SAFE SOCIETY
episode 5
by CHRIS SHIMOJIMA
© 2023 One Ocean Productions. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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reproduced, sold or distributed by any means or quoted or
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INTRO TITLE SOUNDS: ("Safe Society"
chorus of whispers)
MUSIC: INTRO/OUTRO THEME
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
Sound the bells! Last we saw M, he
was making waves and drawing the
attention of Safe Society Member W.
RECAP SOUND BITES.
NEWS REPORTS AND ONLINE CLIPS
ANCHORS AND CHANNEL HOSTS
...pioneering 6 masks in closed
room settings...
...photos of M and other leaders on
the board, responsibly wearing 6
masks....
Rooting4U hits top trending...
W'S COLLEAGUE
6 masks. That's the company you
were looking into?
W
Ha! This CEO had it in him after
all....
MUSIC: swell
EXT. SAFE SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS - DAY
Birds chirp. Grass and trees blow
gently. Peaceful, quiet air.
NARRATOR
W's intuition made him certain he
he had found their new star, and he
extended an invite to the
organization headquarters.
Car door opens.
M
(stepping out, to driver,
through mask)
Thank you.
Car door closes.
M breathes in the fresh air.
Footsteps -- we follow him walking.
Distant large wind chimes.
Distant laughing/chatting, PASSING
BY ONE EAR.
A TOUR GUIDE bringing GUESTS,
PASSING BY THE OTHER EAR.
TOUR GUIDE
And coming up to the right, you'll
see the left wing and the
building's former front entrance,
just as majestic and inspiring...
Distant footsteps -- heavy, but
trying to jog down steps -- getting
closer to us.
W
M?
M
Hey!
NARRATOR
They greeted with a fist-bump.
W
Thank you for coming, my man! It
is good to see that fresh face in
person.
Large clock hand ticking.
NARRATOR
It was near here that M did a
double-take, seeing the huge clock
and emblem of the headquarters.
With its circular face, patterned
blue and green, maybe it reminded
him of our beautiful planet... or
was it something he'd seen in a
magnificent vision?
INT. SAFE SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS / LOUNGE AREA
Utensils clinking. Squishy chewing
sounds from M and W, sitting a
distance apart.
M
Delicious.
W's voice is fragile. Always a
smidge too kind:
W
Maggots, cooked and flavored with
the power of science. Remind me to
connect you to the CEO Jaime. Eat
more, my boy. You are growing.
Mentally and spiritually, I mean,
ha.
M
If I could get this into school
lunches, even 2 days a week...
W
You know, we support some mayors of
key cities. They can surely hear
our requests. And our
pharmaceutical Members would
champion it. They supply the
processing chemicals so they would
see more business, haha.
M
That'd be terrific. There is so
much room for Rooting4U to improve.
Honestly, I think by doing so, we
we can become one of your top 10
companies, and hopefully get access
to your funding pool, which will
let us do some bigger things... I
have big ideas brewing...
W
Oh yes, I could go on about
possibilities, but don't mean to
overwhelm. Take your time, and
more visions will come to you.
W puts down utensils, finishing
eating.
W (CONT'D)
May I sit closer now as I put my
masks back on?
M
I trust you.
W shuffling his chair closer,
having to move a long way.
W
(through masks)
Look around. You would be allowed
here whenever.
Quiet voices of passing employees.
Distant screens playing more Case
Studies.
W (CONT'D)
The staff you see? Diligent and
guaranteed to be tackling something
crucial. And fully dedicated to
us. All organizational needs for
initiatives set by my board and
others. We are experts in every
niche of culture. Governments do
not have such expertise, so they
rely on us, meaning we are in
position to get them to pass
important legislation. It does not
matter what corrupt official is in
office. We are looking out.
M
Guardian angels, huh?
W
Oh ha... No, we do not have the
cajones to compare ourselves to
such biased purity metaphors.
EXT. SAFE SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS
Birds chirping again. But now
we're in a more echo-y
courtyard/field. A soccer ball
being kicked back and forth --
PANNING FROM ONE EAR TO ANOTHER. W
and M's voices more distant.
