Original subtitles

Once, man and those in the water were linked.

They inspired us.

They spoke of the future.

Man listened and it became real.

But man does not listen very well.

Man's need to own everything led him deeper into land.

The magic world of the ones that live in the ocean...

...and the world of men...

...separated.

Through the centuries, their world, and all the inhabitants of it...

...stopped trying.

The world of man became more violent.

War upon war played out, as there were no guides to listen to.

Now those in the water are trying again...

...trying to reach us.

A handful of their precious young ones have been sent into the world of man.

They are brought in the dead of night...

...to where man lives.

They need only be glimpsed...

...and the awakening of man will happen.

But their enemies roam the land.

There are laws that are meant to keep the young ones safe...

...but they are sent at great risk to their lives.

Many...

...do not return.

Yet still they try...

...try to help man.

But man may have forgotten how to listen.

My daughter says to be careful, Mr. Heep.

Well, it's some kind of a b... B... B... Bug.

It's very big.

It's very hairy.

My other daughter says it's some kind of creature the devil made.

Tell her it's not a creature.

There's no such thing as creatures, all right?

You...

You might wanna turn away.

Sorry this is taking so long.

It's over. It's over.

It's... It's safe.

My daughter says thank you for protecting them.

Mr. Farber?

I'm Cleveland Heep. Welcome to the Cove.

Mr. Heep!

You are new tenant?

Yeah, this is Mr. Farber. He's in 13B.

Now, Mr. Farber, this is Young-Soon Choi. She lives with her mother in 8A.

She's a student at the university.

Young-Soon, you don't know...

...who's been swimming in the pool the last few nights, do you?

No, Mr. Heep.

By the way, here. Thanks. I liked it.

You're welcome.

Mr. Heep loves learning. He doesn't want people to know.

Mr. Heep, pool man looking for you. I tell him you come soon.

Could you wait here just a moment, please?

Gonna ask something. Answer straight. You guys having parties in here?

Bubble parties, bubble bath, everyone skinny-dipping?

No.

- Those bubbles make the water very slick. - No.

I'll trust you on that. But something is making this water like this.

There has been someone swimming at nighttime.

I hear sp... Sp... Sp... Splashing some nights.

I left here yesterday afternoon, this filter was empty.

You kind of look like maybe you could work out a little bit, right?

I could give you a vein like that.

I could make it look just like this. Right?

Most people say, "What's wrong with you, Reggie?

Why you only working out on one side of your body?"

I tell them it's like an experiment. I'm like a scientist.

This morning I measured my bicep.

Four-and-a-half-inch difference from one side to the other.

Look at that.

Take a guess at the difference between my thighs.

- Hello, Reggie. - Hey.

- Hey. Sorry. - Hey.

Me and the new guy, we're talking science.

Okay, that's great. Here we go, Mr. F...

Here we go. Come on.

Don't hang out in the stairwell, Reggie, please.

- Okay. - All right.

Just... People might trip.

All right.

Reggie's harmless. He just wants to be special.

He's working out only one side of his body.

Did he...? Did he tell you that?

- be inside within minutes.

Hello, Mr. Leeds.

Those soldiers are only now beginning to wonder how long they'll end up staying.

If this does come to combat, we will not be in the battle for the sake of the battle.

He's been here f... F... Forever.

- will not be reached any other way.

Mrs. Bell, she takes in animals. Smart lady. You'd like her.

- He... Not just because he died. - There's a bunch of people better.

- Name four people better. - Name one better than Fred.

Axl Rose. Sebastian Bach. Bret Michaels is better than he is.

Bret Michaels. I'd rather listen to Bon... Jon Bon Jovi.

What? Are you...?

This is you.

There's no smoking inside.

And there's no swimming after 7.

I hope it's okay to ask: What brings you here from the West Coast, Mr. Farber?

I've been hired to be the local film and book critic for the paper.

They flew you all the way out here for that?

- They did. - Well, you must be very good.

Mr. Heep, Betty Pen again.

I smell something awful coming from the upstairs apartment.

I think someone may have died and the body is decomposing.

I know I said this last week, but...

Not everyone here spent Sunday practicing for war.

At Sunday church services, chaplains rallied the troops.

For these Marines, a moment for prayer...

...at a service that many here believe will be their last before going to war.

U.S. forces predicted today the enemy, estimated at 3 to 4000...

...may be willing...

- a major... A major confrontation.

At the same time, the U.S. military will be fighting a propaganda war.

If there were a silver bullet, we would've shot that a long time ago.

Hey! I saw you!

I saw you!

Come out of that pool right now!

Hey!

I'm gonna wait.

Hey.

Hey.

Come on out, now. It's...

It's... It's not safe.

Come on out. This is not f...

This is not funny.

