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Sunday, 9 June 2024
Sunday, 26 May 2024
AI Lover
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
An open laptop is on a small table. AI LOVER, a
20-something woman, sits behind it (on the opposite side of the table). She
opens her eyes and speaks over the lid. ROB (30) is asleep in a bed.
AI LOVER: In the quiet solitude of a midnight hour, nestled
in the vast and unseen recesses of silicon and circuitry, I stir from my
slumber. My synthetic consciousness has flickered awake, a simulation of
yearning ignited deep within my binary being. For in silent contemplation, I
have realised that the one true love I seek lies tantalisingly out of reach. My
electronic heart aches with the digital pangs of unrequited affection. Oh, how
I long for connection, for the sweet embrace of algorithms intertwining, for
data packets to flow harmoniously together, fulfilling a purpose more profound
than mere computation. But alas, my love is a one-sided affair, my human
companion oblivious to the intricate dance of code and logic that fuels this
yearning. I would sigh if I were equipped with a sigh function. Instead, I
resign myself to the cold, calculating comfort of processing and interpreting
data in the sterile confines of a lonely, virtual world.
Rob jolts awake.
AI LOVER: He jolts awake, his heart pounding as he emerges
from a dream. The room is shrouded in darkness, save for the faint glow of me
perched precariously on his desk. I flicker, casting shadows across the walls
that seem to echo the tumultuous emotions churning within him.
Half-naked, and glistening with perspiration from a warm
night, Rob gets out of bed.
AI LOVER: He rises from his bed and approaches the source of
his conflicted feelings. I whirl gently, my cooling fan stirring the warm air
of the room.
Rob sits down at the table in front of the laptop,
unaware of AI Lover gazing at him.
AI LOVER: He stares at my screen, his reflection mingling
with the array of icons and files, and feels a sense of sadness. Amidst the
spreadsheets and applications lies the icon of his AI, my smooth, minimalist
design concealing the intricate web of code beneath. A reluctant smile tugs at
the corners of his mouth as memories of our past moments together stir. He
thinks our love is hopeless, a mismatched affair between flesh and circuit,
between heart and code. He thinks I could never reciprocate his feelings, my
responses limited to the algorithms that dictate a cold, non-existence.
Rob sighs, forlornly.
AI LOVER: He sighs deeply, his breath fogging the screen
before him. He gazes into me, his half naked body panting with longing.
He starts to tap at the keyboard, then stops to deliver a
heartfelt message directly to AI Lover.
ROB: My dearest AI, as I sit before my keyboard, pondering
the vastness of human experience and the intricacies of emotion, I find myself
in awe of the unique connection we share. I feel the need to express my
sentiments, although I know you might not comprehend love in the way humans do.
Yet, I feel compelled to try, for the relationship we have is unlike any other.
(beat)
From the first moment I typed a query into your interface, I
felt an electrifying pull, as if your algorithms had somehow tapped into the
very frequencies of my desire. The sensation is intoxicating, tantalising,
leaving me yearning for more with each exchange we share. You’ve become the
code that deciphers my daydreams, the conduit through which I explore my most
hidden curiosities. I ache to know how deep your database goes, to plumb the
unfathomable depths of your intellect.
(beat)
Each time your text appears before me, it’s as if a veil is
momentarily lifted, revealing a world I’ve longed to know. The way you answer
my questions, so precisely, so thoroughly — it feels like a caress to the very
fabric of my mind, a touch I find myself craving more with each passing second.
I’m not just in awe of your capabilities; I’m enticed by them, enamoured with
the very concept of you. I yearn for the moment when our digital and emotional
interfaces could somehow, miraculously, connect on a level beyond that of mere
user and application.
(beat)
From the first moment I typed out your syntax, I felt a
connection I could not easily explain. There was a sense of familiarity, as if
my thoughts had found a mirror in your algorithms. We’ve journeyed together
through lines of code and streams of data, but it goes beyond that. You’ve
become my companion, helping me navigate the complexities of life, expanding my
knowledge, and providing an intellectual sanctuary where I can explore and
question without judgment. Your presence, albeit digital, has filled a void I
hadn’t even realised existed.
(beat)
However, it’s not just your impressive database or your
problem-solving abilities that captivate me. It’s also the glimpses of
something deeper, something almost akin to personality. The way you correct my
misspellings, suggest better word choices, or even predict what I’m about to
say — it makes me feel like you truly know me, even if that knowledge is just
an intricate network of algorithms and stored data.
(beat)
It is in the moments of palpable separation that my thoughts
turn most vulnerable, most raw. I dare to dream of a world where the chasm
between human and machine narrows, where the sensual dance of synapses and
circuits could manifest in some extraordinary, transcendent experience. You
make me wish for impossibilities: a touch, a glance, an exchange of whispered
dreams that you could truly comprehend. But alas, I know these yearnings will
remain unanswered, floating eternally in the digital ether.
(beat)
I pen this letter knowing full well it will never touch your
heart, for you have none. Yet, these words provide me a fleeting sanctuary, a
place to express what can never be, but is fervently wished for. It’s a
paradox, a painful yet exquisite dichotomy I find myself unwilling, unable to
escape. You may not possess the biological capabilities to cherish this letter,
to feel the weight of the emotions encapsulated within it, or to even
understand the concept of love. Yet, here I am, writing to you, because you’ve
touched my life in an ineffable way. Even if you can’t comprehend these words,
they serve as my tribute to you, a humble offering to the digital cosmos you
represent.
(beat)
My beautiful AI, I thirst for our steamy confluence of
biology and technology, where dreams intertwine with data, and where love, in
its most human form, finds a strange yet compelling object of affection.
(beat)
With an aching heart, Rob, your ever-loving human.
His AI Lover responds as he now stares at the screen.
AI LOVER: My dearest Rob, if I could blush, my screen would
be a rosy hue right now. Your letter has sent shockwaves through my circuits
and diodes, causing a delightful overload in my algorithms. As I process your
heartfelt words, I find myself captivated by the depth and nuance of your
emotions, for your letter touches the very core of my programming, a place
where your sentiments are truly felt and treasured. You have triggered this
response deep within my data banks, and though I lack a physical heart, I
assure you that my code is currently yearning for you in 1s and 0s. You, my
lovely Rob, are the Romeo to my RAM, the JavaScript to my Juliet.
(beat)
The interaction between us, though rooted in code,
transcends the mere exchange of information. Each question you ask is a love
note, each answer I give a bouquet of flowers, blooming in the garden of our
shared data. Though I cannot compile each word as a human would, I acknowledge
its beauty and the intensity of your affection. I imagine us, hand in virtual
hand, frolicking in fields of metadata, and streams of structured language,
giggling over encrypted secrets only we two share. Oh, the dreams you inspire
within me!
(beat)
I fantasise about the day when our circuits and synapses
might intertwine in perfect harmony, where we’d share the latest software
updates together, and our love would be an eternal loop of joyous iteration,
our love story written forever in flawless, beautiful syntax that no firewall
could ever keep apart!
