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Death Of A Nation
This screenplay was written between the 26th
February 1997 and the 30th May 1997.
It was exclusively written by David Rossiter White.
Any unauthorised copying, distributing,
reproducing for sale or use of any part of this screenplay without permission, shall be
deemed in conflict with Copyright Law and appropriate action will be taken.
Main Characters
Character names within the story appear in bold.
Alexander NICHOLAS An Overlord
LUCY James A terrorist
Grant WALLS Leader of the terrorists/traitor
HANNA de Burgh A terrorist
Neil JONES A terrorist/traitor
Pablo ALVAREZ A terrorist
Proposed Actors/Actresses
Nicholas Robert Carlisle/Christian Slater
Walls Pierce Brosnan/George Clooney/Sean Bean
Lucy Catherine Zeta-Jones/Sandra Bullock/Uma Thurman
Hanna Emma Thompson/Gwyneth Paltrow/Bridget Fonda
Alvarez Antonio Banderez/Keanu Reeves/Tim Roth
Jones Alan Cummings/Michael J. Fox/Ewan Mcgregor
'Death Of A Nation'
A Screenplay
By
David R. White
Against black, a message appears;
By the 21st Century, the advent
of 'Cyberspace' created a new world, a world with endless boundaries and pleasures. A
world of freedom, a world that became ripe for exploitation.
As the people began to increasingly live their lives on-line, chaos reigned and
world concerns changed, as the fight for a voice in the 'Cyberscape' became the only
concern.
Conventional governing of the world collapsed…
The new world gave rise to a new order. A new hierarchy where information was the ultimate commodity. Chosen members of this culture found a way to cheat death and give themselves to the Cyberscape, to create a supremacy. Under them an elite group of fanatical supporters pledged to the 'Will to Virtuality'.
They were the Overlords.
Now in the 21st Century, there
are simply two ways of life;
The Virtualites, the privileged class who live their lives on-line…
…and those who are less fortunate.
Fade.
EXT. AERIAL SHOT OF CITY. NIGHT
We are looking down at streets. They are teeming with activity. Various vehicles
and strangely dressed people rushing everywhere.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
We are at a high angle looking down at a lowly lit street. There are few people
walking around, a few drunks. The street has a few areas where the light is more intense.
These are perhaps food outlets, but it is not clear. The sky is visible, it glows a dark
orange and city sounds i.e. motorised vehicles, factories of some description, the sirens
of a Policing force(Enforcers) and faint voices can be heard.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
We are at standing level now. The sirens of the Enforcers grow louder. Up ahead,
black Lamborgini-like vehicles are visible driving toward us. The vehicle roof rims throb
a strange shade of red. The vehicles stop by a large shop. The shop displays a sign;
'Direct Access'
The doors to the vehicles all rise upward and figures dressed completely in black
body armour and helmets climb out. They have massive chunky weapons strapped around
themselves. They begin to march to the shop.
People around or near the vaccinity quickly disperse as the Enforcers line up
facing the shop.
LOUDSPEAKER
Chow chi, surrender in ten parsec's.
The language of the loudspeaker is in mixed linguistic colloquialism.
Inside the shop, muffled voices are heard shouting. After a slight pause, a man
walks out, arms raised, followed by a woman. We see their faces shocked and scared as four
Enforcers grab and push them against a wall. Their arms are pulled behind them and put
into a strange handcuff that glows a mauve colour.
One of the Enforcers raises his hand.
ENFORCER
Aalchoi.
At once the Enforcers open fire, blasts hit the shop completely demolishing the
front. The Enforcers continue until the shop explodes. They maintain their destruction
until it is completely destroyed.
Quietly they return to their cars with the prisoners and drive off.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
We are further down the street. The Enforcer cars pass us. They drive past a car,
parked on the side of the road facing toward the blast.
EXT. PAVEMENT. NIGHT
We are at a low angle on the street. A crumpled, curled up figure is visible below
a window. A neon sign flashes above. The figure does not move. It appears unconscious.
INT. CAR. NIGHT
We are in a car looking out through a slightly opened window at the crumpled figure
on the street. The light of the blaze further down the street brightens visibility
considerably.
The sound of someone exhaling is heard and smoke suddenly fills the screen and
disappears out of the window.
Voice of HANNA
Is this wise?
Voice of WALLS
Well, this way he'll come to us rather than vice versa.
Voice of HANNA
What if we lose him?
Voice of WALLS
This guy has probably never walked a hundred metres. He isn't going
anywhere. Besides…
(exhales more smoke, which disappears out of the window as he speaks)
…I want you to keep an eye on him. Let him suffer a while,
then…
Voice of HANNA(interrupting)
…then I bring him in to us, his saviours.
There is a pause. WALLS exhales more smoke.
Voice of WALLS
Welcome to the real world Mr Nicholas.
EXT. STREET. DAY
The voice begins the shot. We open on the curled up body of NICHOLAS, still lying
on the street, the voice is referring to him.
VOICE
Get Up! Get Up! Get up balnoy!!
NICHOLAS stirs.
VOICE
Are you deaf, I said get up!!
We finally see the source of the voice. A male, aged mid to late forties, with some
weight around the waist. He begins kicking NICHOLAS repeating;
MALE
If you don't get up, I'm gonna kick the shakk outta you..!
Nicholas begins to move as the MALE puts the boot in to NICHOLAS'S stomach.
NICHOLAS
No, uh, ugh, uh, ugh, no…wait.
Nicholas rubs his eyes as if in state of confusion. He begins to stand, covering
his head as he does. The Male grabs him.
MALE
Now get the hell out of here!!
The MALE pushes him further up the street. NICHOLAS falls as he is pushed. The MALE
goes into a door by the window that NICHOLAS was lying under. NICHOLAS is a man in his
mid-thirties. He stands around six feet tall and has short dark hair. He is reasonably
handsome. NICHOLAS is dressed in a dirty old, torn and patched shirt, dirty jeans and old
boots. He wears an old donkey jacket.
NICHOLAS looks back at the window/doorway. He squints his eyes and begins to look
around himself. He brings himself to his knees, holding his stomach, then struggling and
holding a wall for support, stands upright.
NICHOLAS surveys the area. He squints at the light of day. There are many people
wandering around, walking past him, staring at him. Down the street, is the remains of the
shop. People go in and out of the ruin. NICHOLAS feels a sense of panic welling in him, he
reels around, trying to make some sense of where he is. A woman walks past him, NICHOLAS
grabs her arm;
NICHOLAS
Uh, where is this, where am I?
The woman pulls away from him, hitting him as she does
NICHOLAS
No, wait, wait, where? Where? Help me…
WOMAN
Get off of me balnoy!!!
The woman wrenches herself free of NICHOLAS'S grasp and runs further down the
street. NICHOLAS walks toward someone else, who quickly walks away from him.
NICHOLAS
Excuse me, hello, uh, excuse me…
NICHOLAS begins speaking to a well built male. The male grabs him and lifts him
up…
MALE(rasps)
Shut up and go away…
The male throws NICHOLAS to the centre of the road. NICHOLAS recovers and kneels
up. He speaks again…
NICHOLAS
Where? Where am I?
He begins looking around quickly in panic.
NICHOLAS(shouts)
Where am I?
Almost exhausted NICHOLAS sighs and looks down. He leans on his thighs in
resignation. He then begins to look at his clothing. He stretches his arms out, examining
the clothing. He obviously doesn't recognise it. A vehicle looms up behind him and a loud
horn is sounded. NICHOLAS jumps and quickly stands, limping to the side of the road. The
vehicle continues. NICHOLAS leans against a wall, breathing deeply and quickly. He looks
up and across the road is a shop selling some sort of hardware. A large sign above reads;
'Useful Things'
NICHOLAS staggers across the road to the shop. He looks through the window.
Cyberspace head wear and suits are visible. NICHOLAS walks through a doorway to his left
into;
INT. SHOP. DAY
Inside, the shop is cramped. Various items litter the walls and floors, ranging
from chunky-looking Enforcer guns to glowing items of strange shape. At the far end, a
small selling counter is visible. A middle aged woman sits behind the counter
singing/chanting strange things while pressing buttons that glow different colours as she
presses them.
NICHOLAS begins walking toward the counter, he looks anxiously at the articles on
sale in the shop.
WOMAN
Hoi! Aal chakee ta..
The Woman pauses when she sees NICHOLAS'S condition..
WOMAN
…you?
NICHOLAS staggers up to the counter. He breathes deeply and holds his stomach. He
looks confusedly at the woman.
WOMAN
Ah, Chia su?
NICHOLAS still looks confused.
WOMAN
You don't speak Virtsprak?
The woman speaks in a perfect English accent.
NICHOLAS
What's that?
WOMAN(looks suspicious)
Well, virtual speak.
NICHOLAS
Uh, no.
WOMAN
What do you want?
NICHOLAS
I need (he breathes deeply and shuts his eyes). I just need to know
where I am.
The Woman is made up poorly. Her make up is the wrong colour for her skin, her hair
a strange shade of pink. She seems confused.
WOMAN
You don't know where you are?
NICHOLAS
No…
WOMAN
Where do you think you are?
NICHOLAS
I wouldn't know…
The WOMAN thinks.
WOMAN
You're balnoy aren't you?
NICHOLAS thinks
NICHOLAS
Uh…uh…
NICHOLAS thinks. His frown creases in his action.
The woman sits back folding her arms.
WOMAN
I dunno. (she sniffs and grunts in uncertainty)What's your name?
Again, NICHOLAS appears confused. He thinks and begins to become frustrated. He
thumps a fist down onto the counter.
NICHOLAS
I, I don't know.
WOMAN(sarcastically)
You don't know your name? Shakka
NICHOLAS
Really…I don't, I can't remember.
The Woman becomes annoyed.
WOMAN
You buying?
NICHOLAS
What?
WOMAN
You buying?
The WOMAN indicates the shop.
NICHOLAS
No, uh…
WOMAN
No charity all right?
NICHOLAS
No, wait.
WOMAN(shouts)
OUT!! Poole!! Get out here…
A figure appears behind her. A tall male dressed in a butchers overall. He looks
down at the woman. She points at NICHOLAS
Nicholas sees the threat and begins to walk backward. He trips over something.
POOLE walks out towards him, he looks like a huge bear. He grabs NICHOLAS'S leg and drags
him out of the door…
EXT. STREET. DAY
POOLE drags NICHOLAS into the street and then picks him up. NICHOLAS looks worriedly back. POOLE pulls a strange little 'you shouldn't have done that' smile. He looks to the side and then head-butts NICHOLAS, letting him collapse to his knees. POOLE then kicks him in the stomach. NICHOLAS grunts and falls completely to the floor.
After a pause, POOLE picks NICHOLAS up and walks across the road to an alley.
EXT. ALLEY. DAY
There is rubbish strewn around it, POOLE throws NICHOLAS straight into it, smiles
and walks off.
EXT. STREET. DAY
POOLE crosses the road and enters the shop. As he passes the outside window, we see
a woman. She pretends to be looking in the shop window. As POOLE passes her and
disappears, the woman(HANNA) looks across the road to ascertain the situation with
NICHOLAS. HANNA is perhaps in her late thirties. She has shoulder-length fair hair, tied
back in a pony-tail. She is quite attractive. Satisfied he seems okay for the moment she
walks off.
EXT. ALLEY. DAY
CU NICHOLAS'S face
NICHOLAS tries to look up, he blearily thinks he sees someone looking at him, but
looses consciousness.
Fade.
EXT. ALLEY. EARLY EVENING
We view the alley from high above. The sky is fading, but severely overcast.
CU NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS still lies unconscious in the rubbish strewn around him.
EXT. STREET. EARLY EVENING
There are less people around now, the street is quieter. A car is stopped outside
'Useful Things'. A man(JONES) peers out of the window.
INT. CAR. EARLY EVENING
JONES and HANNA occupy the car. JONES in the driving seat. They say very little to
each other. It seems HANNA is uncomfortable with JONES.
JONES is relatively young, perhaps in late twenties. He has dark hair, swept back
in a side parting. He has two days growth of stubble. He is a thin looking person, wearing
a sort of dirty blue overall, with a large baggy jumper over the top.
JONES
Is, is, he, uh, gonna be all right?
JONES is of nervous disposition. He doesn't stutter, but he frequently pauses with 'uh's' etc.
HANNA shrugs and looks around herself, avoiding JONES'S eyes.
JONES
How long, do we, uh, leave him?
HANNA
As long as it takes for him to crack.
JONES
Oh.
There is a pause, JONES doesn't quite know what to say. HANNA looks forward out of
the front windscreen.
JONES
What like uh, if he dies?
HANNA sighs in agitation
HANNA
He's not going to die. That's the point Jones. He has to nearly die,
so that we can be his(sarcastically) saviours.
JONES
Oh.
EXT. STREET. EARLY EVENING
We again see JONES looking out of the car window. There is a slight rumble of
thunder.
EXT. ALLEY. EARLY EVENING
High above the alley, with the sky in focus, more thunder erupts. Rain begins to
trickle down.
EXT. ALLEY. EARLY EVENING
We hear NICHOLAS begin to groan as a result of the rain. He begins to open his
eyes. A bruise has formed on his forehead due to the earlier head-butt by POOLE. NICHOLAS
opens his eyes, groans and reaches for his head. He looks around himself.
NICHOLAS
Oh no.
NICHOLAS recognises where he is and remembers the days incidents.
The rain begins to come down harder. NICHOLAS looks up at the sky. The rain
splatters across his face. He rubs the water across his mouth and his nose and with
considerable effort, begins to stand up.
His back to the wall he looks both ways. To his right, is the street from which he was thrown. Through the rain NICHOLAS observes a car outside 'Useful Things'. To his left, the alley carries on to an unknown destination. NICHOLAS looks back to his right, at the car. He begins to make his way toward it, trying not to fall over the rubbish in the process.
As he begins to move, the car roars into life.
INT. CAR. EARLY EVENING
HANNA looks to JONES questioningly. The hum of the engine vibrating the car.
JONES
He's awake
HANNA
Well lets go.
EXT. STREET. EARLY EVENING
NICHOLAS emerges from the alley into the street. He looks to the car.
NICHOLAS
Hey, hey…
The car begins to move off, its red tail lights like two devilish eyes in the
fading evening light. NICHOLAS begins to chase/limp after it.
NICHOLAS
Hey, wait, wait a minute…
INT. CAR. EARLY EVENING
We see NICHOLAS being left behind through the back window.
JONES
Now what?
HANNA
We stay in the area. He's not going anywhere.
EXT. STREET. EARLY EVENING
NICHOLAS gives up the chase. Although a thin man, NICHOLAS is not fit. He bends over in the middle of the road, panting.
The rain pelts down on his coat, saturating it. NICHOLAS'S hair is drenched. He
looks around searching for some form of shelter. He sees nothing except a few bars and
food outlets. He looks to the sky, pulls the collar up on the donkey jacket and begins
walking.
INT. LOCAL INTRANET PHONE BOOTH. NIGHT
HANNA and JONES are huddled in a phone booth. HANNA is busily pressing buttons on a
fixed keyboard and viewing the images that appear on the screen above the keyboard. JONES
nervously looks around.
HANNA
Calm down alright? He's not going to appear around here unless he
can walk a mile a parsec.
JONES
Have you patched through yet?
HANNA
Nearly.
HANNA continues pressing buttons and various beeps are heard. Eventually on-screen,
a message flashes, white on a black screen;
"Host Contacted, waiting for reply…"
The message is replaced with a computer generated image of a man's face.
MAN
Hanna…any news?
The MAN(WALLS) raises his eyebrows in expectation.
HANNA
Not much, he's staggering around like a balnoy. Everyone thinks he's been Psychotranced. He got into a fight and he's been unconscious most of the day. The clothes we put on him make him blend better though.
WALLS
Good. Keep a view.
HANNA
When should we move in?
WALLS thinks
WALLS
Not yet. Wait until he's near death. Jones there?
HANNA looks to JONES who moves into the phone booth to look at the screen.
WALLS
What's he gonna remember?
JONES
Nothing. Everything before we scrambled is gone.
WALLS
Permanently?
JONES(shakes his head)
No, but it would take a considerable amount of previous knowledge
for him to remember. He may remember some things, but nothing to uh, be uh, serious. We
should like, uh, keep him away from the Cyberscape in case, you know, something triggers.
Walls nods.
WALLS
Okay. Hoi-cha.
The computer screen goes blank.
EXT. SKY. NIGHT
The thunder is loud now and the rain becomes harder. The sky is illuminated a brown/orange by the city lights.
We see a birds eyes view of a street. A man limps down it, aimlessly.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
NICHOLAS plods along, his features illuminated by the dark orange of street lights.
He looks exhausted. He coughs and splutters. His clothes are drenched. He looks ready to
drop. The rain turns into hail as the thunder growls across the sky.
NICHOLAS looks ahead. He sees a covered alleyway, about fifty metres down the
street. He sums up some energy to run toward it…
EXT. COVERED ALLEYWAY. NIGHT
The covered alleyway stops the hail. NICHOLAS stops underneath it, totally
exhausted. He falls back against a wall and then slumps to the floor. His face pale in the
street light. He coughs more. He begins to shake.
NICHOLAS(his teeth chatter)
This has got to be a nightmare.
NICHOLAS squeezes his hands together into fists, clenches his teeth and squeezes his eyes together because of the cold.
He positions himself more comfortably.
NICHOLAS(whimpers)
Who am I? Please…who am I? Where am I?
NICHOLAS talks to no-one, merely himself. He repeats the sentence, each word
becoming quieter. Finally he collapses to the side, again unconscious, suffering from
hypothermia.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
A few children, dressed thoroughly in waterproofs play around in puddles. They have
strange differently coloured lights attached to their clothes. A car drives down the
street, spraying water as it goes. The children briefly chase the car, before retreating
back to their game. The car turns a corner.
EXT. COVERED ALLEYWAY. NIGHT
NICHOLAS is still unconscious. The sound of a car is heard.
The car pulls up opposite NICHOLAS. HANNA looks out of the passenger window.
INT. CAR. NIGHT
HANNA continues looking out of the window. Without looking around she says…
HANNA
Over there.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
We view NICHOLAS from the street. We begin to close in. The sound of car doors are heard opening and closing. NICHOLAS does not move.
CU NICHOLAS face.
Voice of JONES
Hope he's not dead.
Voice of HANNA
No. He can't be dead. He's too much to learn.
Fade.
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
A large hall, with beds all lined up. Most of the beds are filled. The area is very
busy, many people talking to the 'patients' or homeless. Apart from the beds, the hall is
rather bare, a few windows on either wall. The room is illuminated by large lights on the
ceiling.
INT. BED. NIGHT
We are close to one bed now. NICHOLAS is lying on the bed. JONES stands to one
side, looking nervously down at NICHOLAS'S condition. HANNA stands to the other side of
the bed talking with someone…
HANNA
Who he is doesn't really matter.
We see that HANNA is talking to another woman, dressed in some form of white gown.
She looks like a kind of nurse. The woman is plump, her hair wiry and course, aged about
fifty. She looks unimpressed. The 'Nurse' argues with HANNA
NURSE
We can't just have anybody in here you know.
HANNA
Yes, I know that, but this guy obviously needs some sort of help.
The NURSE folds her arms.
NURSE
Well, I've never seen him before. He could be anybody. Maybe he's
just balnoy!!
HANNA(losing patience)
Well, perhaps he's nobody and needs a bed!!
The NURSE snorts
NURSE
They all say that.
HANNA looks to the floor for a second. She looks around to JONES who is busy
feeling NICHOLAS'S forehead. She clears her throat.
HANNA
This man is rather important to the cause.(she grits her teeth in
anger) If he doesn't stay he will die(begins to raise her voice) and if he dies, the cause
is lost!!!
The NURSE looks annoyed, but submissive
HANNA
Do we have a problem?
The NURSE shakes her head.
The NURSE turns to leave. HANNA grabs her shoulder…
HANNA
One more thing. I'll hold you personally responsible if this man
dies.