Please sto...

God.

Did you pull me out?

Where are you from?

The Blue World.

Is that an apartment?

Do you feel an awakening?

I'm sorry?

It will feel like pins and needles...

...inside.

It is not you.

It's late.

You really...

You shouldn't be here.

I'm kind of old-fashioned that way. I don't even know your name.

My name is Story.

I didn't mean for you to tell...

Why am I not stuttering?

What?

Hello, Story, my name is Cleveland.

"From the cliffs."

That is what your name means.

Where did you learn that?

From my studies.

I promise that I will not get you into trouble. You can go.

I am scared.

I will wait here with you, Cleveland.

Why are you scared?

You can wait here for a little bit...

...until you feel not so scared.

Are you okay?

Oh, my God. You're just a kid.

Hello.

Okay. It's time to go. Story, come on.

Okay.

I think you need some fresh air.

I'm just gonna take you outside.

I'm gonna put you on one of the pool chairs.

I'm gonna get you some coffee...

...and then you can wake up.

Then I'll walk you home.

Tell me, who in the world are you, anyway?

- Narf. - What?

Okay. Come on.

Here we go.

Okay.

It was sort of h... H... Hairy, but... But matted, like clumps. You know?

And it was kind of g... Green.

- You say green? - Yeah.

I thought so. Matted is... Is not right.

It was f... F... Flat, and... And thicker than hair.

Like this. Like this. Flat and this kind of a color.

- And... Is this not helping you at all? - Forget about its hair for a second.

It's obviously some dumb animal who muddied himself. About how tall?

- What, was it a Great Dane? - No, no, no. No, sir.

I mean, are there any w... W... Wolves in this area? Hyenas?

Jack, this is Philadelphia. Where do you think you're living?

Sorry. Something keeps setting off the sprinklers.

I'll look around the forest and check behind the dumpsters and stuff.

An animal that size, the one you're describing...

...doesn't walk around and not be seen.

There's nowhere for a dumb big animal to hide.

Cleveland.

Hey.

Got a lot of homework, huh?

University gives many pages of reading.

What they think, I have no social life?

I got more books for you.

Could you look up the word "narf" for me?

It's an Eastern bedtime story, Mr. Heep.

I do not remember it.

My great-grandmother used to tell it when she was alive.

A b... B... B...

Bedtime story?

What's the story?

I do not remember.

How about your mother?

Hello, Mrs. Choi. Hello.

She wants to know who told you this word.

Oh, j... Just a friend. I don't... I don't... I don't know her very well.

She said that her grandmother...

...used to tell this story like a prayer. Like it was true.

She said that she knew someone who knew someone who saw one.

Saw one what?

A narf, the bedtime story says, is a sea nymph.

I s... What... What happens in the story, please?

No. Mrs...

In the bedtime story...

...she must be seen by the one human chosen for her.

This person is called the vessel.

Seeing the narf will awaken something in the chosen one.

If she's successful in this...

...she will return with the Great Eatlon, a giant eagle...

...and become free.

She won't tell me more.

She said, why can't I be like my older sister. She married a dentist.

Story?

Story?

Cleveland.

Story, could you put something back on, please?

Are you here to meet someone, see someone in this building?

Is somebody supposed to see you?

Is...?

I...

It is a writer.

Do you know his name?

Do you know what he looks like?

Do you know if it's a...? A woman or a man?

Is there something that you wanna tell me?

Is this person writing something important?

When do you have to leave?

I can leave tonight if I meet this person.

I'm gonna help you get home.

Thank you, Cleveland.

I have to go.

Hello. I... I...

I wanted to ask you something about your work.

Your c... C... Critic work.

How's it... How's... How's... How's it going?

I'm seeing a romance film tonight. Not my cup of tea.

So you... You... You haven't written anything yet?

Haven't written anything for some time.

You were right about that one tenant.

I spoke with Mrs. Bell.

We got along. She's very good with animals.

You know she wrote a book?

Mr. Heep, I will be taking the cat in directly.

Don't worry, Mrs. Bell.

Lookie here.

My, there's a lot of butterflies around this building.

Strange behavior for them. They're not usually so trusting.

I understand that you're a writer, Mrs. Bell.

Now, where'd you hear such things?

Maybe I read your book.

That'd be quite a trick. It's been out of print for 20 years.

Twenty years? So you haven't written anything recently?

Mr. Farber has been speaking out of turn.

Look at this cereal character's picture, Dad.

Looks like Aunt Sylvia when she found out everybody hated her fruit-bowl painting.

I need a nine-letter word for "in human form."

You'll figure it out, Dad.

I...

You know, the color on this box look just like the colors of your car, Dad.

Maybe we should take your car and go visit Aunt Sylvia.

Incarnate.

