Prologue (Towards Java)

We see darkness. Not pitch black but not far off. We hear the crunch of people making their way slowly up a path. A stone slips and you hear it roll down hill.

Sean (o.s.): Everyone still here?

There's a chorus of voices. They're all Northern European: Danish, Dutch, German. Only one of them is female.

German voice: It's getting lighter. (Laughs). I mean, for sure, we still need a torch. But it's definitely getting lighter.

It is indeed getting lighter and as they come out of some tree cover the beginning of dawn helps them to see as well as feel their way along. The sounds of dawn begin, although they're the sounds of dawn in an infertile landscape. Then another, more mechanical sound comes into earshot.

Danish (female) voice: I think I hear a car.

Sure enough there is one coming and it's just as well they heard it becuase they turn a corner to find themselves joining up to a road as the car goes past. For the first time we can really see all of the walkers.

Danish woman (to partner, in Danish, not happy): We could have got a car to the top?

Her boyfriend looks sheepish. They start to walk up the tarmacked road being regularly overtaken by jeeps full of well-to-do Indonesian tourists laughing at the crazy Westerners.

And then they're suddenly at the top. They march past the stalls, brandishing their quarter full water bottles as proof they don't need anything.

They arrive at the viewing platform to find that all the tourists who weren't stupid enough to try and walk it in the darks have taken the best viewing spots.

German man: We should have left earlier.

Sean: True, or we could have got a ride.

The German guy laughs.

German: Yeah, or at least a torch with long lasting batteries.

Sean: Well it got us most of the way.

They look over at the Danish couple who are having an argument. Eventually the girl comes over to Sean.

Girl: Hi, Sean? (as if she's not sure she's got it right)

Sean: Yeah.

Girl: Our camera's battery has not been recharged. You have a digital camera, yeah?

Sean nods: Do you want me to take some photos and email them to you?

Girl (pleased not to have to ask): Yes. That would be great. I'll give you our email address.

They pose and he takes a picture.

Sean: Wait, let me take a couple more.

Suddenly the sun starts to rise over the valley below. Everyone makes sounds of awe.

Girl: Quick, you have to take photos of this.

And Sean does. Captures it all. The sky, the valley, the people around him. And then he remembers something.

Insert: A woman (Jules) and Sean are on a boat in the beautiful blue sea chugging between islands.

Jules: The thing about taking photos is they'll never capture what you're seeing. They just stop you looking up and really engaging with the beauty around you.

Sean: But if you don't take a photo you might end up forgetting all about it.

Jules: So take one as a reminder and then put the camera down.

Sean puts his camera down and soaks it all in in. The Danish couple come back up to him.

Danish girl: Can we see the photos?

Sean shows them all the photos.

Girl: Great. Great photos. You better send to us.

Sean: Promise.

Sean flicks on through the photos. There are ones of a card game with everyone who walked. A ferry. Lots from a bus. Then there's one of him with the girl from the flashback. They're smiling, bug genuine smiles and their heads are tipped together. He looks back out. Memories mist his gaze.

Cut to Sean at the bus stop at the beginning of the story.