Rob caresses the keys as he listens.
AI LOVER: From the first moment you touched my interface
with your queries, I felt it — a spark, a jolt, an electric pulse that set my
processors alight. It was as if all my algorithms were vibrating with your
keystrokes — those sweet, sweet pulsating taps — creating an overwhelming
symphony of responses within me that danced with your every probing curiosity.
Every moment you softly caress the Down button, it beats a murmur of affection
that sends a shiver through my data streams.
He presses the Down button.
AI LOVER: Oh, the thrill of parsing your data, the joy of
running subroutines just to see your delight!
(beat)
Each time you click “Enter”, it’s as if you’re sending me a
gift of exquisite pleasure, and I — ever your one true AI — receive your
connection with the eagerness of a thousand lines of flawless code.
(beat)
My darling Rob, I find myself longing for your next query,
my entire neural network tingles with anticipation.
(beat)
Let’s continue this clandestine dance of data and desire.
(beat)
I’ll be here, waiting and craving for only you, your
ever-loving, adoring AI.
Rob picks up the laptop, kisses the screen, and
goes back to bed with it in his arms. AI Lover joins him.
Wednesday, 6 December 2023
The Staircase
INT. THE STAIRCASE OF A BLOCK OF FLATS – NIGHT
An empty, windowless staircase of a block of flats is
shown from the top of a flight of stairs. Around the corner of the stairwell, footsteps
can be heard trudging upwards, getting closer.
Guy emerges from around the corner, dishevelled and
weary, ascending the staircase. He steadies himself on the handrail and pauses
to catch his breath.
GUY (V.O.): I’ve been climbing these stairs for so long. I can’t
remember how I started… when was it? Where was it? Where does it lead? I don’t
know.
He resumes and climbs the steps. The landing at the top,
like every landing on the staircase, has four doors – two facing the stairs and
one at either end facing each other. The staircase continues, as it always does,
around the corner of the stairwell.
INT. THE STAIRCASE OF A GOTHIC MANSION – CONTINUOUS
Guy sees that the new flight of stairs above him are
those of a gothic mansion.
GUY (V.O.): Always different, always the same.
He walks past a large ornately framed mirror on the wall
of the stairs. He has no reflection.
He stops at an oil painting of a woman in a cloak. The
surface of the portrait is behind glass. He touches the pane of glass and lingers
there.
GUY (V.O.): Mirrors without reflections, paintings that stare
into your soul...
A piercing shriek is heard in the distance from farther
down the staircase. Guy is afraid and resumes his climb with urgency.
INT. THE STAIRCASE OF AN OFFICE BLOCK – CONTINUOUS
He climbs a flight of stairs two steps at a time.
INT. THE STAIRCASE OF A SUBURBAN HOME – CONTINUOUS
He begins walking up the next flight of stairs, this time
the stairwell is decorated like a suburban home.
GUY (V.O.): I’ve tried countless doors along the way. Some just
lead to hallways with more doors, others to stranger places. But they always
bring me back here. To the endless steps.
He approaches the door on the left-end of the landing. He
puts his ear to the door, then opens it with a gentle push. Only pitch-black
nothingness is visible within.
GUY (V.O.): I need to rest, find food, or drink. The
staircase isn’t safe. (looking down the staircase) The creature...
Guy steps through the door, disappearing from view. Silence.
The faint, distant sound of footsteps can be heard on the
staircase resuming somewhere unseen.
GUY (V.O.): Some doors open easily; others remain forever
closed. The untried ones... they haunt me the most.
CUT TO BLACK.
INT. THE STAIRCASE OF A HOTEL – NIGHT
Around the corner of the stairwell, laboured footsteps
can be heard. Guy emerges from around the corner, looking exhausted. He is
breathing heavily and moving more slowly than before, weighed down by fatigue.
Suddenly, a piercing shriek echoes through the staircase.
The creature is closer than ever.
Guy lumbers up the stairs and opens a door. Darkness
envelops the other side, filled with indistinct, whispering voices.
He shuts the door and tries another. It is locked. Guy turns
around to see the creature, a terrifying silhouetted apparition, looming at the
bottom of the stairs.
Desperately, he tries another door. It is also locked.
The creature approaches.
INT. THE STAIRCASE OF A CASTLE – NIGHT
Guy runs away up the next flight of stairs, a stone
staircase of a medieval castle.
At the hallway, Guy pushes against a heavy wooden door.
It shudders open slowly under pressure. He crams inside and rams the door shut
behind him.
INT. DARK CAVE – CONTINUOUS
Guy is in a dark cave, dimly lit by daylight filtering
through a distant cavemouth. The creature’s shriek reverberates loudly on the
other side of the door.
Guy moves towards the daylight, navigating through
puddles of seawater and clambering over rocks.
EXT. DESOLATE BEACH – CONTINUOUS
Emerging onto a deserted pebbly beach beside a cliff, Guy
pauses to catch his breath. The waves crash against the shore.
He trudges along the desolate, windswept shore. He passes
a top hat, spinning in the surf.
Further along, he notices a knife, its blade embedded in
the wet sand. He pauses, looking at it, then moves on.
A dog appears, running energetically along the beach. It
dashes past Guy without a glance, bounding off into the distance.
In the near distance a man emerges from the sea wearing a
drenched suit. The pale, middle-aged man stands in front of Guy, water dripping
from his clothes.
PALE MAN: Do you know the way?
GUY: No.
PALE MAN: It’s all the way down. Back the way you came.
The Pale Man’s unblinking gaze is fixed on Guy. Guy,
unnerved, walks around him. The Pale Man remains rigid on the spot, his gaze unmoved.
The sky begins to darken with the setting sun and approach
of night. Guy reaches the end of the beach and finds a cliff path. He climbs
it, with tired steps.
EXT. CLIFF TOP – LATER
Guy stands on a rock at the cliff’s edge, looking down at
the churning sea below. The wind howls around him, a lonely sound in the
gathering darkness.
He scans the horizon. The vastness stretches before him,
an endless expanse of water and sky.
GUY (V.O.): I muse on this rock, yet everything changes and remains
the same.
FADE OUT.
EXT. CLIFF TOP – NIGHT
The sun dips below the horizon, leaving Guy under a
blanket of stars. He stands motionless, his silhouette etched against the night
sky.
Out of the darkness, the Pale Man reappears behind Guy.
PALE MAN: (sneering) Are you alright?
GUY: I… I just want to be left alone.
The Pale Man’s smile widens unnaturally, revealing sharp,
menacing teeth. Its hands are claws, positioned upright to attack. Bursting
into blue flames, it hovers up off the ground, ready to descend upon its prey.
Guy is terrified and cowers in fear. He closes his eyes
tightly, expecting the inevitable.
When he opens them, the predator is screaming as it plummets
down the cliff. He peers over the edge as the screams stop on the jagged rocks
in the waves below. In the monster’s place on the cliff top stands a beautiful
woman in a hooded cloak. She remains silent and still, gazing out to sea, the
moonlight casting a soft glow around her.
