Ozma (2023)

[bunniefuu]

Really?

You want me to drop you here?

No, no it's not safe.

I can't just leave you.

Look at you, you're injured.

And there might be foxes.

Oh, don't worry about me.

It's not me they're after.

Okay. Okay.

No, no, it's okay.

I'll be your decoy.

Goodbye, honey.

And thank you.

Oh, honey. Don't thank me.

Thank you for everything.

Every night I wake up

or something wakes me up.

And I have that same sense

of disorientation.

The fact

that I'm disorientated

in the same way every night

should make me used to it,

you'd think.

But no.

And you know what, Chloe?

I feel the same sense

of loss every night

when I realize once again...

that you're not here.

You're not here in the enormous

bed that you picked out.

Maybe a smaller bed would

help me feel your absence less.

But then I'd have to deal with

the absence of your absence.

Anyway, I'm usually asleep

again within a minute or two.

But last night was one of those

head-whirring nights.

When persistent thoughts

poke and prod.

I used to lie awake worrying

about the future.

But now I just sift

through memories.

Everything happens

for a reason.

Damn!

You've lost the signal,

haven't you?

-She'll be miles away by now.

-It's this stupid tracker.

Oh, yes, blame the tool.

It's the mindless object that's

the stupid thing around here.

My last partner

was more constructive

with her criticism.

You're not my partner,

you're my subordinate.

And you're pointing it too low.

Ah!

I've not been trained on

the older models like this.

It's common sense. Come on.

Bully.

Another sleepless night.

As usual, I decided to distract

myself for half an hour...

to stop me from going

over and over

what happened with you.

Biography.

Travel.

Poetry.

Not all verse is suitable

for the middle of the night...

so I go back

to the same old themes.

To his music

plants and flowers,

ever sprung as sun

and showers.

It seemed

no force could wake him

from his place,

but there came one

who with a kindred hand

touched his wide shoulders,

after bending low.

She was a goddess

of the infant world.

By her in stature...

What in the?

It was such an intriguing

noise, Chloe.

Sort of attractive.

I guess that's why I felt

the need to investigate.

You always said

I was too cautious.

Too wary of the unknown.

Perhaps I suddenly felt the

need

to prove you wrong.

So I decided to go back out

and make a sketch

of the creature.

But then, something

very interesting happened.

Like a radio dial tuning

into my mind...

squeezing it

to find the right frequency.

Help me.

Who said that?

Help me.

Help me.

Help me, Jeff.

-How do you know my name?

-I'm hurt and I need to hide.

What are you?

There's really no time

to explain.

I'm not hostile

or toxic or mean.

Just lift me up

and take me into your home,

please.

I promise I won't hurt you,

Jeff, or mess up your house.

I won't spill coffee everywhere

or scratch your records.

Just take me inside, please.

Please.

-Like this?

-Yes.

-I can't.

-Please.

What's that?

It's an injury.

What happened to you?

Let's just say,

it's been an eventful night.

Could you wash me

in the sink please?

I don't want it

to get infected.

Okay.

You're still bleeding,

if that's the right word.

What should I do?

Just wrap something around me.

The pressure will help me

to seal up the wound

and I need to keep warm.

Okay.

Thank you.

You make a great nurse, Jeff.

Shouldn't that be a vet?

I suppose so.

Can you just leave me here

for a few hours please?

I heal pretty quickly.

Okay.

So, Chloe, you're probably

now thinking, "Come on, Jeff,

it's all the dream,"

because I should have

been running away

from the creature, right?

Shouting, screaming,

calling the authorities.

But what if dreams are,

you know, rehearsals?

Rehearsals for experiences

that are too strange for us

to accept.

Then my matter-of-fact calmness

and my acceptance of this

extraordinary reality

could be explained.

You see I was so well rehearsed

after all my many, many dreams.

And in the midst of

how many of our dreams...

do we drift off

to dream again?

Everything happens

for a reason.

So that's where you're hiding.

I've requested

an urgent intelligence

report on the property.

You'd better go

and collect it then.

I'll check out

the access points.

"Jefferson Connor Smith,

also known as Jeff."

Hold me!

Hold me!

Hold me!

Hold me!

Hold me, Jeff!

Hold me, Jeff!

Hold me, Jeff. Please.

You can let go now.

I'm so sorry, Jeff.

The healing process

can be quite volatile.

That got kind of personal,

didn't it?

Personal?

You could say that again.

You see the way I heal is

more of a rapid

chemical reaction

than an incremental

biological repair.

Not that there's

anything wrong

with the way you do it.

So...

have you healed now?

I'm now 64% healed.

Give or take.

Well...

I'd like you to leave,

I'm afraid.

Okay, Jeff.

