SAFE SOCIETY
episode 9
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)
Static.
INTERCOM VOICE
B, white subversive, pronouns he,
him, his... I repeat, white
subversive... Swift action must be
taken by Safe Society.........
(beat)
Huh. The Message is actually not
transmitting at all.
NARRATOR
Signal isn't back up?
INTERCOM VOICE
It wasn't down. His Rebel team is
scrambling the systems... Any
attempt to mention them or their
surroundings goes dark. It's a
cloaking mechanism.
NARRATOR
Let's not worry. I do not believe
M will negotiate with Terrorists.
RECAP SOUND BITES.
MUSIC: dramatic, ticking -- a
choice must be made
B
You're the biggest guy with a
platform we can get to. So can you
wake up?.... You lose a following,
but you get a whole new batch. For
a real purpose.
M
My brain says yes...... My
heart.... I can't control it...
B
M! I'M GONNA FUCKIN TEAR YOUR
SKULL OPEN -- WAKE THE FUCK UP --
HOLD HIM DOWN --
Struggling sounds! Grunts!
INT. B'S HOME / GUEST ROOM - DAY
Struggling sounds. Voices of
REBELS:
REBELS
Yeah -- almost -- get him down --
watch out, watch his head --
Clicking. Beeping.
INTERCOM VOICE
Computers lie around. These
Terrorists could pass for hackers.
B is testing one laptop connected
to a large monitor. M is facing
it. His body is propped up by
pillows. Large speakers are on
either side of the bed. He keeps
pulling against the bondage straps.
Pulling against straps and chains.
Suddenly stops for a beat.
M
Yann? Is that you?
YANN
Hey, M.
INTERCOM VOICE
Yann Lambert, pronouns he, him,
his, Rooting4U worker.
M
I heard you were missing from work.
INTERCOM VOICE
Missing Rooting4U worker. Hm. Now
wearing an eye patch.
M
This is where...
YANN
Uh huh.
B
We put Yann through this. That's
how we got him back.
M
(smiling)
Is that how you lost your...
YANN
My eye? Yeah.
M
Oh. Seriously --
M's voice jerks, like he's suddenly
yanked.
TV flickering on. Static.
Scrambled sounds. Followed by
snippets we've heard before.
NEWS REPORTS AND ONLINE CLIPS
ANCHORS, CHANNEL HOSTS, COMMENTATORS
...what if it damages the nervous
system...
...spreads three times as fast...
...says it can spread four times as
fast...
...so if you don't want it harming
the vulnerable, contain the
spread...
...6 feet apart...
M gasps, anxious....
INTERCOM VOICE
Looks to be a mission to trigger
him. He's frozen. Staring hard.
ANCHORS, CHANNEL HOSTS, COMMENTATORS
...now spreading statistically 10
times as fast...
...masks help prevent...
...white-skin lunatics killing the
world...
...women and children fleeing
unjust conditions...
...If you can't rise to
selflessness, you are a Rogue
sympathizer responsible for the
death of innocents.
INTERCOM VOICE
The fragments are endless. Appears
to be an attempt to prevent him
from reacting... to get him to the
point he's non-reactive.
NARRATOR
It's a brainwashing.
Whooshing and flashing sfx --
getting surreal
INTERCOM VOICE
Unsure how much time is passing.
Feels like hours. Or days. The
imagery on the screen is almost
strobe-like. Seizure-inducing.
M is grunting, breathing heavily.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
M is not comfortable. He's looking
at the speakers. Sounds are
bombarding him.
NARRATOR
We must stop this.
NEWS REPORT and ONLINE CLIP
fragments keep repeating,
ALTERNATING BETWEEN OUR EARS.
MUSIC: driving, menacing, waves of
tones
INTERCOM VOICE
Only one of these Rebels is now in
the room. Hold. Actually appears
to be a different Rebel? The
passing shadows are making it
impossible to tell.
Night-time wolf howls and crickets
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
Daylight's gone. The room is dim.
The screen is still flashing.
NARRATOR
Listeners, let this remind you of
the supernatural glow we saw in our
second episode, when M's video
introduced his new company and
observed the life of the modern
couch potato. M is now rendered
one such potato, a pawn to these
seditious antics. Alert Safe
Society. Can we find the
workaround?