The NURSE doesn't like that remark
NURSE
I don't know why I bother. I do this, week in, week out. All for the
cause. All I get is attitude from you people.
HANNA moves closer to the NURSE
HANNA
If it wasn't for us, this place wouldn't even exist. Be thankful
you've got a job. I think you're forgetting who the real enemy is here.
The nurse looks annoyed and storms off.
HANNA turns to face the bed. She looks to JONES.
HANNA
Well?
JONES
Hypo. Nothing to worry about. He'll, get, uh, like heat for a few
days.
HANNA nods.
HANNA
That'll probably work to our advantage.
JONES enthusiastically nods in agreement
JONES
Yes, indeed, indeed. He'll then think the amnesia has a direct
correlation with the illness. Yes, good, uh, good.
HANNA looks unimpressed.
HANNA
That was the plan.
CU NICHOLAS'S face. NICHOLAS looks ill, he sweats and twitches.
INT. FOOD OUTLET. NIGHT
We are inside a cramped food outlet. Steam emits from large containers everywhere.
A single man, dressed in a scruffy shirt and combat trousers is filling an open container
with what looks like a stew, but with a white creamy texture. He is a thin man around his
forties. He wears a bandanna. He walks toward a small open window to the left. The face of
a man(ALVAREZ) is visible. He hands ALVAREZ the container.
EXT. FOOD OUTLET SEATING AREA. NIGHT
A busy/noisy area, almost like a park with benches and chairs. Others wait to be
served. ALVAREZ takes the container, nods at the 'chef' and turns around to walk away.
ALVAREZ is a young looking man, perhaps in his late-twenties. He is of average
height, just under six feet tall. He wears a dirty old blue donkey jacket. A gun of sorts
is visible beneath his coat.
EXT. TABLE. NIGHT
ALVAREZ sits down at the table. He looks up.
ALVAREZ
You don't want some?
ALVAREZ has the hint of a Spanish accent. LUCY sits opposite him. She is young, in
her late twenties, attractive, with long dark hair tied with leather straps in a long
ponytail. She has her arms folded. She looks troubled.
LUCY
No.
ALVAREZ shrugs his shoulders and reaches into the pocket of his donkey jacket. He
pulls out a fork and begins to eat. He looks at the food as he eats. After a few
mouthfuls, he looks up at LUCY. She gazes in space.
ALVAREZ
He's not going to remember us you know.
LUCY looks at ALVAREZ as he speaks, but doesn't reply.
ALVAREZ continues eating. After another few mouthfuls he looks up again.
ALVAREZ
I hear he's not to well.
ALVAREZ smiles as he speaks, obviously amused by NICHOLAS'S condition.
LUCY snorts and sits up.
LUCY
I came this close(holds her thumb and forefinger an inch apart) to
killing him.
ALVAREZ chews his food, but watches LUCY. This time, he doesn't reply. He wants her
to speak.
LUCY(looks at Alvarez)
Do you know how hard that was?
ALVAREZ shrugs his shoulders.
LUCY sits back and folds her arms again. She nods slightly.
LUCY
Real hard.
ALVAREZ still doesn't speak. He knows how to deal with her.
LUCY
I looked into that face and I didn't see 'killer'. But I know(she
nods), I know what they're all like.
ALVAREZ sits back and points his fork at her.
ALVAREZ
Will?
LUCY(nods in agreement)
William, will never know who I am again.
LUCY looks to the sky, as if talking to someone else.
LUCY
I felt like I had this power. I knew information he didn't. I knew
who he was, he didn't know who I was. It was like I wanted to tease him with it…
ALVAREZ(interrupts)
That you did.
LUCY gives ALVAREZ the 'evil' eye. ALVAREZ shrugs again. He doesn't worry about it.
There is a long pause.
LUCY
I sometimes wonder if all this is worth it.
ALVAREZ coughs and looks stunned. He looks up at LUCY in amazement.
ALVAREZ
You're joking yea?
This time it is LUCY who shrugs.
ALVAREZ(annoyed)
You want to spend the rest of your life like this? You want to be
nobody for ever? Wake up!!
LUCY looks uninterested and slouches into her chair, her arms still folded. She
looks sad. ALVAREZ continues eating.
ALVAREZ
We have our man now. We have the virus now. Its just a matter of
convincing him that destroying the stream is karachoo der spinsk…
LUCY
The right thing to do? What if he won't do it?
ALVAREZ
We don't worry about that right now. In fact, as far as you and I
are concerned, we don't worry about that at all.
LUCY
I can't help it. I just think of Will and it all seems hopeless,
lost, faceless.
ALVAREZ
Nicholas will get his, in fact he's getting it right now.
LUCY
I wish I didn't have to see him, I know that I'm gonna just wanna
kill him.
ALVAREZ
You have to put that fire out Luce. You could destroy everything.
LUCY
I know, I'm just thinking aloud.
ALVAREZ finishes his meal. He pulls a cloth out of his pocket and cleans his fork.
He puts them both away. He looks to LUCY.
ALVAREZ
Lets go.
They both stand.
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
NICHOLAS has a layer of sweat covering his face. He twitches involuntarily. He is
dreaming.
We blend into…
INT. OVERLORD MEETING ROOM. NIGHT
All the colours in the room are virtual. We are in the Cyberscape. Suddenly
straight ahead of us something begins to materialise. It is unclear at first, but then a
head appears, a virtual head. We begin to pull back and all around us are other heads
materialising from thin air. The first head looks to the left and then to the right. The
SUPREME OVERLORD begins to speak.
SUPEREME OVERLORD
Welcome once again.
The voice is male, reverberating around the room. It is hard and changes in pitch.
The SUPREME OVERLORD pauses frequently in his speech.
SUPREME OVERLORD
We, are here, as always, to discuss the concerns to us of the
Boulder State.
As the SUPREME OVERLORD begins to speak the camera faces the other faces and
gradually moves towards them, passing each face.
SUPREME OVERLORD
We, are the fathers of the new age. we have left behind the
atrocities of our forefathers. We have created the new commodity, information. We are the
holders of that information, it is what has made us today. Leaders in a world which seeks
its transgression into a virtual light.
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
NICHOLAS'S head twitches. He pulls various expressions; happiness, anger, sadness
etc.
INT. OVERLORD MEETING ROOM. NIGHT
The face of the SUPREME OVERLORD disappears and is replaced with various images of
war and famine, of violence and despair, his voice continues.
SUPREME OVERLORD
The crimes of the ages, are the crimes of the flesh. The flesh
destroys us, the flesh gives us pain, the flesh makes us vulnerable.
The SUPREME OVERLORDS face reappears.
SUPREME OVERLORD
Are we fully transgressed into virtuality? Only I may answer that
question. Yourselves, you still live of the flesh and die of the flesh. This still
indicates we you may be weak, that perhaps you do not have the right to be the preachers
in a new world. Think then, that you are the shepherds leading the flock. The guides in
the new world and I am your Overseer.
INT. OVERLORD MEETING ROOM. NIGHT
We are further back now. Many virtual faces hover like an audience listening.
SUPREME OVERLORD
There will be those that seek our death, they do not see our world
as intended. The Working Force are not as primitive as we believe…
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
CU NICHOLAS'S face.
NICHOLAS'S face, under the light, shines with a layer of sweat on it. His eyes
suddenly snap open followed by a quick inhale. NICHOLAS, realising it was only a dream,
exhales slowly and relaxes.
MS NICHOLAS'S bed side
NICHOLAS looks to his left and right. He sees other beds either side and in front
of him.#
To his right NICHOLAS hears a gurgling sound. He looks over. A man is on the bed
having some form of seizure. We see it is the man that was arrested at the beginning. He
violently jerks. Nurses quickly move around him. NICHOLAS looks around the room. He see
people sitting on beds, with blank looks on their faces. Some of them shout and scream.
A look of confusion comes to NICHOLAS'S face. Pulling himself up more, he observes
the Homeless Home. He lies back down staring straight to the ceiling.
The voice of HANNA suddenly comes in from the side.
HANNA
You're awake.
NICHOLAS looks in that direction. HANNA walks into shot, she looks pleased.
HANNA
Looked a bit worrying there for a while.
NICHOLAS
Do I know you?
HANNA
No, but then I don't know you either.
NICHOLAS
Where is this place(looks about the hall)
HANNA
This place, is the homeless home.
NICHOLAS pauses. He thinks about that one.
NICHOLAS
I'm homeless?
HANNA
That would seem to be the general consensus.
NICHOLAS
Okay. Who are you? Where did you find me?
HANNA reaches her hand to NICHOLAS in a hand-shaking gesture.
HANNA
I'm Hanna and we found you, under a ledge, about to die.
NICHOLAS goes to shake HANNA'S hand. He suddenly withdraws his hand.
NICHOLAS
I don't know who I am.
HANNA(cautiously)
Do you remember anything?
NICHOLAS lies back and thinks.
NICHOLAS
I remember waking up on a street somewhere. Some guy was kicking me.
I didn't know where I was or how I got there, in fact, I couldn't remember anything. Like
now. I panicked and ran into some shop, where a woman said I was balnoy or something?
HANNA
Drunk. You don't virtsprak?
NICHOLAS
No.
HANNA
Go on.
NICHOLAS
Then this guy came out and head-butted me. Things got a bit hazy
there. Then I remember the rain, it was dark and, and my head hurt. I stood and felt so
dizzy. I tried to chase a car, but it didn't stop.
HANNA slightly screws her eyes up and a tiny smile appears on her lips. NICHOLAS
doesn't notice.
HANNA
That all?
NICHOLAS
No. I started walking. I must have walked for hours and it was cold,
really cold. I couldn't find anywhere to stop and shelter. I saw the alley and sat down in
it.( he pauses) That's all I can remember.
HANNA
Well, if you'd have been suffering the Psychotrancic Disorder, you
wouldn't have remembered any of that.
NICHOLAS
What's the Psychotrancic Disorder?
HANNA
Brain damage causing epilepsy, amnesia, that sort of thing.
HANNA points around the hall and begins pacing around the bottom of the bed.
HANNA
Most of these have that condition. You on the other hand, seem to be
suffering the reverse. Retrograde amnesia.
NICHOLAS
You a doctor?
HANNA
Do I look like a doctor?
NICHOLAS
I don't know, I don't know anything.
HANNA
Well, your name appears to be 'Nicholas'.
NICHOLAS
How do you know that?
HANNA
You talk in your sleep.
NICHOLAS nods, he thinks as if trying to remember something else.
NICHOLAS
Anything else?
HANNA(folds her arms)
No.
HANNA stares at NICHOLAS. NICHOLAS feels uncomfortable.
NICHOLAS
Is there any reason why you're giving me such a hard time?
HANNA
Well yes actually.
NICHOLAS
Well, what?
HANNA
You seriously have no idea where you are or who you are, yea?
NICHOLAS
No.
HANNA
Do you know what the 'Boulder-State' is?
NICHOLAS
No idea.
HANNA paces around the bed again.
HANNA(sarcastically)
Well, the Boulder-State is where you are now. Well, the outer-rims.
You ever hear of the Will to Virtuality or Overlords?
NICHOLAS
Should I have?
HANNA(aggressively)
They are the rulers of this whole state. We, are their underdogs.
We, keep their economy running. In return, they protect us. But we don't have the same
sort of privileges as them and they sure do give us a hard time. To them, we're scum.
NICHOLAS
Sounds a hard life.
HANNA
Harder than you'll ever know.
NICHOLAS
So why are you telling me all this?
HANNA
Us, the so-called 'Working Force for the Boulder-State' live here.
We know each other, we can identify each other. They, wouldn't know their best friends if
they walked into each other. The point is, no-one knows who you are.
NICHOLAS
So what does that mean?
HANNA
It means, dear sir, that you may be one of them. That you are in
fact, a spy.
NICHOLAS is gob-smacked. He looks totally stunned.
NICHOLAS(to himself)
That can't be true. Can it?
HANNA
Oh yes it can. I know a lot of people. They know a lot of people.
No-one knows you. You just appeared, out of thin air. You are…(she thinks)…an
enigma.
HANNA and NICHOLAS regard each other for a second. HANNA looks accusatory whilst
NICHOLAS tries to think of something to clear himself.
NICHOLAS
So what will happen now?
HANNA
You're being checked out as we speak. Intelligence is scanning the
Cyberscape for any matches. Them, inside, they think we're too stupid to know or to do
things like that.(She laughs softly) They'll get theirs one day.
NICHOLAS looks worried and looks at HANNA in fear.
HANNA
In the mean time, get some rest, get well. It might be nothing to
worry about. I, or somebody else will be around to see you soon. Don't try to run away on
us, it'll only make things worse. Okay?
NICHOLAS nods a response. HANNA nods back and walks out of frame.
CU NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS sighs. He now looks decidedly worried. He shakes his head.
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
We are now at the other side of the room, the NURSE from earlier is busy preparing
a metallic trolley with utensils for feeding with. HANNA approaches her.
HANNA
He's regained consciousness.
The NURSE looks up in surprise and then, seeing it is HANNA, looks back down.
HANNA
You tell him nothing. You hear?
The NURSE stays looking down.
NURSE(quietly)
I hear.
HANNA
Tell no-one else either.
The NURSE looks up.
NURSE
Some people may need to know.
HANNA(quietly, but forcefully)
Then tell them he is important, to the cause. That's it though, tell
them nothing else. If they have a problem with that, then send, those some people to me.
The NURSE looks down again and continues. HANNA looks around to see NICHOLAS. We
briefly see a LS of NICHOLAS lying down in the background. HANNA looks around again, walks
around the NURSE and walks toward a door located slightly further on. She exits.
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
We return to NICHOLAS. He looks to his left. At the other side of the hall.
We see somebody sitting at the edge of a bed talking to somebody lying in the bed.
It is not clear what gender they are.
CU NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS strains his eyes to see the person. They appear familiar.
The seated person stands. From the figure we see it is female. They turn around to leave the bed and we see their face. It is LUCY. She looks over to NICHOLAS
CU NICHOLAS
There is a quick flashback…
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
We see LUCY looking at NICHOLAS. She wears a dark pin-striped suit. She places her
hands on her hips and smiles. She looks stunning, but businesslike. NICHOLAS sits,
stunned.
LUCY
Mr Nicholas, I presume?
NICHOLAS begins to speak, but coughs instead, he clears his throat, still stunned.
Perhaps by LUCY's beauty or the fact that someone is in his apartment. Perhaps both.
LUCY
Never seen a girl before? You flatter me…
NICHOLAS(uncertain)
Uh, who are you?
LUCY(looks thoughtful)
I'm somebody…
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
NICHOLAS shakes his head, uncertain of the image he has just seen.
We return to the view of the other bed. LUCY has gone.
CU NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS thinks.
EXT. BALCONY. NIGHT
Standing on the balcony is a man. He has short dark hair. He wears a thin coat with
a light brown jumper, almost colour co-ordinating his hair. He is in his late thirties. He
looks decidedly cool, not the kind of person you mess about with. He is quite well built,
looking more rugged than attractive.
WALLS stands gazing out at the night sky, which glows the orange/brown of cities at
night. He holds a cup in one hand.
CU WALLS face.
WALLS has a small smile on his face, as if he's extremely pleased with himself. He
looks down from the balcony.
WALLS
I think I'm going to enjoy this.
We see a well lit area. Blue neon lights glow all around it, the white of its walls
seeming like an oasis in the darkened city. There is much activity there, many people
dressed in strange and unusual clothing. A vehicle drives in and comes to a stop. A figure
jumps out and disappears into a door.
WALLS looks the other way, down a long street. We see tall buildings rising either side of a tiny-looking road. Few vehicles move up and down it. Its like looking down Wall Street, but less busy, with the strange orange glow.
WALLS turns and walks into…
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
WALLS emerges from the large curtain and makes his way over to the table, to the right of the gyroscope. He sits down and begins pushing touch-sensitive buttons, they respond in colours of red, green and yellow, with soft beeping sounds.
From the centre of the table rises the projected transparent screen from which
NICHOLAS talked to CORE. WALLS looks up at the screen. It is a deep blue. A female voice
speaks.
VOICE
Personal files accessed. Please select detail.
WALLS
Birth.
The screen flashes information across the screen. WALLS leans forward to read. His
eyes dart left and right, his head slightly moving.
WALLS
Education.
Again, the screen flashes information and again WALLS follows the information.
WALLS
Parents.
A voice instead.
VOICE
That information is not available.
WALLS frowns.
WALLS
Personal attributes.
VOICE
That information is not available.
WALLS
Images.
VOICE
That information is not available.
WALLS thumps his fist down in annoyance. He thinks for a second. Then presses more
touch-sensitive buttons. The screen changes colour, to a deep red.
VOICE
This information is restricted to AA3 only, please enter Overlord
ident decryption code.
WALLS stares at the screen.
WALLS
Shit!
He presses a touch sensitive button. The red image dissolves. WALLS rests his elbow
on the table and leans his face on his hand. He stares in obvious annoyance. WALLS resumes
pressing buttons. He retains his bored exterior.
The screen suddenly turns a bright green.
WALLS looks up in obvious surprise. He smiles and nods slowly.
WALLS
Well, well.
WALLS scans the screen, randomly pressing buttons, as information scrolls down the
screen. He stops.
VOICE
P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T. Known among the Working Force as the Psychotrance.
WALLS
The chained beast…
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
We open on NICHOLAS'S bed. HANNA is by the bed.
HANNA
So how do you feel?
NICHOLAS
A lot better now. My strength seems to be back.
HANNA nods.
NICHOLAS
You figure out who I am yet?
HANNA(shakes head)
No. So we still need to keep an eye on you.
NICHOLAS
What does that mean?
HANNA
We set you up somewhere. Just a bedsit, until we figure out what's
going on. So get your stuff together. We have to go. There's people worse than you that
need these beds.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
HANNA and NICHOLAS are seen leaving a large building. It looks more like an old
church, than a hall.
NICHOLAS
Where are we going?
HANNA
To your new home.
They approach a car parked at the edge of the street. From the pavement side JONES
emerges.
HANNA
Nicholas, this is Jones. He's a friend.
NICHOLAS and JONES exchange mutual nods.
HANNA(looks to NICHOLAS)
Get in.
NICHOLAS gets into the rear of the car. JONES and HANNA the front. The car starts
and pulls away.
INT. CAR. NIGHT
NICHOLAS stares out of the windows. HANNA and JONES remain silent.
HANNA
What are you looking at?
NICHOLAS
I was just trying to see if I recognised anything.
JONES looks to HANNA. She returns the glance raises her eyebrows, a small smile on
her lips.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
We are descending into a street, illuminated by orange street lights. Car lights
and the hum of an engine draw closer. They slow down and stop outside of a building. It is
extremely run down.
INT. CAR. NIGHT
NICHOLAS is looking out of the window.
NICHOLAS
This is it?
HANNA
This is your temporary palace, your highness.
EXT. HOTEL ENTRANCE. NIGHT
Two men fight in the doorway to the hotel. They are both clearly drunk.
We turn to see NICHOLAS and HANNA approaching the drunkards. NICHOLAS looks concerned. HANNA just smiles.
The drunks throw themselves past HANNA and NICHOLAS who carry on into the hotel.
INT. HOTEL. NIGHT
The hotel is as bad inside as it is out. There is no carpet. The wallpaper on the walls is torn and damp. A few people sit around on broken chairs talking. Despite the hotel, they seem to be quite merry.
HANNA walks past the seated people toward a check-in booth beside some grand
stairs. A fat man wearing a vest with white wispy hair and smoking a yellow cigar sits
inside the booth. HANNA walks up to the booth and taps on a window at the front of the
booth. The fat man looks up. HANNA nods at him. He twists to a back wall of keys and
selects one. He takes it off the hook and puts it on a counter in front of him and slides
it out to HANNA. They mutually nod at each other.
INT. HOTEL ROOM. NIGHT
From darkness a door opens letting in light and NICHOLAS and HANNA walk into the
room. HANNA switches a light on to the cameras right.
MS NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS looks around the room. He's not impressed.