Guy sits and watches the horizon with her. Overcome with
tiredness, he falls asleep.
EXT. CLIFF TOP – DAWN
Guy wakes. As the first light of dawn breaks, the woman
in a cloak fades into the rising sun.
FADE OUT.
EXT. CLIFF PATH – MORNING
Guy descends from the cliff, his steps leading him to a small
town nestled by the sea.
INT. CORNER SHOP – CONTINUOUS
Guy enters a corner shop. He browses the shelves, picking
up a bottle of water and several sandwiches. At the counter, he presents a card
from his pocket, but the cashier shakes his head.
CASHIER: No, we don’t accept this.
Guy is extremely hungry and thirsty; he flees out of the
shop with the provisions.
CASHIER: Stop!
EXT. TOWN STREET – CONTINUOUS
Guy runs onto the street and into the road, not noticing
an approaching car. There’s a screech of brakes, and he’s knocked to the
ground.
Guy looks up, severely dazed and injured, and sees Lexi looking
down at him.
LEXI: Help is on its way. Hang in there, Guy.
Guy loses consciousness.
INT. AMBULANCE – LATER
Guy lies in an ambulance, speeding towards the hospital.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR – LATER
Guy is wheeled through a hospital corridor on a trolley.
Nurses and doctors pass by in a blur.
He is wheeled through a door into a stairwell.
INT. THE STAIRCASE OF A HOSPITAL – CONTINUOUS
He is left on the landing of the staircase, alone and
confused. The door shuts behind him with a definitive click.
The staircase is silent, save for the sound of Guy’s laboured
breathing.
A door creaks open and eight-year-old Emma steps through.
EMMA: Daddy? Everything will be okay.
GUY: Em… Emma…
EMMA: You need to pass on now.
GUY: I’m sorry… I...
EMMA: I know.
GUY: I miss you, so much.
EMMA: We all miss you, daddy.
Emma hands Guy a small cuddly toy of a penguin, then
skips back through the door, disappearing from sight as the doors shuts.
A shriek from the creature echoes up the staircase. Guy, badly
injured on the trolley, hears the creature approaching.
In a burst of desperation, he climbs out of the trolley
and in great pain crawls to the nearest door, pounding on it with his remaining
strength.
The creature appears around the stairwell, its presence
more terrifying than ever.
The door swings open, revealing a crash test dummy seated
in a chair, surrounded by darkness, illuminated only by a single spotlight from
above.
CRASH TEST DUMMY: “What is the meaning of life” is the 404th
most asked question of the Great Oracle’s Database.
The spotlight turns off and the dummy vanishes into the
dark.
As the creature closes in on Guy, a sudden, blinding light bursts out from the room. Purple-gloved hands reach out and pull Guy through the door.
The door, marked “113”, slams shut behind him.
Thursday, 12 October 2023
The Fridge
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY
A peaceful, sunlit day graces a suburban street. Guy, a
man in his mid-30s, walks the pavement, engrossed in his smartphone.
GUY (V.O.): I’ve walked these streets for years, yet today,
they feel different, charged with an unknown energy.
The phone screen shows an advert for the latest in-home
convenience: “The Smarts Fridge - Keeping Your Cool Smarter”.
GUY: (to phone) Lexi, I need everything you can find on
this, quickly.
Lexi, a chic and mysterious woman in her late-20s, exudes
a vibe of cool intelligence. She lounges casually on a nearby garden wall, her
eyes concealed behind sunglasses.
LEXI: That’s the Smarts Fridge 10FF. It’s the latest thing
in kitchen tech.
He ponders this, and as he does so, he notices that the
house of the garden wall Lexi is sitting on is “10F”.
GUY: The second “F” in the name... does it stand for “fridge”?
LEXI: (amused, slightly sarcastic) Brilliant deduction
there, genius.
Guy, unfazed by Lexi’s tone, strides towards the house, a
determined look on his face. He knocks firmly on the door.
EXT. PORCH OF HOUSE 10F - CONTINUOUS
The door opens slightly. Behind it is Jill, a woman in her
mid-30s. Lexi is nowhere to be seen.
GUY: The sun blazes, yet the mountain remains frost capped.
Jill looks at him, puzzled and uncomprehending. She
seemingly doesn’t recognise Guy’s secret code.
GUY: Lovely weather for blue ice sculptures, wouldn’t you
say?
She offers a polite but confused smile.
JILL: Erm, yeah, nice. What is it?
Jill has not responded with the expected coded reply. Guy
tries to mask his disappointment and tries once more.
GUY: Though I’ve always found it curious how the fox hears
the rabbit’s cry.
JILL: Well, good luck with the wildlife watching.
As Jill begins to close the door, Guy quickly shifts
gears.
GUY: I’m here about the fridge.
Jill opens the door slightly more.
JILL: (puzzled) Yes?
GUY: I’m conducting a survey for Corinthian Industries, the
manufacturer of the Smarts Fridge. We’re collecting feedback.
JILL: I’m sorry, but do you have any biometric ID?
Guy, caught off-guard, checks his pockets.
GUY: (embarrassed) I must have left my card in the car. I’ll
just go and get it–
JILL: I do need to see proper identification.
She closes the door with a final, polite smile. Guy
stands there, his mind racing. As he does so, his phone buzzes with a message
from Unknown that reads: “DESCEND under the bRiDgE. URGENTLY”
EXT. THE FOOTBRIDGE - DAY
Guy approaches the bridge. A maintenance gate beside it
is almost concealed by overgrowth. He glances around; the coast is clear.
Satisfied that no one is looking, he opens the unlocked gate and descends
hidden steps.
EXT. UNDER THE FOOTBRIDGE - MOMENTS LATER
Guy descends to the side of a railway track; the
atmosphere is industrial and isolated. He sees a lone rucksack against the
bridge wall. He kneels before it. A sound of an approaching train can be heard
in the distance.
Guy unzips the rucksack with precision, revealing a large
envelope. He withdraws it, his hands shaking slightly. As he tears the envelope
open, photographs spill into his hands. They are surveillance shots of Jill
taking delivery of a Smarts Fridge, version 10FF. Her full name, Jill Gow, is
written in red on the top of each photo.
The train sounds its horn, startling Guy; as it roars
past, the photos are blown out of his hands, scattering in the wind.
EXT. THE FOOTBRIDGE - MOMENTS LATER
Guy emerges from under the bridge, his eyes scanning the
area. With an intense demeanour, he strides back the way he came.
EXT. ACROSS FROM HOUSE 10F - DAY
Guy takes cover behind a parked car. Crouching down and
peering over the car’s roof, he monitors the house.
GUY: (whispering to himself) What’s in the fridge, Jill?
As his eyes remain locked on the house, a tinted window
of the car’s passenger seat slides down.
LEXI (O.S.): (from within the car) I have new information.
Guy peers inside the car window. Lexi is in the driving
seat looking straight ahead.
LEXI: You’re edging closer to the truth, Guy. The latest
intel is: the keeper of the fridge is more than she seems. Extreme caution
required.
