FADE IN

TITLE CARD
IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE 21ST
CENTURY, THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE
COLLAPSED AND THE SUN'S RAYS BECAME
TOXIC, FORCING THE PLANET'S MELANIN
DEFICIENT POPULATION TO LIVE
UNDERGROUND. THIS LEFT THOSE WHO
COULD WALK IN THE SUN IN A
PRECARIOUS POSITION.
INT. LAB FACILITY - DAY
CLOSE ON
A hand sized black spider sits in a jar.
A syringe labeled "MLNN" eases into the jar and sticks the
spider. A black serum is extracted. The pretty face of DR.
WALKER, a black woman in her late 20s enters.
DR. WALKER
C'mon Quincy. Don't let me down.
CUT TO:
INT. AUGUST'S OFFICE - DAY
DR. AUGUST, a robust black man in his early 50's, sits behind
a large utilitarian desk. He's poring over a thick report.
Too handsome to be a doctor, the concentrated look on his
face shows signs of experience. He speaks without looking
up.
DR. AUGUST
So, you understand we're here to
evaluate the ongoing progress of
the program.
DR. WALKER
It's all there in my reports, sir.
DR. AUGUST
The council would like to hear it
from you. Tell us about your most
recent trial.
DR. WALKER
To begin with, the test subject was
a perfect genetic match.

2.
Out of the one thousand prisoners
we tested, he fit all the criteria.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LAB - HALLWAY
WE FOLLOW
A HOODED PRISONER strapped to an upright gurney Hannibal
Lecter style, being wheeled by TWO ORDERLIES.
INT. LAB FACILITY - DAY
Dr. Walker is mixing a black liquid concoction. A Orb-like
multiple syringe contraption sits on the counter next to her.
The orderlies roll in the prisoner and stand by silently.
Walker stares at them.
ORDERLY #1
We're instructed to stay in case
the subject gets loose.
DR. WALKER
That won't be necessary. I've done
all the others by myself.
ORDERLY #2
But Dr. Walker, this one is a bad
one. A real bad guy.
DR. WALKER
It's not necessary. Besides your
presence will compromise the
briefing. You guys can go.
The orderlies look at each other and exit. Walker grabs a
clipboard. She circles the subject.
DR. WALKER (CONT'D)
Forrest? No last name?
She removes the hood. At 23, FORREST's pale skin and blond
hair give him the appearance of an 11 year old. He winces at
the lab's overhead light. His neck is tattooed with cryptic
glyphs.
FORREST
That's my only name.

3.
DR. WALKER
It's our duty to make sure you're
completely aware of--
FORREST
I'm aware you want to erase my
identity.
DR. WALKER
That's not how I would put it.
FORREST
What else would you call changing
the color of my skin?
DR. WALKER
Survival.
FORREST
I'm surviving fine like this.
DR. WALKER
Are you? The northern tribes
thought they wouldn't be affected
and they're all but wiped out.
We've been working on a solution--
FORREST
Solution? You're the reason why we
live underground.
DR. WALKER
What are you talking about?
FORREST
Everyone knows Black skins rigged
the atmosphere to drive white skins
underground.
DR. WALKER
Atmospheric breakdown was
inevitable. That's the difference
between science and conspiracy.
FORREST
How's that working out fifty three
years later? I'd rather live
underground as a white skin than
above as a black skin.
DR. WALKER
You killed 15 of your own people.

4.
FORREST
They were traitors. Willing to live
above ground by giving up their
identity. Having white skin is not
a disease.
DR. WALKER
It is now.
CUT TO:
INT. AUGUST'S OFFICE - DAY
DR. AUGUST
So what happened next?

DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LAB FACILITY - EARLIER
MONTAGE
Walker injecting a white spider with black serum.
She leaves the jar in sunlight.
She returns later and the spider is black.
DR. WALKER (V.O.)
Whereas spiders naturally do not
generate any melanin, this specimen
was finally able to produce large
amounts in a very short time. We
were confident the MLNN serum would
work.
CUT TO:
INT. LAB FACILITY - LATER
Walker takes the multi needle mechanism and loads it with the
black serum.
DR. WALKER (V.O.)
So we proceeded as planned.
She places it on Forrest's head and the needles inject. The
black serum drains.
Forrest tenses up and collapses.

