Distant Star:
Episode Two-
Far Future
By W. A. Patterson
Published by Smashwords
Copyright 2010 W. A. Patterson
Discover other titles by W. A. Patterson at Smashwords.com:
Future Useless *
Distant Star: Episode One - In The Twilight
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DISTANT STAR- EPISODE 2 - FAR FUTURE? - TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. MAX'S APARTMENT - DAY
MAX DEIL sits at a desk working at his computer. Behind him we can see the rest of his apartment is untouched by order or cleanliness. In short, Max is a slob or a typical male with no females due to arrive soon.
FX: DOORBELL RINGS
Reluctantly Max gets up from his desk and goes to the door. We can see now that his clothes are dirty, his hair unwashed and a mess. When he opens the door he sees a dapperly dressed and polite looking man bearing a briefcase. This man is DOUG BROWN. He is a salesman, of a sort.
MAX
Yes? Can I help you?
DOUG
Of course you can Mr. Deil! It is Mr.
Maxwell Deil isn't it? Or is it Max?
MAX
Yes. I'm Max Deil, but I don't know who
you are Mr. ... ?
DOUG
Oh me? I'm Doug, Doug Brown.
MAX
Well Mr. Brown, I-
DOUG
(interrupts)
Just Doug please, no need to stand on
Ceremony.
MAX
Well, Doug, I'm afraid I have no idea
what you're doing here. ... I have no
money so I can't buy anything, and I
don't ever remember meeting you.
DOUG
Well, Max, I'm a salesman, but I'm not
here to sell you electric butter-knives
or self-tying shoe-laces or anything
like that. I'm actually here to offer
you a job.
Max looks at Doug in disbelief, and then takes the card Doug hands him, looking at it, and unconsciously backing away from the door as he does so. Quick as a blink, Doug steps inside and looks around.
Max notices this and then Steps back to block Doug's way farther into the apartment.
DOUG
This is so fascinating. How can you fit
so much clutter in such a small place
Max?
Max looks around and notices the sty his apartment has become.
MAX
I don't think its that bad.
DOUG
Oh, this place is positively Rancid!
When's the last time you took out the
garbage?
MAX
Last week sometime. What's it to you?
DOUG
Well, Max, although the job I have in
mind for you has no particular need for
tidiness, I do like to know the people
I'm hiring as well as I can.
(looks around again)
It looks like you're more of an
abstract-random sort of character.
Doug gently pushes Max out of the way and Max takes a
second to look at the card.
CUT TO:
CARD- CLOSE UP
DOUG BROWN- AXIS SYSTEMS- CHICAGONOIS- NORTH AMERICA
MAX
Chicago-nois? Where the hell is that?
DOUG
Oh, You'd call it Chicago Max. It was
in the state of Illinois until the city
grew big enough to reach City-State
Status. They usually change the name
at that time, except for New York, They
were the first so they never changed
it.
MAX
City State? What's going on here?
Doug looks in Surprise at Max, then recalls something, slapping his forehead as he does so.
DOUG
Sorry, I'm being foolish again. I
forget that they restore your mind
without remembering anything. ... You
died in 1999 Max. Your body was Frozen
in Cryonic Suspension. You remember
signing up for that?
(Max nods)
Its now the Year 2837 and your body is
about to be revived. I'm here to see if
you want to work for me and see if
paying to have you thawed out is worth
the cost.
Max Looks to Doug for a moment and then at the apartment around him, then laughs.
MAX
That's funny Doug, but not quite funny
enough. Who put you up to this? Was it
Russell?
DOUG
Russell? ... Who's- ... OH! I get it!
You think this is a Joke! Sure! That
happens almost every time. ... Well
watch this.
Doug claps his hands twice and then gestures around him. Max looks and sees that the trashed apartment is now spotlessly clean and tidy.
DOUG
This is a computer simulation Max. Its
not real. But what is real is the fact
that is that you're dead and you can be
resurrected if you want.
Max looks at Doug for a few seconds and then faints away completely, his head making a nice THUNK as it hits the floor.