W
Good! Here!
More kicking.
W (CONT'D)
Oof... hold on...
He sounds out of breath. Trudging
through grass.
W (CONT'D)
I am so sorry I can't keep up.
M
No! Please! I'm a jerk for trying
so hard.
W
Okay. Here! Agck!
With great exertion, he kicks it,
weakly... and it rolls....
It stops under M's foot.
Beat.
W (CONT'D)
M?
M
(wistful)
Yeah, sorry, just... memories...
Kicks it back.
MUSIC: gentle, harmonious swell
CUT TO
them close to us now. Fade in mid
convo. W plays off the
wistfulness.
W
Yeah... I understand... and my
feeling is... the world is....
it's...
M
Not doing well.
W
And it's not safe for me.
M
(sympathizing)
Mm. Yes.
W
Look at this photo, if your stomach
is strong.
Sound of W pulling out phone,
tapping to show something.
MUSIC: dissonant horror sting
M
Oh God.
W
No God here.
M
My apologies.
W
We always consider that the world
has varied beliefs. This was my
good friend. Killed by "God
fearing" supremacists. I have
become so scared.
M
Don't be scared. As gruesome as it
seems, it was one instance.
W
You are right. I become too
idealistic thinking it shouldn't
happen at all.
M
No, no, you're right. We can all
do more.
W
(leans in, confidential)
Sometimes at my company... when
there are too many whites in a
room, I notice they overdo their
friendliness to the minorities. It
is innocent, I know. But...
nevermind.
M
You can say it.
W
They may feel better easing their
guilt, but minorities end up
feeling alienation. One of the top
killers in the world. Look at this
statistic, if you can stomach it.
W shifting, tapping phone to show
something.
MUSIC: dissonant horror sting
M
It's sobering.
(sighs)
W
My man, I do not know why I am
telling you this. I'm sure your
company is fine.
NARRATOR
But forced to confront it like
this, M understood there's no way
his company could be totally fine.
W
I'm just a perfectionist because --
M
That's not a bad thing.
W
-- if a country's people are not
leveled down to make them equal, it
will never be stable. And if all
countries are not equal, the world
will not be stable. Should America
stand haughtily above others?
America, whose energy unfairly
pollutes minority areas? We here
are in a position to save everyone,
because we consist of companies
that consider all countries.
Together. With less selfishness.
Less....
(searching for word)
M
Racism.
W sighs.
MUSIC: getting to business... tense
and militaristic
NARRATOR
So, off to the races, no pun
intended. M saw the next rung on
the ladder of his mission, to help
his company, to help Safe Society
(to link hands with Safe Society),
to help the world as he knew it.
INT. ROOTING4U HEADQUARTERS
Clicking.
NARRATOR
So in addition to printing the blue
and green logo on all packaging,
and using ingredients from Safe
Society-certified factories, he and
B and Rooting4U supervisors
scrolled through all the faces of
their hires.
M
(through masks)
That's one's white. That one's
white.
SUPERVISOR
(through masks)
Okay, delete.
B
(through masks)
Yeah that one too. Wow, that's a
lot.
SUPERVISOR
Okay, deleting.
M
Wait no, that one's... Middle
Eastern?
That's...
White-ish?
White. Yeah, delete.
B
White, right?
Is Middle Eastern white?
Looks white.
MEETING ROOM
HALF-LATIN EMPLOYEE is arguing with
B.
NARRATOR
And the next day, they began their
long and arduous process to correct
the country's shameful history.
HALF-LATIN EMPLOYEE
(through masks)
... just look at the chart here --
I'M ALMOST 50 PERCENT NOT WHITE!
I'M ALMOST 50 PERCENT HISPANIC!
B has gotten the hang of the gentle
company culture:
B
(through masks)
You can't explain that to every
person you meet. That'd be
ridiculous. So please lower your
voice and don't use that language.
I know you may not like it, but
that's 50 percent more than some of
your colleagues, so have some
humility.
