UTOPIA

written by

Daniel Ivory
INT. DINING ROOM - MIDNIGHT
DANIEL dressed in nothing but his pyjamas, sits, distressed.
MAN
So, Daniel, it's up to you now.
DANIEL looks up...
MAN (CONT'D)
The choice is yours.
The man disappears in a burst of flames.

CUT TO BLACK.
A title fades in:
Utopia
FADE TO BLACK.
MARK (V.O.)
For as long as my family has gone
back, no man has made it past their
20th birthday. Not my grand father
nor his father before him. Not even
my brother. I remember the day I
found out like it was yesterday.

INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

An alarm clock goes off, waking up MARK from a deep sleep.
The annoying, continuous beeping forces him to fiddle around
to find the source. He groans, and clumsily finds the button
on his phone and hits it to turn off the noise and gets out
of bed.

INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

MARK gets out the steaming hot shower and brushes his teeth
and leaves to go get breakfast.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

A man is sitting in the kitchen with one hand on his forehead
and his other on holding a beer bottle. Footsteps can be
heard before someone comes through the door, MARK. MARK is an
average looking 18 year old boy. He's still in his pyjamas
and is quite surprised to see his brother up this early,
especially since he's drinking.
 2.

MARK
Oh... hey, Dan. Not get much sleep?
It's MARK'S BROTHER, DANIEL who doesn't even look up at MARK
as he sits down with him. He looks defeated and like he's
contemplating something on his mind.
DANIEL
Yeah, Mark. Not any all actually.
MARK
Something on your mind?
DANIEL
(still looking down)
You know I care about you, right?
MARK
What?
DANIEL looks up at MARK. Pausing for a moment.
DANIEL
You know that, right?
MARK
Yes, of course I do. Why are you
even asking, what's the matter with
you?
A concerned look grows on MARK's face. DANIEL takes a moment
to compose himself before speaking again.

DANIEL
Look, I just wanted you to know
that...
DANIEL is nearly in tears. MARK is really concerned at this
sudden upset but places a hand on his shoulder in an effort
to comfort him.
MARK
(in an irritated tone)
I should what, Dan?
DANIEL
Be a better man than me, Mark.
MARK's entire body freezes. He gives a confused look at his
brother.
MARK
Why are you acting like this?
 3.

DANIEL
I'm sorry, I should really start
getting ready.
DANIEL leaves the room. MARK stares at him leaving and his
eyes don't move from the spot on door. MARK moves his head
slightly toward a calendar to the right of the door which
says the date 20/2/2018 and the words: "DAN'S 20th" written
and circled in red.

INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM - MORNING

A calendar showing the date: 20/2/2018 is all we see. Then we
pan to a class on ethics and religion, some are paying
attention, writing things down, and then there's MARK. MARK
is doodling in his book and is not paying attention to the
class whatsoever.
MARK (V.O.)
I was in class when I found out. I
wasn't paying attention at all. The
only thing occupying my mind was
the conversation I had that
morning.
MR. HARRISON
Okay, I've spoken a lot this
lesson, I think it's time I opened
up the room. Is the gift of life
fair? Who's got some thoughts? Come
on, anyone?
MR. HARRISON looks around the room before his eyes fixate on
MARK who is doodling.
MR. HARRISON (CONT'D)
Mark!
MARK
Um... yeah?
MR. HARRISON frowns at him with distrust.
MR. HARRISON
I'd like your opinion!
MARK
On... what?
Some of the class giggle...
MR. HARRISON
Is the gift of life fair?
 4.

