The Translator is the story of a man who excels at helping others communicate but lacks every social skill imaginable in his personal life. In fact, his most meaningful relationship is with his pet Parrot, White.

His latest project, being the on-set translator for a biscuit commercial, triggers a set of circumstances that will take Jonathan on a journey of self-discovery that culminates ultimately in him learning about what makes us truly human: the need to love and be loved.

Thailand is known to be a pretty open society. As such, many Chinese nationals have moved there for work, in an attempt to escape the more rigid nature of their culture. Our story drew upon this insight, and that of the fact that singlehood and the pursuit of love in China is always a hot topic, to create relevance for the Chinese audience.

THE TRANSLATOR

SCENE 1

INT. STUDIO. DAY.

A handsome Thai man, JEERASAK, holding up a pack of Le-mond

biscuits. He takes the biscuits out of its package. He smiles

widely and enthusiastically to the camera and shouts out.

JEERASAK (To the camera)

??????! ??????????! (in Chinese with Thai accent)

THE DIRECTOR (Shouting)

CUT!

The camera pulls out and reveals that they are on a Julie's

TVC commercial set. We see the set abuzz with people. THE

DIRECTOR turns his face to another man.

A Chinese man, JULIE'S CLIENT, shakes his head with

disapproval to the director and shouts out asking for THE

TRANSLATOR.

JULIE'S CLIENT (Shouting in Chinese)

HEY! Translator! Jonathan!

JONATHAN, a very properly dressed and quiet Chinese man with

a deadpan face emerges.

JULIE'S CLIENT (in Chinese)

It's Le-mond. Not Lemon. What is Lemon?

Please tell the director it's Le-mond!

The Director stares at JONATHAN asking him with confusion.

DIRECTOR (in Thai)

What? Is he asking for 'lemons' on set?

??????? ??????????????????????????????????

Just before JONATHAN speaks, the film title appears.

"THE TRANSLATOR"

JONATHAN's voice introduces himself to the audience. We see him

speaks to both the DIRECTOR and the CLIENT. The CLIENT looks upset as the DIRECTOR tries to explain himself calmly. (The scene is in

slow motion, no dialogue heard.)

JONATHAN (V.O.)

My name is Jonathan Huang and I'm a professional translator. My job is to take the words out of the mouth of one and deliver them to the ears of another taking out the conflict along the way.

SCENE 2

EXT. ALONG THE BUSY STREET - BANGKOK. DAY.

(In slow motion) Intro music begins. The camera follows JONATHAN

leaving the studio heading to his apartment, passing busy street

in Bangkok. He walks by himself not talking to anyone as a

somewhat isolated man amidst the sea of people.

JONATHAN (V.O.)

I can't say being a translator is easy, but so far, it is what I'm good at. Of course, no one is good at everything.

SCENE 3

EXT. TRAIN STATION - IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. NIGHT.

JONATHAN is standing alone, waiting for the train home.

He is joined by A MOTHER holding a hand of HER YOUNG DAUGHTER (an early elementary school girl). THE DAUGHTER keeps staring at JONATHAN.

JONATHAN stares blankly back at her. Not knowing what else to

do, he forces a smile, which unintentionally ends up looking

creepy.

THE MOTHER sees JONATHAN's smile, automatically pulls HER

DAUGHTER closer to her and then quickly walk away. JONATHAN is

confused, wondering what he did wrong until he takes out his

mobile to look at himself. Seeing the reflection on the screen, he stops smiling. The train arrives.

SCENE 4

INT. JONATHAN'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM. NIGHT.

JONATHAN unlocks his apartment door, walks into his

apartment. He turns on the light.

His apartment, in contrast to the exterior of the building,

is surgically clean and well-organised. He walks over to a countertop and carefully arranges the snacks he bought on it. He opens a cabinet and takes out a bag of bird seeds and pours a little of it into a measuring cup. He uses a small stick to level off the top of the cup, making sure the amount is precise before taking it over to WHITE, his pet parrot.