BULLPEN
WHITE EMPLOYEES muttering and
shuffling through desk material.
NARRATOR
The unbalanced amount of unsanitary
white flesh color cleared its
desks, gradually thinning out, as
if from a new advanced filtration
system.
DISTRAUGHT WHITE EMPLOYEE whispers
to a CALM WHITE EMPLOYEE.
DISTRAUGHT WHITE EMPLOYEE
(through masks)
I can't believe this. My life's
already falling apart as it is.
CALM WHITE EMPLOYEE
(through masks)
Sometimes it's not about you.
ENTRYWAY
Sets of footsteps. Beeping.
Shuffling. Patting down by
SECURITY.
SECURITY
(through masks, cold)
Next. Keep it moving.
NARRATOR
Like a conveyor belt to Judgment
Day -- for lack of a non-religious
equivalent -- these lazy whites
passed through the exit, IDs
revoked, data on phones cleared,
and patted down by security --
because would you trust these
sleazes with company secrets?
MUSIC: suddenly rosy
SECURITY
(warm)
Welcome to Rooting4U. Hi, can I
hold your jacket?
NARRATOR
And a new rainbow of flesh moved in
to the Promised Land -- brand new
device models gifted -- and vaccine
passports checked, for this could
not be just any diversity -- only
the best of the best.
Security's voice on loud-speaker:
SECURITY
Nurse to line 3 please. Nurse to
line 3.
An UNVACCINATED new employee:
UNVACCINATED
(through masks)
But... but I don't want it.
NURSE's footsteps -- approaching.
NURSE
(through masks, as if to a
child)
Aw, it's okay. I tell my patients
to just close their eyes. You'll
just feel a prick, that's all.
Liquid filling up.
Unvaccinated hyperventilates. And
grunts, through gritted teeth -- it
sounds excruciating.
MUSIC: horrendous shrieking -- a
"needle" motif
Suddenly, after a tiny yelp,
Unvaccinated quiets.
An exaggerated puncture sound.
Liquid squirting. Dripping.
BULLPEN
Hustle and bustle of employees.
Suddenly, Unvaccinated collapses!
Trembles. Strains for air. Bumps
chairs.
EMPLOYEES
(through masks)
What happened?
Help! Can someone call 9-1-1?
He keeps gripping his heart.
He can't breathe.
NARRATOR
Reactions were certainly possible --
no one was ever denying that -- but
is it so hard to believe that
benefits could outweigh risks?
Discomfort is part of any
adaptation.
ENTRYWAY
Sets of footsteps again. Beeping
again. Shuffling again. Patting
down by security again.
NARRATOR
Those who couldn't handle it did
have to be replaced, but M and his
team understood how many more
would've died had it not been for
our brave pharmaceutical companies
at least making an effort.
SECURITY
(through masks, warm)
Welcome to Rooting4U. Hi, can I
help you with your bag?
NARRATOR
And M's positivity even spread
beyond the standard shots, to even
more fearless innovations.
PANEL TALK
M and another WOKE CEO talk INTO
MICS.
WOKE CEO
(through masks)
For all white employees, we're
giving weekly Equality Boosters.
PANEL AUDIENCE claps. M one-ups
him:
M
(through masks)
We're actually giving them before
every meeting. I get terrible
anxiety if we don't do it. My
rational side used to try to
conceal it, but our anxiety makes
us human.
Panel Audience claps and hollers,
excited, moved. It morphs into a
robotic cheer and chant:
PANEL AUDIENCE
Shatter that glass.
Shatter that glass.
Shatter that glass.
Shatter that glass.
ROOTING4U HEADQUARTERS / HALLWAY
Multiple footsteps.
NURSE
(through masks)
Let's work down the line.
M
(through masks, to group)
Form a line please. You can see
I've just gotten my shot -- I'm no
better than you.
A COMPLIANT WHITE EMPLOYEE:
COMPLIANT WHITE EMPLOYEE
(through masks)
M, you're a genius. Whatever you
want.
NURSE
You can close your eyes if you
want. You'll just feel a prick.