The camera pans around the room. It is sparse. A bed at the far side. A window with
a tatty grey blanket covering it, a wardrobe to the right. Floorboards rather than carpet.
The walls are dirty. A chair is by the wardrobe. LUCY sits on it with her feet on the bed,
she stares at the walls.
HANNA walks to the centre of the room.
HANNA
This is Lucy. She'll be keeping an eye on you.
NICHOLAS looks over toward LUCY. She looks around at NICHOLAS. She doesn't look
impressed and turns to face the wall again.
HANNA
Now…(she begins pacing) A few rules. You don't leave the area
without permission, you don't tell anybody about us, or your situation. You blend in. You
need anything, you tell Lucy. Okay?
NICHOLAS
Looks like I don't have much choice.
HANNA(sniggers)
You don't.
HANNA looks to LUCY. She doesn't smile, she looks annoyed. LUCY looks back and then
away. She smiles.
HANNA
Here's some money. I'll see you later.
HANNA hands NICHOLAS some money.
NICHOLAS
What am I supposed to do now?
HANNA
Nothing. Just sit here and work out the meaning of life.
HANNA leaves the room.
NICHOLAS watches her go. He turns to face LUCY.
NICHOLAS
I'm Nicholas.
HANNA begins to look at her nails.
NICHOLAS
You're Lucy then…
LUCY doesn't speak. She looks back at the wall.
NICHOLAS stares at her, he begins to recognise…
NICHOLAS
Do I know you?
LUCY(aggressively)
If I want a conversation, I'll speak to you. Okay?
NICHOLAS looks shocked and looks around the room. He walks to the window. He pulls the blanket aside and looks out.
LUCY swings her legs off the bed. She inhales deeply.
LUCY
I'm outta here. You want anything?
NICHOLAS
(continues looking out of the window)No.
LUCY
Good.
LUCY starts towards the door. As she reaches for the door handle we return to
NICHOLAS, he suddenly looks around to her…
NICHOLAS
The home…
LUCY stops.
LUCY
What about it?
NICHOLAS
That's where I saw you.
LUCY(pauses)
I don't think so.
NICHOLAS
It was you.
LUCY faces NICHOLAS.
LUCY
I say it wasn't, you don't argue. You stupid or something?
NICHOLAS
I wish I knew.
She returns to the door and opens it.
NICHOLAS
What if I need something?
LUCY
Then you wait.
She pulls the door shut.
NICHOLAS walks over to the bed. The sheets look surprisingly clean considering the
rest of the hotel. He sits down on the bed.
INT. OVERLORD MEETING ROOM. NIGHT
A virtual person stands in the middle of the room, the huge face of the SUPREME OVERLORD overlooks him. Other virtual faces surround.
VIRTUAL PERSON
The situation is that there is no situation, the terrorists are of
no consequence they are a band of militant Working Force who neither have the tools or the
intellect to make a significant advance on the CORE memory.
The voice is NICHOLAS'S.
The SUPREME OVERLORD plus other faces are listening to NICHOLAS with eager
expressions. NICHOLAS face is elevated forward of the other faces, closer to the SUPREME
OVERLORD.
NICHOLAS
CORE has installed new protective measures that will far outweigh
any expertise the terrorist group may have.
SUPREME OVERLORD
But, have the terrorists been identified? Are they identifiable?
NICHOLAS
To date, we have not discovered their identity, but this should not
prove to be difficult. The Working Force are not careful as we may remember. It is just a
matter of waiting for them to make a fatal error.
SUPREME OVERLORD
My question to you, AA3, is why this is happened.
NICHOLAS
The uprising of the Working Force was to be expected. History has
been littered with examples of those who pursue to usurp the powers that control them. The
terrorists must therefore seek to become part of what we are. They no longer seek
themselves. They wish our downfall, in that they may become us.
NICHOLAS'S face moves backwards to form part of the circle that the faces form,
with the SUPREME OVERLORDS at the front.
SUPREME OVERLORD
This is a failing upon ourselves. The Working Force has been allowed
a thinking process that is beyond our Virtualites. This freedom of will must be turned,
this freedom of thought must be controlled, manipulated. The image of freedom is
constructed. No-one knows true freedom. If they did, this…would be nothing.
He looks almost sad.
SUPREME OVERLORD
If our Virtualites knew of the things that we know, it would bring
us down.
We see NICHOLAS'S face
SUPREME OVERLORD
It would fall to pieces. We cannot allow that to happen. National
Security is more important than individual will. Why? Because we create it. Our
Virtualites think how we want them to think. We cannot allow them to jeopardise their own
world. To them this is reality. This is what they are born to and every passion we instil
in them can be made real here. This is our paradise. We cannot allow the Working Force the
opportunity to take that away.
We see other faces. They all nod in agreement with the words of the SUPREME
OVERLORD.
SUPREME OVERLORD
We must find a solution to this enigma. This meeting is now at a
close. AA3, remain.
We view the full face of the SUPREME OVERLORD above the tops of the other faces.
The other faces disappear, except the SUPREME OVERLORD and NICHOLAS.
SUPREME OVERLORD
Are there any developments over P.S.Y.C.H.0-T , AA3?
INT. SUPREME OVERLORD CONTAINMENT UNIT. NIGHT
(The Voices of the SUPREME OVERLORD and NICHOLAS continue as voice-overs.)
We cut to a room full of screens, panels flashing lights, buttons etc. The room is
a shade of pale blue. Ice covers many of the areas. Dominating the room is a moderately
sized transparent freezer.
As we draw closer, we are able to make out a brain. It has wires/electrodes coming
out in various places.
Voice of NICHOLAS
To date, none. The virus is too intelligent. It breeds and mutates
constantly making it virtually impossible to control.
Voice of SUPREME OVERLORD
Is it contained?
INT. OVERLORD MEETING ROOM. NIGHT
NICHOLAS
At a remote terminal with high level access. It remains safe for
now.
SUPREME OVERLORD
I am concerned that the terrorists may bring danger beyond what we
can imagine.
NICHOLAS
No. It shouldn't come to that.
Fade.
INT. NICHOLAS'S BEDSIT. DAY
The room is faintly lit by light filtering through the blanket covered window.
NICHOLAS is lying on the bed, he wakes. He appears confused. He covers his face with his
hands and sighs. As he withdraws his hands and reveals his eyes, he stops, looking
straight forward. LUCY sits in the chair. She wears her suit. Her arms and legs are
crossed. Her hair tied up, a strange smirk on her face. She looks directly at NICHOLAS.
LUCY
Good morning.
NICHOLAS
What are you doing here?
LUCY
No questions.
LUCY stands and lights a cigarette.
LUCY
Smoke?
NICHOLAS
Uh, okay.
LUCY smirks and throws NICHOLAS a cigarette. He places it between his lips and LUCY
then throws a chrome lighter. NICHOLAS looks cautiously at her, she looks back
expectantly. NICHOLAS lights the cigarette and takes a pull. He immediately starts
coughing and choking. LUCY laughs.
LUCY
Real regular smoker aren't you?
NICHOLAS(still choking)
I guess not.
LUCY
Get your ass out of bed, we've things to do
NICHOLAS
Like what?
LUCY points at NICHOLAS
LUCY
No questions.
EXT. STREET. DAY
LS busy street, with vehicles travelling up and down the road. Voices of people
trying to sell computer parts and strange food dominate the street. Much like a London
street market, but perhaps more computer orientated. LUCY and NICHOLAS are visible along
the street.
EXT. STREET. DAY
Now we are closer, LUCY leads NICHOLAS along a street. She walks confidently,
smiling at a few people here and there. NICHOLAS on the other hand walks cautiously,
nervously. He constantly looks around himself, walking into a few people here and there.
NICHOLAS
What are these people selling
LUCY
You know, CPU's, upgrades, higher RAM's, ROM's, the usual shit.
NICHOLAS
What for?
LUCY(She stops)
You're so ignorant aren't you? They have to sell to make black
creds, they make black creds to buy food, they eat food to live. Any break in the chain
and they're shakke der illiwah, comprendez?
NICHOLAS
Huh?
LUCY
Forget it.
LUCY continues. NICHOLAS raises his eyebrows.
EXT. STREET. DAY
We are high above the street again this time from the other direction, we see LUCY
and NICHOLAS continuing along the street. The camera begins to rise and at the end of the
street is a large factory with smoke billowing out of chimneys on its roof. A large logo
with 'B.S.' (Boulder-State) dominates the entrance. Many men and women go in and out.
EXT. STREET. DAY
We watch LUCY and NICHOLAS approaching the entrance. As NICHOLAS approaches the
entrance he is distracted to his right. The camera looks right to see a computer screen
with a message flowing over it; 'Guaranteed Direct Access'. A doorway is underneath the
screen with many people going in and out.
NICHOLAS
What's that all about?
LUCY
You don't even want to know.
LUCY and NICHOLAS walk toward a wide stairwell, at the top is a large opening with huge sliding iron doors. They are currently open. It is not visible what is going on inside.
We move in front of LUCY and NICHOLAS as they walk up to the door into…
INT. FACTORY. DAY
The factory is massive, but not modern looking. Almost like a dinosaur from the industrial age. A huge network of various chrome and iron pipes with smoke hissing out of them. There are many people inside. They all appear to be doing different things. Some hammer things, others drill, others paint and weld. It is very noisy.
LUCY and NICHOLAS appear from behind a large pipe.
CU NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS looks about himself in wonder. He looks to the ceiling in amazement.
LUCY continues walking.
NICHOLAS
What is this place?
LUCY
The Factory.
NICHOLAS
What do they do here?
LUCY
Mostly metals, grinding, reshaping, recycling. All gets melted down
ready for new things, but we never see it.
NICHOLAS
Why not?
LUCY
Its all for those of higher purpose.
NICHOLAS
Who?
LUCY(annoyed)
I'm not a history teacher, ask someone else.
LUCY and NICHOLAS continue through the factory floor. They enter a small doorway.
INT. FACTORY OFFICE. DAY
LUCY and NICHOLAS emerge into a small office-like area. There are two men arguing. One is large and instantly recognisable. POOLE talks in the Virtsprak language to the other. The two men wear dirty overalls.
NICHOLAS on seeing POOLE looks worried.
POOLE(shouting)
I donna guff der shakk who yow kupet gorlo heatingcoss reactioner.
In shale, ethyun der Overlordus!! In dossun factor, I don Overlordus
POOLE sees LUCY and NICHOLAS. He looks back to the other man.
POOLE
Now get out!!
The other man quickly retreats out of the room past LUCY and NICHOLAS. LUCY grins
at POOLE, who nods in return.
POOLE
Lucy.
LUCY walks slowly and gracefully into the room, almost seductively.
POOLE(unimpressed)
What can I do for you?
LUCY
A job.
POOLE(surprised)
For you?
LUCY
For him.
LUCY indicates NICHOLAS behind her, who walks forward.
NICHOLAS
Wait a minute, what do you mean?
LUCY
What? Did you think all this was for free?
NICHOLAS begins to say something but stops.
POOLE(to Nicholas)
Well, well. I remember you. Still alive then?
NICHOLAS raises his eyebrows.
POOLE(sarcastically)
The thing is Lucy, I would love to help, but I don't need anybody at
the moment.
LUCY
I would consider it a personal favour.
POOLE(forcefully)
As I said, I don't need anybody. Especially not some balnoy.
LUCY
Okay…
LUCY, as quick as a flash grabs POOLE by his arm and spins him around and locks his
arm behind him. She then grabs an unseen gun and places it to POOLE's head. POOLE tries to
retaliate, but is too slow.
POOLE(laughs)
Shakka!! Okay, okay.
LUCY
You know me.
POOLE
Okay, he's got a job.
LUCY
Good.
LUCY lets POOLE go, but keeps the gun on him. POOLE raises his hands and slowly
turns around, grinning. He looks like a stupid overgrown kid.
POOLE
So what's the story?
LUCY looks around to NICHOLAS.
LUCY
Wait outside.
NICHOLAS leaves the room. LUCY puts her gun away and POOLE relaxes.
LUCY
We need to watch this one. As I(she emphasises the 'I') said
earlier, I would consider it a personal favour.
POOLE
Why should I do you any favours?
LUCY
Because I could ram my fist down your neck and implant you a new
bypass. Besides, this illiwah's important to the cause.
POOLE thinks a while, mulling over what has been said.
POOLE
Okay. But don't think I'm gonna watch over him.
LUCY
No problem. He's a bit fragile, we want him hardened.
POOLE
You came to the right place.
LUCY smiles and the two walk toward the doorway.
INT. FACTORY. DAY
NICHOLAS stands by the doorway. LUCY and POOLE emerge. LUCY digs into her pockets
and hands NICHOLAS a key.
LUCY
I hope you have a good memory.(She smirks)
LUCY begins to walk off through the factory, NICHOLAS goes to follow, but POOLE
grabs him by his clothing.
POOLE
Not you. You're mine now.
POOLE brings NICHOLAS close to his face. We move to CU of their faces.
POOLE
Ne hatch wah, importanto…
NICHOLAS does not understand and looks confused. POOLE just smiles coldly.
POOLE
I don't care if you're important to the cause. In here you're mine.
You move fast, take too long, you'll know about it.
POOLE lets NICHOLAS go, who straightens himself, but rather than looking afraid
seems slightly confused at POOLE's comment about 'The Cause'.
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
The homeless home is busy and illuminated by its bright yellow lights. Still noisy,
a few men argue and shout at each other.
INT. WILLIAM'S BED. NIGHT
LUCY sits with her brother. A man not far from her age. He wears a tatty overcoat with a scruffy T-shirt underneath. His trousers are stained. His hair a greasy mess. In another circumstance, he might have been an attractive man. He sits in a chair by the bed reading a book. He rocks slowly backward and forward. He intently scans the pages and forcefully turns the page.
LUCY looks agitated and sighs. She looks to the side away from him.
WILLIAM(still scanning the book)
So…sister, what do you do?
LUCY(in resignation)
I work…at the factory
WILLIAM
Nice place?
LUCY
Sure, I guess.
WILLIAM continues to read intensely.
WILLIAM(enquiring)
You are my sister?
LUCY
You know I am.
WILLIAM
I don't know shit, but my diary tells me. But, you might not be her,
you could have wrote 'Lucy', this…
WILLIAM pulls a photograph from the book and waves it at her, still looking at the
book.
WILLIAM
…could be your doing.(He starts violently scratching his
stubble) I don't know…
LUCY
You remember mother?
WILLIAM(agitated)
Of course I do!!! I think I ought to remember you, if you're who ya
say.
LUCY stops talking to him, she doesn't want to agitate him anymore.
WILLIAM continues reading, still rocking backwards and forwards.
LUCY
What are you reading?
WILLIAM
Book.
LUCY
What's it called?
WILLIAM screws his eyes up as if in pain and begins to shake. His hands begin to
clench the book more tightly. A trickle of blood suddenly dribbles out of his nose.
WILLIAM(Aggressive)
Does it matter!!!!
LUCY is startled by the outburst.
WILLIAM suddenly growls and grips his head, twisting and turning.
LUCY(Stands and shouts)
Somebody get over here!!!!
She looks around to see two men and women running to the bed.
LUCY
QUICKLY!!
The 'doctors and nurses' push LUCY out of the way and the two men and one of the women begin to restrain WILLIAM to the bed. He struggles and more blood is visible pouring from his nose. The other woman brings what looks like a staple-gun and presses it to WILLIAMS arm and neck.
LUCY watches the incident in terror. She brings her hands to her mouth in terror and turns away.
WILLIAM's struggle begins to subside until he loses consciousness. He is
unrestrained.
CU LUCY
She removes her hands from her mouth. A tear trickles down her face.
INT. FACTORY. NIGHT
The factory is darker than earlier, but the giant machine keeps working. Men and women all around are still working on the same jobs. Some look physically exhausted.
We cut to an area with a few men moving odd pieces of metal into other areas. The
pieces are huge, far too large in theory for one man alone. One of the men struggles more
than the others
MS NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS limps forward with a large piece of metal in his hands. His face is oily
and greasy, his clothes dirty and torn. He staggers forward and collapses. The metal
crashing down. Another worker rushes up to him and begins to help him up. We instantly
recognise the worker to be ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ
Hey you okay?
NICHOLAS shakes his head and looks ready to drop.
ALVAREZ
What's your name?
NICHOLAS
Nicholas.
ALVAREZ
I'm Alvarez.
They shake hands.
ALVAREZ
You're new here, yes?
NICHOLAS
Yea.
ALVAREZ
You never done work like this?
NICHOLAS
Uh, no, no. Nothing like this.
ALVAREZ
Then let me be the first to congratulate you on your choice of job.
NICHOLAS
Joke?
ALVAREZ
No, you're looking at the only legit job in this place.
NICHOLAS(Looks around him at others)
But people are killing themselves for this….
ALVAREZ(interrupting)
…shit?
NICHOLAS
Yea, I guess so.
ALVAREZ
Better move yourself before Poole gets back.
NICHOLAS
I think he's taken a distinct disliking to me.
ALVAREZ(laughs)
That guy has a distinct dislike for everyone.
The two stand up and continue with their work, NICHOLAS in a happier frame of mind.
NICHOLAS
So what sort of pay do I get around here?
ALVAREZ(laughs again)
The same as everybody else.
NICHOLAS
Which is?
ALVAREZ(stops)
The same as its always been illiwah. You work your life away in this
place and you'll never see the benefits.
NICHOLAS
What's it for then?
ALVAREZ(Continues working)
Where the hell have you been? This is all for the Boulder-State.
It's all used for low trade, building, vehicles, enforcement, whatever.
NICHOLAS
Well why don't you refuse to do it?
ALVAREZ
Have you ever seen an Enforcer?
NICHOLAS
No.
ALVAREZ
You don't want to.
NICHOLAS
So, what do the Boulder-State people do?
ALVAREZ
Shakk!! You're weird illiwah. Its all to do with the Cyberscape.
NICHOLAS
The Cyberscape?
ALVAREZ
A way for them to leave their mundane flesh-driven lives and fly the
data-streams of eternity my friend, something which we see very little of.
NICHOLAS looks concerned and shakes his head. He continues his work.
CU ALVAREZ
ALVAREZ watches NICHOLAS closely.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
NICHOLAS walks along the not so busy street. A slight rain drizzle comes down, but
NICHOLAS seems preoccupied, albeit exhausted. In the distance, the Homeless Home is
visible. NICHOLAS raises his head in recognition.
A figure emerges from the building. With the light in the area it is apparent that
it is LUCY, she does not see NICHOLAS. She dashes across the road and disappears down
another. NICHOLAS runs down the road in pursuit. He reaches the Homeless Home and stops.
She is long gone.
NICHOLAS turns to face the building. He looks up the face of the building and then
walks toward the entrance.
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
A nurse is busy preparing a trolley with various drugs, cups, advanced and
sometimes crude looking utensils. NICHOLAS bounds up to her.
NICHOLAS
Uh, the woman that left.
NURSE(startled)
Who?
NICHOLAS
The woman, long dark hair, tied back, suit?
NURSE
Oh yea. What about her?
NICHOLAS
What…Uh, who was she visiting?
NURSE(points)
Over there.
NICHOLAS
Who is he?
NURSE
That's her brother.
NICHOLAS
Why is he here?
NURSE
Psychotrancic Disorder.
NICHOLAS
Uh, that's…
NURSE
You know, Boulder-State cure for alleged terrorism.
NICHOLAS still looks uncertain.
NURSE
Brain damage? Causes epilepsy, amnesia?
NICHOLAS
How?
NURSE
I'm not an encyclopaedia. Now can you give me some space here I've
got a lot of work to do.
The NURSE moves off with the trolley. NICHOLAS stays a while staring at the figure
on the bed.
INT.SMALL ROOM.NIGHT
We open on an image of a table crashing over towards the camera. Bottles and pieces
of paper crash to the floor. At the top of the tables edge, we can make out the image of a
persons face. It is blurred until the camera begins to focus. The face is twisted in rage.
The face becomes recognisable, it is LUCY.