JONATHAN

(to his parrot in Chinese)

Hello, White. (Ni hao, Xiao Bai.)

JONATHAN slowly pats WHITE's head before setting up his

dinner table.

SCENE 5

INT. JONATHAN'S APARTMENT - JONATHAN'S DINNER TABLE. NIGHT.

JONATHAN is having his dinner alone. Everything on the table

is neatly arranged. JONATHAN starts his dinner with himself,

GREEN sitting opposite him.

Ding dong! His apartment doorbell rings.

He slowly walks towards the door, carefully looks through his peephole.

BOY (O.S.)

(Shouting)

JO! I know you're in there!

(?????! ???????????????????????!)

JONATHAN tries to keep quiet. He can see BOY, a younger easygoing

Thai colleague. Boy is wearing a shirt with his sleeves folded and a loose tie. BOY keeps knocking on JONATHAN's door louder and louder. JONATHAN flinches.

JONATHAN

Hello Boy. What do you want this time?

(????????? ??????????????????)

BOY (O.S.)

(Shouting)

I got us some breakfast!

(??????????????????????????!)

JONATHAN

Thank you, but I'm having my breakfast.

(???????? ??????????? ???????????????)

BOY (O.S.)

With who?! White? Your bird?!

I'm joining you guys!

(????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ?????????!)

JONATHAN hesitates. He opens the door finally. BOY bursts

inside and greets them loudly.

BOY

Hello, Jo! So stinky!

BOY pats White's head while sitting down. JONATHAN

carefully sits between White and BOY.

BOY glances at the TV of a documentary playing a bird mating scene. BOY starts his meal he brought.

BOY

Seriously, when was the last time you have

dinner with another human being?

(?????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????)

JONATHAN

(looking at BOY)

Now?

(?????????)

BOY

Not with me!

I mean, like,

another FEMALE human being!

(????????? ???????????

??????? ???... ????????????????)

JONATHAN doesn't answer.

BOY

Look, Jo. I know this Chinese girl.

Let me set you guys up.

(???????? ???????????????????????

??????????????????????????)

JONATHAN is uncomfortably silent.

BOY

She's really fine.

At least you speak the same language.

Trust me. Just one dinner with her.

If it doesn't work,

I'll never ask you again.

(??????? ???????????? ?????????????? ????????????????????

??????? ???????? ?????????????????

???????????? ?????????????????)

JONATHAN thinks about it and seems reluctant.

JONATHAN

I don't know how.

(...?????????????????)

BOY

When you don't know what to say,

just say she's really beautiful.

(?????? ?????????????????????????????????

???????????? ?????????????)

JONATHAN looks at BOY without saying anything.

BOY

I'll take that as a yes.

YES! You can do it man!

(????????????????????????? ????????

???! ??????????!)

SCENE 6

INT. JONATHAN'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM. DAY.

JONATHAN gets fully dressed, just like he does when he goes

to work. He stands in front of his mirror, choosing between a

black tie and a dark grey tie. He puts away both ties. He

grabs and puts a bow tie on instead.

SCENE 7

INT. CAFE. DAY.

JONATHAN sits at a table by the glass window of a fine decorated

cafe, looking neat and cool. JONATHAN looks at his watch on his

wrist - 3.58 p.m.

SHERYL suddenly walks into the door. She looks beautiful in a

classy dress. She looks around the cafe and her eyes finally

meet JONATHAN's. JONATHAN stands up. SHERYL knows he is her

date. She walks enthusiastically towards JONATHAN with a big

smile. When she reaches their table, she reaches her hand out

trying to greet him with a friendly handshake.

SHERYL

You must be Jonathan! Hello!

A closeup shot of SHERYL's hand. A name card is handed to her

hand. She looks amazed. In a wide shot, we see JONATHAN is bowing, handing her his business card using both hands. She receives his card.

JONATHAN

Hello, Sheryl. Nice to meet you.

There is a moment of awkward silence before she laughs it off.

SHERYL

Nice to meet you.

Both sit down at the table. The WAITRESS comes with the menus

to take the order. SHERYL takes the menu.