MUSIC: horrendous shrieking
"needle" motif
Exaggerated puncture sound. Liquid
squirting. Dripping.
NURSE (CONT'D)
And who's next? Name please.
B
(through masks)
B.
NURSE
B, this will just be a prick.
MUSIC: "needle" motif again
Puncture sound. Liquid squirting.
Dripping.
M
Remember: a small chance of risk is
our cross to bear, even if it helps
just 1 marginalized soul.
M's voice echoes into the next
scene.
MUSIC: delirious
EXT. ROOTING4U HEADQUARTERS PARKING LOT - NIGHT
Footsteps. Uneven. Faltering.
B
(to himself)
Where's my car? Where's my car?
C'mon B...
He's panting.
Heart beat getting faster.
Stomach and throat gurgling, like
he might puke something terrible.
Finally, his footsteps stop. Car
door opens.
INT. B'S CAR - NIGHT (TRAVELING)
Car driving sounds. Muffled cars
passing outside.
A radio NEWS REPORT plays:
ANCHOR
The birthing person, Jenny McCabe,
pronouns she and they, is an
employee at meal company Rooting4U.
After fainting at the wheel, she
was found in the wreckage of her
car, her arm completely pulverized.
JENNY MCCABE screams. Sound of
flames and an explosion.
B
(to himself)
Oh no. Jenny? Is that me too?....
Is that me too?...... No -- that --
it's not happening...... stay
awake....... Stay awake --
He smacks his face.
B (CONT'D)
It can't happen -- it can't --
A truck, approaching.......
B (CONT'D)
STAY AWAKE, B! STAY AWAKE!
VROOOOOM. HOONNNNNNK.
B (CONT'D)
IT'S NOT HAPPENING TO YOU!
The truck zips by.
Then it's gone. B's breathing
calms back down.....
Static, as he jumps radio channels.
Then:
COMMENTATOR
We can do more.
We can do more.
B takes a deep breath.
B
We can do more.
PANEL TALK
Back to the continuous applause.
PANEL AUDIENCE
Shatter that glass.
Shatter that glass.
Shatter that glass.
Shatter that glass.
NARRATOR
This audience also formed a line to
compliment their hero M. Deeply
moved, and proud, he gave them each
a fist-bump. Off to the side,
stood W and other Members -- they
wouldn't have missed it...... and M
gave them a fist-bump.
MUSIC: a conclusive swell, ending
the cue
Static, and splicing sounds, take
us to a private
PHONE CALL
EDITOR and JOURNALIST talking.
EDITOR
This Jenny McCabe accident --
remove the mention of the booster.
JOURNALIST
Sorry. I was careless and listed
all info I had.
EDITOR
No good. Only give helpful facts,
or it gives the wrong idea. She
had the latest variant at some
point. It was likely that.
JOURNALIST
Copy.
EDITOR
Please add the blue and green
circle to your signature. The
donors will appreciate. Thanks.
Static and clicks end the call.
INT. M'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Munching on crackers. A TV NEWS
REPORT:
ANCHOR
... border officials trying to
prevent women and children fleeing
unjust conditions from entering a
better land...
ON TV: Women and children screaming
and crying.
Munching stops. Leg shaking. M
gasps.
M
Unbelievable.
Suddenly, a bump.
M (CONT'D)
Hello?...... Who's there?
Long quiet.
M (CONT'D)
Hello -- AHHHHH!
Clattering sounds, as he bolts up.
MUSIC: quiet and ominous -- perhaps
including echoes of "shatter that
glass"
A SOUTH AMERICAN WOMAN is
whispering weakly in Spanish,
present in the room, in OUR EAR:
SOUTH AMERICAN WOMAN
Ayœdanos... ayœdanos... por
favor...
2 YOUNG TODDLERS also present,
crying....
NARRATOR
The naked bodies appearing right in
front of him were so starved --
skin and bones -- he knew it was a
sign he was not doing enough....
The lit candles on the table would
not suffice.
Rifling through plastic and cracker
box. Crackers being placed on a
surface.
