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DRID

INT. FEMALE UTERUS


CLOSE ON the developing brain of a fetus.
DAVID (V.O.)
Think youre smart?
Beat
DAVID (V.O.)
I Built my first robot when I was
8. It let my dog out in the
morning, made me waffles, and
corrected my math homework. Did
everything but clean my room.
INT. YOUNG BOYS BEDROOM - MORNING
CLOSE ON the face of a sleeping adolescent boy, David 8.
His older self is our narrator.
DAVID (V.O.)
I didnt have time for that stuff.
PULL BACK on a ransack of a bedroom; clothes everywhere.
Hip Hop posters cover the walls. School books crowd the
desk.

DAVID (V.O.)
I won the Westinghouse Talent
Search when I was 14. Graduated
high school at 16 with a 4.257.
Coincidentally thats about the
percentage of people in the world
on my IQ level. But No biggie.
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

2.
CONTINUED:

DAVID (V.O.) (CONT'D)

INT. DORM ROOM - DAY (FLASHBACK)


19 year old David sleeping on his college bed.
Davids half of the room is a mess. His roomates side is
spotless as he sits hunched over his desk doing
homework,, or cramming for a pop quiz.

DAVID (V.O.)
I was a 19 year old Stanford
junior when I agreed to do a favor
for my roommate, Cortez. He was
majoring in robotics and wanted me
to help him design a brain for his
annual engineering contest entry.
LATER David typing furiously on his own laptop. On the
screen is a sea of streaming computer jargon.
LATER David and Cortez building the chip and the
motherboard in the science lab.
DAVID (V.O.)
Well, to be more exact it was a
logic and reason based algorithm
that could learn and adapt using
auxiliary sensory input. In
American thats the ability
thinkto learn from experience. I
programmed it to speak 12
languages other than English, and
access information from the
internet via USB.
The two men stare fixated at the ROBOT HEAD sitting on
Cortezs desk. Wires run from under the head to Cortezs
cherried-out computer.

(CONTINUED)

3.
CONTINUED:
LATER Cortez sits glued to his computer screen as
internet pages and code stream over his face at high
speed. David sleeps on in the backgroundDAVID (V.O.)
By the time we were done Cortez
decided to scrap the robot he was
making and just show up with a
head in a jar. I thought it was
creepy but hey-- He didnt exactly
know what he was getting into. I,
in an act of genius, had actually
created intelligence

EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS - DAY


A nondescript van screeches to a halt beside a young
bewildered David-- Masked men jump out and throw him into
the van. It tears off with his classmates watching.
DAVID (V.O.)
Wanna guess what I wonEXT. NICE NEIGHBORHOOD - MORNING (MONTHS LATER)
DAVID (V.O.)
It seems during its quest for
knowledge the HEAD had hacked into
certain classified databases
including the World Bank and NASA.
David steps outside of a family size home and walks
down his front steps to get the paper.
DAVID (V.O.)
CIA, NSA, Illuminati- does it
really matter? They snatched me,
confiscated the Head, then stashed
me in a safe house and put
themselves on a payment plan-- I
never found out what happened to
Cortez.
Donald spies the obvious government surveillance vehicle
parked across the street.

(CONTINUED)

4.
CONTINUED: (2)
DONALD (V.O.)
Basically, as long as I keep my
mouth shut and refrain from
creating anymore terroristic
smart devices Im set for life-The surveillance can get up your
ass though.
END FLASHBACK
BEGIN MONTAGE:
A. Flipping channels through news clips from around the
world; violent protests, war, death, politicians, policeDONALD (V.O.)
When I finally did escape I guess
they figured it wasnt worth it to
chase me.
B. A still shot of; Two men(G-men) in suits shaking hands
and smiling in front of a huge super computer.
C. CLOSE ON Their clasped handshakeDAVID (V.O.)
They had what they wanted and I
was out of the way with the
understanding that if I dont
stick out, I wont get nailedFADE TO BLACK.
8 YEARS LATER
EXT. HIGH OVER NEO-TOKYO - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING
DONALD (V.O.)
- Now, I dont even have an email
account.