5.
INT. LAB FACILITY
The Orderlies plaxe Forrest into a coffin size, upright,
blacked out container.
EXT. DRY LAKE BED - DAY
The sun shines intensely. The Orderlies wheel the Black box
to the middle of the lake bed. Walker watches thru a digital
binocular headset from about 50 yards away.
DR. WALKER
Ok, guys. Get clear.
The orderlies back off.
DR. WALKER (CONT'D)
Lift blinds.
The black outer layer of the box slides up.
DR. WALKER (CONT'D)
Starting countdown.
She starts her stopwatch.
Forrest sees sunlight for the first time. After a pause, he
notices that he's fine. He checks his hands.
FORREST
Well, what do ya know? Look at me
now doctor.
He opens the black box door and hops out onto the arrid lake
bed.
FORREST (CONT'D)
See doctor! You been lying to us
all along! Woo hoo!
Walker checks her stopwatch.
DR. WALKER
(to herself)
One minute and counting. C'mon
Quincy.
Forrest does a little dance, suddenly his skin starts to boil
and smoke.
FORREST
Huh? NO! NO!

6.
The boils multiply on his face. Scale like plates of skin
protrude from his forehead and hands. He lunges towards the
black box. He collapses to the ground.
DR. WALKER
Dammit! Go get him!
The orderlies run out and drag him back into the container.
Walker slams her stopwatch on the ground.
CUT TO:
INT. AUGUST'S OFFICE - LATER
DR. AUGUST
Well Dr. Walker. The council thanks
you for all your hard work. But I'm
sorry to say, we have to shut the
program down.
DR. WALKER
The council is making a big
mistake. I'm so close, I just need
more time!
DR. AUGUST
Time is a luxury we haven't had in
53 years. From the council's
perspective, you were given all the
resources necessary.
CUT TO:
INT. LAB MORGUE
The orderlies wheel Forrest's scale laden body into a room
with rows of corpses of failed experiments. they lie naked
on tables showing their skin tumors, bone protrusions and
reptilian scales.
Walker stares at Forrest's deformed body.
DR. AUGUST (V.O.)
Spiders eggs. Squid ink. Your idea
of a melanin factory never came to
fruition. I'm sorry but I can't
justify this program to the
council.
CUT TO:

7.
INT. AUGUST'S OFFICE
DR. WALKER
Do you realize that you're
jeopardizing their future but ours
as well? How will the council
answer to that?
DR. AUGUST
Dr. Walker, winds are blowing in a
different direction.
CUT TO:
INT. LAB MORGUE
Walker, dejected, stares at Forrest's body on the table. The
orderlies leave. She scans his body and notices a patch of
skin on Forrest's hand that isn't affected. She cuts a graft
of skin and places it into a plastic bag.
DR. AUGUST (V.O.)
We've been keeping a lid on a
recent rash of attacks to our
underground checkpoints and we have
every reason to believe that these
attacks will only increase.
CUT TO:
INT. AUGUST'S OFFICE
DR. WALKER
Well all the more reason to keep
the program going. These people
can't live underground forever.
DR. AUGUST
I'm sorry doctor. This is bigger
than us. The council is shifting
their focus from scientific
research to military security.
This program simply doesn't fit
into the council's new paradigm.
Walker is stone faced.
DR. AUGUST (CONT'D)
Listen Walker, I heard you recently
had a baby. Congratulations. Take
some well deserved time and spend
it with your child.

8.
I wouldn't worry about your future
employment, you've done great work.
The council will be in touch.
CUT TO:
INT. WALKER'S HOME - BABY'S ROOM
Walker enters the room and walks towards a crib. A baby
sleeps soundly wrapped in blankets.
She places the jar with the black spider in the crib and
places the plastic bag with the skin graft on top. She picks
up her baby and jostles it softly.
DR. WALKER
Hey there. Did you miss me? Mommy
had a tough day.
She pulls back the blanket TO REVEAL
An albino baby.
FADE TO BLACK.