M
1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6...
NARRATOR
Most immediately, a food offering
could be made. And a gesture of
deference.
M
1 bow.....hummmm... 2...hummmm..
3...hummmm.. 4...hummmm.. 5 --
DANIEL
(in distance)
Daddy?
Sudden fumbling for TV remote --
turning it off -- and then a
vicious snarl......
An undercurrent of rumbling
continues...........
DANIEL (CONT'D)
(scared)
Daddy? You... blew the candle out.
I can't see you.
M tries to calm his breath....
holding back a menacing force.
M
Daniel... you and your sister...
don't watch these things..... don't
be like Daddy.... understand?
Daniel is quiet.
M (CONT'D)
Go to bed.
Beat.
Daniel's footsteps -- fading off
and climbing stairs....
MUSIC: no break yet... plucking
sounds... tense atonal rhythms,
building....
INT. ROOTING4U HEADQUARTERS / M'S OFFICE
Clicking. W's voice comes from a
computer (video call).
M
I've been doing some research on
what more can be done.
W
That is great to hear.
M
Saw some responses we're getting.
You heard of Nikolai Volkov? Seems
he's everywhere.
ONLINE CHANNEL CLIP
NIKOLAI VOLKOV, angry,
condescending:
NIKOLAI VOLKOV
I'll say it again every day. Stop
opening the borders, so illegals
won't flood in, drive up crime,
take your jobs, and elect leaders
that love it. Stop supporting
criminals getting out of prison and
back onto the streets, making our
country more fragile. And anti
straightness is, I'm sorry, not
meant to be normalized. Companies
like Rooting4U will weaken our
country in every way, making it
silly putty to the Forces that are
out there!
INT. M'S HOUSE - DAY
M
Look at all the views. And nearly
every comment is supportive.
W is, again, indirectly
manipulative:
W
Yes. I will never understand how
there can be so much hatred in this
world. But people like this just
want attention. The worst that can
happen to you is a slightly more
challenging time spreading your
practices. I am positive you have
enough supporters to continue
generating profits.
M
Why'd you find me? 'Cause you know
profit is not everything to me.
W
My man, all I mean is, your plight
is small compared to the risk other
Members -- and myself -- are facing
from this Nikolai, whose hatred you
stirred. We could lose everything
we have been fighting for, since
before you.
There could be attacks on everyone
with differences, with quirks like
you and I. I should be begging you
to protect us from him. But I am
not.
M
But what you say about attacks --
that can't be allowed.
W
But this man is allowed his
platform. I cannot think what to
do about that. Well...
M
What.
W
I suppose since you have a
following... you could mobilize
them to cut off his disinformation?
No, you would get in trouble.
M
I would?
W
You would anger some, and... I
cannot think how else at the
moment, but I'm --
M (CONT'D)
So?
That's it?
W
That is not it. It is a task that
requires much... agitation.... It
is bigger than just him.
M
Then we confront it all.
W (ZOOM CALL)
(lowers voice, hiding
smile)
I can provide some of our proven
rituals as ammunition... but even
though you are skilled, I'm not
sure you can succeed. It requires
so much persuasive power.
M takes a louder breath --
determination brewing.
M
W.... with all due respect......
you don't know me.
MUSIC: dramatic swell. Then tense
and militaristic again, but
intensity up a notch -- doubled
with the HUM AND CHANT last heard
in Episode 3.
INT. ROOTING4U HEADQUARTERS / M'S OFFICE
Typing.
M
(verbalizing as he types)
...Nikolai Volkov an imminent
danger to humanity....
With a loud keystroke and click,
another sonic layer is added to the
HUM AND CHANT.
M (CONT'D)
...must prevent the violence...
Another loud keystroke and click.
Another layer to the HUM AND CHANT.
M (CONT'D)
...must fight for online safety...
Another loud keystroke and click.
Another layer to the HUM AND CHANT.
These words from M now repeat and
echo ACROSS OUR EARS:
M (CONT'D)
...Nikolai Volkov an imminent
danger to humanity....
