out and exhausted, yet Ah Wei lies there, unable to

fall asleep.

As she looks around the room, she finds a worn-out tinted

poster of a beer commercial on the wall. On the background of
the poster is the beautiful view of the ocean from the
Pacific Coast.

Her tears start to fall silently.

 Goldenrod (02/24/2018)12.

AH WEI
(O.S.)
The ocean, we can still go right?

20 EXT. PACIFIC OCEAN - SUNRISE (DREAM OR REALITY) 20

Staring at the poster hard enough, Ah Wei wills herself into

the Oceanside through the poster.

The sky and the ocean has now meshed into one. A dreamy blend
of pink, orange, and purple.

Ah Wei and Lao Ge sit on a dock on the edge of a shore.

Ah Wei nestles into Lao Ge’s arms, her head on his chest, her
long black hair waving in the wind.

They look down at the gentle yet fierce waves of the ocean
below them.

The waves come one after the other, as if to eat away every
dream.

FADE TO BLACK.

The lyrics of the song “Growing Up” sung by Faye Wong, rolls
down the screen, followed by the credit.