JONATHAN

Water, please.

WAITRESS

And anything for you, miss?

SHERYL still browses the menu.

SHERYL

I'm thinking of a chocolate cake…

Or… a strawberry cheese cake…

What do you think, Jonathan?

SHERYL looks at JONATHAN for the answer. Another awkward

silence…

JONATHAN

Both then…

SHERYL

Are you sure?

JONATHAN

Yes, I am sure.

JONATHAN

(to the WAITRESS)

A chocolate cake

and a strawberry cake, please.

SHERYL gives a little smile back at JONATHAN. The WAITRESS

leaves the table. JONATHAN and SHERYL sit together in another

awkward silence until SHERYL starts talking.

SHERYL

(Jokingly) Sorry I didn't bring my business card.

JONATHAN

There's nothing to worry about.

We can exchange them again next time.

She laughs out loud, thinking what JONATHAN has said was a

joke.

SHERYL

You're funny.

The WAITRESS comes back with the ordered food on the table

and then leaves. SHERYL smiles widely. She slides both plates

of the cake in the middle of the table.

SHERYL

Let's share.

JONATHAN look at the cakes.

SHERYL eats the cake. JONATHAN does not know what to say.

Suddenly, he hears BOY's voice.

BOY (V.O.)

When you don't know what to say,

say she's really beautiful.

JONATHAN

You're really beautiful.

She laughs out loud again.

SHERYL

Seriously, you're really funny. You could have just smiled.

SHERYL smiles widely. Jonathan is embarrassed at this point. The camera slowly pulls out.

SCENE 8

INT. JONATHAN'S APARTMENT-JONATHAN'S KITCHEN. DAY.

SHERYL in a more easy-going dress prepares them a meal. JONATHAN feeds WHITE. SHERYL feeds JONATHAN a spoon of what she cooks.

SCENE 9

INT. JONATHAN'S APARTMENT-ON JONATHAN'S SOFA. NIGHT.

JONATHAN and SHERYL are watching a movie. SHERYL laughs out loud but Jonathan doesn't know how to react and sits stiffly still. Both continue watching movie.

SCENE 10

INT. MOVIE THEATRE. DAY.

JONATHAN and SHERYL are at the movies. Before the movie

starts, JEERASAK shows up with some of his friends. JONATHAN

stands up and shakes JEERASAK's hand.

JONATHAN

(in Thai)

Hello, Jeerasak.

(??????????????????????)

JEERASAK

(in Thai)

Hello, Jonathan.

(?????????????????)

JEERASAK looks at SHERYL. JONATHAN notices.

JONATHAN

(in Thai)

This is Sheryl.

(????... ?????????????)

(in Chinese)

Sheryl, This is Jeerasak.

JEERASAK

(in Thai)

Hello, Sheryl.

(????????????????)

SHERYL

(in Chinese)

Hello, Jeerasak.

JEERASAK and SHERYL shake their hands. When their eyes meet,

they share a brief moment. Jonathan notices it, but says

nothing. After shaking hands, JEERASAK lingers and smiles.

Finally, he sits down next to JONATHAN.

The movie begins. JEERASAK and SHERYL laugh at the same

scene. JEERASAK and his friends are laughing out loud. SHERYL

turns to look at him smilingly. JONATHAN just stares forward at

the screen.

SCENE 11

INT. STUDIO. DAY.

PLAYBACK ON THE MONITOR

VDO of a closeup shot played: hands holding a biscuit before

cracking it in half.

IN FRONT OF THE MONITOR

JONATHAN, standing between the DIRECTOR and the CLIENT who

are sitting, is listening to the CLIENT. JEERASAK stands next

to the DIRECTOR. They are watching what was shot before. The

biscuit was cracked by JEERASAK's hand.

JULIE'S CLIENT

(in Chinese)

I want it to be cracked in the middle.

Like, EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE.

JONATHAN

(in Thai to the DIRECTOR and JEERASAK)

He wants it cracked right in the middle.

He wants you to crack it right in the middle.