INTERCOM VOICE
Negative. Not yet. The Rebel's
shadow seems to be morphing.
Growing. Taking over the room.
NEWS REPORT and ONLINE CLIP
fragments suddenly cut off --
All sounds and music die down.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
One light is still on overhead.
M is alone. Glancing from side to
side. He's moving his hand.
Pulling against the bondage strap.
Pulling sounds. Strap and chain
jangling.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
He seems to be panicking.
Struggling. Huffing and puffing.
M
B!? GUYS!? HELLO!?
INTERCOM VOICE
Patching deeper into his minds'
eye.... seeing shapes in the empty
doorway, emerging out of the
shadows.... three of the Rebels,
drifting, like ghosts without feet,
into the room, toward him.....
M
NO NO NO --
Straining against the chains.
Through a scratchy throat:
M (CONT'D)
Water. Water.
INTERCOM VOICE
He's talking to B, who's now
holding a glass of water...
bringing it to M's lips...
M grunting. Water splashing.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
...but M's fighting it... trying to
put his hand in the water
instead...
MUSIC: piercing
M
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY --
MUSIC: jump-scare sting
SOUTH AMERICAN WOMAN
Ayœdanos... ayœdanos... por
favor...
The 2 Young Toddlers crying.
INTERCOM VOICE
The South American immigrant he saw
before --
NARRATOR
In episode 5.
INTERCOM VOICE
-- and her 2 kids -- are here now.
At the foot of the bed. All skin
and bones. Reaching out. Jaws
hanging.
SOUTH AMERICAN WOMAN
POR FAVOR!
INTERCOM VOICE
Too weak to say any more than that.
Vomit sounds. Splatter.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
M is puking now. A plate of red
meat is being held to his face.
Chewed-up chunks have been vomited
all over his chest. The three
Drifting Rebels are now hovering
over.
South American Woman and the
toddlers scream, guttural.
CRACK!
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
One of them, a despicable white
skin, is stomping on them.
Breaking their backs.
NARRATOR
Predictable. We must stop this.
M is screaming at the top of his
lungs.
INTERCOM VOICE
Daylight again. M is still
screaming.
Still screaming.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
Night again.
Still screaming.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
Daylight again.
Still screaming -- the pitch has
shifted even higher.
THWACK -- cutting off all other
sounds.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
He's smashing the side of his face
against the wall behind him.
Silence for a beat, then
THWACK...... THWACK.....
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
B and the Rebels are rushing in,
trying to hold him back.
THWACK THWACK THWACK -- over and
over, gradually faster --
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
B is urgently soaking up the blood
from this, using a shirt. He's
yelling for help, but it's not
audible over the swirling wind.
Swirling, ghostly wind sounds
overtake.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
M's hand is loose from the strap
now.
THWACK THWACK THWACK --
Then the smashing stops.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
The hand is blocking him from
smashing his face. He's sweating,
but calming down. B and the Rebels
are relaxing, obviously.
NARRATOR
They think they've won. Can you
patch us through this channel?
INTERCOM VOICE
Copy.
TV screen flashing to life. Sudden
static. Ominous ghostly screaming
and wind swirling.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
The screen is blaring back to life.
On it, the blue and green circle...
turning redder.... growing...
vibrating.....
NARRATOR
M...
(mutating deeper)
M... M.... LISTEN....
Under Narrator's voice are the
slimy, peeling, dripping, rumbling
sounds. And the HUM AND CHANT.
MUSIC: climactic intense shrieking
KHWUUUPPPP! CRACK!
INTERCOM VOICE
M's face is pushing his hand into
the wall, into a crater.
Shattering his knuckles. His eyes
are rolling back. He's trembling.
He's contorting. He's growling.
NARRATOR
YES.... FIGHT THEM....
INTERCOM VOICE
He's scaring back B and the Rebels.
M growls... monstrous...... but
then it becomes a gagging
sound.....
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
Wait. His hand is making a
comeback. It's prying itself out
of the crater. It's gripping M's
jaw. Pulling it. Reshaping it.
Trembly distorted groans.
M
(a throaty whisper)
Breathe...
