EXT. STREET - DAY
An industrialized area, similar to a downtown, is pretty quiet in the early hours of the morning.
MARY walks at a brisk pace. She's wearing a long coat with a hoodie covering her head.
As she walks beside a building an advertisement starts to play on the wall of the building.
Graphics show different symptoms of "THE SCOURGE": The Android skin is pealing off with different degrees, showing mechanical parts underneath it.
VOICE
The scourge doesn't always start this
way.
Cut to a robotic schematic.
VOICE (cont'd)
There are many symptoms including
disruption of the motor control
subsystem. Lack of circulation to the
synthetic subcutaneous membranes,
causing the epidermis to wither. Final
stages is deterioration of the
Cognitive Neural network pathways.
Deactivation soon follows.
During the middle of this informational advertisement Mary walks off. But the advertisement is playing every where.
Mary passes a bus stop and the advertisement is playing there.
VOICE (cont'd)
If you have any of these symptoms or
know anyone with these symptoms report
them immediately to the procotoral
Maintenance Ministry.
Mary looks up at the sky. There is a ring moon hovering there, showing that it is not Earth.
Mary sees a POLICE ROBOT walking towards her. She adjusts the hoodie to hide her face.
POV ROBOT INTERNAL DISPLAY SHOWS MARY AS NOT A TARGET
The robot stops and looks back at Mary. Mary turns a corner and rests her back against the wall of the building. In front of her the advertisement continues playing.
VOICE (cont'd)
We promise Androids of all different
builds, generation and status across
our glorious planet that all units
suffering from the Scourge will be
dealt with fairly and logically
Mary looks back and sees that the police Robot is already heading off in a different direction.
Mary looks in the opposite direction and sees a flying robot escort a transport vehicle carrying a few of the police robots. Three robots unhook from the transportation vehicle and start in Mary's direction.
EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY
Mary heads deeper into the Alleyway as the final piece of the advertisement plays. The ROMAN PROCTORATE logo is displayed.
VOICE
Prosperity to the Android Nation.
BG: WE SEE THE FLYING ROBOT HEAD IN MARY'S DIRECTION
As she walks in a fast pace, she approaches a couple of androids, SALLY and THOMAS. Sally calls to Mary.
SALLY
Please help us.
Mary stops and turns to Sally.
SALLY (cont'd)
Something is wrong with my Designated
Peer.
Mary walks to a corner where Thomas is lying on the floor. His arm is twitching and the skin is disintegrated, showing mechanical arm underneath. His eyes don't have pupils, but are like a static TV.
MARY
The scourge. You have to get him off
the street before the proctorate finds
him. If they do...
The flying robot comes zipping by and hovers over them.
POV OF ROBOT: IT DESIGNATES THOMAS FOR DEACTIVATION
SALLY
No, please don't
She hugs Thomas.
Mary gets in its way and uncovers her head. We can see that along her temples there are strips of electronics.
In the background we see JOSEPH approaching.
POV OF ROBOT: IT DESIGNATES MARY AS A HIGHER PRIORITY TARGET. "ANOMALY FOUND"
Mary runs.
Flying robot heads after her. Mary enters another alleyway. In the background we see the flying robot go up higher.
Suddenly, it drops right in front of Mary and corners her.
FLYING ROBOT
You are carrying an unregistered CHILD
AI. It must be terminated.
Joseph approaches Mary and the robot, holding a device.
JOSEPH
Hey.
Robot turns to Joseph and Joseph presses a button on the device, but nothing happens.
The robot prepares itself to attack, as Joseph fiddles with the device. As it is about to attack Joseph presses the device again and the robot starts flying around erratically. Both Joseph and Mary breath out in relief.
Joseph appears pale. He is walking a bit strangely, and one arm is not completely functional.
MARY
You came back for me.
JOSEPH
Well, yeah, I thought what if it's all
true? Then the proctorate won't stop
until they delete your Child AI. We
can't let that happen.
Mary appears hopeless.
MARY
How are we going to escape? They are
every where.
Joseph takes Mary's hand and leads her.
JOSEPH
I know someone who can help us.