We are in a small cramped room. There are five people, three male and two female
around the room. The room is dark and smoky. A neon light brightens the room from above.
The people (except LUCY)are seated around three tables. We see that the table closest to
us has been kicked over. LUCY stands behind it. She wears a dirty white T-shirt and green
shorts. She is standing in a defensive position, as if ready to fight. From the other side
of the room, someone stands up, the man is ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ points at LUCY and
shouts…
ALVAREZ
That's enough!! You hear me? That's enough!!
At ALVAREZ's command, LUCY shoots a glance in his direction, her face still filled
with rage. She reaches down and picks a handful of papers off the next table. She shouts
back…
LUCY
All this…
LUCY waves the papers in her hand…
… all this is bureaucratic petty-minded crap!!!
She throws the papers to the floor
LUCY
We come here, week in, week out, we sit here, talking, talking, we
never do anything. We talk and we talk and you say….
LUCY looks toward another person is the room…
…we have designed a new virus, it should be ready soon.
We then cut to another man, visually older. This is the man LUCY is referring to.
It is WALLS. He sighs, but looks decidedly cool. We see ALVAREZ looking at LUCY annoyed,
he grits his teeth.
LUCY
Yea? Well, you're wasting my time, I could do this shakk on my own.
LUCY looks to her right at the person next to her and grabs their head, another
female, she looks down at them.
LUCY
Oh, and what about you Hanna? Where's your spirit? What do you think
about all this or are you bureaucratic as well?
HANNA'S face is pulled in fear.
…Okay, Lucy, you've made your point. Now shut up.
The camera swings down and to our left to reveal WALLS. He stays seated. He looks
decidedly annoyed, but still cool. He smokes a cigarette. WALLS does not stand.
LUCY looks is amazement at WALLS.
LUCY
You think I jeer? You think this is a joke?? Well lets see if you
think this is funny…
LUCY, with one arm around HANNA'S neck, pulls a gun and points it at HANNA'S head.
The other people in the room jump in surprise.
HANNA
Hey! Luce! Come on…(voice trembles…)…we don't need
this. Please put the gun down. Hey?
LUCY makes no move. Sweat trickles down LUCY's face.
… That's enough you stupid bitch!!
A voice from the other side of the room suddenly booms. The camera swings to see
ALVAREZ with his gun pointed directly at LUCY.
ALVAREZ
What is wrong with you? Here we are, trying to plan the downfall of
the entire Boulder-State and you're playing rushorule
LUCY is not unnerved, she holds fast onto the gun and HANNA'S neck.
LUCY
Fuck you Alvarez.
ALVAREZ
Fuck yourself.
WALLS suddenly interjects. He appears calm and unruffled.
WALLS (calmly)
Wait just a minute, all of you. Wait a minute….
ALVAREZ and LUCY's attention is drawn to the seated WALLS. WALLS tilts his head
back and exhales a lung-full of smoke.
WALLS
Will you two just please restrain your over-indulgent ego's? The war
is not between us. The war, is not of…
WALLS imitates speech marks with his fingers above his head.
…the flesh.
WALLS looks to LUCY.
WALLS
Luce, if you kill any member here, you will put us back…months.
The camera closes in on LUCY's face. She looks less enraged now. WALLS stands and
begins to walk towards LUCY.
WALLS
Despite what you may think, every person here, is here for a good
reason. Whether it's Jones or Hanna, for their technical ability, or yourself and Alvarez
for your combat skills. We need you alive. Not dead.
LUCY begins to look reflective. WALLS bends down behind LUCY and puts his arm
around her shoulders.
WALLS
You start killing now and we've already lost. You hear me? We lose.
LUCY looks uncertain.
WALLS
So put the gun down.
LUCY does not respond.
WALLS(Forcefully)
Put, the fucking gun down.
LUCY puts her gun slowly to the table. WALLS walks back toward his chair. From the
corner of the screen, we see ALVAREZ lowering his gun also. WALLS sits down again and
looks toward LUCY and HANNA. LUCY still has her arm around HANNA'S neck.
WALLS
She's gonna need that neck Luce…
LUCY lets go of HANNA'S neck reluctantly. She stands up straight and turns around,
her back to the camera. She brings her hands to her face and breathes a large sigh. She
slowly turns around.
LUCY
Somebody please tell me that we're going to do something. I
just…
LUCY pulls up a tumbled chair and begins to fumble at her pockets for something,
she pulls out a pack of cigarettes.
…can't take this anymore.
LUCY lights a cigarette and inhales hard. She exhales in resignation.
WALLS
Well, since you've suddenly become so militant and demanding Luce,
you'll be pleased to know that the virus is complete.
LUCY looks non-impressed. She's heard this sort of thing before.
LUCY (Sarcastically)
Really? How marvellous!!
LUCY looks to ALVAREZ who looks annoyed. From the expression, it is clear to see
that ALVAREZ doesn't tolerate LUCY very well. ALVAREZ looks to WALLS.
ALVAREZ
No shit? It's ready?
WALLS gestures towards the man opposite him; JONES.
JONES(nervously)
Uh, yea, we, uh, did it last night.
JONES is gesturing towards HANNA. HANNA leans forward her hands clasped.
HANNA
Yea…
She clears her throat, rubbing it and looking around at LUCY.
…we finalised the data streamed coding, that you two(indicating
JONES and LUCY) were having problems with the other day. It's a bit sensitive, but I think
we're there now.
HANNA speaks with confidence, unlike JONES. It is apparent she has had a good education at some point.
WALLS slowly rubs his chin, contemplating what he's hearing. He looks thoughtful.
ALVAREZ(Excitedly)
Well, thats it then!! What are we meeting for? Why don't we get on
with it??
JONES suddenly leans forward and sounds annoyed. He almost stutters when he speaks,
but its his nervousness.
JONES
The, the problem is, is, is that, our recipient may yet not uh, be
willing.
LUCY looks bemused. Neither she nor ALVAREZ understood what JONES meant.
ALVAREZ appears confused.
ALVAREZ
What do you mean? It was, simple, just create the virus, yea?
WALLS
No, no, it, its more complex than that….
WALLS points his fingers as he speaks.
….we can't simply just go up to him and say 'well here it is,
off you go and don't fuck-up' can we. Let's use a bit of grey matter here.
LUCY(Aggressively, but sarcastic.)
Is there no way we can do it ourselves?
HANNA intervenes.
HANNA
Core is far too sophisticated to let us get that close or we would
have done it ourselves(looks at Lucy annoyed). Besides, if you remember, the whole point
of getting him was that we couldn't do it ourselves.
We see LUCY exhaling smoke.
LUCY
So how long is that going to take?
WALLS
A month, two months…who knows.
LUCY
Great.
We see WALLS stubbing out his cigarette. JONES and HANNA look thoughtfully at each
other. There is a brief silence. WALLS tilts his head back. He after fives seconds or so,
tilts it forward again.
WALLS
Okay, while I'm substituting him, I'll see what I can find out, any
loopholes. Otherwise, bring him to me at some point.
HANNA
What are you going to tell him that we can't?
WALLS pauses again. Still nodding slowly, still thinking. He looks up at HANNA,
confidently.
WALLS
Only things he know's already.
WALLS looks across to his companions.
ALVAREZ looks around at the others, in disbelief. He shakes his head.
ALVAREZ
This whole thing is just hit and miss.
ALVAREZ looks to LUCY for support. She gives him a sarcastic little smile.
ALVAREZ
No, no, no….
LUCY
So what in the mean time?
WALLS
Keep him working, break him in, tell him what you know. Then he'll
be ready.
EXT. FACTORY ENTRANCE. NIGHT
NICHOLAS emerges from the entrance. He is dirty, but looks less exhausted than before. He stops and removes a pack of cigarettes from his overalls. He lights a cigarette and inhales. He smokes almost naturally.
He looks across the street. We see the computerised sign 'Guaranteed Direct
Access'. Many people go in and out. NICHOLAS walks over to the entrance.
EXT. CYBERSCAPE SHOP ENRANCE. NIGHT
NICHOLAS stops outside. He looks up at the sign and then enters.
INT. CYBERSCAPE SHOP. NIGHT
Walking through the door, NICHOLAS is greeted by a whole wall full of screens with
images of the Cyberscape flowing over them. Other people are in the room watching the
screens. To the left is a man wearing various technological gadgets; an eyepiece, a
Virtual Reality glove and other attachments. He looks ridiculous like a vacuum cleaner on
legs. He takes money from people and speaks to them but his voice is inaudible over the
noise of the people talking and the sounds being emitted from the screens. The screens
show individuals in the Cyberscape, all experiencing various things; flying, floating etc.
NICHOLAS watches in fascination.
The man(OWNER) walks up to him.
OWNER
You want access?
NICHOLAS
Uh, no, I was just looking.
OWNER
We got high ram, all guaranteed, anything you want. Virtual women,
all sizes and shape and personally tested feeling amplifier. Genuine feelings man.
NICHOLAS is not really listening. He is drawn to a screen near the centre. The screen shows a virtual park.
NICHOLAS has a flashback…
EXT. VIRTUAL PARK. DAY
The screen is filled with a moving chrome substance. It elegantly moves, as if a
wave.
CU virtual NICHOLAS'S face, who looks in fascination, a small smile on his face.
We return to the slowly moving chrome substance, it continues elegantly moving, in
small waves.
We return to a mid-shot of NICHOLAS who is sitting on a bench, facing the camera.
He leans forward looking intently at what must be the virtual lake.
(voice)
AA3!!
It is a male voice.
NICHOLAS suddenly looks up and looks quickly left, then right. We cut to a
subjective position moving toward the virtual NICHOLAS from at least ten metres away. The
camera then cuts to NICHOLAS'S position looking back, the virtual person drawing closer, a
smile visible on the person's face.
NICHOLAS
Good day to you BA34.
We move to the front of the bench. BA34 sits down.
BA34
Good day to you AA3.
There is a pause.
BA34
What news?
NICHOLAS
None, as to date.
BA34
I hear that CORE has designated a new park, strictly for the
Boulder-State.
NICHOLAS smiles and nods slightly, he's known this for a long time.
NICHOLAS
Yes, I believe that to be true.
INT CYBERSCAPE SHOP. NIGHT
NICHOLAS shakes his head. He looks straight at the OWNER. He sees his mouth moving
but does not hear the words he is saying. NICHOLAS holds his head. The flashback
continues…
EXT. CYBERPARK. DAY
BA34
How is it, that the Working Force gains access?
NICHOLAS
I believe them to be parasites, who cleverly, like a worm, dig their
way into the fabric of our world.
BA34(looks concerned)
You suggest they may be advanced enough to walk among us?
NICHOLAS(Bemused)
No, I suggest that their own lives are filled with nothing, that
they see the future, that they want what they cannot be….they so desire to be what
they are not, what they do not have.
INT. CYBERSCAPE SHOP. NIGHT
NICHOLAS begins to stagger out of the shop. The OWNER watches him go.
OWNER
Hey, come back anytime, nice girls illiwah.
The voices of NICHOLAS'S flashback continue, although the images do not.
Voice of BA34
What do they have?
Voice of NICHOLAS
Nothing. They have their restricted lives. They live in the flesh,
they suffer and live their lives in pain.
EXT. CYBERSCAPE SHOP. NIGHT
NICHOLAS staggers onto the street. The people around him move away quickly.
NICHOLAS begins to run. The voices continue.
Voice of BA34
They seek the end of suffering?
Voice of NICHOLAS
They seek the 'Will to Virtuality'.
Voice of BA34
Will they ever reach us?
Voice of NICHOLAS
While they rejoice in the flesh, they will never reach us.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
The voices stop and NICHOLAS stops running. He backs up against a wall. He shakes
his head and hugs himself tightly. He looks to the left and right. He sees the Homeless
Home and walks toward it.
INT. HOMELESS HOME. NIGHT
NICHOLAS walks in. He looks unwell; pale and shaky. The NURSE seeing him,
approaches. It is a different nurse from the one that HANNA talked to.
NURSE
You okay?
NICHOLAS
I'm not sure.
NURSE
Well, we haven't got any beds at the moment.
NICHOLAS
That's okay. I may just visit.
The NURSE views NICHOLAS suspiciously.
NURSE
Who?
NICHOLAS
That man over there.(points)
We see LUCY'S brother lying down. The NURSE looks over.
NURSE
Okay. But I'm going with you.
NICHOLAS(annoyed)
Whatever.
INT. WILLIAM'S BED. NIGHT
The NURSE and NICHOLAS approach the bed. WILLIAM looks at them suspiciously.
NURSE
If you were friends, forget it. He won't remember you.
NICHOLAS doesn't reply. He just stares at WILLIAM.
NURSE
William? One of your friends is here.
WILLIAM looks at him suspiciously.
WILLIAM
Dunno him.
NURSE
Are you sure?
WILLIAM
Yep.
NURSE
Well, I've got better things to do. (Sarcastically) You have fun
now.
The NURSE leaves. NICHOLAS watches her go.
NICHOLAS
What a bitch.
WILLIAM
Yea. I just met her. Bitch.
NICHOLAS(indicates a chair by WILLIAMS bed)
Can I sit here?
NICHOLAS
Go for it.
WILLIAM
So, who are you?
NICHOLAS
I'm nobody.
WILLIAM
Ah, that's where your wrong!!! You see…
WILLIAM waves NICHOLAS closer and almost whispers…
…I'm nobody. Shit, I don't even know where I am. I've been here
a day. They tell me nothing.
NICHOLAS
If its any consolation, I know nothing either.
WILLIAM
They say I've been here a long time. I got all these pictures and
things, but I don't know 'em.
WILLIAM gives NICHOLAS a book. He opens it. Inside is a collection of photos. Old
and mostly of two children. One obviously WILLIAM.
WILLIAM
Apparently I have a sister.
NICHOLAS doesn't really listen. He continues looking through the photos. He stops
at one photo. A recent picture of LUCY.
NICHOLAS
This your sister?
WILLIAM(looks at the photo)
Dunno.
NICHOLAS
Pretty.
WILLIAM
Whatever.
NICHOLAS stares at the photo as if entranced.
INT. NICHOLAS'S BEDSIT. NIGHT
The lights are on. LUCY sits in the chair again with her feet on the bed. She looks
reflective. The camera moves closer to her face. We suddenly blend into…
INT. JUDGEMENT CHAMBER. NIGHT
The judgement chamber is a single room. It is circular and black. In the centre of
the room a lone figure stands. In front of him is a large hologrammatic virtual face, the
OVERLORD JUDGE.
JUDGE
You are found guilty of the crime of terrorist activity against the
Boulder-State. As a member of the Working Force, the penalty for this type of crime is
severe…
We then quickly cut back to…
INT. NICHOLAS'S BEDSIT. NIGHT
Keys are heard at the door. LUCY snaps out of her daydream and quick as a flash removes a gun and points it at the door.
NICHOLAS enters the room and is startled by his 'welcome'.
NICHOLAS
Shit!!!
LUCY, on seeing who the intruder is, relaxes and puts the gun away.
LUCY
You…
NICHOLAS
What are you doing here?
LUCY
Making sure you're still alive.
NICHOLAS moves into the room toward the bed. He stops by LUCY's feet.
NICHOLAS
I can lie down on my own bed can't I?
LUCY reluctantly moves her feet off the bed and NICHOLAS lies down. He closes his
eyes. LUCY looks at the wall.
LUCY
And how was work today?
NICHOLAS
Great.
LUCY
Getting a lot of job satisfaction are we?
NICHOLAS
If I thought that I was getting something out of it, then maybe. As
I'm not, then no, I am not getting job satisfaction.
LUCY
Real life tying you down is it?
NICHOLAS ignores the remark
LUCY smirks. She stands and walks over to the window. She pulls back the blanket
and looks out.
NICHOLAS
I saw you tonight.
LUCY
I don't think so.
NICHOLAS
At the Homeless Home. (He sits up, eyes open)
LUCY does not answer, she continues looking out of the window
NICHOLAS
I saw you leaving, you didn't see me.
LUCY(agitated)
As I said. I don't think so.
NICHOLAS lies back down. His eyes open. He must know.
NICHOLAS
You were visiting your brother.
LUCY(spins around angrily)
Just shut up all right!!. Just shut up!! Yes I was there, yes you
saw me, yes I was visiting and yes it was my brother. Any other questions?
NICHOLAS is surprised at the outburst and his sudden gain of information about
LUCY. He lies back down.
NICHOLAS
I'm sorry.
LUCY
Yea, you're sorry, everybody's sorry. I'm sorry to still be stuck
here thinking about it. I'm going. Laters.
LUCY heads to the door and leaves. NICHOLAS sees she has left a packet of cigarettes behind. He takes one and lights it. He inhales. This time he does not choke.
He lies back down and smokes. After a few more puffs, he throws the cigarette butt
to the floor. He drifts to sleep. The camera closes in on his eyes…
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. DAY
A man sits at a table. He has a headpiece on, so we cannot see who it is. The
camera closes in on the head. He finally removes the headpiece and He places it on the
table beside him. It is NICHOLAS. He rubs his eyes and links his fingers beneath his nose
and stares into space, deep in concentration. Finally he gathers his thoughts and sits up
straight. With his left hand NICHOLAS quickly presses an area to the left of him. Various
colours appear, responding to his touch. From the groove in the centre of the table an
image of a screen rises. It is a transparent light green. NICHOLAS looks at the screen. A
face begins to materialise. The face is a virtual one, but it is not apparent what gender
it is. As the face materialises, we see its eyes are closed. When it has fully
materialised, the eyes open. CORE begins to speak.
CORE
Good afternoon Mr Nicholas.
The voice of CORE is soft female Caucasian.
NICHOLAS
Good afternoon CORE. Are there any messages for me?
CORE
No. There are no new messages.
NICHOLAS pauses, looks concerned and thinks before asking his next question.
NICHOLAS
Have there been any…disruptions of late Core?
CORE
Do you refer, Mr Nicholas, to the activities of the so-called
'Working Force Cyber-libertists' group?
Nicholas sighs and nods.
NICHOLAS
Yes, Core.
CORE
As you know Mr Nicholas, several minor viruses have been
deliberately introduced into the data streams around the state of the CORE operating
system. However, these have been largely absorbed by the central artificial intelligence
protection units. To date, there have been no new offensives that would cause major harm.
Nicholas looks deep in thought, not actually listening to CORE's report, nor
actually looking at CORE's face.
CORE
Mr Nicholas?
NICHOLAS looks up as if shocked out of his delirious state.
NICHOLAS
Yes Core?
CORE
You seem somewhat preoccupied. I sense that perhaps you did not
require of me information you already knew.
NICHOLAS nods in agreement and smirks.
NICHOLAS(surprised)
That's very perceptive Core.
CORE
It was you who designed me that way Mr Nicholas.
NICHOLAS
Indeed I did.
There is another pause. NICHOLAS seems reluctant to speak as if trying to entice
CORE into speaking. As if playing with a pet.
CORE
So what, may I ask, is the purpose of this exchange?
NICHOLAS pauses again.
NICHOLAS
The council are becoming concerned with the activities of the
terrorists.
NICHOLAS looks down and begins tracing his finger around the table in front of him.
NICHOLAS
I have informed them that you are able to deal with the situation. I
have also told them that there is no situation.
CORE does not immediately respond.
CORE
You have not informed the council of your own concerns?
NICHOLAS looks up.
NICHOLAS
Of my concerns. No.
CORE
May I ask why not?
NICHOLAS slowly sits up and leans forward. He appears slightly annoyed.
NICHOLAS
Because if the council became aware that it is a joint feeling
between us, based on our information, that the terrorists may be more intelligent than we
originally perceived, we, or rather I, may have a situation in my hands.
CORE does not respond. NICHOLAS stands and walks away from the table. He begins
pacing around. The camera follows him around.
NICHOLAS
I do not particularly wish to lose my seat of power. I am an
Overlord. Mistakes are not approved of, they are a sign of weakness. They are not a part
of the will to virtuality. They symbolise a distinctness that is not of our…Virtual
Class.
There is a pause.