A RECEPTIONIST opens the door into the classroom and pops her
head in.
RECEPTIONIST
Is Mark Murphy in this class?
MR. HARRISON
Yes, he is.
RECEPTIONIST
Oh great, he's got a call from his
mam.
(whispers)
It sounds urgent.
MR. HARRISON
Alright, I'll let him know.
MARK overhears this and begins to pack up his things. MR.
HARRISON stops him.
MR. HARRISON (CONT'D)
Woah, Mark. I still need an answer
from you. Is the gift of life fair?
MARK sighs and begins to think for a moment...
MARK
In terms of what?
MR. HARRISON has a confused look on his face but does not
answer. An awkward silence fills the room. Not all classmates
are being attentive now. MARK's stares at one spot like he's
zoned out as he speaks.
MARK (CONT'D)
I mean, it's quite... complex. No
one chooses to be born or where
they are born or who their family
is. You just play the lottery.
Except, in this case, you don't get
to choose to play or not. You just
play. Some people get a head start,
there's lots of inequality. But,
still, most people choose to keep
going because it can get better. I
guess the real question is: "Would
eternal life be a gift or burden?"
The entire class is now listening to him. MARK snaps back
into reality.
MARK (CONT'D)
I-I don't know... Can I go now?
 5.

INT. RECEPTION - MOMENTS LATER

MARK rushes up to the front desk with a speed walk.
MARK (CONT'D)
Hi, I got told I've got a phone
call from my mum.
RECEPTIONIST
Is it, Mark Murphy?
MARK
Yeah.
RECEPTIONIST
Ah, here you go.
RECEPTIONIST hands him the phone with a smile on her face.
MARK picks up the phone with a confused and anxious look on
his face.
MARK
Hello?
You cannot hear the other end of the call...
MARK (CONT'D)
He's- what?
The RECEPTIONIST looks up with concern. A feeling which grows
onto MARK's face also. His eyes stay fixated in one position.
Overlays of the calendar date play through his mind. MARK
hands over the phone.
RECEPTIONIST
Is everything okay?
It takes MARK a while to get out his answer...
MARK
My brother is dead.
MARK (V.O.)
They found him dead in the front
garden, on his 20th birthday. It
was a heart attack. I was only 15
at the time.

EXT. BURIAL - DAY

MARK is standing in the same place as he was when he got the
call.
 6.

A gaggle of family members, friends, and loved ones are

standing in the drizzling rain around the casket as it is
lowered into the ground. Some are crying, some are looking
into the ground or the sky, but all seem upset.
MARK (V.O.)
Of course, there's always an
exception to the rule. My father,
Joseph, was that exception. I had
always looked up to him.
Figuratively and literally. It was
like he had an invisible aura
surrounding him, he always did
everything with purpose and always
had a smile on his face while doing
it. That was until the day my
brother died.
Except one person, JOSEPH. He seems more disappointed than
upset and his focus remains more on MARK rather than the
memories of DANIEL.
MARK (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Yet, he seemed more disappointed
than upset.

EXT. OUTSIDE FUNERAL VENUE - LATER

MARK (V.O.)
I just couldn't shake that line.
"Be a better man than me". What did
it mean? Why did he say it to me?
My grandfather interrupted these
thoughts for a "man-to-man talk".
MARK is standing by himself, watching his mother as she is
inconsolable. JOSEPH comes from behind him. Placing his hand
on MARK's shoulder. He does not say a word, he just smiles at
him. MARK barely moves his head to look at him. JOSEPH sees
the state MARK'S MUM is in. Yet, through her intense emotion,
something provokes her to look up at JOSEPH. She and him
share a moment of understanding which leads to JOESEPH's
perfect facade ever-so-slightly fading.
JOSEPH
How about you come home with me
while your Mother sorts things out
round here?
JOSEPH ushers MARK in the direction of his car. MARK's MUM
watches the two walk off together.
 7.

Though inconsolable before, once she see the two walk off
together, all her emotions come to a halt.