Well, you're very good with those word puzzles, Mr. Dury.

He's a grand-master level. I'm gonna be just like him.

- So you like words a lot, huh? - I adore them.

Are you... Are you writing anything, Mr. Dury?

A book, maybe?

No, I...

I'm afraid my skills are limited to crossword puzzles.

That's some serious reekage, man.

You don't even speak English anymore.

What, reekage? Damn straight it's English. The state of reek.

There's no "reekage," man.

Some toker just like us made it up somewhere, and here you are speaking it.

Let's make up a witty phrase. It'll become famous.

It needs to be on some T-shirt or something, you ass.

No, it doesn't. It just catches on. People just start saying it.

Blim-blam.

What? Blim-blam?

Somebody already said that.

Gentlemen, I don't suppose...

...any of you have written anything lately.

An essay or something?

Something important?

No essays here, my man.

Okay. Stop putting your clothes in the garbage disposal...

...and stop smoking.

Baby's on the half-tip.

- Snap! - Yeah.

There you go. There you go.

Mr. Heep.

She told me a little bit more of the story before she throw cushion at me.

Young-Soon.

You're not writing anything, are you?

A p... P... P... Paper, maybe?

Writing? No, Mr. Heep.

This semester all multiple-choice courses. Young-Soon is not stupid.

She told me about a bad guy in story.

These creatures are called scrunts.

They are meant to kill a narf when she is out of the water.

They can lay completely flat.

Their back is covered in grass.

My great-grandmother said that's why man never sees them.

They will appear as a bump in the lawns.

Vick. Anna.

Mr. Heep, the light over my desk is still not working.

I promise I'll get to it. How's the writing?

- Slow. - You look tired, Mr. Heep.

How long have you been writing, Vick?

Six months.

What? I should finish, right?

It just... It just sits on his desk. My brother's scared.

He'll do anything to get out of writing.

See this? It's the third load of laundry he's done this week.

I can fix that light now, if you want.

A cookbook.

This has gotten s... S...

Silly.

- That's not how you fold. - Mr. Heep, tell her to stop annoying me.

I fixed the light.

I'll make you dinner, Mr. Heep. Thank you.

You're both cooks?

Who, him? He can't cook. He's banned from the kitchen.

Wait a minute, I don't understand something.

I'm sorry. My... My ladder...

...accidentally bumped into your desk.

I ended up seeing the title of what it is you're writing.

It said The Cookbook.

I know, it's a bad title, right?

It's actually, you know, just my thoughts on all our cultural problems...

...and thoughts on leaders and stuff.

I don't know who's gonna wanna publish the thing.

That is not how you fold.

Your thoughts are very sad.

Most are of one night.

A night a man entered your home when you were not there.

He stole many things and killed your wife and children.

That is when you stopped being happy.

You were a doctor.

I am very sorry for you.

You believe you have no purpose.

You help all that live here.

Anybody can do this job, Story.

You have a purpose.

All beings have a purpose.

I know who you are.

And I think that I've found your vessel.

You know what I'm talking about, right?

He's outside. Do you need to see him alone...

...or does he just need to see you?

Cover yourself up.

Hey.

Mr. Heep, I know I sent in that form.

- I gave it to you on the stairs. - Okay.

- My sister's all angry at me now. - Well, I'll check again.

By the way, this is my friend, Story.

Hi.

Yeah, you were right. Here it is.

Great.

You all right? You look a little...

I'm feeling a little funny. It's nothing.

Is it a pins-and-needles kind of feeling?

Yeah, kind of.

Yeah.

Maybe you should go lie down.

Nice meeting you.

I'm so very happy we saw each other.

You don't have to leave right now, do you?

I have to go finish a couple of things. I'll be back.

Is that okay?

Your words are very beautiful.

Your heart is very big.

No one knows about my family here.

Please do not bring it up again.

Coming.

Sorry I'm late, Mrs. Bubchik. It's... It's been a long day.

Come on.

Listen, he's on the toilet. He's been having some gas issues.

Don't tell him I told you.

I... I thought the toilet was broken. That's why I came.

He may just be looking in the mirror. I mean, he's got this growth on his ass.

Don't tell him I told you.

Honey, Cleveland's here. He's come to fix the toilet.

Tell him I had it fixed already. I called the plumber this morning.

- Don't let it hurt his feelings. - Right.

It's... It's... It's okay.

I should come when you call. It's my job.

What if that thing's out there? It'll try to get you?

There are laws. It will be safe.

I'm allowed to leave this night.

- How long do you think? - It is time.

You must not watch.

Am I not allowed to watch you leave?

I won't watch.

Thank you for letting me wear your beautiful shirt.

You keep it.

What happened?

Okay. Okay.

Hey. Calm down. Calm down.