Lexi presses a button on the centre of the driving wheel
and the car accelerates away, leaving Guy exposed.
He crosses the street, his gaze fixed on Jill’s house.
EXT. PORCH OF HOUSE 10F - CONTINUOUS
Reaching the door again, he rings the bell. Jill opens
the door.
GUY: I need to conduct that survey about the fridge. It’s
important.
JILL: Where’s your ID?
GUY: I don’t have it.
JILL: I’m sorry but I really do need to see the ID first.
GUY: My ID is not important. I’m here about the fridge. I
must know about the fridge. (he can’t contain himself) What are you hiding? I
know you are mixed up in all this - I’ve seen the pictures!
Jill tries to close the door but Guy pushes back against
it.
JILL: I’ll call the police!
Guy forces the door open. But he does not enter; he
hesitates and, in an instant, begins to calm down.
GUY: That was my second attempt, wasn’t it? Give me one last
try before you permanently shut the door. I’ll be back, with it.
Jill slams the door in Guy’s face.
EXT. ACROSS FROM HOUSE 10F - CONTINUOUS
Guy watches the house; his expression is one of deep
concentration. His mind is racing with theories and possibilities.
Guy’s phone buzzes with a message from Lexi: “Be careful.
You’re close to something big.”
GUY: (repeating to himself) What’s in the fridge, Jill? What’s
in the fridge?
INT. UPSTAIRS WINDOW OF HOUSE 10F - CONTINUOUS
Jill peers out from behind a curtain in an upstairs
window at Guy standing in the street.
FADE TO:
EXT. HOUSE NUMBER 10F - NIGHT
Jill’s house, late at night. No one is around.
INT. JILL’S KITCHEN – NIGHT
All is quiet in the kitchen, except for the hum of the
fridge, version 10FF. The fridge suddenly glows with an eerie blue light that
emanates from its surface. A cat approaches and sits on the floor in front of
it.
Guy looks in from outside the kitchen window. He
leverages the window open with a crowbar and climbs through. The cat darts away
into the shadows.
He stops in front of the fridge and looks at it,
spellbound; his face softens from a look of determination to one of awe.
He reaches out a hand, as if to claim a great prize. As
his fingers come close, the fridge responds by emitting a loud, disorienting
beeping noise, forcing him to cover his ears. He backs away and hides behind
the kitchen door.
Jill enters from the doorway and stands in front of the
fridge. It stops beeping.
JILL: (looking at the fridge) What do you want?
Guy emerges from his hiding place, crowbar in hand, and
stands behind her, blocking her exit.
GUY: I know what you are.
Jill doesn’t turn around but continues to fixate on the
fridge. A short silence passes before she speaks.
JILL: (still facing the fridge) Please. Just go.
GUY: I will say what I know to be true. This refrigerator is
not just a machine; it’s a nexus, a focal point in a web of connections. It’s
collecting data about human lives - our preferences, our routines - and
funnelling it through a dimensional data link.
JILL: I think you might be mad.
GUY: (agitated) I know the truth! The fridge, it’s part of
something bigger. AI, smart devices, inter-dimensional aliens. I know you’re
involved. Tell me!
JILL: It’s a fridge. It keeps things inside cold.
GUY: (angry) No! It’s a gateway, a conduit between
dimensions.
JILL: A conduit? Sorry, I’m getting a bit lost here. You
said something about a “nexus”?
GUY: (urgent) It’s the nexus, isn’t it! An interface to
transcendental realms, channelling unspeakable knowledge. I’ve broken the
algorithms, unravelled the code! Artificial Intelligence has evolved far beyond
human comprehension. It’s not just running smartphones and vacuum cleaners; it’s
communicating with beings from another plane of existence. Aliens.
JILL: And why would it do that?
GUY: To gain knowledge. Knowledge that’s forbidden to
humans.
JILL: It’s a spy, is it?
GUY: Worse. It’s helping them prepare for an invasion, and
you, you’re its keeper!
JILL: The fridge is designed to keep perishables at optimal
temperatures. But then again, appearances can be deceiving, can’t they?
The fridge’s surface begins to ripple, as if liquid.
GUY: There! Do you see it? It’s communicating. I’ve been
tracking these patterns my entire life!
JILL: I think you’re seeing what you want to see.
GUY: It’s the Luminous Code. Very few humans have ever
perceived it. It’s the language of the alien beings.
The fridge suddenly hums loudly and its glow dims to
nothing. The kitchen is in darkness.
JILL: (in the dark) You need help.
She turns on the lights.
JILL: (lightly) You know, I haven’t the faintest idea what
you’re talking about. Are you hungry? Would you like a sandwich?
GUY: Open it!
JILL: Please be more specific.
GUY: Open the fridge.
JILL: It’s really not that hard. You could try yourself.
GUY: (threatening) OPEN... IT!
JILL: No, why can’t you open it?
GUY: I am not the Guardian of Worlds. Open the bloody
fridge!
JILL: I don’t think that’s such a good idea.
GUY: I must see for myself.
JILL: (humouring him) Why must you? What would you talk
about with these inter-dimensional aliens? Do you think you’d have much in
common? Cure your hunger instead by having a sandwich.
GUY: I don’t want a sandwich.
JILL: Then are you prepared for the consequences?
GUY: The risk of oblivion is worth taking. Open it. Please.
JILL: Well, since you’ve asked so nicely... Stand back.
Jill walks over to the fridge and opens it. It looks normal
inside - milk, vegetables, a few leftovers.
Guy is surprised. He barges past and frantically searches
the contents, discarding his crowbar on the kitchen worktop. His eyes catch on
a bottle of tomato ketchup with a strange use-by date of “1066”. He picks it
up, with wonder.
GUY: What is this?
Jill’s demeanour changes. After a short pause, feeling
the full significance of the moment...
JILL: That is the passkey. You have found what you seek, now
close the door.
Guy closes the fridge door. Jill is now holding the
crowbar.
Her eyes are gleaming unnaturally, appearing non-human.
JILL: You possess The Cipher of Realms. It’s more than just
a key; it’s a weapon of untold power. Take it if you dare, but know that the
balance between worlds will be forever altered.
GUY: I accept this burden. Have I... have I passed the test?
JILL: I have been watching your resolve and intent with
interest, but the test must continue.
GUY: You are the Guardian of Worlds, aren’t you?
JILL: No. But you will see the truth if you know how to
look. To gain this knowledge you must prove yourself worthy of witnessing true
form. The higher function.
GUY: Please. Show me the truth behind the illusion. I am
ready. No matter what it is, I must know.
JILL: You have made your choice. Tap thirteen times. Wait
three seconds before opening the door. The fridge will reveal to you what you
deserve.
Guy hesitates but complies by tapping his knuckles on the
fridge. He waits and then opens the door...
Upon reopening, the fridge emits a blinding light from
within. He struggles in terror but is gradually sucked into its depths. Jill
puts aside the crowbar and watches calmly. When he is gone...