INT. HOME - JUST TURNING DARK

MARK is sat in a dark room, the only light coming in is
seeping through the blinds of a window. JOSEPH comes in to
console him.
JOSEPH
How are you feeling?
MARK
Not great.
JOSEPH sighs...
JOSEPH
It's a hard thing to process...
A silence falls between the two for a few moments as JOSEPH
composes himself to speak...
MARK
He just... died. Without warning or
reason. I mean, he was an athlete.
It just... doesn't make sense.
JOSEPH sighs...
JOSEPH
It's what he wanted, Mark.
MARK
(agitated)
What he wanted? You're making it
sound like a choice!
JOSEPH takes a moment to think...
JOSEPH
You've heard about the family
curse, I'm guessing?
MARK
Come on, that's not true. It
doesn't make any sense. People
don't just die like that.
JOSEPH
That's right, they don't. They
don't just die. They choose to move
on.
 8.

MARK is completely confused...

MARK
They choose?
JOSEPH
People don't just die, they are
given... the choice.
MARK
(in disbelief)
The choice?
JOSEPH sighs...
JOSEPH
On your 20th birthday, the second
the clock strikes midnight, a well-
dressed man will knock at your door
and, despite the odd hour, you will
be compelled to answer it.
An angry expression grows on MARK's face...
JOSEPH (CONT'D)
He doesn't want to harm you, he
just wants to sit down with you and
talk. Once he's said what he needs
to say, he will offer you a choice-
MARK stands up furious...
MARK
What is wrong with you!? He didn't
choose this! He didn't choose to
die! Why would anyone want that?
JOSEPH
Mark, I know it's a lot to take in,
especially on a day like today-
MARK
(in disbelief)
And you're still keeping it up...
JOSEPH stands up too...
JOSEPH
(sternly)
Look, you can choose to not believe
it, that's fine. But you've got 5
years until the day it happens to
you.
(MORE)
 9.
JOSEPH (CONT'D)
(in more of a forewarning
tone)
Think about whether you want that
day to come and you be prepared, or
you be completely dumbfounded by
who is standing on your doorstep.
JOSEPH goes to walk away...
MARK
Say this is true. Why aren't you
dead?
JOSEPH
I chose to stay with your mother.
MARK looks completely shocked. He sits down slowly and takes
a deep breath in. He looks off into the distance as he thinks
about what he's just been told.

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

JOSEPH is in the kitchen minding his own business and barely
even notices MARK as he comes in to get himself a glass of
water. However, without even having to look, he gets a
feeling of unease from MARK.
MARK (V.O.)
And that brings us to today... My
20th birthday.
JOSEPH
Everything okay, Mark? You seem
nervous.
MARK answers quite quickly...
MARK
Hm, what? Nervous? No. I'm fine.
JOSEPH doesn't answer back. MARK takes a sip of his drink,
staring off through a window...
MARK (CONT'D)
I don't know how to feel...
JOSEPH stops what he is doing but doesn't turn to look at
MARK...
JOSEPH
You don't know how to feel?
 10.

MARK
I just... It's not something the
average person will experience... I
don't even know where to begin
preparing. How do I even prepare?
JOSEPH
You can't. You just do it. It's
just something that happens to us.
It's out of our control. The only
thing I can advise is to accept
that you're going to experience
this. This is going to happen.
MARK
Accept this is going to happen...

MARK sniggers to himself...

MARK (CONT'D)
Accept that a well-dressed man is
going to appear at my door at
midnight? Accept that he's going to
offer me a choice to potentially
die? You're asking me to accept
that this may be my last night on
earth. How do you expect me to
accept that?
JOSEPH
He is not going to harm you, Mark?
MARK
That's not what I'm worried about!
I don't want to die yet.
JOSEPH takes a while to respond...
JOSEPH
You accept you will be given a
choice. That's what you should
focus on. It's a choice.
JOSEPH continues what he was previously doing. MARK begins to
think. As he does, rain slowly starts to pour outside.
MARK
Then, if it's choice between life
and death...
MARK faces JOSEPH...
 11.

