Harry Chen, a lecturer in archaeology at a university
in Singapore, is also a thief, who has a private
collection of artefacts he has stolen. He is frustrated
that he cannot afford the choice items on display in
the antique shops. One day, his superior, Professor
Teo, asks Harry to check through a collection of goods
found in a nearby grave. There appears to be little of
interest until Harry accidentally smashes a sealed pot.
Inside is a whistle with the inscription BE STILL. He
decides to pocket it.
Later, on his way home, he blows the whistle. The
effect is to make everything and everyone around him
freeze, as if a film has been stopped. The next day,
Professor Teo says there is something suspicious about
the grave where the whistle came from. That evening,
Harry realises how he can use the whistle — to steal
antiques without fear of detection. His first acquisition
is a valuable jade dragon.
The next day, the Professor has ominous news about
the grave. The deceased was a man with an evil
reputation, a priest who was cast out by his peers.
Harry blows the whistle behind the Professor’s back,
and observes the same effect as before — all motion
stops. When the whistle is blown again, the Professor
continues as if nothing has happened. Harry realises
he has control over time itself.
Later, Harry decides to do some serious thieving, but
he blows the whistle at the same time as a camera flash
goes off. The blinding light is suspended in time. In
his confusion, Harry drops the whistle and crushes it
under his foot. He is helpless — trapped in time, with
no past or future.