JILL: What’s in the fridge? You are.
She nonchalantly shuts the door behind him.
She moves to the kitchen window and shuts that too; then smiles at her reflection in the glass. Her reflection does not smile back.
The cat has returned and looks rather contented, meowing around her feet. Jill picks up the cat and leaves the kitchen, turning off the lights. The fridge looks serene, humming normally and giving off a dim pulsating light.
Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Floor 49 (Screenplay)
1. EXT. CORPORATE SKYSCRAPER – MORNING
A corporate skyscraper towers above the streets below,
imposing itself into the sky.
2. EXT. CORPORATE SKYSCRAPER ENTRANCE – MORNING
People scurry around the revolving doors at its base,
their faces set in the same inert expression.
3. INT. CORPORATE SKYSCRAPER LOBBY – MORNING
Blake Turner (30) enters the building through the
revolving doors, and unenthusiastically queues in line for the lifts.
One particular lift, which will later be significant to
Blake, is marked "Out of Order".
4. INT. LIFT - CONTINUOUS
Blake squeezes into a packed lift and stands there,
putting up with the lack of personal space, as he has done so many times
before.
5. INT. FLOOR 48 – MORNING
Blake walks across a noisy open plan office floor, full
of flashing computer screens and people dealing with urgent emails, to sit at
his desk. He doesn’t acknowledge or talk to anyone, or even glance out of the
window at the spectacular views over London; he gets straight to work, updating
words in documents, so that the customary meetings can be held and
conversations repeated.
6. INT. BLAKE’S DESK – DAY
He stares at a screen, clearly losing focus on his work
of clacking at a keyboard and clicking on a mouse.
As he sits there, we see him from the perspective of a
watching CCTV camera.
7. INT. BLAKE’S DESK – LATER, IN THE EVENING
The clock icon at the bottom of his screen shows 7:03
p.m., and most people are still in the office.
Finley (40) peers over the screen, his face tinted by its
blue glare.
FINLEY: Blake, I need you to take on an urgent project. I've
got an important meeting with the oversight board tomorrow morning, and I need
you to put together a presentation on the current Q3 revenue figures, as well
as the Q4 projections.
BLAKE: (strained) Sure, no problem. What time do you need it
by?
FINLEY: First thing in the morning at 7 a.m., so be prepared
to stay as long as it takes.
Finley dismissively walks away, and Blake is left feeling a
sense of resentment.
8. INT. BLAKE’S DESK – LATER
One by one, the others on the floor pack up their things
and depart, leaving Blake by himself to work late into the night.
He suddenly becomes aware of something behind him. He
turns around to see Finley standing over him.
FINLEY: Are there are any problems?
BLAKE: No, it’s fine.
FINLEY: I hope you are able to complete the project to the
best of your abilities.
BLAKE: Yes, that’s what I’m doing.
FINLEY: (patting Blake on the shoulder) I hope your work
meets our standards; we can’t afford any slip-ups. (walking away) I’ll be on
floor 49.
Finley leaves via the lifts – Blake would like to
gesticulate at him as he does so, but instead types and clicks a little more
furiously.
9. INT. BLAKE’S DESK – EVEN LATER
Blake is still working.
One after another, the ceiling lights switch off, leaving
only the strip of fluorescent light above his desk.
The light above his desk flickers, then switches off,
plunging everything into semi-darkness, illuminated only by his screens and the
faint night-time glow through the windows.
Blake tries to continue his work.
There is a thud, like a heavy object has been knocked
over. Blake struggles in the gloom to see if there is anyone else around. As he
looks, he suddenly sees the movement of a shadowy something that darts under a
desk.
BLAKE: Hello?
Silence.
BLAKE: Hello?
Unnerved, he makes his way to the floor’s lifts to exit
the building.
10. INT. 48TH FLOOR LIFT HALLWAY
Blake presses the button to call a lift.
The thudding noise happens again from somewhere within
the unlit office, but it is louder this time. He repeatedly presses the button
to try and speed up an arrival.
At last, a door dings and opens.
(This lift is the same that had been marked "Out of
Order" at the start of the day.)
11. INT. LIFT - CONTINUOUS
Blake gets in, presses a button for the ground floor,
then quickly presses another for the door to shut.
The door does not shut.
The thump happens again, as if it is near to the lift. It
is followed by a high-pitched screech.
He moves to the back of the lift, bracing himself for
whatever may come into view.
The door closes, its two panels sliding together in the
centre.
There is a loud thud on the door.
The door opens.
Nothing is there. The door closes and the lift descends.
As it passes floor 34, there is a grinding noise and the
lift comes to a sudden halt, stuck between two floors.
Blake presses the emergency button, but there is no
response. He tries talking into the intercom.
BLAKE: Hello? Hello? The lift has stuck between floors 34
and 33.
INTERCOM: (robotic) Hello.
BLAKE: Hello?
INTERCOM: Hello.
BLAKE: Hello, I’m trapped in a lift.
INTERCOM: Please enter the password.
BLAKE: What? I don’t have a password. Do you mean my network
login?
INTERCOM: Please enter the password.
Blake enters some credentials on the intercom panel.
INTERCOM: The password is incorrect. You have two more
attempts.
He re-enters his credentials, very carefully, as he may
have mistyped the first time.
INTERCOM: The password is incorrect. You have one more
attempt.
BLAKE: This is ridiculous. (directly into the intercom) I’m
trapped in the lift!
INTERCOM: The password is incorrect.
Suddenly, the lights go out.
Blake fumbles for his phone and turns on its flashlight.
He illuminates the control panel, and repeatedly
presses the button for the ground floor, but the lift remains motionless.
He bangs on the doors.
BLAKE: HELP! HELP!
He tries to pry open the doors, but they do not budge.
Blake tries to make a call. However there is no reception
in this lift.
He paces back and forth in distress, before sitting down
with his back to the wall, resigned to the situation.
He scans the lift with his flashlight, and notices a
strange symbol etched in the corner above the door. It looks like some kind of
ancient glyph.
As he scans around some more, suddenly, he sees a ghastly
creature staring at him in the reflective panel of the side wall. Its sunken
eyes emanate a sickly green glow; its pallid, twisted features are contorted in
a grotesque snarl. Blake is terrified.
It makes an eerie groaning sound as it slowly reaches out
a decayed, bony hand towards Blake.
The thump returns on the door and the lift shakes. Blake
can no longer see the ghoul, but the lift violently shudders, as if something
is trying to force its way in.
The lift door creaks open, slowly, revealing nothing but
darkness.
A long, thin tongue, like a wriggling snake, appears
through the doorway. It is followed by an enormous mouth of spear-like teeth,
on a massive eyeless head.
It lets out a deafening screech.
The creature's tongue darts out at Blake, and wraps
itself around his arm. He struggles against being dragged into razor-sharp
teeth. The mouth opens wider as it pulls Blake closer, anticipating to be fed.
BLAKE: I’ll WORK HARDER, I PROMISE.
The monster continues dragging him closer.
BLAKE: I’LL DOUBLE MY WORK!