But I can only move

slowly like a slug.

And there are other dangers

out there on the streets

for me tonight.

-Can't I just stay

until the morning?

-No.

No, I...

I can't have an alien here.

An alien?

Look who's talking.

And my kind have been here

longer than yours.

You see both of us, in fact,

are naturalized aliens.

Naturalized aliens?

Well, that's irrelevant really.

Just think of me

as a hyper-evolved,

shape-shifting jellyfish.

Hyper-evolved,

but slow like a slug?

You can't have it all.

So...

why haven't I heard of or seen

any of your kind before?

I mean, I'm sure

I would have remembered.

Oh, yes,

people always remember me.

But the reason

you haven't heard of us

before is because

we are protective,

clever and to be honest,

a little shy.

-You're not shy.

-I'm shy right up

until it becomes

necessary to be bold.

And tonight, I need your help.

No. No, I can't.

I can't because I don't actually

believe you're here.

God, I just need to be awake.

Ow!

Jeff,

what I really need is for you

to take me to the Needle.

The Needle?

Who would be calling at 3 a.m.?

It couldn't be good news.

If only I had installed

one of those peepholes

that allows you

to spy on a caller.

But why was I panicking?

It was probably

just a neighbor

who'd heard

the ruckus and was concerned.

This is the police.

Open up.

Or perhaps the police.

Hello, officer.

I've come about

the missing woman, sir.

-Missing woman?

-You called the emergency

services, sir,

about the missing woman.

Are you Jefferson

Connor Smith, sir?

Yes.

Hello you're through

to the emergency services.

Which do you require,

fire, police or ambulance?

Police, please.

Are you calling

to report a crime?

I err... I don't know.

My wife is missing.

Okay. Can you start by giving

me your name please?

Do you remember

making this call, sir?

Well, I-- well yes,

but it was several years ago.

-And the wife, sir?

-She turned up, but she's gone.

I can't see her?

I called the police

the next day

to tell them that she turned up

safe and sound.

Well, you--

you don't have

a recording of that?

No. I'm afraid you'll have

to let me come in

-and have a look around, sir.

-Well, you can't.

It's the middle of the night.

Well, this is madness, officer.

-Madness, sir?

-Madness.

Do you have something

to hide, sir?

No. No and your uniform doesn't

give you the right to...

Ah.

Caught in the act!

But the last two times

it's been me.

And I had to deal with

a spinal inflammation last year,

which the doctor says

could flare up again.

The commissioner

is aware of my condition

and made certain promises.

Anyway, your bike's got that

big carrier on the front.

And yours has a better rack.

Are you ready?

-What do we do with this one?

-The usual.

Poor chap!

He's infected.

He'll thank us for it.

Okay. I'm ready.

Are you ready?

I was already ready.

Right. On three.

One, two, three.

Again. One, two, three.

I'm stuck.

It's got us.

I assumed these intruders knew

more about the creature than I.

But I then realized

that was not necessarily so.

Don't worry, Jeff.

I haven't k*lled them.

They will regain consciousness

shortly though.

So we need to get out of here.

You must take me

to the Needle.

The Needle?

What was it talking about?

And how was I supposed to do

anything bound up like this?

And how dangerous was it?

And how dangerous

were the people it had

brought in here?

Then I remembered the pruning

shears in the drawers.

Yes, Jeff, the pruning shears

in the drawers.

Quickly, Jeff. Get us out.

I just wanted to abandon

the creature.

But again, somehow...

Jeff, please.

Hey.

Try to go faster.

Oh, good advice.

Why does she keep doing that?

Take this right, Jeff.

Blast!

Jeff.

What are we stopping

here for?

Jeff?

-I'm dropping you off here.

-But I must go to the Needle.

-I'm sorry.

-Where are you going?

The authorities...

the press...

my uncle's farm house

in the country...

I don't know!

But I need to get

to the Needle.

I don't know

what the Needle is.

I don't know what you are.

I don't know what

the police want.

Come on, Jeff, you don't

really believe those people

are police do you?

They're trying to capture me,

to destroy me.

They're tracking me

and I'm vulnerable.

You didn't seem vulnerable

when you invaded my head.

You didn't seem too vulnerable

when you electrocuted

or whatever that was.

-But I can tell.

-You can tell what?

I can tell that you know

I'm a force for good.

If you won't take me

to the Needle at least

take me to Brook Road.

Brook Road?

It's three miles away.

There's a safe place there.

No. No, I'm sorry. I'm done.

I'm not a taxi

or a taxidermist.

-Please.

-No!

-La la la la la...

-Please!

Take the next left.

Anything yet?

We are to move further in.

The commissioner says...

we should be able

to intercept them,

at the point of transmutation.