How'd you get those scratches?

Did the eagle come?

Did something go wrong? Story.

Story. Was it that dog again?

What's happening? I thought it was gonna be safe.

Your face doesn't look right. Are you okay?

Mr. Heep is here. He has a friend.

She's beautiful.

She's not feeling that well:

So she's lying down in my room.

Why is she here? Why isn't she at his place?

Well, she got sick in the stairwell downstairs.

She's wearing no clothes under his shirt.

Blim-blam.

Mr. Heep is a player.

- I hope it's all right. - It's fine.

Do we need to take her to a hospital?

- Oh, no. No, no, no. That's f... F... F... - Fine?

Thank you.

No, she just needs some rest.

She can stay here as long as she needs to.

You started writing again?

Yeah.

I'll be right back. Okay?

Hello. M... Mrs. Choi, is Young-Soon at home?

No home.

Great. Unbelievable.

Hey. Hey.

Thanks.

- Yeah, hello? - Mr. Heep?

- Where are you? - At a club.

Don't tell my mother. She thinks I'm at a dance class.

Okay.

What happens if a narf gets scratched?

I don't know. Put my mother on, I'll ask her.

Mrs... Mrs. Choi. Mrs...

- Hey. - Hey. Thank you.

Oh, she... She... She... She doesn't look happy.

She said the story her grandmother told...

...said a scrunt has poison that kill narfs.

But she said narfs can protect themselves.

They are given a mud called Kii that cures them.

They keep it where they live.

Okay, okay.

All right. Now, you said that the eagle comes to take them back.

Right. Now, what stops this green thing...

...from attacking them when the eagle comes?

You're funny, Mr. Heep.

- Yeah, I know. - You really thought about this.

Put my mom on.

- Hey. - Yeah. Hey. I'm sorry.

Yes?

She said only a rogue scrunt will break the law of that night...

...because most scrunts are afraid.

Afraid of what?

Tartutic. They are the law keepers in this bedtime story.

Her grandmother said there are three of them...

...but they are called one name: Tartutic.

They live in the trees. They are said to look like monkeys.

No one knows for sure because no one who has seen them has lived.

The legend says that they were born so evil...

...that they killed their parents on the night they were born.

The fear of them has kept justice in The Blue World for centuries.

Bye, Mr. Heep.

Thanks.

They are given a mud called Kii that cures them.

They keep it where they live.

My mom figured out I was at a club. She made me come home.

She tell me more of the story.

- Why you wet? - That's... Apartment business.

Listen, Mr. Heep, my mother thinks of you as stranger.

You have to make her see you as a child, innocent.

Then she will tell you the bedtime story.

There is a reason the rules might be broken.

A Thousand Narfs is about a rare narf...

...who comes once in a generation of narfs...

...who is called the Madam Narf.

Her vessel is important. This vessel will cause change.

But it is the Madam Narf herself that is truly the key.

She's considered a queen to her people.

Her return will be seen as a great inspiration.

A scrunt will do anything to kill a Madam Narf...

...even forget his fears of the Tartutic.

He might break the rules for that, Mr. Heep.

Will she know that she's a Madam Narf?

No, that is moral of bedtime story.

No one is ever told who they are.

I think we are linked.

It's more than just a story to me too.

I actually want to believe it.

Goodbye, Mr. Heep.

You have saved my life again.

You made that room.

The cracks that I saw. Is that room supposed to collapse eventually?

I'm not allowed to speak of The Blue World.

Well, the door needs a little work.

I noticed that you took things from the apartment...

...that people left around the pool.

That's how I saw you. You were taking something off of a chair.

I think I might know why the scrunt needs to get you so bad.

Why did he break the rules tonight?

As it turns out, I think that you're someone...

...very important to everyone.

I tried to tell them about you. I don't know if I did the right thing.

I'm not sure how they're gonna react.

I trust you.

I believe you are here to protect me.

Is the Kii working?

Yes, thank you.

If it is true that I am...

He will keep coming after me.

I will not be safe until...

Until Tartutic comes.

My mother said she saw a ghost once, in the basement.

I was the only one who believed her.

She's not an apparition, Anna.

I don't know who you are...

...but you did something to me.

My thoughts.

Everything became clearer.

The fears that were muddling my thoughts just went away.

I can hear myself.

Do you wish to know your future?

A boy in the Midwest of this land...

...will grow up in a home where your book will be on the shelf and spoken of often.

He will grow up with these ideas in his head.

He will grow into a great orator.

He will speak and his words will be heard throughout this land...

...and throughout the world.

This boy will become leader of this country...

...and begin a movement of great change.

He will speak of you and your words.

Your book will be the seeds of many of his great thoughts.

It will be the seeds of change.

The Cookbook?

One, two, three.