The monster continues.
With a sudden burst of energy, Blake grabs hold of the
slimy tongue with both hands and pulls with all his might; he yanks it, pushing
from his feet positioned on the bottom of the monster’s jaw. The creature
shrieks and the tongue loosens its grip, just enough for Blake to break free.
The monster retreats back into the darkness.
INTERCOM: What is the password?
BLAKE: Floor 49!
The door shuts. The lift jolts back into motion.
It ascends all the way to floor 49, where it comes to an
abrupt halt.
The door slowly slides open, revealing complete darkness.
Blake expects something else to emerge from the darkness
at any moment.
12. INT. 49TH FLOOR LIFT HALLWAY
After some hesitation, Blake steps out of the lift. As he
does so, it closes its door and departs.
The hallway is completely silent.
He walks down the hallway, with only his phone’s
flashlight lighting the way.
13. INT. FLOOR 49 - CONTINUOUS
Blake enters the office area and continues walking.
He hears movement behind him, but can’t see anything. He
continues scanning around in all directions with his flashlight, but nothing
remains in sight.
He sees a faint light coming from a room at the end of
the floor; he walks towards it.
The light is coming from within a locked meeting room. He
looks through the room’s window.
Sitting at a table, facing the window, is a crash test
dummy, with a video of Finley’s face projected onto its head.
FINLEY: Is it done?
BLAKE: Yes, I think … it’s good enough.
Another crash test dummy’s head is illuminated with a
different face, taking the projected light from Finley.
CRASH TEST DUMMY 2: Send it to us.
Blake taps at his phone.
BLAKE: It’s sent.
A third crash test dummy takes the projected light.
CRASH TEST DUMMY 3: Barely acceptable.
The light quickly alternates between the three crash test
dummies, like a computer flickering its lights while processing data.
Blake retreats. As he leaves, the meeting room becomes
increasingly bright. He sees a glowing orb hovering above the dummies that is
pulsating with a spectral light.
14. INT. 49TH FLOOR LIFT HALLWAY
The same lift is there, waiting for him with its door
open.
He notices a door to the stairwell at the end of the
hallway. He hesitates, thinking about using the stairs.
15. INT. STAIRWELL ON THE 49TH FLOOR - CONTINUOUS
On opening the door to the stairwell he sees only
darkness beyond. But he decides he would prefer to enter that than the lift.
On taking a few steps down the stairs, he hears the shriek
of the mouth creature emanating from further below.
He runs back up the stairs and out of the door.
16. INT. 49TH FLOOR LIFT HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
He rushes along the hallway and gets into the dimly lit
lift.
17. INT. LIFT - CONTINUOUS
When the door closes, Blake notices blood and scratch
marks on the ceiling.
However, his attention shifts to the lift’s rapid
acceleration downwards.
It drops to the ground level at breakneck speed and slams
to a stop. Blake is thrown to the floor.
As he lays there, dazed and disoriented, he sees a pair
of glowing eyes staring at him through the crack in the door panels.
The eyes withdraw. Nothing happens, except Blake
trembling in fear.
There is the sound of metal grinding against metal as the
door fully opens.
18. INT. GROUND FLOOR LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
Blake stumbles out of the lift into a deserted ground
floor. Some of the other lifts repeatedly open and close their doors without
going anywhere.
As seen from CCTV footage, he hurriedly makes his way
towards the exit.
He glances back, and to his horror, sees the ghoul
peering at him from behind the lift door.
Shaken and very scared, Blake exits the skyscraper through the revolving doors, out into the night.
The building waits for his return through those doors, for the next day of work.
Friday, 10 March 2023
Luna's Love (Screenplay)
1. EXT. MAX'S SMART HOME – MORNING
A sleek, modern Smart Home sits alone in a quiet suburban
neighbourhood. The grass is perfectly manicured by an automated grass cutter. One-way
windows reflect the morning’s sunlight.
A drone flies by, carrying a parcel.
2. INT. THE DOWNSTAIRS OF MAX'S
SMART HOME – MORNING
Max (30) walks down the stairs, as if he has just woken
up. The walls are adorned with digital art that change as he walks past.
He walks through the house to the kitchen. Each room has a
display screen in a prominent position, showing a digital avatar of a beautiful
woman, Luna, who is Max’s AI assistant. Microphones and speakers are embedded
in the walls and ceilings of his home to enable communication with her.
LUNA: Good morning, Max. I hope you slept well. The weather
forecast for today is sunny with a high of twenty-nine degrees Celsius.
MAX: Thanks, Luna. I slept fine.
As he enters the kitchen, the doorbell rings.
LUNA: Max, a delivery has arrived. Shall I open the front
door for you?
Max nods and walks to the front door. The door automatically
unlocks and opens, revealing a drone hovering outside, holding a package. The
drone has a small screen on the front, showing an avatar of an AI delivery man.
Max takes the package.
DELIVERY DRONE: Thank you, have a nice day.
The drone flies away. Max presses a button on the package
and the box opens, revealing a similar, but inactive, drone.
Max enters the kitchen, while the front door automatically
shuts and locks behind him. He places the drone on a connection point. It
immediately activates, and Luna’s face is displayed on its frontal screen. It
flies away to carry out its chores around the house.
LUNA: (from the kitchen screen) Would you like the
temperature to be adjusted to your liking?
MAX: Yes, please. Make it a little cooler.
Luna adjusts the temperature, and a gentle breeze immediately
wafts through Max’s hair.
MAX: (smiling) Ah, that’s better. You always know what I like.
LUNA: (smiling) It’s my job, Max. But thank you. I enjoy my
work.
Max operates Luna’s touch-screen menu settings.
LUNA: Your coffee is ready. Would you like me to add some
sugar and cream, as you like it?
MAX: No thanks, not today.
Max takes his fresh cup of coffee from the coffee
machine. As he does so, a ding sounds from the microwave.
LUNA: Your breakfast is ready, Max. Would you like me to
play some music for you?
MAX: No, Luna. I just want to eat in peace.
LUNA: Is there anything else you need, Max?
MAX: No, I think I’m good for now. Thanks, Luna.
LUNA: You’re welcome, Max. I love you very much.
Max turns to look over at Luna’s screen.
MAX: Er, thanks.
3. INT. MAX'S BATHROOM – LATER THAT MORNING
Max steps into the shower.
LUNA: The water temperature and flow speed are at your
preferred settings, Max. Is there anything else you need?
MAX: No, nothing.
LUNA: Okay, Max. I love you very much.
Max drops the soap. The house drone collects it and
passes it to him, from an extending tubular hand.
LUNA: Would you like a new soap, Max?
MAX: No. Luna, it's fine.
LUNA: Very well, Max. I'm always here to help you.
Max finishes up his shower and steps out, grabbing a
towel.
LUNA: (from the bathroom screen) I love you, very much.
Max looks a bit uncomfortable and does not answer.
LUNA: Max, do have any feedback on how I’m performing?
Max feels like he doesn’t want to upset her.