...must prevent the violence...
...must fight for online safety...
NARRATOR
M's colleagues read the email,
which had the blue and green logo
in its signature. M's followers
read the post -- blue and green
verified.
And simply put, they were moved.
What more can be said about the
power of his sense of justice?
FOLLOWER'S ROOM
FOLLOWER
(reading)
Must fight for online safety. Hm.
Yeah. Yeah. Ye --
He pauses. HUM AND CHANT sounds
tinny, coming from somewhere.
FOLLOWER (CONT'D)
(to himself)
What is that?
Picking up something -- moving it
closer -- HUM AND CHANT gets closer
too.
FOLLOWER (CONT'D)
Hmm...
He fidgets with the object --
likely his phone. Taps it. Shakes
it. HUM AND CHANT shakes with it.
FOLLOWER (CONT'D)
Hm?
More fidgeting -- causing HUM AND
CHANT to MOVE TO CENTER OF OUR
SONIC FIELD
Suddenly --
MUSIC: shrieking
FOLLOWER (CONT'D)
AGCK! UGH! BLEGHHH!
Sounds like he's spasming.
And then, as with B at the end of
Episode 2, his breath PASSES BY OUR
EARS. We MOVE...
INTO FOLLOWER'S BODY
Echoing whooshing sounds, as if
we're flying through a cavern....
Now very close to Follower's heart
beat.....
M
(as if in another room
now)
Must fight for online safety.....
Must fight for online safety....
Pop pop pop! -- ACROSS OUR EARS.
And demonic shrieking.
FOLLOWER'S ROOM
FOLLOWER
(now trance-like)
Must fight for online safety.
Must fight for online safety.
ALL OVER
Voices of other FOLLOWERS AND
BUSINESSMEN, all in a trance,
staggered ACROSS OUR EARS.
FOLLOWERS AND BUSINESSMEN
Nikolai Volkov an imminent danger.
Nikolai Volkov an imminent danger.
Someone starts typing -- rapid,
coked up
Someone else joins in.
Then a whole chorus -- like a group
of machine guns.
TKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTK!
Their voices are added to the HUM
AND CHANT -- spurts of repeated
phrases, in multiple languages:
FOLLOWERS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE
Alleged victims, come forward.
Old Tweets, resurface.
We, the protectors.
Cyberpeace.
We hear Sofia join in -- her typing
more prominent:
SOFIA
Old Tweets, resurface.
We, the protectors.
Cyberpeace.
We hear Yann mixed in:
YANN
We, the protectors.
Cyberpeace.
Then B:
B
Hey Yann, let me help too.
Old Tweets, resurface.
We, the protectors.
Cyberpeace.
NARRATOR
This was music of the highest
order.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM
Beeping from a heart monitor.
NARRATOR
It was the perfect antidote to the
utterly deplorable Nikolai Volkov,
who was sitting at the bed of his
sick mother, clasping her hand --
bleh -- he was a master
manipulator, trying to play your
sympathy.
The HOSPITAL NURSE giggles...
weird.
NIKOLAI VOLKOV
(through masks)
Nurse?
HOSPITAL NURSE
(through masks)
Yes? Hehehehehe.
Her footsteps -- walking out. Her
giggling fading away with them.
HUM AND CHANT.... a distant
echo.......
NIKOLAI VOLKOV
Huh?
Getting up. We follow his
footsteps out to the
CORRIDOR
HUM AND CHANT is clearer here,
echoing through a space that sounds
dark and empty.....
Some leak. Dripping.....
In the distance, a walking aid
rolls.... getting closer........
along with slow footsteps.....
Nikolai's breaths, getting fearful.
He steps away.... turns.....
starting to sprint --
MUSIC + SFX: SHRIEK! Horrific,
building tremolos.
NIKOLAI VOLKOV
AH!
Followers and Businesspeople, FILL
OUR EARS, VERY CLOSE.
FOLLOWERS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE
We, the protectors.
Cyberpeace.
(etc.)