Well, that's cutting it

a bit fine isn't it?

The commissioner says, yes.

Did he know that this one

was dangerous?

That it could fry us?

I'm losing my hair here.

Bit of warning

would have been nice.

I've--

I've lost him.

Funny that.

There's always a technical

problem when you ask

the wrong question.

Are you sure this is the place?

It doesn't look

like anybody's up.

Try knocking on the door.

Who's there?

My name is Jeff.

Hello?

I know you want

and you can't have it,

so go away!

I don't want anything.

I was told to come here.

By whom?

It's difficult

to explain really.

Have you seen any strange

things around here?

Things like what?

Well, uh, jelly-like things.

Flashing creatures.

I could call the police,

you know?

Okay, I'm sorry I scared you.

I think you and your friend

better come in here

before you're seen.

Come in here.

Sit anywhere.

I'm Joanne.

Hello, Joanne.

Seeing you close to it like

that makes me trust you.

Cleopatra's Needle!

So that's where

it wanted to go,

to that ancient Egyptian

monument by the Thames.

Where my dad took me as a boy.

Now I know that

what I have here...

is a baby.

A baby thing.

I found it by the canal.

It was sort of calling to me.

I felt I had to help it.

I felt a connection.

I know exactly what you mean.

Don't tell her

we can communicate Jeff.

-Don't tell her we can speak.

-Don't tell?

Don't tell who?

Don't-- don't tell me

it's happened to you, too.

Yes, two weeks ago and then

I started getting the visions.

-Do you get the visions?

-I only...

found this a few hours ago.

Why did you bring it to me?

Oh, I-- I felt it somehow.

Amazing!

Well ever since

I found my baby...

Your baby?

Yes, my baby.

Ever since then, I had

visions of these creatures...

which I've tried to capture

in my artwork.

It's like I've been plugged

into this

powerful creative

energy source.

What about the Needle?

Shhh. Calm down, my little one.

I had dreams.

Nightmares about a journey

and a strange ship and...

always with the same shape.

The shape...

of Cleopatra's Needle.

Then I started researching.

The giant obelisk

was a gift to Britain

from Egypt in the 19th century.

But 3,500 years ago...

it was one of a pair,

flanking the entrance

to a temple in the city

of Heliopolis,

built on the orders of the great

pharaoh Thutmose III.

The obelisks were a tribute,

an offering to the gods,

the hawk-headed sun god,

Ra and Horus and Atum

and Thoth.

The obelisk was thus imbued

with the power

of those ancient gods.

Then a privately financed plan

brought it to London in 1877.

It was put

in a huge iron cylinder

like an enormous cigar,

which was towed behind a ship.

Wow.

But it was caught in a terrible

storm off the coast of Spain.

Six of the ship's crew were lost

and the Needle drifted away.

Where's this

all leading, Joanne?

It was assumed

the cylinder just

bobbed around until

it was found by another ship.

But my dreams

tell me otherwise.

Your dreams?

My dreams show the hulking

vessel sink down,

down, down to the seabed.

But Nu, the Egyptian god

of the primordial waters

called for help.

A mass of jellyfish

coalesced around the wreck

and pushed it up, up,

up to the surface.

It was only after this

that the vessel was spotted

and rescued.

And finally

it got brought to London?

Yes

but something powerful

and strange

must have passed

between the gods

and the jellyfish that answered

their call

all those years ago.

Sounds like nonsense,

I'm afraid.

And yet here you are

with a strange being on your lap

like a pussycat.

Do you have a pussycat?

No but I always thought

I'd like one...

or two.

That seems to be working.

But it's odd.

It's a strong reading,

but it looks like

there's two of them.

Like a split signal.

The commissioner says

Ozma is the last target.

Do you believe everything

the commissioner says?

I believe the commissioner

knows more than I do.

Well, that's not a very high

bar, is it?

When you're rude like that,

it doesn't make me

better at my job.

Shh!

You're not my superior,

you know?

In what way

am I not your superior?

Have you got the rope?

Yes.

Use it then.

I sense you think

I'm a bit mad.

I don't think I'm currently

in any position to judge.

But then, I guess at this time

of night somewhere between...

yesterday and tomorrow,

everyone seems a bit mad.

Or no one is mad.

Do you live here alone?

Yes, I do.

But I wasn't always alone.

I'm so sorry.

All the negative

emotions-- shock,

anger, guilt--

all at once.

But I'm learning

to live with it.

My baby's helping, I think.

Would you like a cup of tea?

Everything happens

for a reason?

What now?

We've got to get

to the Needle.

The baby has to come, too.

This woman thinks it's her baby.

She seems dependent on it.

I know but the baby is not safe

with the woman.

Look...