NARRATOR
NO! LISTEN!
M
Breathe.....
M breathes. The windy swirling
dies down.
INTERCOM VOICE
His hand is lowering to his
diaphragm. Feeling it rise and
sink... Slowing....
NARRATOR
(morphing back to normal)
M?..... M?........ No..... They've
brainwashed him....
M exhales.
INTERCOM VOICE
He's fallen asleep.
DAY
Birds chirping. Gentle shuffling.
INTERCOM VOICE
He wakes up. A couple Rebels
notice.
BATHROOM
Footsteps in socks -- hesitant.
INTERCOM VOICE
He's out of the straps. Going to
the sink.
Faucet turning on -- SPSHHHHHHHHHH
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
B and the Rebels are watching.
Splashing.........
B
M?
Faucet turns off. Drips. Towel
drying.
INTERCOM VOICE
He washed for only 8 seconds. No
Happy Birthday.
M sighs, relaxing.
NARRATOR
Break this cloaking mechanism, so
we can alert Safe Society.
INTERCOM VOICE
Copy. In the meantime, the alert
will have to reach Safe Society
another way.
LIVING ROOM
Clicking. Typing. Phone tapping.
YANN
All our profiles private. All our
personal data.
Among other things, it stops the
Mob from connecting to you and
casting Silence Spells. See? Just
like that.
"Disabling" sound fx on some app.
YANN (CONT'D)
Invisibility cloak. But online
only. Not the physical world. Any
Safe Society allies you run into
are a potential danger. So look
both ways. Everywhere.
M puffs his cheeks.
B
It's not just us, M. We're all
over. Coming together, one Newly
Freed at a time. All my searchings
-- they were the stepping stone to
Now, this Crucial Historical
Calling.... This is Our War.
Hands coming together.
INTERCOM VOICE
M is accepting a hand shake.
NARRATOR
If we're not mistaken, that would
mean not a fist bump.
(sighs)
INT. M'S HOUSE - DAY
TV playing. Door opens.
INTERCOM VOICE
He's back home.
Curtain blowing gently. Distant
birds chirping. Distant dog
barking. Trees rustling.
LUCIA
(from distance)
Daddy!
Her footsteps -- running over. She
jumps into a hug.
LUCIA (CONT'D)
(whispers)
Guess what.
Daniel's footsteps -- rushing over
next.
DANIEL
Daddy, Daddy, did you get hurt?
M
No, no, I got better.
DANIEL
We have to be sick. To fool mommy.
LUCIA
Yeah, B told us we have to stay
home from the school right now so
Daniel can get better because of
his heart... (etc.)
Her voice trails out.
CUT TO
Just one set of footsteps now,
walking slowly around.
INTERCOM VOICE
He's alone now.
The TV is turned off. Remote set
down.
M takes a deep breath.
INTERCOM VOICE (CONT'D)
He's different. Something
different about him now.
His footsteps again.
Cracking open a window. Birds
chirping and trees rustling --
growing in volume.
He sits in a chair.
Another deep breath........ like
he's been calmed by new wisdom, new
perceptiveness.....
A car pulls up just outside.
Car door opens. Car door closes.
Female footsteps.
M gulps, takes another breath.
Front door opens.
SOFIA
(distant)
M?
(coming into room)
M!
M gets up from the chair.
Her footsteps -- angry, with
momentum, coming closer....
.... but once she's right IN OUR
EARS, we simply hear her throwing
her arms around him... holding for
a beat......
He lets out a breath, relieved.
She pulls back to talk to him...
through sniffles and a quivering
voice:
SOFIA (CONT'D)
Did I do something wrong?
M
(shaking head)
Mm mm.
SOFIA
But...
Beat.
Then she simply sighs.
INTERCOM VOICE
It doesn't seem she'll question
him.
MUSIC: peaceful swell
KITCHEN
They're unloading the dishwasher.
SOFIA
They're totally faking. I was
right.
M
What?
SOFIA
This being sick thing. Why would
they cry wolf in times of actual
serious global health emergencies?
They're going back to school
tomorrow. Can you check their
homework?
M
Mm.
Beat. He takes a breath.
