(There are 2 version of narrative in this chapter. The new script format and the traditional one. It is recommended to read the script format.)
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Script format (including extra content)
[INT. SHIP BRIDGE - MORNING]
The crew carefully transports Hffyl out of the cargo hold. The captain meets them on deck of the ship.
Captain: (Firmly, yet with a touch of empathy) Alright, tell me what happened.
Faiz: (Eagerly sharing information) Captain, we found this wounded boy, Hffyl, in the cargo hold. He begged us to help him escape from whatever had him running.
Crew Member 1: (Eagerly) Running, you say? This could be interesting!
Crew Member 2: (Nervously) Do we have a stowaway situation on our hands?
Captain: (Commanding) Everyone, calm down. We have encountered unexpected situations before. We'll take care of it and make sure the smooth sailing of our ship.
Lookout: (Wise and observant) Captain, it's strange to find a wounded stowaway. How did he manage to get aboard without our knowledge?
Captain: (Thoughtful) It is indeed a mystery. However, let's prioritize our guest's well-being for now. He is in no condition to answer questions.
Faiz: (Concerned) We need to tend to his wounds. He's clearly been through some rough stuff.
They carefully transport Hffyl towards the ship's medical area.
Rizal: (Serious) Captain, once we're out in international waters, we better give the authorities a heads-up about this.
Captain: (Nodding affirmatively) Right. We must inform the authorities in due time. But for now, let us care for our guest.
[INT. SHIP BAY]
They carefully lower Hffyl onto a bed in the ship's clinic with the crew gathering around him.
Dollah: Captain, there is more to this than meets the eye. We need to uncover the truth behind his presence on our ship.
Captain: Dollah, I agree, but we cannot interrogate him in his current state. Let us ensure his recovery first.
Faiz: (Agreeing) Absolutely, Captain. This poor soul has been through unimaginable trials.
Rizal: We ain't Sherlock Holmes. Our job now is making sure he's safe and figuring out why he ended up hiding in our cargo hold.
Faiz: Alright then. Mikhail, go and call in Murni!
Mikhail: (Paging her in) Done. She'll be here soon.
Mei Ling: (Entering the bridge, curious) Jiàn zhǎng, what's all this noise about?
Captain: Castaway boy in the cargo hold.
Mei Ling: The hell, since when?
Captain: Just a while ago, Faiz found him bleeding in one of the cargo boxes.
Mikhail: Maybe he thought our ship was a luxury theme park! You know, a cruise ship with water slides and all.
Mei Ling: As if we'd ever be that lucky.
Captain: True. Our luck only attracts injured stowaways, apparently.
Faiz: Should we start charging admission for all the troubles we encounter on this noble vessel?
Mei Ling: Hell, we'd probably make more money from ticket sales than actual cargo at this rate!
Captain: (Mock-serious) Ah yes, the famous "Sailing House of Wonders" - Where castaways come free with every voyage!
Nurse Murni: (enters) Alright, I'm here. Where's that ki- (Pausing in surprise) Woah. That's... bad.
Mikhail: (Concerned) Yeah, poor guy went through hell. We found him hiding in the cargo hold.
Nurse Murni: I'll find out the problem while I patch him up.
Nurse Murni prepared her equipment and began her work, the crew closely observing.
Dollah: (Inquisitive) How's it look, Nurse?
Nurse Murni: (Professionally) It's rather messy, but I'll clean and stitch the wound on his arm first. Looks like glass got embedded in his cheek too.
Captain: (Concerned) Take your time, Nurse. And don't hesitate to ask for assistance if you need it.
Nurse Murni nodded and delicately cleaned the wounds. Throughout the process, Hffyl winced in pain but remained stoic, not uttering a word of complaint.
Rizal: (Muttering) Tough kid, literally got shot. Must have been through hell to endure this silently.
Faiz: Yeah, it takes a lot of strength to bear it all. Who knows how many hours it is he stay in that place.
Nurse Murni: (Focused) Almost done. Just need to dress his other injuries.
As Nurse Murni carefully dressed Hffyl's wounds, the crew watched in silence.
Mikhail: Any guesses on what he's running from?
Mei Ling: Hard to say. Give him some space to recover before we bombard him with questions.
Captain: And that's exactly what I'm about to do.
The Captain pulled up a chair.
Captain Ajwad: Alright, let's start by introducing ourselves properly. I am Captain Ajwad and Rizal as the right hand man. Now, let's hear from the rest of the crew here in this room.