(??????????????????????????????

???????????????????????????????)

DIRECTOR

I know… I know…

(???????... ???????...)

(Shouting)

Everyone, let's take a 10 minute break, and get me a ruler!

(????? ?????? 10 ????!)

STUDIO DOOR

SHERYL walks quietly into the studio with a box in her hands.

(OPTION: She asks one of the crew where JONATHAN is.)

AT THE CATERING TABLE

JEERASAK looks disappointed with his performance while

taking a glass of water. JONATHAN drinks water with him until

SHERYL walks down to surprise JONATHAN.

SHERYL

Hey, Jo. Hello, Jeerasak.

JEERASAK

Hello, Sheryl!

(????????????????)

JONATHAN

Hello, Sheryl.

What are you doing here?

SHERYL

I was passing by so I thought I should come

by to cheer you up. Here…

SHERYL hands JONATHAN a box. He opens it. There are a

chocolate cake inside the box.

JONATHAN

Thank you...

DIRECTOR (O.S.)

(Shouting)

Jonathan!

(???????!)

SHERYL

Have a bite before you go back to work.

Holding the box without knowing what to do with the cake,

JONATHAN puts it down on the catering table. JONATHAN finally

says it to SHERYL.

JONATHAN

Thank you but I don't really like sweet things…

I need to go, I'll be back.

JEERASAK and SHERYL watch JONATHAN leaves. JEERASAK notices

SHERYL has a hint of disappointment as she looks at the cake

JEERASAK is obviously nervous standing with SHERYL. He's trying to

keep it cool. They are in an awkward silence until JEERASAK tries

to start the conversation with his broken English.

JEERASAK

(in Thai)

Can I try?

(??????????????????)

SHERYL does not seem to understand what JEERASAK is saying

because of the language. He tries to communicate with hand

signals and body language. He takes the box of cake slowly

and carefully, trying to say he wants to take care of it.

SHERYL begins to smile. She hands him a spoon. JEERASAK

smiles too.

JEERASAK takes a bite of the cake. SHERYL waits to see what

he will say. JEERASAK gives SHERYL a thumb up.

JEERASAK

Good! ?????!

They both laugh out almost at the same time.

SHERYL

See? after long hours of work. Something

sweet makes you feel better.

JEERASAK looks confused of what she's saying. They just keep

on laughing and smiling at each other.

JONATHAN sees the scene from in front of the monitor. He

stares at them from the distance. JONATHAN seems to have some plan on his mind.

SCENE 12

INT. JONATHAN'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM. EVENING.

JONATHAN is standing in front of the mirror and starts

saying something to the mirror with another piece of paper in

his hand. He starts reading it out, trying not to look at

what is written on that paper he wrote.

JONATHAN, in his best suit, still talks to the mirror with no

longer paper in his hand. He looks at himself in the mirror,

showing a slight hint of nerves unlike he always is. He

leaves his bedroom. The photo on the mirror shows it is a printed profile picture of SHERYL.

SCENE 13

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

JONATHAN and SHERYL, both very well-dress, are in a fancy

fine dining restaurant with glasses of wine, and candles on

their table. They both have just the last bite of their

dinner. SHERYL looks delighted with everything this evening.

SHERYL

Jonathan, you're very sweet and this is a very nice place. What's the occasion?

JONATHAN

I have something very important to tell you.

SHERYL seems to be surprised and nervous.

SHERYL

Are you sure? Isn't it too soon?

We just know each other for a while.

JONATHAN

That's true.

JONATHAN pauses and looks into SHERYL's eyes. JONATHAN finally says it.

JONATHAN

I don't think we should go out anymore.

SHERYL is stunned, embarrassed and shocked. There is a pause.

She finally says something out disappointedly.

SHERYL

Have I done something wrong?

JONATHAN's eyes widen as he shakes his head.

JONATHAN

No. You are not wrong.

You're really beautiful. And you're great but...

JONATHAN can't seem to get his words out. He gets up, walks

through the restaurant door, leaving SHERYL alone with confusion.