5.
EXT. FOUR STAR HOTEL PENTHOUSE SUITE - NIGHT
The room is 16 year old Tech-Nerd Heaven. Millions of
dollars in prototypes and testers as well as Davids own
inventions are cluttered everywhere.
David stands in a cleared out space of floor wearing a
kimono style robe and virtual reality style gloves/helmet
ensemble. He waves his arms and stumbles around playing a
video game.
Along one wall is a picture window overlooking NEO TOKYO;
like present day Tokyo on a speedball. Lifelike, three
dimensional holograms take the place of billboards.
Blacked out police helicopters patrol the skyline.
David pulls off the helmet and one of the gloves. He uses
the free hand to tap a button on a small black box,
presumably the game console. A large holographic screen
image is suddenly projected onto the air. It presents the
coding for the game.
David uses the gloved hand to manipulate the holographic
image like a touchscreen. He types unintelligible code
onto thin air- swipes screens- types-- then spins and
takes the shot glass off the night stand.
Downs it on his way over to the digital touchscreen on
the hotel room wall. The screen says he has one message.
He checks it and the image of a smiling Japanese business
man pops up: a recording
BUSINESS MAN
Just checking on you, Stephen. The
board is more than excited to see
what youve got for us at the
presentation tomorrow and I just
want to extend my gratitude as
well as my congratulations on all
your work.
The image smiles bigger and leans closer to the camera
like hes about to tell a secret.

(CONTINUED)

6.
CONTINUED:
BUSINESS MAN
Impress us tomorrow and youll own
that damned hotel you never want
to come out of.
A wink and the image raises a hand to sign off.
DAVID
(to no one)
Thanks.
He taps the touchscreen again and brings up the room
service menu-After ordering he taps it again and the window
overlooking the city is replaced by a television image.
The screen plays a news broadcast in English.
ANCHOR
More protests ending in violence
and deaths today as members of the
Private Citizens terrorist
organization allegedly threw tear
gas and opened fire on government
police during what was billed as a
peaceful demonstration.
Donald turns away from it with a familiar annoyance and
begins typing on the holographic monitor screen again. He
reaches over absently and pours another shot.
The anchor continues in the background as David works.
ANCHOR (V.O.)
The UN is meeting Thursday to
address the ongoing conflict
between various government police
and the members of the
international militant group
Private Citizens, or PC for short.
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

7.
CONTINUED: (2)

ANCHOR (V.O.) (CONT'D)


While Private Citizens was founded
in 2015 and operated peacefully
for years the recent violence
which many say is escalating
towards a fourth World War are
fueled by the groups complaints
over the inception of the
controversial Handshake system,
a software network that uses super
high powered satellites to oversee
all digital information and
communications including cell
phones, personal computers,
traffic and surveillance cameras
as well as the internet. While the
world government submits that the
very nature of Handshake as a
completely self reliant, yet nonpersonal operating system
maintains individual privacy,
members of the PCs say the
system is not only a blatant
affront to civil rights but serves
as trojan horse for the government
to further manipulate the World
Banking System and carry out
covert noninvasive campaigns on
anything they deem worthy.

David is broken from his work by a knock at his room


door. He tosses his glove and helmet and heads anxiously
to get his room service.
ANCHOR (V.O.)
The Handshake system was
implemented five years ago after
the system attack of the UN
conference in 2016David opens the door and sees a pretty but plainly
dressed young woman, Agatha late 20s, staring at him
blankly. Looks her up and down
DONALD
Uhh, unless youve got a creme
brulee hiding somewhere youve got
the wrong room.
She eyes the glove on his hand.

(CONTINUED)

8.
CONTINUED: (3)
GIRL
I need your help.
Donald smirks dryly.
DONALD
I dont have any credits, Sis. And
Im gay.
He closes the door and turns to go back to work. Then he
thinks again and goes to the screen on the wall.
He changes to the surveillance image of the girl standing
outside his door. She stares at him through the lens.
She holds up the card key outside his door. Davids mouth
drops in shock just before he hears the lock on his room
door click.
DAVID
What the fuckThe girl steps in and closes the door behind her.
DAVID
Howd you get that?
She plops down on the bed.
Easy.

GIRL

DAVID
I re-encrypted the door code
myself.
GIRL
And howd you do that?
It was eEasy?