Faiz: Faiz, and I handle various maintenance tasks on the ship. If anything's broken, it's usually my job to fix it. The ship's engineer. I keep the engine running smoothly.
Dollah: I'm Dollah. I keep watch on the ship's surroundings to make sure we steer clear of any potential dangers that the radar or sonar couldn't detect.
Nurse Murni: Murni, the ship's nurse. If anyone gets hurt or falls ill, I'm here to help.
Mei Ling: The ship's communications officer, Mei Ling. I handle radio communications and help with any translation needs.
Suresh: I'm Suresh, I make sure everyone's well-fed and the living quarters are in order. Basically a steward. Don't worry, I'm a Muslim, that means all the food here are halal.
Priya: And I'm Priya. I make sure the living quarters are in order.
Hamzah: In charge of deck activities and ensuring everything's shipshape. Hamzah is my name.
Omar: (shows tag) I'm the diver and salvage expert. If we ever need to go underwater for repairs or salvage missions, that's my domain.
Nadia: Nadia the quartermaster. I manage our supplies and provisions.
Zul: They called me Zul, I handle all things electrical on the ship.
Azura: You like piano music? I can play that. Azura by the way.
Captain Ajwad: There are more crew members in this ship, they are hard to talk to currently. Now how about you?
Hffyl: I'm Hffyl. I had to run from the hospital... I don't even know who wanted me dead...
The Captain sighed deeply once Hffyl finished.
Captain: We need to bring you back to your parents. But we need to be careful. The port authorities will be on the lookout.
Hffyl: I'm not sure if it's safe back there.
Rizal: Captain, we can't ignore the fact that if this kid's got enemies, they might come cruisin' for trouble on our ship.
Dollah: The view's been all clear for a good while now. But I'll keep my eyes peeled for anything suspicious.
Nurse Murni: This kid's lost more blood than you'd want. He needs a nap and some grub to beef up. Suresh, we need some of your culinary.
Suresh: I think we got some hand-me-down clothes as well from the last stop. They might be a bit baggy, but better than this gore-soaked getup. I'll grab 'em.
Rizal: Cap, maybe we should whip up some paperwork to explain this. Proof that we're not in with any shady stuff. And that we'll play nice with any investigation once we hit international waters.
Captain Ajwad: (nods) Good call, Rizal. Let's draft a note explaining the situation and that we're willing to cooperate with any investigation once we're out in the open sea.
[INT. SHIP ACCOMMODATION]
The ship glided smoothly upon the waters, the horizon casting a serene and peaceful aura.
Rizal: (Calling out) Captain Ajwad, we've got a bit of a situation here. The kid doesn't have any ID or passport on him.
Captain Ajwad: Well, that's not good news. Sailing into international waters without the proper papers is like an open invitation for a whole mess of problems. We need to sort this out swiftly before our cargo transport to Indonesia gets canceled.
Faiz: What if we managed to rustle up some temporary documents? Perhaps there's a port nearby where we can work some magic?
Rizal: It won't be a walk in the park to acquire fake papers, especially with all the security protocols in place. We could be asking for trouble.
Dollah: Add the kid's battered body and his mysterious background into the mix, and we're practically poking a hornet's nest. We're playing with fire here, Captain.
Captain Ajwad: I have a contact in Langkawi, not too far off our current course. He's a police officer and might just be able to work some miracles for us. We'll make a pit stop there and see what he can do.
Rizal: A sudden change in course might raise some eyebrows, Captain. We need a convincing cover story to mask our intentions.
Suresh returned to the room after getting Hffyl some clothing.
Suresh: How about we report a minor hiccup in the engine, something that requires a quick fix? It's a legitimate excuse that shouldn't attract any unnecessary attention.
Captain Ajwad: (Approvingly) Well thought out. Let's go with that plan. Dollah, chart a course to Langkawi. Mei Ling and Mikhail, send contact with the port authority. Rizal, gather the crew and keep them sharp during this detour.
[EXT. FOGGY WATERS]
The ship sailed closer to Langkawi, its surroundings gradually engulfed by a thick fog. Dollah, stationed at the lookout post, strained his eyes to see through the dense haze.
Dollah: Bloody hell, I can't see a damn thing out here! This fog's as thick as curry.
Captain Ajwad, accompanied by his crew members, assessed the situation.
Captain Ajwad: This is a dangerous mix. The fog's messing with our visibility, and now the radar's acting up. We're sailing blind. We'll have to drop anchor and wait for the fog to clear.