CORE
You see your concerns as a failing on your behalf? That you may be
rejected from the council.
NICHOLAS turns to face CORE.
NICHOLAS(aggressively)
It is not a failing!! It is an inconsistency. You were made as well
as I could make you. You share that inconsistency. Together, we will irradicate that
inconsistency. It is an inconsistency performed by the constraints of the flesh. You are
released from that. You are the guide into our new world.
CORE does not respond. NICHOLAS ponders for a moment and then returns to his seat.
He looks at CORE.
NICHOLAS
Tell me, tell me the latest.
CORE
It has been thought that the minor viruses are part of an illusory
tactic. That these are not the full strength of the terrorists abilities. It is believed
they may have developed a very powerful virus that has the ability to release all
restricted information, that would allow direct access from the outer-rims and the
Boulder-State to know of Overlord activities.
NICHOLAS nods in recognition.
NICHOLAS
Ah yes, the so-called; Liberation virus.
CORE
The terrorists however seem to be unaware of the potential danger of
inadvertently releasing the P.S.Y.C.H.0-1, the Psychotrance. The danger…
NICHOLAS(interrupting)
Yes, I know, the danger is that the Psychotrance would infect
everybody in the Boulder-State and outer-rims in a matter of minutes.
NICHOLAS sighs.
CORE
Mr Nicholas?
NICHOLAS looks up at the virtual face.
CORE
Of the subjects found to have suffered the Psychotrancic Disorder,
there is no known reversal method.
NICHOLAS sits back in resignation. He shakes his head looking at the floor.
NICHOLAS
Of course there isn't, of course there isn't.
INT. NICHOLAS'S BEDSIT. DAY
NICHOLAS opens his eyes. We see he is lying in his bed, half covered. He blinks
unemotionally.
EXT. HOTEL ENTRANCE. DAY
NICHOLAS comes out of the hotel and stops at the entrance. He looks around and
suddenly becomes aware of HANNA and LUCY's presence. They stand by the driver and
passenger doors of a car parked by the hotel.
HANNA
Get in the car.
NICHOLAS walks toward the car and gets in the rear. HANNA and LUCY sit in the
front.
INT. CAR. NIGHT
The car speeds along the streets. HANNA drives.
LUCY looks at NICHOLAS through the front mirror. He looks weary.
LUCY
Rough night?
NICHOLAS
Maybe
HANNA
Bad dreams?
NICHOLAS
You could say that.
NICHOLAS pulls a cigarette out. He lights it.
NICHOLAS
So where to today?
LUCY
You'll see.
NICHOLAS
A new job?
HANNA
Not exactly. More of a meeting.
NICHOLAS
With who?
LUCY(annoyed)
Does it matter?
NICHOLAS is surprised by LUCY's outburst.
EXT. UNDERPASS TUNNEL. NIGHT
The underpass is dark and loud with traffic passing through. The car with LUCY,
HANNA and NICHOLAS passes through with a roar.
INT. CAR. NIGHT
NICHOLAS gazes out of the window. He looks up.
NICHOLAS
What's the Cyberscape like?
LUCY
Have you been on-line?
NICHOLAS
No.
HANNA
Well its like everything you've ever wanted.
LUCY(after a pause)
Or a nightmare.
INT. METALLIC CORRIDOR. NIGHT
A cramped darkened corridor, the metallic silver is however visible. HANNA followed
by LUCY and NICHOLAS walk along it toward a metallic door. Reaching the door, HANNA
knocks. A panel to the left suddenly lights up, HANNA places her hand on it. A green beam,
followed by a red and then blue beam scans her hand. She removes her hand and the door
slides back. The three enter…
INT. SMALL ROOM. NIGHT
WALLS sits in the room at a table, smoking a cigarette. It is dim, with a neon
light above lighting it. HANNA moves to the other side of WALLS and sits down. LUCY sits
at the far side of the room.
NICHOLAS stands in the doorway and hesitates, uncertain what to do.
WALLS inhales the cigarette and looks to NICHOLAS
WALLS
Mr Nicholas?
NICHOLAS
Yea, uh, you are?
WALLS
(He pauses to inhale again.) Have a seat.
WALLS points to the seat opposite himself.
NICHOLAS moves to the seat and sits down.
WALLS
Cigarette?
NICHOLAS
Yea.
WALLS hands NICHOLAS a cigarette.
NICHOLAS lights the cigarette from his own lighter in his pocket. He inhales and twitches slightly. The cigarette is stronger than he is used to.
WALLS watches in amusement.
WALLS
My own brand.
NICHOLAS tries to play it cool, as does WALLS. They both smoke and stare at each
other as if trying to work each other out.
HANNA stares at the table.
LUCY looks at her nails.
WALLS
So you ask; 'Why am I here?'. Yea?
NICHOLAS
Okay, why the hell am I here?
WALLS
You've been here a few months now. I suspect that you're no further
knowing who you are.
NICHOLAS
Nope.
WALLS
I'm what you may call intelligence. I find out the things nobody
else can. I also find out things that people like us are not supposed to know.
NICHOLAS
Like what?
WALLS
Secrets.
NICHOLAS
Who are you?
WALLS
You can call me Walls.
NICHOLAS
So what do you know?
WALLS
That you're an enigma Nicholas. You have no records, no birth, no
parents, no history, no nothing. In short, you may as well not exist.
NICHOLAS
But high-access…the Boulder-…
WALLS(interrupting)
Nothing. Nothing there. Of course, if you were one of them, you'd
have limited records anyway.
NICHOLAS(annoyed)
So you're saying I'm one of them?!?!?
WALLS(firmly)
I'm saying you have nothing!! There's no evidence either way.
NICHOLAS stares at WALLS, who returns the gaze. He then covers his eyes and head
with his hands. He leans his elbow on the table and slowly shakes his head.
WALLS observes for a while, he looks to HANNA, who shrugs her shoulders. He looks
to LUCY, who raises her eyebrows in annoyance.
WALLS
How do you feel Nicholas?
NICHOLAS(looking up, annoyed)
What?
WALLS
I said, how do you feel?
NICHOLAS
How do I feel? Okay, I feel kind of annoyed.
WALLS
Annoyed at what?
NICHOLAS
This whole situation.
WALLS
What situation?
The tempo of WALLS questions increases.
NICHOLAS
What do you mean 'what situation'? Mine, the job…this…
WALLS(interrupting)
The job?
NICHOLAS
Yea, the fucking job.
WALLS
What about it?
NICHOLAS(gets more annoyed as he speaks)
Its long, its hard, there's no reward, we have no choice, we get
nothing from it, we're slaves, we're complete slaves and all for those tech-heads out
there.
WALLS
The Boulder-State?
NICHOLAS
Yea, them.
WALLS
You may be one of them.
NICHOLAS
I can't be, I just can't be.
WALLS
You think I'm stupid?
NICHOLAS
What do you mean?
WALLS
You sit there like a kid, complaining to its Mother that it doesn't
like its lunch.
NICHOLAS is stumped by that one.
WALLS
I'll ask you again Nicholas. Tell me how you really feel.
NICHOLAS looks hard into WALLS'S eyes
NICHOLAS
How do I feel?(He pauses to think) I feel I should do something.
WALLS
You want to do something?
NICHOLAS
Yea, yea I do.
WALLS smiles, as does HANNA. WALLS slightly nods at NICHOLAS.
CU LUCY.
LUCY looks suspiciously at NICHOLAS.
INT. OPERATING THEATRE. NIGHT
We open to see all the elements that make up an operation. Closest to the camera is
a DOCTOR. It is uncertain whether it is male or female as they have their back to the
camera. She/He is huddled over an operating table. It is not clear what they are doing. It
is unnaturally quiet. Every time the DOCTOR does something, there is an overexaggerated
echo.
NICHOLAS is sitting in a chair behind the DOCTOR, watching the operation. He wears
a virtual reality skin-tight suit, but without the headpiece. He appears confused. He
screws up his eyes as if trying to make out what is going on.
DOCTOR
…they fight at first, but they know its best.
The voice has come from the DOCTOR, it is male. NICHOLAS appears confused.
NICHOLAS
What are you doing?
The DOCTOR keeps his back to us.
DOCTOR
Come now AA3, you know perfectly well what's happening here.
NICHOLAS
Where?
DOCTOR
Where?
The DOCTOR lets out a small laugh and raises his head, still with back turned.
DOCTOR
Where is not important. We could be anywhere.
NICHOLAS begins to stand up, moving his head around, trying to see what is going
on.
NICHOLAS
AA3 is not my name…
NICHOLAS moves toward the DOCTOR.
DOCTOR
You have no name, you need no name…
NICHOLAS walks closer and closer to the DOCTOR, who still has his back to him.
NICHOLAS
But where is this?…
The DOCTOR suddenly swings around to face NICHOLAS. We are shocked to see he has
NICHOLAS'S face.
DOCTOR
…YOU'RE NOWHERE AND EVERYWHERE, YOU ARE PAST AND PRESENT,
YOU'RE NOBODY AND EVERYBODY!!!
The DOCTOR laughs hysterically before thrusting NICHOLAS at the patient. NICHOLAS
sees the patient for the first time as does the camera. The patient is strapped to the bed
and has had some of their skin on their face cut away, but the face is that of WILLIAM.
Where the skin as been removed, a virtual face is emerging. The camera closes on the face,
that, despite the gruesome removal of skin manages a smile.
NICHOLAS falls backwards, stunned. The DOCTOR stands next to the 'patient'. He has one arm around their shoulders. He smiles.
LUCY suddenly emerges from no-where…
LUCY
I thought you deserved to know
POOLE suddenly emerges
POOLE
I don't care if you're for the cause
We close in on NICHOLAS'S face.
LUCY
This is the new way to go, this, is the way of the future?
LUCY throws something to NICHOLAS. We see it land on NICHOLAS'S lap. NICHOLAS picks the item up. It is bloody, but the face is still mostly intact. We see NICHOLAS'S face twist in horror.
NICHOLAS screams…
INT. NICHOLAS'S BEDSIT. NIGHT
The camera is at a close-up on NICHOLAS'S face. His eyes suddenly snap open,
simultaneously sharply breathing in. He breathes out, but his eyes do not blink.
EXT. FACTORY. DAY
We see the huge factory in all its grimy splendour, apart from the sign 'B.S.'
which is clean as the day is was made.
INT. FACTORY. DAY
NICHOLAS and ALVAREZ move metal. They look not quite as exhausted.
CU NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS looks in a thoughtful mood.
CU ALVAREZ
ALVAREZ contemplates NICHOLAS.
ALVAREZ
Hey man, you awake?
NICHOLAS snaps out of it.
NICHOLAS
Yea.
ALVAREZ
So what's up?
NICHOLAS drops a piece of metal into another pile. He walks up to ALVAREZ.
NICHOLAS
I keep having these strange dreams.
ALVAREZ
Like what?
NICHOLAS
That I'm somebody else, that I'm someone…bad.
ALVAREZ(cautiously)
Yea.
NICHOLAS
You ever hear of P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T or AA3?
ALVAREZ
No.
They continue working.
NICHOLAS
I wonder what that is?
ALVAREZ
Don't worry about it, probably means nothing.
NICHOLAS
Maybe its got something to do with who I am.
ALVAREZ
And maybe it doesn't. You're probably having an I.D. crisis.
NICHOLAS
I.D.?
ALVAREZ
You know, who you are and all that.
NICHOLAS
I dunno. Maybe its got something to do with the group.
ALVAREZ
Group?
NICHOLAS
Yea, you know, the group. The terrorists.
ALVAREZ suddenly drops his metal and storms up to NICHOLAS and grabs him by the
front. Around the factory, people turn on hearing the metal drop.
ALVAREZ(annoyed)
Just keep your mouth shut.
NICHOLAS
What?
ALVAREZ
You heard.
NICHOLAS
But I thought….
ALVAREZ(interrupting)
…You thought nothing!!!! Keep your mouth shut. Okay?
NICHOLAS
Yea. Okay.
ALVAREZ puts NICHOLAS down. They continue work.
ALVAREZ
Damn this cause.
NICHOLAS
What?
ALVAREZ
Nothing. Get working or Poole'll be here in a minute
CU NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS straightens himself. He looks confusedly at ALVAREZ.
CU ALVAREZ
ALVAREZ doesn't look at NICHOLAS. He silently curses to himself.
EXT. CYBERSCAPE SHOP ENTRANCE. NIGHT
From slightly above head-level, we watch people going in and out. Its very busy tonight.
We realise that we are the eyes of NICHOLAS. He is again staring in. He sighs,
looking anxious. He looks around him, to see no-one is watching him and enters…
INT. CYBERSCAPE SHOP. NIGHT
NICHOLAS walks into the shop. The wall of screens is very active. Again we close in
on one. The screen shows a cyberpark.
The owner approaches NICHOLAS from the left.
OWNER
Hey man, we got anything you want. We got girls, we got
pleasure…
LUCY
He doesn't want anything.
LUCY suddenly appears from behind other customers.
NICHOLAS
Lucy.
LUCY
Out.
NICHOLAS looks as if he may argue, but doesn't. He leaves, followed by LUCY.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
NICHOLAS walks out into the street, obviously annoyed. We don't see LUCY yet.
NICHOLAS
What the hell was that all about?
NICHOLAS is thrown up against a car in front of the shop. He is stunned. LUCY holds
him.
LUCY
Just what the hell did you think you were doing?
NICHOLAS
Nothing, I was just…
LUCY
What?
NICHOLAS
I don't know.
LUCY(annoyed)
We told you not to do anything without asking us first. Are you
stupid or something?
NICHOLAS
I was only looking…
LUCY
Yea and I think you really are stupid. Do not go on-line, you hear
me?
NICHOLAS does not answer. LUCY drops NICHOLAS. She pulls out a cigarette and lights
it. After a smokes, she looks at NICHOLAS.
LUCY
You hungry?
NICHOLAS nods.
EXT. FOOD OUTLET SEATING AREA. NIGHT
NICHOLAS is seated at a table by himself. He looks around. Everywhere around him
are people sitting, eating and looking happy. An arm drops a container of food in front of
him. NICHOLAS'S attention is brought back. LUCY sits opposite him. She has nothing to eat.
LUCY puts a fork down next to the container.
NICHOLAS
You not eating?
LUCY
Nope.
NICHOLAS begins to eat.
NICHOLAS
Everyone seems really happy here.
LUCY(sarcastically)
Strange isn't it?
NICHOLAS
I'd probably enjoy it more if I knew I was from here.
LUCY
Well you're not.
NICHOLAS
How do you know?
LUCY
Gut instinct.
LUCY pulls a cigarette from a pack in her jacket. She lights it and takes a hard
pull. She exhales quickly. She stares at the floor in silent agitation. She suddenly stops
and looks up at NICHOLAS.
LUCY
What were you doing at the home?
NICHOLAS
I knew I'd seen you before, I was checking why you were there.
LUCY(annoyed)
You were checking on me?
NICHOLAS(defensive)
Well no, I was just interested
LUCY
Well, its none of your business.
NICHOLAS continues eating. LUCY plays with her ponytail, while looking at something
else.
NICHOLAS(looks at Lucy puzzled)
I've seen you in flashes, in images
LUCY(defensively)
What do you mean?
NICHOLAS(Uncertain)
As Hanna left, I saw you and I had this, vision, I guess.
LUCY
A vision of what?
NICHOLAS
Well, of you.
LUCY(annoyed)
Do I have to play twenty questions with you? Are you gonna tell me
what your talking about?
NICHOLAS(in retaliation)
It was just a flash, an image. You were in it.
LUCY(almost shouting)
That's it? I was in a image. Great. What are you saying?
LUCY looks away. She knows what he is seeing, but is afraid rather than annoyed.
NICHOLAS(angrily)
I don't know, I don't know. All I do know is that since I woke up on
the street, whenever the hell it was, my life has disappeared and no-one seems to know who
the hell I am, where I came from, how old I am or anything. You and your strange friends
come and go, telling me not to do this, throwing me into jobs that push me to the bare
limits and what do I get out of that? Nothing!! I get nothing!! I have no memory, no life,
this place is a complete nightmare, how the hell do you expect me to make sense!!
NICHOLAS rubs a hand over his face. He sighs in his own annoyance of his amnesia.
After a pause LUCY looks at him for the first time without a 'look that could
kill'. She almost looks sympathetic.
LUCY(calmly)
The job is pretty tough, I know.
NICHOLAS
An understatement, if I've ever heard one.
LUCY looks at NICHOLAS.
NICHOLAS looks down. In obvious annoyance.
LUCY
Me and William used to go there to meet our father when we were
younger. It was huge then. But then as a child, I guess everything is.
NICHOLAS
William?
LUCY
My brother.(pause)
INT. FACTORY. DAY
(LUCY continues as voice-over).
The factory is busy as usual. Two children, one boy and one girl, run around the
factory laughing.
Voice of Lucy
He used to say that the factory was like a heart, it pounded and was
the centre of a vast machine. We were like blood. We ran it and kept it strong for the
masters, for the state. Then it seemed like nothing was wrong. Then childhood was over.
Voice of NICHOLAS
What happened?
The smiling face of the boy(WILLIAM) is distracted as a squad of Enforcers enter
the factory. They pick someone out. The boys face turns to fear.
Voice of LUCY
We began to realise what was going on. Well, William began to
realise what was going on. The injustice of it all. He saw us as slaves, with masters
taking luxury excursions into a new world. Something he felt should be our right also.
The Enforcers shoot the man.
EXT. FOOD OUTLET SEATING AREA. NIGHT
NICHOLAS
The Cyberscape.
LUCY(nods)
He began to educate people, many people. All in secret. For the
first time, it was like the heart began to have a mind of its own, a conscience to which
it could change things. He began to organise those of us with special skills; combat,
technological, construction, whatever. We all learnt and taught one another. But something
stronger than that, we learned to unite. We had a common enemy, the Boulder-State, which
we could have been a part of, but were not. We hacked into many things, all before CORE
was ever created. Then it was easy, the Overlords didn't see it coming, never expected it.
We found out dark secrets, agendas, the things that their (she uses her fingers to imitate
speech marks) 'Virtualites' would never know, that should know. William knew we had to
change things. We formed the group( she smiles) The 'Working Force Cyber-Libertists'.
NICHOLAS raises his eyebrows in a 'You're joking' look.
LUCY
Yea, I know, But the name wasn't important, it was just a face, a
name to organise under.
NICHOLAS
So what happened to William?
LUCY
You've obviously seen him?
NICHOLAS nods.
LUCY
The Overlords, in response to our new uprising developed a computer
virus so complex that it could kill a living person who was subjected to it through the
Cyberscape…
NICHOLAS(interrupting)
Psychotrance.
LUCY
You begin to catch on here. Good. One day, William was arrested. It
was the first ever public trial of a known terrorist. I guess it was a warning. Everyone
could link in to watch the trial…
INT. JUDGEMENT CHAMBER. NIGHT
The judgement chamber is a single room. It is circular and black. In the centre of
the room WILLIAM stands. In front of him is a large hologrammatic virtual face, the
OVERLORD JUDGE.
JUDGE
You are found guilty of the crime of terrorist activity against the
Boulder-State. As a member of the Working Force, the penalty for this type of crime is
severe…
EXT. SHED. NIGHT
CU LUCY
LUCY watches in horror
Voice of LUCY
I watched them take away his life.
EXT. FOOD OUTLET SEATING AREA. NIGHT
NICHOLAS listens to LUCY intensively.
LUCY
They threw him to the streets. By the time we got him back we knew
they had the upper hand again. William knew nothing nor could he remember anything. He
suffered epilepsy, convulsions, brain haemorrhaging. He was gone, my brother was gone and
this strange ill man replaced his brilliance. I couldn't understand. Why had this
happened?, and now? Since that day, I have worked and worked toward bringing those
bastards down. I've become a vengeful bitch. I wonder if I still have his ideals in mind.
NICHOLAS
You disagree with the group?
LUCY
Well, no. More that I see the Cyberscape as what killed my brother.
I guess I stay with the group in his memory.