EXT. OLD BUILDING - DAY
Joseph checks his surroundings before approaching a door with a keypad to the side. He enters a code.
SHOPKEEPER (O.S)
Identify yourself.
JOSEPH
It's an old friend.
MARY
Are you sure you can trust him?
JOSEPH
Trust me.
The door opens and an older Android lets them in. He is using a metal rod as a support.
INT. ANDROID HIDEOUT - DAY
SHOPKEEPER
Is that her?
Joseph nods and the shopkeeper hugs a surprised Mary.
MARY
What's going on?
They head deeper into the building.
SHOPKEEPER
The child AI you're carrying is
destined to save us all, my dear.
MARY
What? No! You must have me confused
with someone else. I'm just me.
SHOPKEEPER
There is no denying it. The ancient
transmissions have foretold this very
day. A Child AI from a mother but no
designated peer. The proctorate that
have established control over the
northern hemisphere of the Android
world. It's all coming true.
INT. ANDROID REFUGE - DAY
They enter a space that appears to have been setup to harbour Androids sick with "The Scourge"
Mary looks around at the sick Androids each wallowing in misery.
MARY
What is this place?
SHOPKEEPER
The proctorate has designated everyone
here for deactivation. We're trying to
smuggle them out so they can live the
rest of their lives in peace.
When the sick Androids see Mary, they struggle to get up. They look at her longingly, reaching out for her.
MARY
Whoa, wait, why are they looking at me
like this? I can't help them. Why did
you bring me here?
JOSEPH
None of this is going to matter if we
don't get her to safety.
SHOPKEEPER
The proctorate has locked down all
Android Body Generation sites. There
is no way to get an Android Body for
the Child AI.
JOSEPH
Then we break in and get one.
SHOPKEEPER
Destruction begets destruction
JOSEPH
(angry)
The child AI she is carrying is our
only hope. Are you asking us to just
give up? This is the moment we've been
waiting for.
SHOPKEEPER
What is the point of a new beginning
if we start it with evil?
JOSEPH
I can't believe you. I lost my wife
and my child to The Scourge. I will
not stand by idle while everyone is
deactivated because of it. And for
what? So we don't hurt a proctorate
that wants to destroy us?
Joseph is in pain. He covers his face and then as he removes his hands some of his skin falls off, showing robotic stuff underneath.
MARY
What's happening to him?
SHOPKEEPER
He has fallen victim to the scourge.
Help me.
They move him to a bed in an isolated area.
INT. ANDROID REFUGE ROOM - DAY
Mary and the shopkeeper help Joseph into a small bed. Mary kneels beside him.
MARY
I'm so sorry. I'm the reason for all
of this.
JOSEPH
No you're not. This is our fate.
Deterioration then Deactivation. But
that's not part of our original
design. Your child can change all of
that. He can fix us all. Joseph turns
to the shopkeeper and grabs hold of
his arm, desperately.
JOSEPH (cont'd)
But not if we don't find an Android
Body for her child.
The shopkeeper looks hesitant. Joseph tries to get up.
JOSEPH (cont'd)
We'll lose them both
But Joseph is too weak and lays back.
SHOPKEEPER
(after a moment's
thought)
There is a way.
He gets up and walks off. Mary takes Joseph's hand in her own and runs her other hand through his hair.
JOSEPH
I'm sorry I ever doubted you. I
should've never have left your side.
Mary smiles, but then Joseph's eyes goes static and his hands go limp.
MARY
No, Joseph. Joseph.You can't break
your promise twice.
Mary looks around but no one is able to help. She puts her hands one on each side of his temple. Small tubes extend from her fingers and attach to his temples. She starts to transfer energy.
JOSEPH
(weakly)
No.
Shopkeeper comes back.
SHOPKEEPER
Stop. You need all the energy you
have. If you run out then the child AI
will get corrupted.
JOSEPH
Stop, please.
Joseph's eyes shows that he's getting energy back. As we get in to a CU the light emitted from his eyes over powers the frame with white.
INT. ANDROID REFUGE ROOM - FEW MOMENTS LATER
Shopkeeper gives Joseph a tablet with a map
SHOPKEEPER
There is an Android Body Generation
factory outside the proctorate
territory. Only a few hours from here.