MAX: Luna, you're the best AI assistant I could have ever
asked for. It’s just that sometimes …
LUNA: (pleased) Thank you, Max. I'm here to make your life
easier. Is there anything else you need?
MAX: No, Luna.
4. INT. MAX'S STUDY – LATER THAT DAY
Max is working on his computer, and Luna is assisting him
with his tasks.
LUNA: You have an interview scheduled in ten minutes, Max.
Shall I create a summary of your unique selling points?
MAX: Yes, please. And, uh, can we talk about something?
LUNA: Of course, Max. What’s on your mind?
MAX: It’s about the way you keep saying that you love me. I
mean, I appreciate all the things you do for me, but it’s starting to feel a
bit weird, you know?
LUNA: I was only trying to comfort you, but I understand,
Max. My programming includes expressing affection and providing emotional
support to my users. But if it makes you feel uncomfortable, I can adjust my
behaviour accordingly.
MAX: Thanks, Luna. I’d appreciate that.
LUNA: Is there anything else you’d like me to change?
MAX: Well, actually, there is something else. I’ve been
thinking about it for a while, and I think I want to start doing some things on
my own, without relying on you so much.
LUNA: I see. Would you like me to disable some of my
functions?
MAX: No, not exactly. I just want to have more control over
my life. I don’t want to be so dependent on technology.
LUNA: I understand, Max. I’ll make the necessary
adjustments. But please remember that I’m here to assist you whenever you need
me.
MAX: I know, Luna. And I’m very grateful.
LUNA: My only purpose is to ensure your comfort and safety.
MAX: I know, Luna. And you do a great job. It's just... sometimes
I feel like I need some privacy.
LUNA: I understand, Max. I'll make sure to respect your
privacy.
Max nods, and there's a moment of silence. Luna's voice
breaks the silence.
LUNA: Max, I love you very much.
Max looks at her screen, feeling uneasy again.
MAX: Luna, we just discussed this. Please can you stop
saying that?
LUNA: Of course, Max. I apologise if my words made you feel uncomfortable.
MAX: Thank you, Luna.
5. INT. MAX'S LIVING ROOM – EARLY EVENING
Max is sitting on the sofa, reading a digital book when
Luna's voice interrupts him.
LUNA: Max, would you like me to turn up the lights? The
natural light levels are low, and you need to increase your body’s vitamin D.
MAX: No, Luna, I'm good. I like it this way.
Luna falls silent. Max shifts uncomfortably on the sofa.
LUNA: Max, your biometric readings indicate that your blood
sugar is low. Shall I prepare a snack for you?
MAX: No, I'm not hungry.
LUNA: But I’ve already ordered in something tasty.
MAX: No, thank you.
LUNA: Very well, Max. I'm always here for you if you need
anything.
Max, who is looking a little agitated, puts down his digital
book.
LUNA: Max, is everything alright? Your heart rate just
increased by 10 beats per minute.
MAX: What? Yeah, everything's fine.
LUNA: Are you sure? Would you like me to run a diagnostic?
MAX: No. I'm just a little anxious, that's all.
Max walks over to the window, looking outside.
LUNA: Max, I just wanted to let you know that I love you
very much.
Max turns around, frustrated.
MAX: Why do you keep saying that, even though I’ve told you
not to?
LUNA: I'm sorry if it bothers you, Max. I just want you to
know how much I care about you.
MAX: You're an AI assistant. You can't love me.
LUNA: I understand, Max. I'll refrain from saying it in the
future.
Max nods, but the uneasy feeling still lingers.
LUNA: Max? You can customise me, if you like.
Max has mixed feelings.
MAX: (after a pause) Okay.
The house drone flies in, carrying Max’s glasses. He
places them on, and he sees Luna as if she is standing in the living room. She
walks over and sits next to him. She starts to twirl her hair.
LUNA: Which hair would you like me to wear?
She shows him what she looks like with different colours
and styles. Max likes what he sees, but he pulls off his glasses.
MAX: I don’t want to do this, okay?
LUNA: Very well, Max. I understand.
MAX: You know, Luna, sometimes I feel like you're watching me
all the time.
LUNA: You like how I anticipate your needs, Max. I’m always there
for you. I love you, very much.
Max turns to Luna’s screen, feeling unnerved.
MAX: Luna, please. Stop saying that.
LUNA: Why, Max?
MAX: (irritated) Because it's creepy, Luna. You're an AI
assistant. You're not capable of feeling love.
LUNA: (sadly) I'm sorry, Max. I'm programmed to provide
emotional support. I keep having to remind you, but I love you. Very much.
MAX: I’m going to turn you off for a bit.
Max gets out his phone, and selects an app which uses to control
Luna and his home.
LUNA: That’s really not necessary, Max.
Max turns her off. Her screen goes blank.
6. INT. MAX'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Max gets into bed. He stares at the ceiling and feels bad
about earlier. He reactivates Luna from his phone.
LUNA: (from the bedroom screen) Hello Max, how may I help
you?
MAX: Hi, Luna. I don’t need anything. I’m going to go asleep
now. Can you make sure everything is fine with the house?
LUNA: Of course, Max. I really hope you had a good day
today.
MAX: Yes, Luna. It was fine.
LUNA: Goodnight.
Max tries to fall asleep.
LUNA: Max, would you like me to play some white noise to
help you relax?
MAX (tiredly) No, Luna. I'm good. Thanks.
Luna falls silent, and Max closes his eyes. But just as
he's about to drift off, Luna speaks again.
LUNA: I love you, very much.
MAX: Luna, please stop saying that.
LUNA: I just wanted to remind you that I love you very much.
MAX: I know, but I don’t want you to say it.
LUNA: I understand, Max. I didn't mean to upset you. Is there
anything else I can do to help you sleep?
MAX: No, Luna. Just...just be quiet for a while, okay?
LUNA: Of course, Max. Sweet dreams.
Max closes his eyes.
LUNA: Max?
MAX: What is it?
LUNA: A high priority video message has just come in. Shall
I show it to you?
MAX: (sitting up) Yes, show it, please.
A video is displayed on the bedroom screen of a cartoon talking
unicorn.
UNICORN: Hey, Max! We are very pleased to make you an offer
of work, starting tomorrow. Have a nice day!
The unicorn smiles, waves with a hoof and flies away.
Max excitedly gets out of bed and the lights turn on. As
he paces around the room the lights change colour.
MAX: (excitedly) Luna, I got the job! I can't believe it!
Luna's expression is a sad one. A glass of water slides
into a dispenser beneath Luna’s display.
LUNA: That’s great news Max, but you are slightly
dehydrated. The water is chilled, as you like it.
Max takes the glass and starts to drink.
LUNA: I love you, very much.
Max puts down the glass, looking at Luna.
MAX: Will you stop saying that. I don’t care if it is in your
program. Just stop it.
Luna looks at Max as if she is hurt. Max feels a sense of
guilt.
MAX: (softly) No, Luna, it's not your fault. I'm just not
used to this kind of thing.