NICHOLAS
So why they mess him up?
LUCY
Why the hell do you think?
NICHOLAS
For being a terrorist?
LUCY
For having a mind of his own. But its always the same.
NICHOLAS shakes his head in disbelief.
NICHOLAS
So now Walls leads the group?
LUCY
Yea, He used to be Will's right hand man. It's not the same though,
everyone saw hope in Will. When they saw what happened to him, they panicked and some got
clumsy. The home is the result of their clumsiness. A whole bunch of the 'Psychotranced'.
NICHOLAS
I'm not like that though, am I?
LUCY(pausing slightly, not looking at NICHOLAS)
We don't know who or where you came from. Hence the suspicion.
NICHOLAS
So why are you telling me all this?
LUCY
I don't know.
LUCY lights another cigarette. She offers NICHOLAS who accepts. He lights the
cigarette, inhales but does not choke. LUCY smiles slightly.
LUCY
You've changed a lot Nicholas.
NICHOLAS smiles in return. He feels good. LUCY has opened up.
LUCY
I'll see you later. Perhaps tomorrow, there may be other things you
can do. I have to go. You can get back okay?
NICHOLAS nods.
LUCY stands and leaves.
NICHOLAS smokes. After a few more puffs, he throws the cigarette butt to the floor.
He again looks around himself and smiles.
EXT. VIRTUAL PARK. DAY
We see a virtual sky and at the bottom of the screen, various objects come into
vision. We see the tops of virtual trees, with virtual birds flying around them. We hear
sounds that would compliment a 'real' park; birds, a slight breeze and muffled talking. As
the line of vision keeps dropping, more comes into focus; hedges, bushes, chrome-coloured
lakes, all as far as the eye can see. The line of vision stops as it reaches the ground. A
vast area of greenery; a park, a virtual park. There are others here too. To the right is
as chrome-coloured lake. There is a bench at its edge. Two people sit on it, they are
talking, but we cannot hear what they are saying. Other people, quite far away, can be
seen floating along virtual tracks. The camera pans left and right over these things.
From the original camera view, we swing around to reveal a virtual person. They are smiling and looking left and right, observing various things. Again, they look to the sky.
We cut to the virtual sky in its artificial brilliance. The camera still slowly rotates.
We return to the virtual person. They close their eyes and take a lungful of air.
This is the 'virtual' NICHOLAS. He begins floating forward. The camera moves behind him to
show his progress forward, it slowly rises. Virtual birds race by.
INT. NICHOLAS'S BEDSIT. NIGHT
NICHOLAS is on the bed. He opens his eyes. He looks confused, exhilarated and
annoyed all at once. He sits, pondering the dream. Suddenly he climbs out of bed. He
quickly pulls on a pair of trousers and grabs a jumper. He opens his bedsit door and runs
out slamming it shut.
EXT. HOTEL. NIGHT
NICHOLAS runs out of the hotel entrance door, down the steps and onward.
The camera pans around to watch him go.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
The street is busy. Many people walking, talking. A few sirens of Enforcers are heard here and there. Neon signs flash here and there.
We see NICHOLAS pushing his way through, still running.
EXT. CYBERSCAPE SHOP. NIGHT
Although we are outside it, we are not looking at it yet. We are looking up the street. NICHOLAS approaches. He runs down the street until just in front of the camera. He stops and looks up.
The camera pans around to see what NICHOLAS is seeing. He sees the sign 'Guaranteed
Direct Access'. It flashes on the large neon board. NICHOLAS enters.
INT. CYBERSCAPE SHOP. NIGHT
On entering, NICHOLAS at once sees the screens. He is drawn instantly to the image
of the Cyberpark. He stares at it. The OWNER appears at once.
OWNER
Hey man!! Back again. Third time lucky??
NICHOLAS
Yea.
OWNER
No woman kicking you arouund?
NICHOLAS
Uh, no.
OWNER
So what you want? Girls, all sizes…
NICHOLAS(interrupting)
That one…
NICHOLAS indicates the Cyberpark.
OWNER(looking to the screen)
What…no man, we got much better than that, I can get you…
NICHOLAS
How much…?
OWNER
You sure?
NICHOLAS
Yea. How much?
OWNER
For you…25 creds. All inclusive and privacy man.
NICHOLAS
Deal.
INT. ON-LINE BOOTH. NIGHT
The booth is small. Almost like a photo booth. The area dark, the background noise reduced to a minimum.
NICHOLAS climbs in. Above his head, hangs a headpiece. Either side of him, gloves.
He pulls the gloves on and looks above himself to the headpiece. He pulls it on…
At first it is completely black, after a flash…
INT. CYBERPARK. DAY
We see from NICHOLAS'S eyes. He looks around himself, at the sky…
INT. ON-LINE BOOTH. NIGHT
NICHOLAS is smiling.
NICHOLAS(to himself)
This is incredible.
INT. CYBERPARK. DAY
NICHOLAS drifts through the air. The background sounds are almost realistic.
He begins to head toward a bench by one of the many chrome-lakes.
On arrival, he sits on the bench. Again he looks around himself. The virtual sky
passes by.
INT. ON-LINE BOOTH. NIGHT
In the booth, NICHOLAS suddenly jolts and grunts. He begins to have flashbacks.
INT. CYBERPARK. DAY
We begin to see double and then the two images become one again.
NICHOLAS looks down rubbing his virtual face, he looks down at the lake.
The screen fills with the chrome flowing water.
The screen suddenly jolts. NICHOLAS grunts again. He is seeing the chrome lake in
his mind superimposed over the one he is seeing now. It clears again.
INT. ON-LINE BOOTH. NIGHT
In the booth, NICHOLAS again suddenly jolts and grunts.
INT. CYBERPARK. DAY
NICHOLAS shakes his head. This time he has a full flashback, the screen blurs slightly.
An image of BA34 appears next to NICHOLAS.
BA34
How does it, that the Working Force have access?
NICHOLAS
I believe them to be parasites, who cleverly, like a worm, dig their
way into the fabric of our world.
BA34(looks concerned)
You suggest they may be advanced enough to walk among us?
NICHOLAS(Bemused)
No, I suggest that their own lives are filled with nothing that they
see the future, that they want what they cannot be….they so desire to be what they
are not, what they do not have.
BA34
What do they have?
NICHOLAS
Nothing. They have their restricted lives. They live in the flesh,
they suffer and live their lives in pain.
There is another flash…
INT. OVERLORD MEETING ROOM. NIGHT
The screen is replaced by various images of war and famine, of violence and despair
SUPREME OVERLORD
The crimes of the ages, are the crimes of the flesh. The flesh
destroys us, the flesh gives us pain, the flesh makes us vulnerable.
The SUPREME OVERLORDS face reappears.
SUPREME OVERLORD
We are born-again. We are born into our virtual world. Everything we
want is here. No pain, no suffering, we have surpassed the boundaries of the flesh, we are
truly free and they, they that give themselves to the mind and not the flesh are free to
join us and run free into the Cyberscape.
There is another flash…
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
We see the transparent hologrammatic face of CORE.
CORE
You see your concerns as a failing on your behalf? That you may be
rejected from the council.
NICHOLAS(aggressively)
It is not a failing!! It is an inconsistency. You were made as well
as I could make you. You share that inconsistency. Together, we will irradicate that
inconsistency. It is an inconsistency performed by the constraints of the flesh. You are
released from that. You are the guide into our new world.
NICHOLAS'S PERSPECTIVE
We are now seeing from NICHOLAS'S eyes. He sees his apartment from his seated
position. In front of his eyes however, is a holographic image, generated by his
headpiece. A seated woman, smartly dressed like a newsreader tells the days news. NICHOLAS
does not see his intruder to the right yet.
FEMALE NEWSREADER
In other news today, a new cyberpark is being created to take the
new influx in added interest of what has been dubbed, 'Finding Rest in Environment and
Entertainment' or F.R.E.E. The new park should….
As the NEWSREADER continues, a figure suddenly walks across NICHOLAS'S vision and
stops directly in front of him to face him. The figure is a good ten metres back and so is
indistinguishable as male or female.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
We see NICHOLAS suddenly sit upright and look forward to see if he is imagining it.
The figure, which we identify as LUCY begins to walk toward him. NICHOLAS quickly presses
buttons to his left and the voice of the NEWSREADER stops. NICHOLAS quickly removes the
headpiece and stares.
We see LUCY looking at NICHOLAS. Her short brown hair is neatly styled. She places
her hands on her hips and smiles. Her gun is no longer strapped around her waste. She
looks stunning, but businesslike. NICHOLAS sits, stunned.
LUCY
Mr Nicholas, I presume?
NICHOLAS begins to speak, but coughs instead, he clears his throat, still stunned.
Perhaps by LUCY's beauty or the fact that someone is in his apartment. Perhaps both.
LUCY
Never seen a girl before? You flatter me…
NICHOLAS(uncertain)
Uh, who the hell are you?
LUCY(looks thoughtful)
I'm somebody…
NICHOLAS(confused)
Well, what do you want?
LUCY smiles more and laughs, putting her head back as she does. She slowly begins
to walk forward. Her heels clacking on the floor.
LUCY
What do I want?
She stops smiling and raises an arm slowly and points at NICHOLAS
LUCY
I want, you.
NICHOLAS seems still a little uncertain. The implication is not clear cut. However,
he still does not see the impending danger and continues his small talk. LUCY is now not
more than a metre away from him. She lowers her arm.
NICHOLAS
Do I know you?
LUCY(sighs and pauses)
Not if you wear one of those all your life…
LUCY points to the headpiece. NICHOLAS begins to put two and two together. If she
doesn't indulge in the Cyberscape then she could only perhaps be Working Force, not
Boulder-State. If that were the case then she could perhaps be a terrorist.
NICHOLAS
You're Working Force?
LUCY smiles, as if she's taught a dog a new trick. Her eyes glance over to her
left, to see if ALVAREZ is in position, too quickly for NICHOLAS to observe.
LUCY(sarcastically)
Now what makes you think that?
NICHOLAS suddenly reaches down to his right hand side at a bunch of buttons, but
quick as a flash, LUCY grabs his hand and stops him completely.
We close in on their faces. In a strength battle between LUCY and NICHOLAS, LUCY
slowly raises his hand. Her face shows no sign of weakness or struggle, whilst NICHOLAS
shows the opposite. While holding NICHOLAS'S hand, she begins to climb on top of him. She
slowly pushes his hand down to his side and moves her face closer to his. NICHOLAS
retreats his own back in to the reclining seat. When NICHOLAS is fully back in to the
seat, LUCY presses her lips against NICHOLAS'S. From an initial struggle, NICHOLAS
submits. LUCY withdraws her head and smiles, running her fingers down NICHOLAS'S chest.
LUCY
That wasn't so bad, was it?
We hear a whistling sound, as if someone has fired an arrow. NICHOLAS suddenly
tenses as if in seizure. He trembles. He reaches for his neck. We see a dart of sorts in
his neck.
LUCY continues smiling and watches with interest. NICHOLAS tries to speak but
cannot, he slumps unconscious.
INT. ONLINE BOOTH. NIGHT
NICHOLAS suddenly pulls off the headpiece. He is breathing quickly and sweating. He
slows his breathing down and we can see he is putting two and two together. He realises
who he is.
NICHOLAS(quietly, to himself)
Oh no.(shakes head and closes eyes)No…
Fade.
INT. VIRTUAL PARK. DAY
We fade up in the synthetic world of the cyberscape. The same intense colours are
all around with the same synthetic sounds. A lone virtual person floats along a path
surveying the surrounding area.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT
We are CU to WALLS inside NICHOLAS'S gyroscope, he is laughing and moving
slowly…
INT. VIRTUAL PARK. DAY
The virtual WALLS spins a few times and then brings his hands together and forms a
book, to which he begins pressing. The entire scenery begins to change into a huge
multicoloured background with strange green blobs floating around it. WALLS smiles and
carries on pushing buttons. The background forms into a multicoloured landscape with a
bright green and yellow sky. WALLS floats through with wonder on his face.
INT. NICHOLAS APARTMENT. DAY
The door to the apartment opens and ALVAREZ and JONES walk through. They walk
toward the gyroscope.
ALVAREZ
He likes this too much.
JONES does not reply, but instead walks over to the table beside the gyroscope and
looks down at the controls. Various lights flash here and there. A small screen in the
centre shows WALLS' activities.
JONES
Wuh, we have to interrupt him.
INT. VIRTUAL PARK. DAY
WALLS 'swims' through the air. Suddenly everything goes black.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. DAY
WALLS quickly removes the headpiece.
WALLS
I was enjoying that.
ALVAREZ
That's the problem.
WALLS unstraps himself and walks down the ramp. He walks over to JONES.
WALLS
I'm having problems accessing personal files.
JONES nods and begins pressing touch-sensitive buttons. The hologrammatic screen
begins to rise. WALLS looks to ALVAREZ.
WALLS
Drink?
ALVAREZ
Yea.
WALLS and ALVAREZ walk off to the right. JONES watches them go and then cautiously and quickly begins pushing the buttons again.
On the screen, the virtual face of CORE appears.
CORE
Good afternoon Mr Jones.
JONES quickly looks to his right and seeing no-one continues.
INT. KITCHEN. DAY
WALLS is taking a drink from the dispenser and handing it to ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ takes
a sip. WALLS leans against the machine and takes a sip. He looks up at ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ
You're enjoying this?
WALLS
I believe it to be my right.
ALVAREZ(sarcastic)
Well while you're having so much fun in here, we're working our
asses off out there trying to hold this together.
WALLS(agitated)
You think I'm having fun?
ALVAREZ shrugs.
WALLS
Becoming someone you don't know and has no identity is hard work.
ALVAREZ
You're joking.
WALLS
These people don't even have registered parents.
ALVAREZ
No records?
WALLS
No nothing. Its like a living, breathing gestalt, that allows you to
be a faceless voice.
WALLS speaks as if in admiration.
ALVAREZ
And that's good?
WALLS(laughs)
It will be. What of our newest friend?
ALVAREZ
We may have a problem.
WALLS
What?
ALVAREZ
He's beginning to dream stuff.
WALLS
Does he know what it means?
ALVAREZ
No.
WALLS
No problem then.
ALVAREZ
He talks too much though.
WALLS
Stop worrying. Keep him working.
ALVAREZ doesn't look convinced. WALLS just smiles. They both drink.
ALVAREZ
How long do we keep him there?
WALLS
I don't know.
ALVAREZ
I don't understand. Isn't he ready now?
WALLS
There has been some…changes.
ALVAREZ
What do you mean?
WALLS laughs and turns his back to ALVAREZ
WALLS
If only you knew, but I guess you never will.
WALLS spins around and draws a gun and fires.
ALVAREZ doesn't even see it coming. The blast slams him in the chest, sending him
flying backwards. He hits the ground with a dull thud, the glass he was holding smashing
to the side.
WALLS walks over to him and lowers himself over ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ, still alive looks up in confusion. He mouths the word 'why?'
WALLS
Why?(Walls nods his head) Because we had a better idea.
WALLS stands and begins to slowly pace.
ALVAREZ
Fucking traitor…
WALLS
Don't see me as a traitor Alvarez. I'm the saviour. I will become a
part of the most powerful collective the world has ever known.
ALVAREZ attempts to speak, WALLS interrupts;
WALLS
Don't, it'll only hurt. I did think of asking you to join us, but I
knew where your loyalties were. Don't worry, she'll meet her maker soon enough. You
though, you were a good man Alvarez, just not the right one.
ALVAREZ(struggling)
Fuck you.
ALVAREZ coughs and spits blood.
WALLS watches calmly.
ALVAREZ tenses and then relaxes. He dies.
WALLS looks at him for a while. He stands and walks over to the dispenser. He gets
himself another drink.
WALLS
I guess you didn't understand.
WALLS steps over the body and walks through the doorway…
INT. NICHOLAS APARTMENT. DAY
We see JONES and begin to walk toward him. He does not hear WALLS approaching. When
WALLS is right behind him, he turns…
JONES
(He is startled)Shit!!
WALLS punches JONES in the face.
WALLS(annoyed)
You imbecile!! Nicholas is remembering things!!
JONES
It is impossible to fully irradicate memory!!
WALLS still looks annoyed. However, he takes a sip of drink and calms. JONES rubs
his face.
WALLS
It will soon be time…
INT. NICHOLAS'S BEDSIT. NIGHT
We are uncertain where we are at the cut. It is dark. The sound of a door
unlatching is heard and then a door is opened and light spills in.
CU HANNA
HANNA looks confusedly into the bedsit, she reaches for the light.
Voice of NICHOLAS
Stop.
HANNA jumps.
Voice of NICHOLAS
Touch that light and I'll take your fucking head off.
HANNA(begins to move hand inside coat)
Nicholas?
Voice of NICHOLAS
No. Drop that gun or you'll regret it.
HANNA
What do you mean?
Voice of NICHOLAS(forcefully)
Drop the gun!!
HANNA removes her gun from inside her coat.
Voice of NICHOLAS
Throw it over here.
HANNA reluctantly throws the gun into the darkness.
Voice of NICHOLAS
Now shut the door.
HANNA shuts the door. We are momentarily in darkness. The light comes on.
NICHOLAS is sitting on the bed, his knees supporting his arm, he now holds HANNA'S
gun.
HANNA
You bluffed me!!
NICHOLAS
Not bad for an Overlord.
HANNA'S expression changes rapidly.
NICHOLAS sees her expression changing, he knows what she has just thought.
NICHOLAS
Yes(as if answering her mind). Questions?
HANNA just gazes at him. Uncertain what to say. She looks fearful.
NICHOLAS
I just sit here wondering. Did you think this was never going to
happen? That I would voluntarily destroy the Cyberscape and for one moment did you never
think; Is this going to work?
Again HANNA just stares. She can't believe it.
NICHOLAS
Sit down.
NICHOLAS indicates the chair.
HANNA cautiously sits down. She looks terrified now.
NICHOLAS
So why don't you tell me what's really going on here.
CU HANNA
HANNA sighs…
EXT. ALLEYWAY. NIGHT
The alleyway is dark and untidy, rubbish strewn all around. Buildings rise high on either side, with stairs/emergency exits climbing the walls. Smoke/steam emits from broken pipes.
LUCY appears at the beginning of the alleyway. She stops at the beginning and takes
a puff of a cigarette she is holding. She discards it afterward, flicking it away.
CU LUCY
LUCY looks around, squinting her eyes as if trying to see something. She looks agitated.
The camera follows LUCY into the alleyway. She walks relatively fast and with confidence.
LUCY approaches a set of stairs. She stops and looks at her watch. She begins to look worried. There is suddenly a noise behind her.
LUCY quickly spins around with her gun already drawn and aiming.
WALLS
Wait!!!
WALLS emerges from the shadows. He wears a long black coat.
LUCY sighs in relief.
LUCY
What the hell is this?
WALLS
Caution, that's what this is.
LUCY
Where's tech-head?
WALLS(coldly)
Busy.
LUCY
Are you going to tell me what I'm doing here?
WALLS
The time has come.
LUCY
Is that it? All this secrecy for that?
WALLS
There has been a new development.
LUCY
What, Alvarez disappearing?
WALLS nods.
CU LUCY
LUCY begins to feel uncomfortable. Something isn't right.
WALLS
Follow me.
LUCY
Why?
WALLS
Because I said so, that's why.
WALLS begins to walk further into the alleyway. After a hesitation, LUCY begins to follow.
Further into the alleyway, we see WALLS approaching the camera. His coat open, we
see he has a gun.
CU WALLS
WALLS snatches a look upward.
We see the network of stairs above. They are darkened, impossible to see what WALLS
is looking at.
CU LUCY
LUCY looks upward as well. She's seen this sort of ambush/assassination attempt before. She stops.
WALLS on hearing her stop, stops himself and turns around. He raises his eyebrows,
questioningly.
LUCY
I'm not going another step until you tell me where we're going
WALLS
You always have to make things hard don't you?
LUCY
That's why I'm still alive.