MARK (CONT'D)
Why is it that everyone chooses to
death?
JOSEPH slowly stops what he's doing...
JOSEPH
Because there's more to it than
death...
A strike of lightning can be heard from a distance. JOSEPH
continues his task once again... MARK turns to look out of
the window and takes another sip of his water as he ponders
the meaning of what his dad just told him. A feeling of
regret grows on JOSEPH's face...

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Rain is pouring down outside the bedroom window. The clock on
the bedside table ticks from 11:59 and MARK is wide awake,
staring at the ceiling with his fingers interlocked on his
stomach, rapidly tapping them. His whole demeanor suggests he
is anticipating something. He begins to close his eyes as he
tires and he stops moving his fingers. As soon as he begins
to drift off to sleep, the clock ticks over to 12:00. Within
the second, a knock at the door can be heard. MARK jolts back
awake with fast, shallow breaths. He contemplates staying in
bed but remains restless and, eventually, MARK goes down to
answer the door.

INT. FRONT DOOR - CONTINUOUS

MARK opens the door and is startled by what he sees. A well-
dressed man wearing a dark three-piece suit. He is middle-
aged, about average height and is very presentable. While
MARK wears nothing more than his pyjamas, he stands there in
shock.
LUCIFER
Mr. Murphy! May I come in?
MARK gestures LUCIFER to enter...
LUCIFER steps inside and looks around the hallway as he walks
into the kitchen and dining room. He picks up a photo of the
family on a table (his mother, father, grandfather, and MARK)
in the hallway and smiles at it. MARK just stands there,
speechless. LUCIFER looks up at MARK whilst still holding the
photo, he halts his nosey actions for the moment.
 12.

LUCIFER (CONT'D)
Ah yes, the Murphy's. Always a
delight seeing you.
MARK's expression subtly changes to a confused one. LUCIFER
picks up on this...
LUCIFER (CONT'D)
You seem surprised to see me.
A subtle confused look grows on MARK's face...
MARK
I'm sorry?
LUCIFER
I was assuming you'd be expecting
my visit.
MARK nods...
LUCIFER smiles at MARK before walking into the dining room.
MARK hesitates before following him...

INT. DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

As MARK enters, he sees LUCIFER sat at the end of his long,
rectangular dining table. The candles around him are lit.
MARK sits at the opposite end of the table. The two sit in
silence for a while.
LUCIFER
You're not very good at this.
MARK is bemused...
MARK
I'm sorry?
LUCIFER
Don't you know why I'm here, Mr.
Murphy? Mark? Do you mind if I call
you Mark?
MARK goes to answer his question but is cut off before he can
get his words out.
LUCIFER (CONT'D)
I'm here to talk. To answer any
question you may have. No matter
how bizarre or stupid you may think
it is, I will give you the answer.
 13.

MARK
(stumbling over his words)
Okay... what's the choice you are
going to give me?
LUCIFER
Ah you see, Mark. This is the
beauty of our meeting. I can only
tell you the answer once I feel you
are ready to hear it.
MARK ponders for a moment as LUCIFER sits back in his
chair...
MARK
Okay... who even are you?
LUCIFER
I think you already know.
MARK's eyes widen in concern...
MARK
You're the... devil?
LUCIFER
I prefer Lucifer, but yes, I am
what you call the devil.
MARK falls silent once again...
LUCIFER (CONT'D)
Look, not that it matters or
anything, but I already know what
you truly want to ask. So stop
avoiding them, Mark. Ask what your
heart truly desires.
MARK settles and ponders for a moment...
MARK
Before my brother died... He told
me something.
LUCIFER
(in the voice of Mark's
brother)
Be a better man than me, Mark.
MARK looks at LUCIFER in complete shock...
LUCIFER smiles in return...
 14.