DAVID
GIRL

Beat

(CONTINUED)

9.
CONTINUED: (4)
Donald looks sufficiently spooked.
DONALD
Ok what do you want from me? and
who are you- Are you a hooker. I
soo hope youre a hooker. Ive got
room service coming already, ya
know.
She gives him a stale expression.
DONALD
Ok, the guessing game. Are you
with the government? The PCs?-Wait youre not my daughter are
you? BecaueGIRL
I need you to shut up.
And Donald does.
He stops working again and creeps over to the window,
whilst keeping his eyes on her. He steps beside the
window shade/tv screen and cautiously peeps behind the
shade.
When hes satisfied he looks back at her.
GIRL
Im not with anyone-- And if I
was, youd probably be dead or-whatever already.
Donald seems to accept this and he starts to calm down a
little but he stays near the window. The girl looks
around at the hologram screen and the helmet.
She lifts it and turns it towards her face; staring into
its black eyeholes. Then up at him.
GIRL
Youre him arent you?
Donald turns from the window finally and looks at her. He
looks into her eyes for the first time.

(CONTINUED)

10.
CONTINUED: (5)
DONALD
(complete conviction)
Yeah.
Beat
A smile flashes in her eyes that doesnt reach the rest
of her face. She tosses the helmet to the side and gets
up off the bed.
GIRL
Weve gotta go then.
Why?

DONALD

GIRL
Theyre after me.
She heads for the door and he follows.
DONALD
After you? Theyre after you? Who?
Everybody.

GIRL

Then stops
Wait. What?

DONALD

She stops with her back turned and her hand on the door
knob.
GIRL
We have to go now.
Donald gets it.
DONALD
Okay. Hold on.
He rips open the small room closet and starts sifting
through bags.

(CONTINUED)

11.
CONTINUED: (6)
Beat
DONALD
Got it! Got it!
He turns holding up a small black cell phone
triumphantly. She frowns and turns to go.
INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
The girl bursts out almost bowling over the waiter
arriving with Donalds Creme Brulee. Donald comes behind
her.
She turns and types in an impossibly fast set of numbers
into the keypad. Both Donald and the waiter watch.
GIRL
Take it back. And we dont want to
be disturbed when we get back.
DONALD
What was that?
CUT TO:
EXT. HOTEL ALLEY - CONTINUOUS
Donald and the girl exit into the alley and head for the
street.
DONALD
Where are we supposed to be going?
To get a car.

GIRL

STREET
They step out onto the mostly empty side street. Police
sirens wail in the distance.
Shit.

DONALD

(CONTINUED)

12.
CONTINUED:
The girl stands beside a 2025 Mercedes. She eyes the
passenger window in particular.
DONALD
What are you doing?
GIRL
We need a car.
DONALD
So, youre just going to break the
window?!
She stares at him.
DONALD
This is a Mercedes V Class- Top of
the line. Everything voice
activated- Hands free navigationShatter proof glass.
Her expression doesnt change.
DONALD
This is the one you want, huDonald quickly produces the Iphone, smiles and speaks
into the phone.
DONALD
Denise, I need voice activation
for a Mercedes V Class. HeresHe uses the phone to scan the license plate.
The ID plate.

DONALD

He rests the phone against his chest so the phone cant


hear him.
DONALD
(whispers)
Might take a second.
Got it.

DENISE

(CONTINUED)

13.
CONTINUED: (2)
Okay.

DONALD

He walks over and holds the phone up to the drivers door


as the sirens near.
The phone voice speaks a few words in a foreign languageThe driver door unlocks.
The girl tries the passenger handle but it doesnt open.
She looks across the roof at Donald who is looking at
her.
DONALD
Ok what is all this?
GIRL
Well be harder to find if we keep
moving.
DONALD
Harder for who?-- Listen, I get
it. The whole government police on
your tail, life on the run thing.
Hotels, passports, fake passports.
Its sexy and exciting, but it
gets old-- and lonely real fast
okay. And Im just done setting up
some semblance of a life here so-=So if you cant tell me whats
going on I have to let you take
this ride alone.
GIRL
Its harder for them to find us if
we ride in someone elses car.
Whos them?
Your program.

DONALD
GIRL

BEAT

(CONTINUED)

14.
CONTINUED: (3)
DONALD
My program?-- Youre talking about
IEIS? Jesus, I knew you were with
someone. What do theyHEY!--

GIRL
Im with you ok?

Something passes between them.


Get in.

GIRL

CAR
They pass the front entrance of Donalds hotel. Police
cars abound and Donald can see uniforms going through the
front door.
Donald sits back and sinks into his seat.
GIRL
Dont worry about it.
One of the police cars seems to notice them.
Oh shit-

DONALD

THOOM an explosion rocks the scene behind them.