M (CONT'D)
Do you think there's a better
school for them?
SOFIA
I'm sure somewhere.
M
Or home schooling.
SOFIA
Denying them a social life.
M
No, no -- Daniel can still do
basketball --
SOFIA
God, we pushed that onto him.
Maybe he'd be into tap-dancing now.
M
... Right, or that. And Lucia can
start taekwondo, right?
SOFIA
It's not the same as learning about
math and slavery and sex organ
fluidity with their peers.
M
But... shouldn't we keep checking
we're giving them the best?
You know I always said Rothman
teachers aren't good enough for
what we pay. Let's keep the kids
at home, while we consider next
steps, instead of rushing them into
--
SOFIA
The program they're adopting now
seems really strong, so it's good
to make use of it until we find
another school.
M
C'mon, hon... You know programs are
never perfect fresh out of the
gates.
SOFIA
(nods, smiles)
They get brownie points for trying.
M
(teasing)
Ohhh, so you give them your
precious brownie points, and in
return you get to be their guinea
pig? Nuh uh, Sofia, I'm not
letting them. Listen...
He puts INTENT into his words.
Filtered with the EXTRA DEEP
RESONANCE -- but it's weakly coming
in and out this time.
M (CONT'D)
...let's hide from them.
SOFIA
Hm?
He tries again, deepening his
pitch.
M
Let's hide from them.
Long beat.....
Nothing from Sofia.....
We hear M's breath stutter.....
INTERCOM VOICE
You hear it? His voice may have
lost some influence.
NARRATOR
She may be onto him now. He knows
it. Good thing for birthing
persons of substance like her.
Let's hope she notifies Safe
Society.
M laughs, dismissive.
Sofia laughs too. But it's forced.
She has closed off.
LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Chewing. Utensils clinking.
ON TV: a tearjerking drama, with
SOUTH AMERICAN WOMAN 2.
SOUTH AMERICAN WOMAN 2
Por favor, America, ayœdame! Ayuda
a mi familia!
Sofia breathes deep, shuddering,
empathizing.
SOFIA
M?
M
Hm?... Ah, right. Kids, line the
crackers.
Rifling through plastic and cracker
box. Crackers being placed on a
surface.
LUCIA
1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6...
M
1 bow.....
M, DANIEL, LUCIA
Hummm....
M
2....
M, DANIEL, LUCIA
Hummm....
M
3 --
BEDROOM
Sofia tapping stuff on her tablet.
Some random video quietly plays.
M sighs, shuffles.
M
(groggy voice)
Aren't you tired?
SOFIA
No.
M shuffles again. Straightens the
blanket. Sighs again.
CUT TO
M's breath jolting as he wakes up.
He shuffles.
M
Sofia?
He shuffles a little more. Then
taps her lightly.
M (CONT'D)
Sofia?
She grumbles.
Super quietly, the sheets slide...
M's feet touch the ground.... He
tiptoes out.....
KIDS' ROOM
His quiet footsteps approach and
enter. Door closes.
He gently shakes Daniel.
DANIEL
Huh?
M hushes him right away.
He gently shakes Lucia.
LUCIA
Huh? Wh --
(through his hand covering
her mouth)
What? What's happening?
M
(whispering)
Shh. We're going to go on a secret
adventure. Right now.
They whine, tired.
M (CONT'D)
Shh! We can't wake up Mommy.
We're going to find her a secret
present, but it has to be now.
C'mon, it's gonna be fun. We have
to.
They grumble but give in, sitting
up.
M (CONT'D)
Let's bring extra clothes. Bring
any toys you want. We'll be
driving a few days. What else,
what else --
Frantically fidgeting with things.
Stuffing stuff into backpacks.
Zipping.
LUCIA
I need my medicine.
M pauses.
THE HALLWAY
Tiptoeing over creaking floor
boards.
M
Shit. Shit.
THE BATHROOM
Opening the mirror cabinet.
Pulling out an item.
THE HALLWAY
Tiptoeing over floor boards again --
going opposite direction ACROSS OUR
EARS.
M
Shit. Shit.
Door creaks ever so slightly.
Quiet for a beat.
Then it creaks again. This time,
three set of quiet feet start
across the floor boards.......