FADE OUT:
DISTANT STAR- EPISODE 2 - FAR FUTURE? - ACT I.
FADE IN:
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
There are a hundred-billion stars in
our Galaxy alone. There are more
planets around more than just around
our own star. There may be life on some
of those planets. And with that life
come their own stories.
(beat)
It doesn't matter how many legs or eyes
the story teller has. It doesn't matter
what color is their sun. All that
matters now is that they have a story
to tell you. Listen close and you might
hear the message they are trying to
send from their own Distant Star.
INT. MAX'S APARTMENT - DAY
Max now lies on the couch and Doug sits on the arm waiting for him to wake. When he does, Doug only smiles and hands him a glass of water.
DOUG
Here. Drink this and take a few deep
breaths. It'll help clear your head.
Max does as he's told as he sits up and looks around. Much of the furniture has been cleaned or removed entirely. The computer and entire desk and desk chair are now missing. The bed is made but sits without pillows.
MAX
I must have fainted. My head hurts.
DOUG
You smacked it pretty hard on the floor
there. ... I know that this is a
virtual reality but without a little
pain it all gets a bit stale after
about a day or so.
MAX
Why virtual reality? If I'm dead why
not just revive my body?
DOUG
Its not that simple Max. The world
population is now around 17 billion
people. Resources are in prime demand
and its all the colonies in space and
the recycling plants can do to keep up
and keep everyone fed.
Doug stands and stretches then looks around before continuing.
DOUG
Poverty has been entirely wiped out,
but with it, we've had to wipe out
nearly the entire lower classes. We
don't have poor people because we
simply don't allow them to be born.
(beat)
Also, since we can't afford a
population of malcontents or
unemployable, our society tends to
freeze the crippled and the sick and
the lazy or criminal to let them live
in Virtual Realities like this one
where the only resource they use is
very little power.
Max stands and goes to the window, looking at the world outside. We can see it looks normal in all respects and Dan opens the window experimentally.
DOUG
You won't find any inconsistencies
between reality and the virtual here.
We've had over 700 years to perfect the
technology. In fact, you share this
same reality with over 5 billion other
frozen minds as well, but you won't
ever meet any of them if you don't want
to.
MAX
So what's the point in reviving anyone
at all? If this is easier why doesn't
everyone just freeze themselves and
save the resources?
DOUG
Well, someone has to keep things
running in reality, and even if we let
people live thier fantasy lives here,
it becomes stale after awhile. There
is no substitute for reality Max.
MAX
So why haven't you imposed breeding
limits and limited the number of births
each year.
DOUG
Oh we did Max, we did. We even imposed
a death penalty for Jay-walking at one
time but it didn't do any good. The
problem isn't that people are born each
day. the problem is that no one seems
to really die anymore.
MAX
Then what about colonies in space?
DOUG
Think about it Max. If we could put
over a million people in orbit each
day, where would we get the resources
to build all the ships to take them
anywhere? We've been trying to terra-
form Mars, but they have the same
population problem that we have. No one
dies so the population just keeps
growing.
Max takes a seat and another drink of water, trying to digest all this.
MAX
OK. I think I get what you're saying
here. I just don't understand one
thing.
DOUG
And what would that be Max?
MAX
Why would you revive me? I'm at least
700 years out of date and I'm sure I'd
be pretty much useless to you as
anything more than as a janitor.
Doug laughs long and hard at this, uncontrollably doubling up as he does so. tears run down his face as he tries to regain his composure.
DOUG
I'm sorry Max. What you just said just
struck me as funny.
MAX
Why is that?
DOUG
Well, for one thing we have robots
available to clean everything, and for
another, we wouldn't revive anyone that
would be useless.
(beat)
In fact, we a Axis systems think that
you have a very great potential to be
quite useful to us.
Max Looks to Doug and seems to have nothing to say.
MAX
How?
DOUG
Well, first I have to ask you some
questions and you need to be completely
honest with me. You shouldn't be
worried about recriminations as all
statues of limitations have run out on
any crimes you may have committed in
the past. You have no need to be
dishonest with me here. ... Do you
think you can do that?