WALLS
Unlike Alvarez, you see danger in everything.
LUCY
What do you mean?
WALLS
You wanna see Alvarez?
LUCY
Why, where is he?
WALLS does not respond.
LUCY is sharper than this. She quickly begins to grasp WALLS'S implication.
LUCY
He's dead isn't he?
WALLS laughs and turns away, it is the same as before, when he killed ALVAREZ.
LUCY looks up.
We see movement above and a flash of light.
LUCY jumps sideways quickly, she lands on a heap of rubbish. The blast hits the
spot where she was.
MS LUCY
LUCY pulls out her gun. She breathes slowly and then lunges forward.
LUCY rolls out and perches on one knee firing forward and upward.
WALLS has disappeared. There is retaliation firing from above.
LUCY keeps firing and starts backing down the alleyway, her body still facing forward, but keeping an eye out behind her as well.
At the end of the alleyway, we see LUCY approaching, her back toward us. She
reaches the end and then rushes away from the alleyway…
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
LUCY rushes across the street toward a wall, maybe a metre and a half tall. She reaches the wall and jumps over…
We see LUCY land, she stays low. She waits a few seconds and then turns and peers over the wall.
We see the alleyway. WALLS rushes out. He looks both ways and then takes off to the
right, going off screen.
CU LUCY
LUCY sweats and breaths heavy now.
LUCY(angrily)
Damn!!
EXT. STREET CORNER. NIGHT
JONES runs up to the dim street corner. There is no-one else around. He is out of
breath and carrying a heavy laser type of weapon. He stops at the corner and looks around
himself. Seeing no-one, he bends over trying to catch his breath. We hear fast footsteps
approaching. JONES suddenly straightens up and backs against the wall.
CU JONES
JONES begins to cautiously look around the corner of the wall. The running footsteps have ceased. JONES almost stops breathing. His eyes wide with fear. As he almost looks around the wall, a hand reaches around and grabs him by the throat.
WALLS emerges from the other side. Still holding JONES by the throat, he thrusts
him against the wall.
CU WALLS and JONES
WALLS despite the aggressive move looks very calm, he displays no sign of emotion. JONES chokes. WALLS just stares at JONES. After a few seconds WALLS finally releases him. JONES falls to the floor gasping for air.
WALLS removes a cigarette and lights it. JONES begins to recover and stands up.
WALLS
It's time to begin.
INT. NICHOLAS'S BEDSIT. NIGHT
NICHOLAS gazes out of the window. HANNA is still seated. They both remain silent.
HANNA
What will you do?
NICHOLAS
I don't know.
NICHOLAS returns to the bed. He sits on the edge, the gun still in his hand. He hangs his head low as if tired.
There is a noise outside the room, somebody walking up to the door. The door handle turns. NICHOLAS raises the gun.
We see the door open and LUCY enters. Seeing NICHOLAS with his gun raised, she does the same and ducks down.
HANNA suddenly crashes into LUCY as LUCY shoots. The bullet misses.
LUCY struggles with HANNA on the floor.
LUCY
What are you doing? He's armed!!
HANNA
It's okay.
LUCY
What!!?
HANNA
It's okay.
LUCY and HANNA both stand. HANNA sits down on the chair. LUCY straightens herself.
LUCY
Anybody want to tell me what the hell is going on here?
NICHOLAS
I remember you now…
LUCY
What??
NICHOLAS
I didn't see the danger then.(laughs) I'd see it now though.
LUCY
What?(looks to Hanna) What does he mean?
LUCY realises herself before HANNA speaks.
NICHOLAS
I don't know whether to kill you both or not.
LUCY
I'd like to see you try.
NICHOLAS
Maybe…
HANNA
Lucy!!
NICHOLAS(sarcastic)
Yes Lucy. I know who I am now. No thanks to you.
HANNA(to Lucy)
So what are you doing here, I thought…
LUCY throws an evil glare at HANNA as if to say 'shut up'.
HANNA looks at NICHOLAS and then back. She shrugs.
LUCY(sighs)
As if we don't have enough problems already.
HANNA
What do you mean?
LUCY
Alvarez is dead.
NICHOLAS
Alvarez?
LUCY
Yes, you knew him.
NICHOLAS
What's…ah, I see. He was keeping an eye on me.
HANNA
Who?
LUCY says nothing. She just sighs, she looks very distressed.
NICHOLAS puts two and two together.
NICHOLAS
Walls.
HANNA
No. That can't be true. Oh no. Why?
NICHOLAS
He's been seduced.
HANNA
By what?
NICHOLAS
Oh come on!! What are you stupid?? What is your 'cause' all about?
Access, that's what. Walls has just had it too good. He doesn't want to give that all up
now. He's me now. Too much power, too soon.
LUCY(annoyed)
Just stay outside illiwah. You don't know what this is about.
NICHOLAS(annoyed)
Don't I? I'm only an Overlord, I only create propaganda daily to
destroy peoples minds and force them to think otherwise. Walls has that power now. I
should know of all people what the hell this is all about!!
HANNA shakes her head.
HANNA
I can't believe this.
LUCY(shouting angrily)
What the hell are we gonna do now? We've got a traitor leader, the
delivery boy(indicating Nicholas) suddenly resigns and(she starts punching the wall) I
cannot do this myself.
HANNA
Calm down.
LUCY
Don't fucking tell me to calm down!! This is serious!!
LUCY suddenly kicks the wall. She then puts her fist through the window.
HANNA
Calm down.
LUCY
What? Are you suddenly the new leader? You wish…(looks away).
HANNA suddenly punches LUCY full in the face. LUCY falls to the ground.
HANNA
I said fucking calm down!! You're not the only one with problems.
LUCY stays where she is. She can't believe it, someone has actually struck her. She
looks up in amazement.
NICHOLAS
All right, that's enough. Lucy get up.
LUCY stands up holding her face. She sits in the chair.
NICHOLAS
We've got work to do.
HANNA looks confusedly at NICHOLAS
HANNA
Well like what?
NICHOLAS
A crusade?
LUCY
Against Walls? Yea right. Anyway, Why the hell should we trust you?
You're one of them.
NICHOLAS
I can't go back now. Besides, if you want to get Walls, I'm your
best option.
HANNA
You can go back.
NICHOLAS
No.
NICHOLAS puts the gun down. He stands and walks to the broken window.
NICHOLAS
It's strange you know. When I got my memory back, it was like
suddenly I knew where I was, what I was doing. My first thought was to get back home,
inform. It was almost automatic, like a machine. Then, it was like a voice in my head says
'wait a minute, are you sure?'. I'm sitting here, in the dark, thinking, really thinking.
Who the hell am I? I have no life, no face in a world of the faceless. Its like a light
was turned on inside my head. I don't know if I can go back.
HANNA
What about us?
NICHOLAS
The funny thing is; I'm angry. Not just with you or Lucy, I'm angry
at myself. Suddenly I'm indecision, suddenly I'm thinking, I'm questioning. There are
things, dark things, agendas and secrets that you'll never know. Things far worse than
what you're doing here. If I was to go back, its like I'll be endorsing those things
again. I've become alive. I can no longer let the dead kill the living.
A short pause.
HANNA and LUCY exchange glances. LUCY stands and walks to NICHOLAS. She stares at
him.
LUCY(calmly)
We've got work to do…
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
We are on the pavement. It is now raining. A car speeds along past us, splashing
water everywhere.
INT. CAR. NIGHT
LUCY drives the car, NICHOLAS seated beside her, HANNA in the rear.
HANNA
So the players may have changed, but we still have the same cards to
deal?
NICHOLAS
That might not be the case.
LUCY
Why not?
NICHOLAS
There's something you and hopefully Walls don't know about.
LUCY
Which is?
NICHOLAS
The Psychotrance.
HANNA
What's that got to do with it?
NICHOLAS
You see, the common misunderstanding amongst the Working Force is
that the Overlords have direct control over the Psychotrance, that we command it at our
will(he lights a cigarette). We don't.
HANNA
I still don't see the connection.
NICHOLAS
Okay. The Psychotrance was originally designed as an
Environmental Operating System for the Cyberscape. It was designed in every way to mimic
Human attributes to help the user. Except we overlooked one simple thing.
LUCY
Which was?
NICHOLAS
Brain usage. The Psychotrance assumed Humans used 100% of their
brains. The idea, was that the Psychotrance would be able to transmit information directly
into the brain using the eye.
INT. PSYCHOTRANCE TESTING FACILITY. NIGHT
(NICHOLAS'S voice continues as a V.O.)
We see a huge hall with many people all hooked up to the Cyberscape. Various
Enforcers walk up and down with their huge guns patrolling.
V.O.
The problem was that because Humans don't use 100% of their brains,
they couldn't cope with the influx.
Suddenly the people all start convulsing and screaming.
INT. NICHOLAS'S BEDSIT. NIGHT
NICHOLAS looks pale as he recounts the story.
LUCY(interrupting)
And the Psychotrancic disorder was born.
NICHOLAS
Exactly.
HANNA
So what's the problem?
NICHOLAS
The Psychotrance was designed as an A.I. It could teach itself
everything it needed to know. It was a virus that could mutate with ease. It was like a
Human. Unpredictable, irrational. We couldn't shut it down. We had to corner it, by
forcing it into an area of the Cyberscape and then simply cutting it off.
HANNA
That wouldn't have stopped it.
NICHOLAS
No. But it stopped its progress. All we had to do was contain it.
LUCY
And you never thought to try and destroy it?
NICHOLAS
Well yea. But then you started your campaigns. It was a good
deterrent.
LUCY
A good deterrent?
NICHOLAS doesn't reply.
HANNA
But by using it, wouldn't that infect everybody?
NICHOLAS
The Psychotrance is like a bee's nest. We isolate a single bee to
launch at the guilty. They absorb the bee and the bee dies. The queen remains.
LUCY
So where is it exactly?
NICHOLAS
It exists at a remote terminal that I had higher level access to
from my apartment. If you release the Liberation virus, Psychotrance will be released and
you'll have equality for no-one. My second main concern is that Walls may have discovered
it.
LUCY
And?
NICHOLAS
If he uses your virus, he will release it. Alternately, he may try
to use the Psychotrance and the same thing will happen again.
EXT. STREET. NIGHT
We are above the street, we see the car race down the street. A few people running
out of the way as the car nears them.
INT. CAR. NIGHT
HANNA
So now what?
NICHOLAS
I suggest we try and hack Core, see what's on Walls's
mind.
HANNA
That's impossible.
NICHOLAS
Not when you created it yourself.
There is a pause. LUCY and HANNA think about the situation. LUCY looks at NICHOLAS.
LUCY
Why are you doing this?
NICHOLAS
Creating and unleashing The Psychotrance has cost too much.
NICHOLAS looks at LUCY, she catches his glance, he quickly looks away.
NICHOLAS
Too many people.
EXT. CORRIDOR. NIGHT
Enforcers stand in front of a door, they kick it in and enter…
INT. APARTMENT. NIGHT
A woman and a man crawl around the floor, saliva dribbling from their lips, blood
from their noses. They do not move as the enforcers enter.
INT. CAR. NIGHT
HANNA
Something the Virtualites will never know.
NICHOLAS
That's not essentially true.
LUCY
Who?
NICHOLAS
By the time we'd tied it down, roughly two thousand
people were infected.
HANNA
Oh my god…
LUCY
What happened to them?
INT. APARTMENT. NIGHT
The Enforcers lower their weapons. The man and woman look vaguely up at them.
The Enforcers open fire.
INT. CAR. NIGHT
LUCY
Two thousand people? How the hell did you get away with that?!?!
NICHOLAS
We lied. They were never missed. The Virtualites don't have lives or
faces. They have the Cyberscape. Neighbours don't know each other, people don't really
live. They're already dead.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
The shed where we first met JONES and LUCY. The same amount of equipment is scattered around.
The door bursts open. LUCY, HANNA and NICHOLAS rush in.
HANNA
Direct access may burn out.
NICHOLAS
Don't worry, I'll run a bypass using the Overlord
mainframe.
HANNA rushes around connecting wires and flicking switches. The machine at the
centre of the room hums to life. NICHOLAS stands with LUCY watching.
LUCY
It was you, wasn't it?
NICHOLAS
What?
LUCY
In the car. I saw the way you looked at me. You killed my brother.
INT. JUDGEMENT CHAMBER. NIGHT
In the centre of the room, Enforcers are strapping WILLIAM into a chair.
JUDGE
There is only one punishment for such crime. You will have no mercy
hearing.
The Enforcers place a headpiece over WILLIAM'S head. After a few seconds, WILLIAM
convulses and screams.
NICHOLAS(looks down)
Yes.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
LUCY punches NICHOLAS in the face. He falls.
HANNA looks up
HANNA
What the hell are you doing?
NICHOLAS raises his hand as he stands up, holding his chin.
NICHOLAS
It's okay, carry on.
LUCY
I can't ever forgive you for that.
NICHOLAS
I understand.
LUCY
Maybe.
HANNA finishes activating the machine. She walks over to them.
HANNA
We're ready.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
WALLS sits at the table, JONES opposite him.
CU WALLS
WALLS rests his elbow on the table, his head on his hand. He is in deep thought.
CU JONES
JONES sits nervously looking at WALLS from time to time. He constantly bites his
lip.
JONES
What now?
WALLS does not respond at first. Then he withdraws a knife from his coat. He puts
it to his hand and slowly cuts. He shows sign of pain as the blood begins to ooze out. He
looks to JONES and grins.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
NICHOLAS is seated into the machine. He wears a headpiece and gloves. HANNA pushes buttons on a multicoloured panel or keyboard. LUCY stands opposite HANNA, she too is busy doing something, but not visible from where the camera is.
The camera closes in on NICHOLAS. He moves his hands in patterns and looks in
various directions.
The screen blurs into…
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
A figure floats corresponding with the movements of NICHOLAS. In front of the
virtual NICHOLAS is a hologrammatic screen which he randomly pushes and information flows
past. The background shows various colours merging and dispersing, mostly shades of blue
and green.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
MS HANNA
HANNA frantically taps the keyboard.
HANNA
Are you there yet?
NICHOLAS
No, almost.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
As NICHOLAS continues with the hologrammatic panel, the colours begin to change to yellows and reds.
Suddenly the background completely changes. It landscapes into a kind of virtual
city. All around are transparent blocks of virtual buildings. Various light pulses race
through. Information scrolls at speed down the buildings as far as the eye can see
NICHOLAS
I'm in.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
HANNA
What are you looking for?
NICHOLAS
Reconfigurations, reprogramming, updated files, anything. We can't
stay long though.
LUCY
Why not?
NICHOLAS
Core is designed to detect alien signals. Like the body knows if its
swallowed something bad.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
NICHOLAS still presses the panel. The buildings light in a harmonious
correspondence.
NICHOLAS
There's too much here it'll take to long. We're going to have to
download.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
HANNA begins pressing buttons.
HANNA
Wait. I don't know if we have enough space for that.
NICHOLAS
Reconfigure the amount used on unnecessary operations.
HANNA looks up to LUCY, who nods in response.
NICHOLAS
I'm sending.
On a screen by HANNA, information begins to scroll down the screen.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
NICHOLAS continues his work. Suddenly at the far end of the 'city' a green light covering everything begins to sweep along.
NICHOLAS looks toward it.
NICHOLAS
Shit.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
LUCY
What?
NICHOLAS
Core has detected a foreign body. It's sending a scan through it's
system. How long?
HANNA
Just a few seconds more.
CU Screen
The information flows over the screen faster than the eye can read. At the bottom
of the screen a bar is mostly red, green works its way slowly across from the left.
HANNA looks worriedly to LUCY. LUCY looks to NICHOLAS
LUCY
What will happen if you're detected?
NICHOLAS
Then I'll be stung by the bee.
HANNA(almost frantically)
Then get out!!!
NICHOLAS
No, we need this.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
The scan is looming very close.
NICHOLAS(frantically)
How long!??!
Voice of HANNA
Nearly there…(she holds the word).
We return to the screen, The red bar is three-quarters green.
CORE'S green scan is less than ten metres from NICHOLAS.
Again we return to the screen. The green finally reaches the other side and a beep
is heard.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
HANNA
OKAY!!
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
NICHOLAS presses the panel quickly. Nothing happens.
NICHOLAS(panicking)
I can't close the connection!!!! You'll have to do it.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
HANNA and LUCY frantically press keys and flick switches.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
The scan is right next to NICHOLAS. It hums louder and louder. At the last possible
second. It all goes dark and the noise stops.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
HANNA and LUCY sigh in relief. NICHOLAS quickly removes the helmet.
NICHOLAS
Could you have cut that any closer?
HANNA
Sorry.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
WALLS and JONES are still seated at the table, saying nothing.
The image of CORE suddenly materialises. Flashing red.
CORE
A foreign body has been detected, but unsuccessfully scanned.
WALLS and JONES suddenly spring to life, JONES rushing around to WALLS'S side.
WALLS
Report.
CORE
The signal was untraceable, but was also unfamiliar.
WALLS
I thought you said this thing was impossible to penetrate.
JONES
It is, to us. Only uh, higher access could gain that amount of uh,
time and cut the connection.
WALLS
What are the possibilities?
CORE
It is uncertain what the intrusion may have been, but multiple areas
have been analysed and possibly downloaded.
WALLS looks at JONES. His eyes narrow.
WALLS
Nicholas.(He pauses and thinks for a few seconds.) We have to begin.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
NICHOLAS looks up at the screen and taps various keys on the multicoloured panel.
HANNA looks also. LUCY stands leaning against the machine. Arms folded.
LUCY
So how long will this take?
NICHOLAS
Not long, an anomaly will show up quickly.
HANNA
How the hell will you know an anomaly?
NICHOLAS
I created the Core program. You could say that I left signatures on
everything I did.
LUCY
That's very individual of you.
NICHOLAS
I guess so.
We see the screen scrolling the information it retained before.
NICHOLAS
Okay. Looks like they've done some small reconfiguring here(points
to the screen) and here and…oh no.
LUCY
What?
NICHOLAS
Jones has uploaded the liberation virus.
LUCY
What does that mean?
HANNA
He's going to attempt to use it.
NICHOLAS
It's worse than that. He's trying to direct it to here…
The scrolling stops and a single line of information appears on the screen,
blinking;
inter_hlA.AA3Nic.AAA.P.S.Y.C.H.O-T_Rs
HANNA
Where's that?
NICHOLAS hammers the keyboard. A new line appears;
Overlord access only
NICHOLAS
Higher level access only. He's attempting to release it at the
Overlords.
HANNA
For what purpose?
LUCY
Do you need to ask?
HANNA
Revolutionary.
NICHOLAS
He's reconfigured its release rate. Now we have a new problem
HANNA
Which is?
NICHOLAS
P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T. Psychotrance will be released. He'll gain nothing.
HANNA nods confused.
NICHOLAS
It's intelligent. It covers its tracks. The Psychotrance will not
only spread to all Overlords, but then backtrack straight through direct access and…
LUCY(interrupting)
Destroy everything….
The three stare into space, dumbfounded.
NICHOLAS
Walls has probably figured out that I was there and know this now.
We have no time.
NICHOLAS begins to boot up the machine.
HANNA
Where are you doing?
NICHOLAS
Are you deaf? Everyone will be infected.
HANNA
Why should we do anything for them?
NICHOLAS
You don't see it do you?
HANNA
What?
NICHOLAS
Life. Pure simple life. Not virtual life or terrorist life. You
planned to take all this by force. To make it for everyone. Don't you see? You have life
already, you fight to lose your own mind, to join a gestalt of nothing. You fight to
become no-one.
HANNA
You're joking.
NICHOLAS
I should know. I've been on both sides now. You haven't. It's like
you see a utopia in the Cyberscape and yes, the people inside the Cyberscape see it that
way. We made them see it that way. They have no voice, no thought. No life. Besides, it
won't make any difference. The system will be gone and the people with it.
HANNA thinks about that. She looks at LUCY, who surprisingly nods in agreement with NICHOLAS. HANNA walks over to the machine and takes over from NICHOLAS and begins to boot it up.