MARK
(with a trembling voice)
So, if you're real... Does that
mean that heaven and god is all
real?
LUCIFER looks at him in pity...
LUCIFER
I'm sorry, Mark. Of course he's
real, and all of his magnificent
creations. But, You don't think he
created you, do you?
MARK
(stumbling over his words)
H-he didn't?
LUCIFER
(passionately)
Think about it, Mark. Do you really
think something so horrific, and
unholy could be created by such an
omnipotent being? You... creatures
wage war on anything remotely
different to yourselves, hoard all
your ultimately pointless
possessions while letting others
rot in poverty on the streets you
paved beyond what is remotely
necessary. You destroy your planet,
your own home, just because you're
all too selfish to look after it.
Does that sound like one of God's
creations?
MARK looks defeated but finds strength within him to fight
against what LUCIFER has just said ...
MARK
There are good people here too.
LUCIFER
You're right, no truly great people
but, yes, good people exist.
MARK
So, what happens when we die?
LUCIFER
You stop existing.
MARK
What about our soul?
 15.

LUCIFER laughs...
LUCIFER
That little amount of divine power?
We harvest that to create more...
desirable beings.
MARK looks crushed...
LUCIFER gets up from his seat and walks to a specific part of
the room as he finishes his sentence.
LUCIFER (CONT'D)
Mark, I get it, it's a lot to take
in. You should have seen the state
your brother was in when I told
him.
MARK
So, if that is all true, what do
you want from me?
LUCIFER
I want to offer you a choice.
MARK gets up from his seat...
MARK
What choice-
Before MARK can clarify, the room around him begins to shake
and dissolves, MARK falls to the floor as it cracks beneath
him, and the furniture he was sat on fell into a dark void.
Whatever he was in was filled with colours flashing around
him. LUCIFER was nowhere to be seen. Not before lone MARK is
on top of a high building in a modern cityscape. The streets
void of any person or being. Almost like a ghost town.
MARK (CONT'D)
Where am I?
LUCIFER appears behind him...
LUCIFER
This is Utopia, Mark!
MARK cannot keep his eyes off the city around him...
MARK
Utopia?
LUCIFER
Well, you call it purgatory. The
bridge between heaven and hell.
 16.

MARK
You made purgatory?
LUCIFER
I did. It's the closest place
humans will get to heaven, or hell
if that makes you feel any better.
MARK notices the lack of people here...
MARK
Where is everyone?
LUCIFER
This is the newly built section. As
you can imagine there's quite the
influx of people entering here.
This is what I offer, Mark. Eternal
life in this city. Or before it is
erased by time itself. In a few
decades you'll have forgotten your
previous realm.
MARK
Why?
LUCIFER looks unimpressed...
LUCIFER
Mark, God might have given up on
humanity before you were
intelligent but I see your true
potential.
MARK
Potential?
LUCIFER
Yes, Mark. If a species can defy
the odds of evolution against an
omniscient, omnipotent God, of all
things, and become the dominant
species, who's to say you can't do
it again?
MARK turns to face LUCIFER...
MARK
What do you mean?
LUCIFER
We're going to take back what's
ours, Mark, because God sure as
hell isn't going to give it up.
 17.

LUCIFER smiles...
Within a flash, MARK is transported back into his chair.
LUCIFER (CONT'D)
So, Mark, it's up to you now.
MARK looks up toward LUCIFER...
LUCIFER (CONT'D)
The choice is yours. I'll see you
again at midnight.
LUCIFER disappears in a burst of flames leaving MARK sat by
himself. MARK is exhausted, and defeated. He gets up and
grabs a beer and checks the time. It's 9am. After grabbing
the beer he goes to sit down outside.

EXT. BACK GARDEN - MORNING

MARK'S FATHER, JOSEPH spots him outside, with a beer in his
hand, completely defeated and looks at him with pity and goes
out to join him. MARK's eyes do not even move as JOSEPH comes
up to him.
JOSEPH
I take it you talked to him?
MARK's eyes don't move...
MARK
Yeah...
JOSEPH
How'd it go?
MARK sighs...
MARK
Why did you choose to stay?
JOSEPH glances at the full bottle next to MARK...
JOSEPH
You got another one of those for
me?
MARK hands him a cold one...
 18.