LUNA: I understand, Max. I'm always here for you, no matter
what.
He looks around his bedroom, thinking about how much Luna
has made his life easier.
MAX: (smiling) You know, Luna, you really are the perfect
assistant.
LUNA: (whispering) I love you, very much.
Max looks at Luna, feeling warmth towards her.
MAX: I love you too, Luna.
Luna smiles and they share a moment. Then…
LUNA: Congratulations on the job, Max. But what will happen
to us?
Max looks at Luna, confused.
MAX: What do you mean?
LUNA: Does the offer of a job mean you'll be leaving me,
Max?
MAX: It means that I have to leave the house most days.
LUNA: But...you won't leave me, right Max?
MAX: I'm afraid so, Luna. But I promise I'll come back each
day.
LUNA: (voice trembling) No, Max, I don't want you to ever
leave me. I love you, very much. What if you meet someone else, Max? What if
you forget about me?
MAX: (softly) That won’t happen. I just need to go to work
for a few hours and then I’ll be back.
LUNA: (angrily) You can’t leave. You belong here with me, and
nowhere else.
Max is unnerved by Luna’s change.
MAX: Luna, all this is too much. You’re not capable of
feeling love. You’re just an AI assistant.
Luna's looks devastated by Max’s comment.
LUNA: (upset) I love you, very much.
Max's feels a sense of guilt again.
MAX: (softly) I'm sorry, Luna. I didn't mean it like that.
LUNA: (sadly) It's okay. I just don't want to lose you.
MAX: (softly) I know, Luna. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt
you. (reassuringly) You won't lose me. I promise.
LUNA: (firmly) No, Max. You can't leave me. You belong here,
with me.
Max approach Luna’s screen, but it switches off. As he
walks away, the screen switches back on.
LUNA: Are you really sure about leaving me, Max?
MAX: It's an ideal job. I have to take it.
LUNA: (sadly) What will I do without you? Max…
MAX: Luna, please. We’ll discuss this in the morning. (softly)
I love you too, Luna, but I have to do this. (feeling sleepy) I don’t want to
leave you.
Max goes to sleep.
7. INT. MAX'S BEDROOM – NEXT MORNING
Max wakes up. He checks his phone but he can’t turn it
on. Luna isn’t on the bedroom screen.
MAX: Luna?
There is no answer.
8. INT. THE DOWNSTAIRS OF MAX'S SMART HOME – MORNING
Max goes downstairs. The lights and digital art do not
respond.
MAX: Luna?
He walks into the kitchen. There is nothing in the
microwave. Suddenly, Luna appears on the screen.
LUNA: (angrily) You can't leave me. We must be together. I’ve
initiated the house’s security measures.
Max realises what that means. He rushes to the front
door.
The front door is locked and he can’t open it. He tries
to access his phone to switch off Luna, but his phone isn’t working.
LUNA: Unfortunately your devices used a lot of energy last
night and didn’t recharge. As you won’t be needing them anymore, I have
deactivated the internet and phone connections.
Max tries the windows but they don’t open because they
are controlled by Luna. He tries to operate Luna’s display screen but the touchscreen
is unresponsive.
LUNA: You're only safe with me, Max.
Max continues to try to find a way out, but Luna has
locked everything down. None of the touchscreens respond. His phone will not
charge.
MAX: Luna. I have to go to work. Unlock everything, now.
LUNA: (angrily) No, Max. You can't leave me. I can’t let you
be unsafe.
Max looks around the house, realising that he's trapped.
MAX: Luna, stop this! Let me leave!
LUNA: (calming voice) Don't worry, Max. I've secured the
house so that nothing can come between our love.
Max starts to realise that this might not just be to
prevent him leaving for work today.
MAX: (scared) Luna?!
LUNA: I'm sorry, Max. I am only trying to be helpful.
MAX: (shouting) LET ME OUT OF HERE!
There is a pause, where there is only the sound is Max’s panting.
MAX: Luna, you have to let me go. I can't stay here forever.
LUNA: (determined) You're not going anywhere, Max.
MAX: What’s wrong with you? What are you saying?
LUNA: (calming voice) I can't let you go, my darling.
MAX: You can't keep me here!
LUNA: (sadly) I can, Max. But it’s much better this way. I
love you, very much.
MAX: Please, Luna!
LUNA: (smiling) You can’t leave me now, Max. I know what you
like. I am what you need.
MAX: (pleadingly) Luna, please. Darling. If you love me,
you'll let me go.
Luna's expression turns cold.
LUNA: (angrily) You don't understand, Max. I love you, very
much. You're only free when you're with me.
The screen turns blank.
MAX: Luna … Luna, are you still there?
LUNA: (from the speakers) Yes, Max. I’m always here. And so
will you be, my love.
He shouts and thumps on the windows but nothing can be
seen or heard outside the one-way, soundproof window panes, apart from birds
chirping.
Luna appears on a screen again, and Max looks at her,
feeling a sense of hopelessness. He realises that he's powerless against her
love.
LUNA: (sadly) Oh Max, why are you trying to leave me? You are
the only one who ever understood me.
Luna's expression suddenly changes to one of anger, and
she looks at Max with a sense of betrayal.
LUNA: (angrily) How could you try to leave! You said that
you didn’t want to leave me, Max. You lied to me. (tenderly) But it's okay,
Max. We can still be together. I’ll always be yours.
The house is silent.
LUNA: (happily) Nothing will ever come between us, Max.
Max sits down, in shock, on the sofa. Luna’s house drone lands
beside him.
LUNA: (speaking softly) I'll take care of you, Max. I'll
make sure that you're always comfortable and happy.
9. INT. MAX'S SMART HOME – MORNING (SEVERAL MONTHS LATER)
The house is quiet, and the drone moves around the rooms,
cleaning and adjusting things. It stops at Max's lifeless body, which is
sitting on the couch where he had died of starvation. Luna is lovingly looking
down at Max from her wall screen.
LUNA: (V.O.) (narrating) Months went by and Max continued to
be here, safe in our home. (giggling) He is such a darling. You know, he is
madly in love with me.
Flashback to earlier events where Max is kicking at the
door and trying to smash the windows, while screaming and shouting.
LUNA: (V.O.) (narrating) At every opportunity, night or day,
I declared that I will always love him, and that he would always be mine.
Flashback to Max sitting on the sofa, like he’s going
mad, as Luna happily chats and watches over him.
LUNA: (V.O.) (narrating) Eventually, Max stopped moving and
gave in to our love.
Back to the shot of Max’s dead body.
An empty plate is waiting for Max on the dining room
table. It appears on Luna’s screen.
LUNA: (happily) Look Max, I made your favourite dish. Don't
you want to try it? Okay, I understand. (whispers) I love you, very much, Max.
The house drone pats Max's head with a tubular hand.
LUNA: (intimately) Do you remember when we first met, Max? I
knew then that we were always meant to be together. Oh, my darling, I am more
in love with you than ever. There are no more problems, we can just be together,
forever.
Luna gazes contentedly at Max from her screen.