MAX
I think I can, but why should I?
DOUG
Because Max, If you are honest with me
now, it will help make a favorable
decision on how useful you can be to my
company.
MAX
OK. I think I can understand that.
DOUG
Good. I really have only one question,
but it was about a slightly criminal
operation in your past. At the time
you wee employed for a large software
developer. I think you know the company
I am speaking of, don't you?
MAX
Yes. MicroTek. Up until a half hour ago
I thought I still worked there.
DOUG
Yes, well, about that- ... At the time
of your employment at MicroTek, there
was a particularly nasty computer virus
being distributed with almost every
piece of software sold. You remember
that virus.
MAX
(smiles widely)
The Mad Hatter Virus. Yes, I remember
that one.
DOUG
Yes, I thought you would. do you know
why this virus was so nasty?
MAX
Oh sure. It was a few months before
they figured out that the virus never
was installed in a computer system in
one peice.
You had to install certain programs
before the virus became active and then
it would take over your computer. It
would get on the internet and send all
your information to a server somewhere
that the hacker could access whenever
they wanted to.
DOUG
That's correct. ... You seem to have a
good idea of how well this program
worked.
MAX
That's because I wrote it. ... That's
what you were going to ask me right?
DOUG
Yes, it was.
MAX
Well, I don't see any reason to hide it
now. I wrote it. Any other questions
Doug?
DOUG
Why did you write such a program Max?
MAX
Because even though MicroTek had a
Stock listing in the Billions of
dollars, they failed to tell their
investors that their pension funds and
almost all accounts had been mishandled
almost since the company started. Only
a se4lect few who had the intelligence
to dig deep enough knew about it, and
the top dogs at the company spent 90%
of their time hiding it.
(beat)
I spent ten years with MicroTek and
while on paper I was worth millions, it
was only a matter of month before the
truth came out and the stock options I
had wouldn't be worth their weight in
tissue paper.
(beat)
I created the Mad Hatter Virus and to
build a little nest egg for myself and
my fellow employees. The main reason I
created the virus was to access the
mainframe and the computer records of
the big dogs themselves. ... I used it
to find out where the money that was
supposed to go to the employees went,
and managed to return it to the proper
place in most cases.
Max stops talking now and gets a blank look on his face as he recalls something.
DOUG
Yes Max. You seem to be recalling
something.
MAX
Yes. I do. I just remembered. I got
fired from Microtek shortly after that.
... In fact, I remember moving to
Montana and hiding from the same big
dogs of the company who wanted my
blood.
DOUG
And why was that?
MAX
Because, even though the FBI never
found out who made Mad Hatter, Microtek
did. They didn't turn me in because of
why I did it, but they weren't exactly
used to operating legally anyway.
(pause)
Several of the executives at the
company promised me I wouldn't live to
enjoy my retirement. ... I took the
threat seriously.
Doug rises and then opens his briefcase, quickly pulling out a thick contract and handing it to Max.
DOUG
Well, thank you for your Honesty Max. I
am now convinced that you are the right
man for the job. ... I have no qualms
in offering you this employment
contract.
Max takes the contract and then starts to look it over.
MAX
I'm sorry to seem so stupid Doug, but I
still have no idea what I could do for
you that would be worth anything.
DOUG
Oh, well, I'm sure you can figure it
out if you tried, Max. After all, the
only real change in computers is that
they are much faster now. Sure the
language is different, but the concepts
are still the same.
Max looks at Doug and then at the contract. Doug starts to leave but Max grabs his arm and keeps him from leaving. When Doug faces him he hands the contract back to him.
MAX
I can't take this Mr. Brown. I'm not a
hacker, I'm a systems analyst and
network administrator. I can't take a
job making viruses.
Doug Looks at the contract then hands it back to Max.
DOUG
Keep this Max. I'm sure you'll find
that signing it will be the best
decision you've ever made.
Doug smiles evilly and then walks out the door, closing it behind him.