Rizal: Dropping anchor here is like dipping your feet in shark-infested waters. If there are any pirate pals lurking in this soup, we're done.
Faiz: Hey, I've got an idea. What if we send a dinghy out to scout around? They can check if there's any trouble brewing in this foggy stew.
As the crew deliberated their options, the ship's radio crackled to life, interrupting their conversation.
Unidentified Voice: Cargo vessel, you are entering restricted waters. Identify yourself immediately.
Captain Ajwad seized the radio, his voice projecting calm determination.
Captain Ajwad: This is the MV Sirena. We're experiencing technical difficulties and have limited visibility due to the fog. Requesting permission to anchor temporarily.
The crew anxiously awaiting a response. Finally, the voice on the radio broke the silence, their words carrying an air of warning.
Unidentified Voice: MV Sirena, you are instructed to halt your progress and await further instructions.
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Original version (a bit outdated. recommended to not read)
The crew carefully lugged Hffyl out of the cargo hold, he winced with every jostle, his injuries screaming testament to the crazy journey he'd just been through. Captain Ajwad, a no-nonsense guy with a rugged face, met them on the deck. His look was all business but tinged with a hint of compassion.
"Alright, spill it, Faiz," Captain Ajwad said, his voice carrying a truckload of authority.
Faiz quickly spilled the beans about Hffyl and his plea for escaping whatever had him running. The rest of the crew gathered 'round, eager for a slice of the action.
"Chill, everyone," the Captain commanded, his voice reeking of authority. "We're sailors, and we got a stowaway situation on our hands. We'll deal with it, but we gotta keep our ship sailing smooth."
Lookout Dollah, the guy known for his hawk-like eyes and years at sea, stood on the sidelines, watching the whole drama with a wise look on his face. He'd seen his fair share of oddities out on the ocean, but a wounded stowaway was a new one.
As they gently transported Hffyl toward the ship's medical digs, Faiz kept a helping hand under his shoulder. The young stowaway was hurting bad, and the pain in his eyes showed he'd been through the ringer.
First Mate Rizal led the way, going from Mr. Skeptic to Mr. Responsible. "Captain, once we're out in international waters, we better give the authorities a heads-up about this," he suggested.
Captain Ajwad gave a solemn nod. "Aye, Rizal, that's a must. But for now, let's play host to our unexpected guest and figure out his story."
Inside the ship's makeshift clinic, they gently lowered Hffyl onto a bed cobbled together from ship parts, the low light making his injuries look gnarlier than ever. The crew huddled 'round, shaking their heads in disbelief at how this guy survived.
Lookout Dollah, the sea-savvy old-timer, raised an interesting point. "Captain, it's fishy to find a stowaway like this. How'd he even get aboard?"
Captain Ajwad, deep in thought, replied, "That's the million-dollar question, but let's not grill our guest just yet. He's in no shape to spill the beans."
Faiz, still fretting over Hffyl's wounds, chimed in, "Aye, Captain. He's been through hell. We should patch him up first."
Rizal, the first mate, nodded along. "We ain't Sherlock Holmes. Our job now is making sure he's safe and figuring out why he ended up hiding in our cargo hold."
The crew members were a motley bunch, a real slice of multicultural Malaysia. Malay Muslims, Chinese, Indians, and a few others from diverse backgrounds. Their mix of languages and accents was like a symphony of voices.
Mikhail, one of the crew members, a middle-aged Malay dude, offered, "Maybe we need some help talking to him."
Mei Ling, a young Chinese crew member, chimed in, "I can pitch in too."
Hffyl, still barely hanging on and feeling like he'd been through the wringer, looked at the faces around him. Their concern was a lifeline in his stormy sea of trouble.
Captain Ajwad decided it was time to get Hffyl to the ship's medical bay. Murni, their resident nurse, was going to patch him up. The crew was all in, their nosiness and compassion pushing them to dig deeper into this whole stowaway business.
They gently plopped Hffyl onto a makeshift hospital bed. Nurse Murni began her work. She cleaned and stitched the wound on his arm, removed the glass from his cheek, and carefully dressed his other injuries. Throughout the process, Hffyl winced in pain but didn't utter a word of complaint.
After the patch-up, the crew reassembled in the medical crib, itching to hear more about Hffyl's crazy story. Captain Ajwad pulled up a chair.
Hffyl, still feeling like a roadkill, pushed on. "I'm Hffyl," he said, voice wobbly but determined. "I had to run... I don't even know who wanted me dead. I had to bolt."