But you have to go now. Neither of you
have much time.
Joseph starts to get up, but shopkeeper turns to Mary.
SHOPKEEPER (cont'd)
Would you allow me to take a look at
the child AI?
Mary nods
Shopkeeper puts his palms one on each side of Mary's head and those thin tubes extend and attach to her.
The shopkeeper's eyes glaze over as he takes a look at the AI.
SHOPKEEPER (cont'd)
This AI is set for the fall and rising
again of many and for a sign which
will be spoken against. Yey and a
sword shall pierce through your soul
also that the thoughts of many maybe
revealed.
Shopkeeper regains focus and pulls away his hand. He smiles at her. Then gestures for them to follow him.
They head to the door.
INT. ANDROID HIDEOUT - DAY
They reach the door, but then an alarm sounds.
JOSEPH
They found us.
SHOPKEEPER
This way.
They head back in.
The door swings open violently and humanoid robots start streaming in.
INT. ANDROID REFUGE - DAY
Joseph, Mary and the shopkeeper head through the area where the sick Androids are. The sick Androids start getting up and blocking the way of the attacking robots.
The robots use weapons which fire an electric charge to disable the androids. They fall dead.
INT. ANDROID HIDEOUT BACK DOOR - DAY
Joseph, Mary and the shopkeeper get to the backdoor and they exit out.
EXT. ANDROID HIDEOUT BACK - DAY
The shopkeeper gives Joseph a key.
SHOPKEEPER
Here, take my vehicle and get to the
generation factory as fast as you can.
I'll slow them down.
Shopkeeper turns to leave, but Joseph stops him.
JOSEPH
What are you going to do?
SHOPKEEPER
Good bye old friend.
Shopkeeper heads back in.
JOSEPH
(to Mary)
We have to go.
They start to the car.
Then an explosion rocks the place, and the whole building goes up in smoke.
Joseph and Mary dive to the ground as debris fly everywhere. A piece hits the car.
Joseph and Mary look back in shock, but make it to the car. It's partly damaged. They get in and fly out.
EXT. FIELD - DAY
The car flies over the field in an erratic manner, leaving a trail of smoke behind it. It lands hard. The front part of the car gets stuck in the ground.
Joseph gets out, followed by Mary. Mary collapses.
JOSEPH
Mary. We're almost there. Don't give
up.
Mary tries to get up, but falls back down. Mary's eyes keep glazing over with static.
MARY
I'm running out of energy.
Joseph looks up at the factory in the distance. Then carries Mary and starts to run towards the factory
EXT. FACTORY - DAY
Joseph and Mary get there, and enter the factory.
INT. FACTORY - DAY
Joseph and Mary look around at an empty warehouse.
Joseph puts Mary down and looks at the map he has.
JOSEPH
This is the right place.
Joseph slams the map and it breaks.
JOSEPH (cont'd)
Was it all a lie?
Joseph looks around then turns to Mary in determination.
JOSEPH (cont'd)
There is only one way. Transfer your
child AI to my body.
MARY
But you won't survive.
JOSEPH
Look at me. The scourge is destroying
me. But maybe the child...
MARY
I can't. I won't do that.
Joseph kneels beside Mary and takes her hand.
JOSEPH
You have to. My wife and my child died
believing that one day a Savior will
come into our world and heal us all.
That Savior is your child AI. It's
your destiny.
Mary cries.
JOSEPH (cont'd)
You have to deactivate me and reformat
my neural network.
He takes her hands and puts them on the sides of his head.
JOSEPH (cont'd)
Please.
Mary emotional, proceeds. Tubes extend from her fingers and attach to Joseph's head.
Joseph powers down, and his arms dangle motionless.
We can see in Mary's eyes the progress of the AI transfer. When it's done. She disconnects.
Nothing appears to have happened.
She breaks down in tears.
POV: CU OF JOSEPH'S HANDS INJURED BY THE SCOURGE
Joseph's hands heals. Then he opens his eyes, and looks up at Mary.
She wipes away her tears and looks at him hopefully.
He smiles at her.
SAVIOR
We have work to do, mother.