I came here to drop you off,

and now I'm abducting

or something.

-We have to adjust the plan.

-We?

Jeff, please.

I suppose in Egypt,

they drink their tea black

with sugar.

Yes.

You know, Joanne...

the reason I think I'm here...

You just felt it somehow.

Yes. Well, that feeling is--

is now telling me...

we have to get to

Cleopatra's Needle...

tonight.

You and your creature?

Well, I-- I believe

we all have to go.

The baby has to go

to the Needle, too.

Yes.

Somehow I knew

you would say that.

Feel like I...

knew you would say that

from the moment I saw you.

Well, maybe that's what your

dreams were telling you.

That the baby has to go

to the Needle, too.

Perhaps.

I'll just be a minute.

Well, after all that...

I think we're going to be okay.

Whoa!

Okay. Okay. Okay, Joanne.

Take it easy.

Just take it easy.

If you think you're taking

my baby away you must be mad!

Okay, Joanne.

It called to me.

It needs me, it wants me,

so take your creature back

on your bicycle and go.

Get out!

Just take it easy, Joanne.

We will do exactly as you say.

Just-- just release that finger

on the trigger, okay?

I can't open the door, Joanne.

We cannot leave

without the small one, Jeff.

Joanne, listen.

There were people, police.

People pretending to be police.

They wanted

to take the creature away,

that's why I'm here.

The baby's not safe.

The baby is safe with me.

It's my job

to keep it safe, now go!

I'm serious.

No!

Don't worry, baby,

mummy's coming.

Please.

Please don't take it away.

I promise you this, Joanne,

it's the right thing to do.

And when I get to the Needle

perhaps I'll understand why.

Bye, baby.

-The lights are on.

-Let's find out why.

Yes, sir, exactly.

New information that will

expedite this whole operation.

Yes. Well, the Needle.

It explains New York and Paris.

Both cities that have

these Egyptian obelisks.

How's he doing?

Quite frankly, he's the best

I've worked with.

He's diligent,

intuitive, industrious

and he's not afraid to use

force when necessary.

Exactly. I'd recommend him

for a promotion.

Okay, we'll keep you updated.

Come on, you idiot.

You're wasting time.

It was nearly five a.m.

by the time I reached the

river.

Logically, perhaps,

there was no hurry.

But what had logic

to say about any of this?

My gut told me I had to reach

the Needle before sunrise.

And my gut

had the casting vote.

The great Thames

seemed aware of my quest.

That sounds

really crazy, I know.

Think about that river though.

The city wouldn't be here

without it

and the Needle wouldn't be here

without it.

Maybe all that surging water

had a sort of consciousness.

Maybe not.

We're nearly there.

Yes. We must be placed

at the base

of the obelisk, Jeff.

Okay.

You've been a great friend.

You've done well, Jefferson.

Delivering Ozma

to us like this

and showing us

where the portal is.

That was an added bonus.

Hold on tight!

Don't be silly!

Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!

Go on, Jeff.

Go on, Jeff! Go!

We were fortunate to have found

you, Jefferson Connor Smith.

Our kind will never

forget your deeds.

Is that it?

Is there anything

more you need me to do?

It has started.

Be good to yourself.

It's up.

It's up, at last.

You see? I told you I knew

what I was doing.

Come on, hand it over.

What do I do?

Nothing.

If it's up

and the wind's blowing

you just hold on to it and...

enjoy yourself.

I can't believe you've never

done this before.

-I've had a deprived childhood.

-Your dad owned a hotel.

Well, not deprived of money,

just of kites.

Poor you!

Hey, hey, what--

what are you doing?

I want it to do more.

I want it to lift me up

so I can see

the top of the trees.

Who'll catch you when you fall?

You will, dummy.

All right.

Gonna need a bigger kite.

I'll get you an enormous one

for your next birthday.

Now, come on, sit down,

eat some cheese.

Happy birthday/anniversary.

Oh! The cheese!

Let it go.

It's gone.

The cake, the cheese.

Champagne.

Come on,

I want to get a coffee.

Everything happens

for a reason.

Every night I wake up...

or something wakes me up...

and I have that same

sense of disorientation.

But waking up this morning

was different.

I wasn't in my bed.

And I seemed to be free

of that usual panicky

sense of loss.

The sun had risen and burnt

away

the tribulations of the night.

And that panacea, activity,

fueled hope in the city.

But listen to me, Chloe,

talking to you

in my head again,

trying to give you the world.

It's a one-way conversation

that's not good for me

or you.

So it's time for it to stop.

You can be in my thoughts

without me addressing

those thoughts to you.

I guess I can talk

to myself instead.

So long, Chloe.

So long.

There's a good girl.

Don't spill it now.