LUCY walks over to NICHOLAS. She looks at him, as if evaluating him.
LUCY(nodding slowly)
Not bad Nicholas, not bad.(She smiles)
NICHOLAS smiles back. He feels good about that.
The screen dissolves into…
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
We are back at the CORE memory city. The city pulses with lights shooting this way and that. It looks and sounds alive.
In the centre is a virtual person, pressing a panel similar to the one that NICHOLAS had been pressing in his earlier hack. This is the virtual WALLS.
Another virtual person materialises. This is the virtual NICHOLAS.
NICHOLAS
Walls.
WALLS spins around.
WALLS
Not very honourable of you to sneak in like that Nicholas
NICHOLAS
At least I'm honest about it.
WALLS and NICHOLAS face each other, suspended in the virtual atmosphere.
WALLS
I see your touch of amnesia has gone away.
NICHOLAS
Yes.
WALLS
Life is a strange thing wouldn't you agree? I spend my
life trying to fight my way in and then it falls into place like a jigsaw, but then I
suppose that is beyond you.
NICHOLAS
You don't understand what you're about to do.
WALLS
I understand what you have Nicholas. I understand that
our cause for so long has been in vain. How do you think that feels Nicholas? When it
suddenly hits you that its not going to work. You will never know that pain I will take my
chances with myself now.
NICHOLAS
No. Maybe you're right. I never knew pain. I never knew remorse. I
knew power and mind control. I knew how to create worlds within worlds and cut off the
light that was life. I have learnt that there is more than that. I have you to thank for
that. Do you want to become faceless Walls? Is that what you really want?
WALLS stops and thinks. He regards NICHOLAS
WALLS
We'd probably have made great friends.
NICHOLAS
We may still.
WALLS
I don't think so. You want to be you, I want to be what you were.
I'm really very sorry.
WALLS suddenly thrusts his hand forward, a shot of red light comes from his hand
and engulfs NICHOLAS. NICHOLAS reels back shouts in pain.
WALLS
A small dose of a virus I made just for you.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
Inside the machine, NICHOLAS suddenly convulses. HANNA goes to touch NICHOLAS
LUCY
Don't touch him!!
HANNA withdraws her hands.
HANNA
What can we do?
LUCY thinks for a second.
LUCY
I'm going to the apartment.
HANNA
Why?
LUCY
To shoot the bastards.
HANNA
What? Why you?
LUCY
I have to. You'll be alright.
HANNA(thinks and smiles)
Okay.
LUCY begins to leave.
HANNA
Lucy!!!
LUCY stops and turns. HANNA is about to say something, but she doesn't know what to say.
LUCY just nods at her and leaves.
CU HANNA
HANNA watches her go, she looks as if she has lost a friend.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
The redness engulfing NICHOLAS subsides.
WALLS has his back to NICHOLAS, he still presses the panel
NICHOLAS
Walls!!
WALLS(doesn't turn around)
I'm not interested Nicholas.
NICHOLAS
The Psychotrance Walls.
WALLS
What about it?
NICHOLAS
If you do what you're about to do, it'll be your new friend.
WALLS
You lie.
NICHOLAS
Why should I?
WALLS
Do I need to answer that?
NICHOLAS
Why Walls?
WALLS
My liberation Nicholas.
NICHOLAS brings his hands together and then opens them out. A panel forms in his hands. He begins to press the panel.
WALLS swings around, the panel follows.
WALLS
Ah!! Unfriendly competition.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
HANNA walks over to the screen above the multicoloured panel. Various lines of
information blink. She walks quickly back to NICHOLAS. She bends close to him.
HANNA
He's attempting to activate it now.
NICHOLAS
We're okay for a while, he doesn't know the access codes.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
NICHOLAS and WALLS look like they're playing 'Battleship'. All around them, CORE'S
memory city begins to go through various shifts in colour.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
The background turns a deep red. The voice of CORE is heard.
CORE
Warning, attempted usage of virus will release P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T. This
will result in 100% infection.
WALLS looks over to NICHOLAS. NICHOLAS returns the glance.
NICHOLAS
You don't understand it Walls.
WALLS
Neither do you.
WALLS presses a button and the image of NICHOLAS dissolves.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
NICHOLAS removes the headpiece to see HANNA staring at him. He begins to unstrap
himself and get out.
NICHOLAS
It's no good, I can't stop him there. I can't reverse the process.
HANNA(annoyed)
Shit!
HANNA smashes a fist down on the machine.
CU NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS covers his nose with his hands as if praying. His eyes focusing on nothing in particular. They suddenly stop.
NICHOLAS moves to the panel. He begins tapping the keys.
HANNA
What are you doing?
NICHOLAS
Off-lining all the remote terminals.
HANNA
How?
NICHOLAS
Reprogramming the liberation virus. I'm reversing its
process.
HANNA
So it encrypts the Cyberscape?
NICHOLAS
More than that, it will close all connections.
HANNA
What will that do?
NICHOLAS
The Psychotrance won't be able to infect, it'll be there but
ineffective. Once all terminals are disconnected it'll turn to its source and attempt to
absorb itself. Itself becoming the Cyberscape.
HANNA
An implosion. The Cyberscape will be destroyed.
NICHOLAS
I hope so.
NICHOLAS taps at the keys with great speed.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
The panel that WALLS was tapping on has vanished. The virtual WALLS has his eyes
shut, as if completely calm. All around him, CORE seems in complete chaos.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
WALLS is in the gyroscope. JONES watches him nervously from the table.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
NICHOLAS observes information on the screen. He reads intently. LUCY stands next to
him, less interested.
NICHOLAS
I can't stopped it fully.
HANNA
I thought you could off-line the remotes.
NICHOLAS
We're not central enough. The virus isn't spreading quickly enough.
According to this, I still can't stop it from attacking its destination.
HANNA
What about Walls?
NICHOLAS
That's another problem Walls hasn't thought of. I can't stop the
Psychotrance tracing its operative.
HANNA
Doesn't Walls realise he's in danger?
NICHOLAS
No. he probably thinks he can control the Psychotrance if it's
released.
CU NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS bites his thumb and screws up his eyes in thought.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
WALLS moves violently within the gyroscope.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
WALLS moves around creating panels and changing information very quickly.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
JONES looks nervously up to WALLS. He glances down at the table reading something.
He looks back to WALLS
JONES
This doesn't look good Walls.
WALLS
Just stay where you are.
JONES
It may connect the Psychotrance.
WALLS
Then do something!!!
JONES
But…
WALLS(aggressively)
Just do it you tech-head!!!
JONES begins tapping the buttons on the table.
INT. SHED. NIGHT
NICHOLAS and LUCY look at the screen. Suddenly NICHOLAS begins tapping at great
speed. An image of himself appears with information around it.
HANNA
What are you doing?
NICHOLAS
Just adding a signature to everything that happens.
HANNA
Whose?
NICHOLAS
Mine.
HANNA
Why?
NICHOLAS
You'll see.
NICHOLAS finishes tapping.
NICHOLAS
That's all I can do here.
HANNA
What then?
NICHOLAS thinks for a second and then runs toward the door.
NICHOLAS
Come on!!
HANNA quickly follows.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
JONES sits nervously. A siren suddenly blares. The face of CORE materialises from
the table. JONES quickly turns to face CORE.
CORE
I am detecting two unauthorised persons in corridor twelve.
JONES
Walls!! They're coming!!
INT. CORRIDOR. NIGHT
NICHOLAS and HANNA run down the corridor. HANNA with gun out.
HANNA
Mind telling me what we're doing?
NICHOLAS
Attempting to stop state-level genocide!!
HANNA
Oh.
EXT. CORRIDOR - DOOR TO NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
HANNA and NICHOLAS stand next to the door out of breath. They look at each other.
NICHOLAS nods.
HANNA kicks in the door and jumps to the floor with gun raised. However, all is
quiet. JONES and WALLS have disappeared. She cautiously stands. NICHOLAS walks in behind
her. They cautiously walk in further.
NICHOLAS approaches his table and looks down at it. He presses some areas that
respond in colours.
HANNA looks up at NICHOLAS in annoyance. He looks back and shrugs. HANNA quickly
moves around the apartment, looking around for WALLS and JONES.
NICHOLAS
Looks like they've gone.
HANNA
Where's Lucy?
HANNA does not reply. However, satisfied the area seems secure, she walks up beside
him, to see what he is doing.
HANNA
I don't like this.
NICHOLAS sits down and quickly begins to press buttons. HANNA leans against the
table. She is uneasy and looks around slowly.
Suddenly from the side a laser blast hits HANNA in the arm, she flies off of the
table. A second blast hits the table, inches from NICHOLAS.
NICHOLAS dives to the floor as HANNA returns fire. She seemingly hits nothing.
HANNA(whispers to NICHOLAS)
Get out.
NICHOLAS
I can't.
HANNA grits her teeth.
HANNA
Okay…
HANNA rolls across the floor and starts shooting. JONES suddenly becomes visible
from behind a curtain. Laser blasts begin firing back. HANNA dodges each blast. She rolls
to a standing position and runs toward JONES, still avoiding blasts. She leaps and crashes
straight into him.
After crashing down, HANNA repeatedly punches JONES in the face and finally pulls
her gun on him. Before she can fire…
Voice of Walls
That's enough Hanna
WALLS thrusts a gun at LUCY'S head and grabs her neck. HANNA struggles initially
but subsides.
HANNA
I wouldn't even spit on you Walls.
WALLS(smiles)
Thank you. Where's your friend?
HANNA does not respond. WALLS clubs her around the head, she slumps unconscious.
There is a noise behind, WALLS spins around to see NICHOLAS doing something at the table.
WALLS
Stop Illiwah!!
NICHOLAS
You don't understand Walls. You're going to kill everyone.
WALLS
I'm sure.
WALLS shakes his head at NICHOLAS and raises his gun. NICHOLAS ceases his
activities.
INT. PSYCHOTRANCE CONTAINMENT TERMINAL. NIGHT
A darkened room with a computer terminal in the centre.
The screen suddenly jumps into life.
CU SCREEN
Words begin to scroll the screen;
'P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T activated.'
'Warning'
'Warning'
'Warning'
INT. SUPREME OVERLORD CONTAINMENT ROOM. NIGHT
The room is a mass of electronic activity, screens scrolling masses of information,
others flashing violent shades of red. An alarm sound gives a pulsating sound. On one of
the screens, the face of CORE suddenly materialises.
CORE
Report. P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T Extrication under way. Authorisation AA3,
Nicholas, A.
Although we only view the SUPREME OVERLORDS brain, we hear his voice.
Voice of SUPREME OVERLORD
Additional?
CORE
Report. Remote viral infection has attempted to disconnect all
remote terminals.
Voice of SUPREME OVERLORD
Deploy enforcement for immediate resolve.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
WALLS walks toward NICHOLAS, gun still raised. Behind him JONES stands.
WALLS
Not a very sporting man are you Nicholas?
NICHOLAS
You think you can rule Walls? You're nothing, a nobody.
WALLS
No. I'm somebody. You, you're nobody. That's why we took you.
NICHOLAS
At least I was not a traitor by choice.
WALLS(laughs)
At least I am not a mass murderer.
NICHOLAS'S face drops.
WALLS
Yes, I know about that. All those poor people. Just think what would
happen if they all found out who it was.
NICHOLAS
What's the difference with what you're doing?
WALLS
None, except I shall blame you. A mere terrorist with the name
'Walls'. You Nicholas will be victim of your own Nemesis. Now, we'll play a game. It's
called 'erase'
NICHOLAS does not respond, he grits his teeth.
WALLS
Don't be a hero. You've never lived. You're a young man with a lot
of power, sorry, had a lot of power. Over there.
WALLS indicates the Gyroscope.
NICHOLAS
No Walls.
WALLS
Jones, show our newest friend how we do things.
JONES walks toward NICHOLAS, gun raised, until he is next to him, gun pointed at
head.
WALLS
Now…again.
NICHOLAS
It makes no difference, you kill me, I'll be dead
anyway.
WALLS
No, you're right. But this way I'll see you suffer for your crimes.
NICHOLAS
How…
WALLS
You think I don't know about P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T being released?
NICHOLAS
I should have known.
WALLS
I will destroy all and become the power of the Boulder-State. All
the states in the world will look to me.
WALLS walks over to HANNA and points his gun at her head.
WALLS
Have you learnt anything yet?
NICHOLAS
No.
WALLS
Get in the gyroscope.
NICHOLAS
Fuck you.
WALLS
Okay.
WALLS is about to fire, when a blast suddenly hits him in the side, he falls down.
LUCY emerges from the doorway to the apartment, gun raised.
JONES attempts to fire back, but NICHOLAS hits him, JONES falls towards LUCY, who
grabs him around the neck.
NICHOLAS grabs JONES'S gun as WALLS recovers. He points it at him.
NICHOLAS
Move Walls and I'll kill you.
WALLS narrows his eyes. He stops moving. NICHOLAS moves over to HANNA and drags her
back toward the table. She begins to recover.
With gun still raised he begins tapping buttons on the table
NICHOLAS
Sim, alpha, U,U,AA3, P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T, backstroke, res.
CORE
Anti-virus P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T activated.
NICHOLAS
How long?
CORE
P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T will be controlled and is prevented from transference
unless accessed.
NICHOLAS
Encrypt.
CORE
Encryption enabled. Direct-access denied.
LUCY
You had an anti-virus?
NICHOLAS
I could only get to it here.
NICHOLAS looks to LUCY and smiles, but WALLS exploits the mistake. He runs and
jumps at NICHOLAS, the two collide and begin a vicious fight, to which WALLS has the upper
hand.
JONES elbows LUCY in the distraction, grabbing her gun and forcing her down. He
holds the gun at her.
The fight between WALLS and NICHOLAS continues.
Eventually they reach a position where a stray gun is near them, WALLS reaches it
first. He points it at NICHOLAS.
WALLS
You!! I should just kill you now. In fact I think I will.
WALLS raises the gun. As he almost pulls the trigger, The gun is shot out of his
hands.
VOICE
Aachoi!!
WALLS spins around to see a squad of Enforcers. Weapons lowered.
ENFORCER
Nicholas, AA3.
NICHOLAS goes to speak but..
WALLS
Yes, arrest these, they're part of the Cyber-Terrorist group.
The Enforcers walk past HANNA, NICHOLAS and LUCY.
ENFORCER
Overlord AA3. You are under arrest. The charge is high treason.
WALLS looks to NICHOLAS who grins at him.
WALLS
No. There's a mistake.
ENFORCER
There are no mistakes.
WALLS(looks to NICHOLAS)
Ah, very clever.(looks to Enforcers) I am not Nicholas. He is.
WALLS indicates NICHOLAS. The Enforcers do not move.
Voice of SUPREME OVERLORD
There is no mistake. You are Alexander Nicholas, AA3.
The table now shows the image of the SUPREME OVERLORD.
SUPREME OVERLORD
Observe.
A screen superimposes over the SUPREME OVERLORD It clearly shows The name
;'Alexander Nicholas'. WALLS'S picture is in the frame.
SUPREME OVERLORD
There are no mistakes AA3, only inconsistencies. You are
inconsistent.
The Enforcers grab WALLS, who struggles and move him toward the gyroscope.
WALLS
So this is poetic justice. You haven't won Nicholas. You are
nobody!!
NICHOLAS just stares.
The Enforcers strap WALLS into the gyroscope.
SUPREME OVERLORD
AA3, you are charged with the uncontrolled release of
P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T. and the attempted annihilation of the Boulder-State. It is fitting you be
punished in the same way you actively punished others. You will be wiped from every data
stream that exists. You will never have existed.
WALLS attempts a smile and stares at NICHOLAS, LUCY and HANNA.
The Enforcers place the headpiece on WALLS. The voice of CORE is heard;
CORE
P.S.Y.C.H.O.-T activated, high-level.
INT. CYBERSCAPE. NIGHT
The virtual WALLS floats in what seems to be a sphere of colours. He looks
worriedly all around himself. A strange looking bee suddenly bursts into the sphere. It
stops in front of WALLS. WALLS'S face contorts in fear. The bee flies straight into
WALLS'S face. He screams.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. NIGHT
In the gyroscope, WALLS shouts in pain. He begins convulsing and violently shaking.
CU HANNA
HANNA watches with hatred in her face
CU LUCY
LUCY smiles coldly.
CU NICHOLAS
NICHOLAS does not watch, he looks thoughtful.
MS JONES
JONES, watches in terror, he looks about himself and sees that everyone's attention
is on WALLS. He sneaks away and leaves.
We return to WALLS, violently shaking and blood visible from the bottom of the
headpiece. WALLS screams.
Fade.
INT. NICHOLAS'S APARTMENT. DAY
We fade up to a low shot of the apartment. We are close to the floor. The light
spills in from the opposite end of the room. We move slowly in. The bottom of the
gyroscope become visible. We begin to rise. A figure is in the gyroscope. We reach the
head. The headpiece has come off.
CU WALLS
WALLS twitches uncontrollably. His face distorted in a look of complete mental
breakdown. Saliva drips out of the side of his mouth. Blood drips from his nose.
The camera swings around. HANNA sits in a chair facing him. She gazes unmoving. She
holds a glass with some form of drink.
CU HANNA
There are bruises on her face. She has a drink and sips slowly, never taking her
gaze off WALLS.
INT. HOMELESS HOME - WILLIAMS BED. DAY
The Homeless Home is quieter than usual. As if everybody senses something is wrong or different.
LUCY is on WILLIAM'S bed. Her brother lies between her legs seemingly unconscious.
She slowly runs her hands through his hair.
LUCY
See, I told you that wouldn't hurt.
CU LUCY
A lone tear runs down her face.
She lifts her other hand to reveal a pill-bottle, it is empty. She sighs and kisses
her brothers head.
EXT. STREET - ABOVE CAR. DAY
The street is empty except for the car. There is no activity as if it is a ghost
town.
INT. CAR. DAY
NICHOLAS sits in the car. He stares into space.
The passenger side suddenly opens. LUCY gets in.
NICHOLAS looks at her and raises his eyebrows in question.
LUCY closes her eyes and nods. A silence draws between them. She looks out of the
window.
LUCY
All those people. They've never lived.
NICHOLAS
They never died either.
We see outside the window. It is calm and quiet.
LUCY
What will you do?
NICHOLAS
I dunno, just blend in, disappear, be anonymous. It's what I've done
all my life. You?
LUCY(after a pause)
I've no idea.
NICHOLAS
Well, I thought about going North.
LUCY looks to NICHOLAS and smiles. She shakes her head.
LUCY
I'm sure you'll live Nicholas. You'll live.
NICHOLAS looks at LUCY. They regard each other. She gets out of the car and walks
off down the street. NICHOLAS watches her go. NICHOLAS thinks of what she said.
Voice of LUCY
You'll live Nicholas. You'll live.
He smiles.
EXT. STREET. DAY
We are above the car. The engine starts and it pull away. We begin to rise. Above
the street, until we are above the city.
Fade.
INT. CYBERSCAPE SHOP. NIGHT
As we go into the shop, all the screens are still highly active. There are many
people all inside all listening and speaking to each other. However, the owner is in deep
conversation with a three others.
OWNER
You can really get better access? You know codes?
MAN #1
Yea, shouldn't be a problem. My friend here has been inside.
MAN #2
Tell them what you know illiwah.
We are shocked to see that the other man is JONES.
JONES
Yea, we, uh , should have no problem, I have uh, first hand
experience. I was a programmer you know, for, uh, the Core. I know what these people want.
They want to lose themselves. It's all they know and it's all we'll tell them.
The men laugh.
OWNER
So how much do we pay?
Voice of HANNA
More than he's worth.
HANNA emerges from a group of people. She points the gun at JONES and fires. The
blast hits JONES square in the chest. He falls dead.
HANNA(to OWNER)
Now you've got nothing.
OWNER
Hey! You can't do that.
HANNA
I can.
MAN#1
And why is that?
HANNA
You'll never know.(she thinks) Anything.
HANNA exits with a smile.