Transcription excerpt 2 (The Machine)

Vincent: Come on.

Vincent: This was used as a temporary clean room for dangerous projects, but it’s become my
permanent lab over the years. It’s peaceful down here. I like it.
Ava: It smells like gasoline.
Vincent: I think some of the old generators still work on diesel.
Vincent: Come in.
Vincent: This is my lab. Anh there it is.
Ava: The quantum computer. Electrons floating on superfluid helium. The nanotech doesn’t
exist to make that into a circuit.
Vincent: I assembled it using microfabrication techniques.
Thomson: Clever bugger, isn’t he? Hello, Ava. Very pleased to have you join our team.
Vincent’s told us all how talented you are. We’re all very excited to see what the two of you can
achieve together. After all, Vincent’s no slouch.
Ava: Oh, i know. I spent an entire semester studying his work on A.I when I was at Stanford.
Thomson: Yes. That was shortly after you turned down the job at the N.S.A. Odd for a 19-years-
old to pass on such an honor.
Ava: Not really. I mean, CTX made a better offer.
Thomson: So nothing to do with your politics then?
Ava: I think we can all be forgiven for a little youthful exuberance.
Thomson: That’s not exactly what I’d call assaulting a police officer.
Ava: I was 16, and it was more resisting arrest than assault.
Thomson: Ah, beg my pardon, Ava, but what’s the difference?
Ava: It’s Ava. And… depends whose side you’re on.
Vincent: I thought we hired Ava for her expertise, not her politics. Now, if there’s nothing else?
Thomson: There is actually.
Thomson: The new model of prosthetic arms… is ready for testing… thought you might like a
sneak peek.
James: Hello.
Ava: Hi.
Thomson: The skin’s a spider-silk weave. It’s bullet, bomb, and fireproof... but indistinguishable
from human skin to the touch.
Ava: What’s this cover for?
Thomson: We’re having trouble getting the skin to take the dye. It’s naturally clear, and the
outer suit helps the color to sink in.
Ava: So you want the machine soldier to look human?
Vincent: Yes, we want machines that can manage a three block war… the battle, the
negotiations and the peace. We already have plenty of machines that can kill, but imagine a
machine that can protect civilian populations, that can keep war zones secure and safe without
endangering our troops.
Thomson: Eventually it will look and sound exactly like the people it’s fighting. All we’ll need
to do is give it a new skin job and it will look Pakistani or Chinese or whoever else is
endangering world peace that week.
Vincent: His sternum, clavicles, true ribs… have all been swapped out for silicon nanofibers.
Thomson: Why don’t you give us a demo?
Ava: I’ve never seen prosthetics as advanced as this
Vincent: How are you finding the new model, James?
James: it’s incredible. This will sound strange, but… Can I touch your hand? This is what I miss
the most… the feel of another human, someone’s hands in mine.
Ava: Um, of course you can.
Vincent: I… I actually don’t think that’s a good idea. Um, the carbon-fiber muscles are
extremely strong. I think we should wait until James can control them a bit more.
Ava: He looks pretty in control to me.
James: Thank you. Very kind.
Ava: Take it easy, huh?
(CHUCKLES)
Vincent: James. James, that’s enough.
(AVA LAUGHS)
(WHISPERING)
James: Help me. Area 6. Vincent, sorry. Got carried away. Don’t worry, Vincent. You can have
the next dance. Thank you.
Thomson: Who taught you to tango, soldier?
James: A prostitute in Taipei, sir.
Thomson: A talented girl obviously.
Ava: So, how long will it take to copy the rest of my brain using the quantum computer?
Vincent: A week.
Ava: A week?
Thomson: As you can see, we’ve got beautifully designed arms. We also have legs and mech
spines. We just need the two of you to come up with a brain that can control everything. And by
the way, chop - chop. War is coming. Oh, uh, very nice to meet you, Ava. You’re a hell dancer.
Vincent: what makes you happy?
Ava: Problem solving, mathematics… and, uh, dancing.
(FINGERS SNAP)