Donald looks back to see a window thirty floors up
billowing fire and smoke.
Donald cant believe his eyes. She speeds up and he
finally turns back in his seat.
DONALD
(sickly)
I think that was my room.
She smiles to herself.

(CONTINUED)

15.
CONTINUED: (4)
GIRL
Yep, firebomb.
Donald looks over at her his anger growing with his
understanding.
DONALD
(angry now)
That was my home. My life was up
there! I was just about to go
back up there.
GIRL
Well, I just saved your life
twice. For whatever it turns out
to be worth.
Beat
Donald calms himself.
DONALD
Why are they after me again? I
didnt do anything. I program
videogames!
He pulls on his seatbelt.
DONALD
Why now? Why not when I was
freezing, or starving, or fighting
for my life! I was just about to
change everything.-He looks over at her.
DONALD
They got me again didnt they?
Looks over at him earnestly.
GIRL
They werent after you-- yet. But
they would have been. Because you
have changed everything, Donald.

(CONTINUED)

16.
CONTINUED: (5)

CUT TO:
INT. CAR - MOMENTS LATER
They have reached a more low key area of the city.
GIRL
Your program changed everything; a
logic program that could learn.
After 3 years and a hundred
million dollars it was a brain
without a body, a brain that
didnt need a body. Free from the
burdens of eating, sleeping or the
affects of environmental factors,
free from the conditioning of race
culture, and society, free from
age. 5 years after they took it
from you it was the smartest being
on the planet.
DONALD
Wait. Did you say being?
GIRL
Yes, a being consisting of both
man-made and organic materials.
It has a personality. It has
memories. It could probably dream
if it had a subconscious. They
call it WISEMAN.
DONALD
Youre saying they made a person?
GIRL
Essentially, yes.
Donald sits back in his seat again staring far out the
windsheild. The barest of smiles touches the corners of
his mouth. Then-

Why?

DONALD

(CONTINUED)

17.
CONTINUED:
GIRL
Isnt it obvious? To exploit its
intelligence. International
Affairs, the World Economy,
Military strategy. It was a
genius.
DONALD
Like bringing the brain of
Einstein back to life and plugging
it in to the internet.
GIRL
Its like an alien. Unimaginably
intelligent, infinitely
calculating, and emotionless. With
all the wisdom of humanity and
none of its inherent limitations.
DONALD
(dreamily)
You just described an electric
Angel.
GIRL
Or a psychopath. By 2015 a version
of WISEMAN operating system
was
integrated into every major
government program. It was
essentially running the US. After
the attack on the UN it became an
easy sell to the rest of the
world. And so the Handshake system
was born.
She pulls over near the outskirts of the city.,
GIRL
Listen I dont think youre
grasping the situation. WISEMAN is
a weapon.
DONALD
Oh, Thats what the W was for.
GIRL
A shadow organization made up of
certain government officially
around the world planned the UN
bombing in 2016 so the handshake
system could be pushed through.

(CONTINUED)

18.
CONTINUED: (2)
He cant hide his shock.
GIRL
The system itself is a partition
of the WISEMAN program which means
WISEMAN controls Handshake. And
HandshakeDONALD
(serious now)
Handshake is Connecting the
WORLD.
GIRL
Yes-- The W stands for World.
She lets this sink in. Then she opens her door.
Were here.

GIRL

DONALD
How do you know all this?
GIRL
Does it matter?
She closes the door leaving him alone inside.
EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAWN
Donald and the girl come upon what at first sight seems a
large barn but upon closer inspection is a small airplane
hanger.
DONALD
So what do they want with me?
GIRL
Again, obvious. You are the only
person outside the inner circle
who knows about WISEMAN.

DONALD
Yeah, but you know too.

(CONTINUED)

19.
CONTINUED:
GIRL
Im with you.
The girl pulls open the wide doors and reveals a near
mint GULFSTREAM G60, about as out of date in their
current time as a farmhouse is to us.
DONALD
(in awe)
Wow. I did not know these things
still existed.
GIRL
They dont. This is the last one.
DONALD
This thing is so obsolete. Its
like a spy plane now.
He looks over and his smile withers at her own more
devious smirk.
DONALD
Whats it for?
GIRL
Were going Donald.
Where?0

DONALD

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