He returns with JEERASAK and brings him over to the table to sit in his seat.

JONATHAN

You'd be better... together.

JEERASAK doesn't seem to know what to do. JEERASAK and SHERYL look at each other. JEERASAK starts to smiling awkwardly while SHERYL still looks confused. As JONATHAN walks away, JEERASAK calls out to him.

JEERASAK

Wait, Jonathan!

(?????????? ???????!)

JONATHAN stops and turns around.

JEERASAK

We can't possibly understand each other.

JONATHAN stares at both of them.

JONATHAN

I will be your Translator.

SCENE 14

INT. STUDIO. DAY.

JEERASAK cracks the biscuits exactly right in the middle,

smiles widely and enthusiastically to the camera and shouts

out.

JEERASAK

(To the camera)

Le-mond! From Julie's!

(Le-mond! ??????????)

The DIRECTOR rechecks JULIE'S CLIENT's reaction. JULIE'S

CLIENT smiles with pleasure. The DIRECTOR shouts out happily.

THE DIRECTOR

(Shouting)

CUT! That's a wrap!

(???! ???????!)

Everyone on set cheers as the client finally looks happy. The

CLIENT shakes the DIRECTOR's, and JEERASAK's hands with

pleasure. JONATHAN stands among them, translating.

JULIE'S CLIENT

Xie xie.

JONATHAN

(in Thai)

Thank you.

(??????????)

THE DIRECTOR

(in Thai)

Thank you.

(??????????)

JONATHAN

(to the client)

Xie xie.

JEERASAK

(in Thai)

Thank you.

(??????????)

JONATHAN

(to the client)

Xie xie.

JULIE'S CLIENT and DIRECTOR shake hands.

DIRECTOR

(in Thai)

Next time, more budget.

SCENE 15

EXT. AT THE FRONT OF THE STUDIO. DAY

As JONATHAN walks away from the crowd, satisfied with the job

well done, he sees SHERYL outside the studio, waiting for JEERASAK.

JONATHAN

Are you waiting for JEERASAK?

SHERYL

Yes.

JONATHAN

He's coming soon. (-pause-)

Good luck, SHERYL.

SHERYL leans in a gives JONATHAN a hug.

SHERYL

Thank you.

JONATHAN finally manages to form something resembling a warm

smile. JONATHAN, awkward as always, keeps his arms by his side.

He slowly lifts his hand up and pat her head, like his parrot. After a while, SHERYL lets JONATHAN go.

JONATHAN

If you need anything,

you got my card.

SHERYL smiles and takes out her name card this time.

SHERYL

Here's mine, that I owe you.

JONATHAN smiles naturally.

SHERYL

So you do know how to smile after all.

JONATHAN

Thank you, I have to go.

JONATHAN takes his leave. JONATHAN walks in the middle of the frame. (Between JEERASAK and SHERYL)

CUT TO BLACK.

SUPER:

(aligned centre)

"The good in the middle."

SUPER disappears. Cut to a vertical line of the cream inside

Julie's Le-mond. The two pieces of Julie's Le-mond biscuits appear

on the left and right hand side of the cream. The biscuits move

just a little. They all gather and become a piece of Julie's

Le-mond biscuits.

Train motion transition

SCENE 16

EXT. TRAIN STATION. LATE NIGHT.

JONATHAN waits on the same platform for his train to arrive. His face

shows no emotion. The camera pulls out to reveal that the platform

is almost empty. He stands alone in the centre of the frame. He

sees the same MOTHER with her YOUNG DAUGHTER on the opposite

platform. Next to her is a WOMAN. She gives an awkward creepy

smile to A KID next to her. The KID takes a step away from her and

her MOTHER finally walk her away with fear. The WOMAN tilts her

head, looking confused about what wrong she did to the KID. We hear

the sound of the arriving trains as her eyes meet JONATHAN's. He

slowly gives her a smile. She smiles back in the same creepy fashion as Jonathan did before. Both smiles look creepy. The train arrives.

CUT TO BLACK.

THE END