NIKOLAI VOLKOV
No... no.... stop....
What -- why are you -- why are you
circling me?
Stop holding hands....
Stop bobbing your heads.....
The chanting followers and
businesspeople sound more rhythmic,
getting into a groove.
Nikolai screams.
Sound, music, voices cut off --
leaving just Nikolai's scream, as
he jolts around, swatting at
air....
HOSPITAL NURSE
Excuse me? Sir? What's wrong?
Sound, music, voices cut back in
(as if back into Nikolai's POV)
NIKOLAI VOLKOV
Stop! Stop smiling!
INT. M'S HOUSE / BATHROOM
The faucet running. Vicious
scrubbing.
M
We, the protectors.
Cyberpeace.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR
NIKOLAI VOLKOV
Stop -- why are you touching me!?
(face getting smooshed)
Why are you -- squeezing -- my
mouth?
Why am I... on the ground?
Stop -- stop prying my eyes --
FOLLOWERS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE
Peekaboo! He he he he
Peekaboo! He he he he
Nikolai screams so loud we hear
bubbling and foaming!
Steam, sizzling!
Then running out,
deflating.....................
Now Nikolai is braindead, making a
continuous long throaty grumble.
NIKOLAI VOLKOV
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........
Double doors slam open.
2 pairs of loud footsteps in formal
shoes, walking in unison, at a
constant determined beat.
Belonging to MEN IN SUITS.
HOSPITAL NURSE
Yes?
MEN IN SUITS
We're with the bzvxzdcdewa...
(unintelligible)
Nikolai? Come with us, thank you.
NIKOLAI VOLKOV
Ehhhhhhhhhhhh
Sounds of them picking him up. His
feet being dragged, squeaking.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM
Beeping from a heart monitor. The
distant squeaking/dragging can be
heard. NIKOLAI'S SICK MOTHER
shuffles.
NIKOLAI'S SICK MOTHER
(breathy)
Nikolai......?
INT. M'S HOUSE / BATHROOM
Faucet still running. Scrubbing --
harder now. M's breaths are
getting voracious....
M
We, the protectors.
Cyberpeace....
Scrubbing crescendos into
a rip sound!
And something dripping into
water..........
The scrubbing starts again, harder
if you can believe it... going for
another beat....
Finally, the faucet turns off.
M (CONT'D)
Huh?.... AHHHHHHHHH!
LIVING ROOM
Sofia is breathing hard and
counting through a workout set.
M's voice and hurried footsteps
approach.
M
Sofia! Sofia!!
He whimpers like a scared kid.
M (CONT'D)
Look -- what -- what did I do to my
skin -- I -- ripped it --
Sofia gasps.
But then becomes oddly calm.
Stroking his hair.
SOFIA
Awww..... I love you so much.... my
activist.... my martyr... it's
beautiful.....
HUM AND CHANT, faintly
echoing...........
Static.......... just a flicker,
then more and more, until a full
wave of it.......
INTERCOM VOICES, saying
gibberish.... something stands out:
INTERCOM VOICES
47 percent complete...
48 percent complete...
NARRATOR
And as all this coalesced, it's a
good time to remind you of all
those -- Safe Society and beyond --
that have been painstakingly
committed to this generations-long
mission, in the silent background,
watching over you, and M, and his
family... because better safe than
sorry.
Static, leading us to another
frequency, to a
1950S BROADCAST
Severely damaged, but we can hear a
few words from the 1950s NARRATOR
1950S NARRATOR
....... progress....... new
world........
NARRATOR
The extensiveness of the global
network is truly moving...
Fading in, the HUM AND CHANT,
pulsing quietly, seemingly coming
from something slimy, rumbling,
peeling, dripping....
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
...and continues to nourish us and
help us grow.
Narrator's voice starts to morph
into something monstrous... coming
from the same place as the HUM AND
CHANT and slimy sounds.
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
Stay tuned to hear of the larger
paradise that M was contributing
to, unknowingly, and without
thought of reward. Bless his
generosity.
MUSIC: INTRO/OUTRO THEME