M (CONT'D)
C'mon. Follow me.
Suddenly they stop.
INTERCOM VOICE
He sees his bedroom door is open.
Not sure he left it that way....
He's peeking in..... Sofia is no
longer in their bed. I repeat, no
longer in their bed. She's taking
charge.
M
Shh. When I say "go," you run, as
fast as you can, out the front
door. When I say "Go."
Their slow quiet footsteps --
heading down the stairs......
They reach the first floor.
M (CONT'D)
Wait here.
His footsteps -- crossing another
floor texture.
He pauses.
Then continues.
We hear his breathing now. His
heart beat.
He pauses.
INTERCOM VOICE
He's going for the keys.
A deep breath.....
Then he steps onto yet another
ground texture. Continues
forward........
Slowly... a refrigerator hum
getting louder, and passing by ONE
OF OUR EARS.
FLICK!
His breath jolts.
LUCIA
(whispering)
Whoops!
M
(whispering)
Lucia! Shh!
LUCIA
But I can't see!
He snatches the keys. They jangle.
His footsteps -- fast now.
HALLWAY
His footsteps approach. Then
suddenly stop.
M
The alarm is off already...
A distant clock ticking.
M's fearful breathing.
He tiptoes. Keys lightly jangling.
Pause.
M (CONT'D)
I don't see anything out there.
EXT. M'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Crickets. Door opens. Squeaks
quietly.
Their footsteps -- moving out.
Keys jangling.
M
Okay. Get in.
Car door opens. Kids get in.
M's footsteps -- continuing.......
MUSIC: horror sting
M yelps! His footsteps stutter and
come to a stop.
INTERCOM VOICE
There she is. Sitting against the
car door. In her robe. Holding a
lit candle. She's getting up.
Lucia's footsteps approach.
LUCIA
What happened? Mommy?
The footsteps stagger -- Sofia
grabs her. Pets her head.
SOFIA
What is going on? Lucia, baby, why
are you out here?
M
You got me. We're on a mission to
get you a secret present.
SOFIA
I know you're not happy with me....
Her breath quivers. She's
sniffling back tears again.
SOFIA (CONT'D)
Why, because I need something to
believe in? And you don't anymore?
Sobbing.
SOFIA (CONT'D)
Just let me..... Eucalyptus and
Clove is so important......
She breathes in intensely.
SOFIA (CONT'D)
Lucia, you too please. I love this
part.
Lucia breathes in intensely.
SOFIA (CONT'D)
Good, Lucia, good good...
I am nobody, since growing up....
nothing to... identify with.... And
right now I have something.....
(courageous growl)
I Can Support Something. And It
Makes Me Proud. I Am Important!
MUSIC: dissonant plucking and
crescendo
Sofia's voice is now a demonic
growl that could wake the
neighborhood:
SOFIA (CONT'D)
AND I CAN FUCK YOU UP IF YOU TAKE
THEM ANYWHERE YOU ANIMAL DON'T YOU
TAKE THEM MY BABIES --
The sound of colliding with car
metal. And grabbing flesh.
M moans -- distorted -- she's
squeezing his jaws.
Ripping/tearing sound.
M
AHHHHH! OWW!
SOFIA
THEY'RE MINE MY WOMB YOU PIG I
ALWAYS KNEW EVERY RACIST WHITE BONE
IN YOU WOULD SNAP LIKE THE COWARD
YOU ARE AND YOUR FATHER WAS --
The rip/tear cuts off with a
crescendo --
SOFIA (CONT'D)
AGCK! OOF!
-- and her body hits the ground.
Candle holder clangs on the ground.
Candle flame extinguishes.
Car door opens. Shuffling.
SOFIA (CONT'D)
MY BABYYYYYY -- OOF --
Hitting the ground again.
LUCIA
MOMMY --
Car door shuts, cutting Lucia off.
Car engine on. Gear shift. Tire
squeals.
Car roars into the distance.....
Sofia is still here, panting,
growling......
Unlocking her phone. Texting.
TKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTK!
SOFIA
(verbalizing as she texts)
Safe Society. Come in. Safe
Society. Hahahaha...
She cackles, witch-like.... It
trails out.....