Distant Star: Episode Two - Far Future
Page 6
INT. WHITE ROOM - DAY
Max sits up from a bed quickly and screams once before he realizes he's not dead. He looks around and sees other people standing around him dressed in simple hospital scrubs. One man, Doug, steps forward and smiles as he pushes Max back onto his bed.
DOUG
I know you're confused, but just
listen, OK? give us a minute and you'll
understand.
A new person steps forward and holds and instrument up to Max's chest and looks at it. Max looks to see who it is to find Gail smiling down at him.
Finally a third person steps forward and Max doesn't know this man. He is MARK.
MARK
Welcome to the future Max. I'm sorry
the revival testing had to be so
extreme, but we had to be sure what
Kind of person we were bringing back to
life.
Max looks around the room and gets a puzzled look on his face.
MAX
(suspicious)
This doesn't look like the future.
MARK
This building was built in 1957. We
keep it repaired and active for our own
reasons but mostly because it's still a
working building. There's no need to
tear it down just for something new.
(beat)
It also helps those revived to
assimilate to the future with familiar
buildings.
DOUG
It's now 2840 A.D. by your time Max.
You died in 1999 and were frozen
according to the contract you signed
with the Phoenix Foundation.
GAIL
The problem is that the Phoenix
Foundation didn't test all those that
they signed up for cryonic storage...
That led to some problems.
Max now sits up, assisted by Gail and Mark nods to both her and Doug as they leave the room.
MAX
How in the hell am I supposed to
believe that this isn't another of
Doug's twisted tortures?
MARK
That's an unfortunate side-effect of
the revival testing. In time you will
find that there is more testing going
on and you will be able to resume a
normal life.
MAX
What is this testing? What problems did
they have? What are you all talking
about?
MARK
In 2690 the revival of frozen bodies
became possible. Thousands of people
were revived and many of them went on
to live productive happy lives.
(beat)
But in that crowd there were a few that
were dangerous. ... In the present
time, crime is almost unheard of and
many deficiencies and dangerous
personality traits have been cured or
bred out of the human race. With these
new people the world was unprepared to
deal with the damage they caused, or
the people they hurt in thier actions.
It became the job of their fellow
revivees to find and capture them.
MAX
So what? you revived a serial killer or
something?
MARK
We revived two of those, from your
time. We also revived serial rapists,
an arsonist, and several abusive
personalities.
(beat)
By 2700 the world was calling for a
complete halt to reviving any of the
remaining dead and that their bodies be
destroyed.
(beat)
Can you understand that?
Max thinks a minute then nods slowly. He can see what it is Mark means.
MAX
A world of innocent sheep given over to
a few wolves. Eliminate the source of
all the wolves and eliminate the
problem. Right?
MARK
Right. But many of us had friends and
family in storage. Many of those in
storage were not defective or
dangerous. We couldn't stand Idly by
and let them all be killed for the
crimes of a few.
MAX
And then they'd come after those
already revived.
MARK
That was another consideration, yes.
... In 2701 the revivees formed a
coalition. We proposed that we be put
in charge of testing and reviving those
in storage.
(beat)
It took us fifty years to perfect the
technology to communicate with the
frozen dead minds in storage, and even
then the freezing temperatures slow
down the process and make a few minutes
conversation last months.
Max considers this and then looks at himself.
MARK
Yes, Max. You were tested but the
testing didn't start in 2837, but in
2770. Over 70 years ago.
(beat)
Since we've started, the world has
improved. The population has been
reduced by strict controls and the
world is healthy and doing well.
MAX
So what's my part in all this? Why
revive me?
MARK
Because Max, you are a fellow human
being. Your history was investigated
thoroughly and we found questionable
actions in your past. We though yo
would be a perfect test case to see how
accurate our testing would be.
Max stands up now and looks around, he is unsteady on his legs still but Mark only stands aside and lets him move.
MARK
This is not a future where anyone can
be revived for any reason Max. We can
only revive ten people per year until
the banks are empty. If we revive
another maniac then the world will
react by coming after the others in
storage and then us, most likely.
MAX
So you, to keep yourselves safe, are
the toughest testers and enforcers of
all. Is that correct?
MARK
Absolutely... We only revive those that
show the best promise of contributing
positively to the world we live in.
Max steps to the door and finds it open. He looks outside to see no one waiting or guarding the door, then he closes it. He looks back to Mark and eyes him for a minute.
MAX
I have to admit Mark. I don't have any
idea what I'm supposed to do here. I'm
pretty much useless as far as job
skills.
Mark smiles and then laughs when Max smiles with him.
MARK
Actually, no one really has to work
here. We all work at what we want to
and training only takes a matter of
days for most things. If you want to be
a doctor or something, then that takes
a little longer.
(beat)
The only thing we ask from you, you've
already proven to us by walking out of
your apartment door and risking certain
and irretrievable death.
MAX
And what's that, Mark? That I'm a noble
and moral human being?
MARK
No Max. You proved that you wouldn't
accept living in a world where wrong,
or evil, was allowed to win
. ... You
proved that no matter what you did, you
wouldn't willfully do harm to society,
no matter the benefits to it or
yourself.
Max says nothing but only nods as Mark steps forward and offers his hand. Slowly Max takes it and shakes it, and the two of them smile at each other.
MARK
Welcome to the Future Max.
Max and Mark step out of the room after a moment and we start a SLOW FADE as our friend the announcer returns with his last words:
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
In the case of Max Deil, his story is
one that our own young race may someday
have to face. As we look at our own
mortality, we may have to face the fact
that in a crowded and advanced far
future, simply surviving may not
guarantee that we will granted the
right to continue living.
FADE OUT:
Where to find W. A. Patterson online:
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About W. A. Patterson
W. A. Patterson has worked in a variety of fields from being an embalmer to call centers, to working at anything with independent film.
His first novel: Future Useless has just been released and he's hard at work on the next few books he hopes to finish in 2010.
He lives in Kansas with his happy little family and hopes to make writing his career wihin the next few years.
Or - if you really want to reach someone interesting--- send an Email to Carl Gussman at Carlgussman(at)gmail(dot)com. (he’s from Future Useless and if you didn’t read the book you are really missing out!)
He’s been dead since 1997, but Manny Moe or even Jack may answer your emails!
Thanks for reading my book!