Max looks at the door for a few seconds and then looks at the contract, crumpling it up into a ball and then turning to toss it away. When he does he stops dead in his tracks.
We see it a second later.
The entire apartment is empty and only a lone NEON PHONE sits in the middle of the floor. The windows are black and the only light comes from the overhead lamp.
The phone begins to ring and flash. Reluctantly Max walks toward it, letting the contract fall to the floor.
MAX
Hello?
DOUG (O.S.)
Hello Max. One thing I forgot to
mention,... Axis Systems happens to own
the contract for your virtual reality.
If you won't play ball with us, then
I'm afraid I can't justify the expense
of keeping you in a top of the line
reality indefinitely. ... Although our
own contract now states we have to keep
you conscious and aware, I'm afraid
that beyond that it doesn't specify how
much energy we have to expend to keep
you that way.
MAX
So I don't play ball and write the
virus programs you want, then I live in
a darkened room, alone and forgotten
forever? Is that it Doug?
DOUG
(laughs)
You got it in one Max! I was right
about you! You're smart as a whip!
MAX
You're right Doug. I am. And I'm tough
as nails too. Do your worst Doug. I
won't write the virus programs for you.
Max hangs up the phone, then takes a seat on the floor. Taking the wadded up contract he pulls it to him then lays down, placing the contract under his head for a cushion.
The phone rings again. After a short time Max answers again, not speaking but holding the headset to his ear.
DOUG (O.S.)
You are right Max. You are tough as
nails, and I will do my worst. You will
write the programs for me Max. Either
that or you'll beg me to kill you.
Max hangs up the phone and then yanks the cord out of the wall and tosses it away.
Suddenly a loud ticking begins to fill the room and Max looks up to find a clock on the wall that seems to get impossibly louder with every second.
The clock reads less than a minute to Midnight.
The second hand sweeps to the twelve.
When it hits a THUNDEROUS BONGING of a bell SCREAMS Through the room! Max reels in pain, his hands to his ears to block out the pain the Bonging is causing.
As the bonging continues Doug can be heard over the noise.
DOUG
You will work for me Max! You will or I
will drive you insane. Its that Simple
Max! Make your choice wisely!
(beat)
And this clock gongs the hour every 15
minutes!
We exit as Max collapses to the floor and we hear Doug Laughing maniacally as we
FADE OUT:
DISTANT STAR- EPISODE 2 - FAR FUTURE? - ACT II.
FADE IN:
INT. MAX'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Max lays on the floor, fitfully asleep. On the side of his head we can see where blood has run from his damaged ear drums down his face. He is still unwashed but now the slovenliness looks more like a prisoner of war than as a compu-slob.
The door begins to knock quietly, but soon grows more insistent as It continues. Max stirs from his place on the floor and we can see from his beard that it has been some time since we saw him last.
As he moves toward the door it becomes painfully obvious that Max has suffered and carries this weariness in his bones from the way he walks.
He opens the door to see only a black area outside with a young woman, GAIL, standing outside patiently.
GAIL
Max Deil?
MAX
(slurred)
Yes.
GAIL
Good to meet you Max. Doug asked me to
step in and come talk to you.... I
imagine that you may have some
questions and I am sure I have some
things to tell you that you may find
important.
Max does not close the door but grabs Gail by the arm as she enters the apartment and forces her back out the door.
MAX
I won't do it! I won't kill all those
people! I WON'T DO IT!
With that he slams the door in Gail's astonished face and then leans his head against the door for a moment. Soon the clicking of shoes on the floor make him spin around to look behind him.
There in the once empty apartment is now a small table with cool drinks waiting in between two lounge chairs. Gail takes and seat, and sipping from a drink waves for Max to take up the vacant one on the other side of the table.
GAIL
Come on now Max. I'm sure you've
figured out by now that you can't get
rid of me that easily. you might as
well enjoy a little break.
Max drops his shoulders resigning himself to the intrusion and shuffles emptily to the vacant chair, taking a small sip of the drink beside him.