Captain Ajwad sighed deeply once Hffyl finished. "We need to bring you back to your parents. But we need to be careful. The port authorities will be on the lookout."
First Mate Rizal, who had his poker face on the whole time, chimed in. "Captain, we can't ignore the fact that if this kid's got enemies, they might come cruisin' for trouble on our ship."
Dollah, the guy who kept watch, added his two cents. "Captain, the view's been all clear for a good while now. But I'll keep my peepers peeled for anything funky."
Nurse Murni, while still fixing up Hffyl, put in her two cents. "This kid's lost more red stuff than you'd want. He needs a nap and some grub to beef up."
Suresh, his eyes oozing worry, said, "I think we got some hand-me-down clothes from the last stop. They might be a bit baggy, but better than this gore-soaked getup. I'll grab 'em."
Rizal, the thinking man's first mate, suggested, "Cap, maybe we should whip up some paperwork to explain this circus. Proof that we're not in cahoots with any shady stuff. And that we'll play nice with any investigation once we hit international waters."
Captain Ajwad gave a firm nod. "Good call, Rizal. Let's draft a note explaining the deal, how we found Hffyl all beat up and just trying to help. And we're down to cooperate with any snooping around once we're out in the open sea."
The ship sailed smoothly over the calm waters, the horizon clear and serene. But below deck, the atmosphere was tense.
"Captain," began Rizal, concern etched on his face, "We have a situation. the kid doesn't have a passport or any identification documents on him."
Captain Ajwad's brows knitted together, deep in thought. "Well, that ain't a walk in the park. Hitting international waters without the right papers is like ringing the dinner bell for a mess of problems. We gotta figure this out, and quick."
Faiz, always got a plan up his sleeve, threw in, "What if we try and rustle up some temporary papers? Maybe there's a port nearby where we can work some magic?"
Rizal wasn't feeling too optimistic, shaking his head. "Getting quick and dirty docs ain't gonna be a walk in the park, especially with all this security jazz going on."
Dollah, keeping his eagle eye on the lookout, cut in, "And with the kid's busted-up bod and his story, it's like stirring the hornet's nest. We're playing with fire."
Captain Ajwad, tapping into his connections, pondered, "I got a contact in Langkawi, not too far off our path. He's a smooth operator and might just work some miracles for us. We'll change course and make a pit stop there."
Rizal, always the worrywart, voiced his concerns, "A sudden detour could raise eyebrows, Captain. We need a good cover story."
Suresh, just back from grabbing clothes for Hffyl and being a navy alum, had a tactical idea. "We could report a minor hiccup in the engine, something that needs a quick fix. It's a legit excuse that shouldn't get us any extra attention."
Captain Ajwad gave Suresh the nod of approval. "Smart thinkin', Suresh. Let's roll with that. Dollah, plot us a course to Langkawi. Rizal, round up the crew and keep 'em sharp during this detour."
As the cargo ship approached Langkawi's waters, a dense fog began to envelop the surroundings. The fog, while not uncommon in these parts, reduced visibility significantly, making navigation a challenge. Dollah, from his lookout post, could barely see a few meters ahead.
To make matters worse, the ship's radar began to malfunction, flickering in and out of service. The crew tried to troubleshoot, but it was clear that there was a major issue with the system. Without the radar, navigating through the fog became even more hazardous.
Captain Ajwad, gathering his senior crew members, said, "This fog and the radar glitch are a dangerous combination. We're flying blind here. We need to drop anchor and wait this out."
But Rizal, never one to see a glass half full, had his doubts. "Captain, dropping anchor here is like dippin' your feet in shark-infested waters. If there are pirate pals lurking in this soup, they'll be over for dinner."
Faiz, flashing his quick thinker badge, pitched in, "How 'bout we send a dinghy to snoop around and check if there's trouble brewing in this foggy stew?"
Just as they were discussing their options, the ship's radio crackled to life. An unidentified voice spoke, its tone urgent. "Cargo vessel, you are entering restricted waters. Identify yourself immediately."
Captain Ajwad grabbed the radio. "This is the MV Sirena. We're experiencing technical difficulties and have limited visibility due to the fog. Requesting permission to anchor temporarily."
The radio went silent for a moment, the tension palpable. Then the voice returned, "MV Sirena, you are instructed to halt your progress and await further instructions. Any deviation will be met with force."
The crew exchanged anxious glances. The situation was spiraling rapidly. They were in a vulnerable position with a malfunctioning radar, reduced visibility, and now potential hostilities from an unknown entity.