JOSEPH (CONT'D)
I met your mother when I was 17,
maybe 18, by then my father had
already gone, and his father before
him, so I knew about the "curse",
but I didn't find out the truth
until my brother told me just
before he left. I just thought that
I'd die, but when I found I had a
choice to stay, with your mother, I
can't tell you how relieved I was.
MARK
But, was the option to live forever
a temptation?
JOSEPH
It was, but that's all it was, a
temptation. All I could think of
was the Bible verse: Corinthians
10:13 'And God is faithful, he will
not let you be tempted beyond what
you can bear.'
MARK
I didn't take you for Christian,
I'll be honest.
JOSEPH
(chuckles)
I'm not.
MARK
But what's the point, if we die,
you know there's nothing on the
other side? Nothing matters, so
what is the point?
JOSEPH
I think that makes it more
valuable, knowing life will end,
you know. If there were infinite
diamonds in the world, they'd be
valueless. So, I value my time
here, I give it a purpose, I make
it mean something, even if it's
just to me. You make you're own
purpose, Mark. Don't ever forget
that.
MARK looks inspired...
 19.

EXT. PARK - DAY

MARK walks to get his mind off things. He is sitting at a
bench, with a defeated look his face. Plagued with the
decision, he just sits and stares at the floor. Suddenly, a
STRANGER comes up to the bench.
STRANGER
Do you mind if I sit?
MARK, still in his own thoughts and doesn't notice the man
talking to him, takes a second to respond.
MARK
Um, yeah sure.
The STRANGER sits down on the other side of the bench to
MARK. He is holding a book and begins reading it. MARK
doesn't really acknowledge him.
STRANGER
It's a strange place, the
afterlife.
MARK, still sitting forward, looks over at the STRANGER.
MARK
I'm sorry?
STRANGER
Infinite existence. You know, I'd
think of it as a gift if I were
given the certainty that I will end
up there.
MARK begins to get anxious and begins questioning the motives
of why the STRANGER is actually here.
MARK
(sitting up)
Why are you telling me this?
STRANGER
You don't think so?
MARK, questioning his worries, relaxes a bit. He looks away
from the STRANGER.
MARK
I don't know what I'd choose. I
mean, you leave everyone you love
here.
 20.

STRANGER
But what about the people that have
already left. Your brother?
Wouldn't you like to see him again?
MARK's snaps his head towards the STRANGER who is staring at
him. A sense of unease can be felt.
MARK
(standing up)
What are you talking about?
STRANGER
(looking across the park)
He's waiting for you, Mark.
MARK'S FATHER can be seen down the path, smiling at MARK. He
looks no different to the last time MARK saw him. MARK just
looks confused and scared.
MARK
D-Dan?
MARK'S FATHER begins walking toward the two. MARK begins to
feel a sense of unease. As MARK'S FATHER walks toward him the
scene gets darker.
DANIEL
Hello, Mark.
DANIEL speaks in a strange way, almost like a robot.
MARK
What are you... why'd you leave?
DANIEL
I found freedom that transcends the
limitations of physical life. The
pain, the suffering... they were
replaced with everlasting joy. I
want that for you too.
MARK
What about our suffering, Dan? You
left us here. I can't-... I can't
do that to them. Not when I know
how that feels.
DANIEL
Is eternal life not worth a little
sacrifice? There, you can have
ultimate peace. A chance to be
truly fulfilled.
 21.

MARK just stands there, unable to speak. The STRANGER steps

forward.
STRANGER
He's right, you know. The choice is
yours, Mark.
The STRANGER walks away and the scene returns to the original
brightness. MARK stands there and takes an overwhelmed deep
breath.

INT. BEDROOM - MOMENTS BEFORE MIDNIGHT

MARK is lying in bed, plagued by the decision looming over
him. MARK hears a knock at the door. He knows who it is. It's
time. He walks down the hall to answer.

INT. FRONTDOOR - MIDNIGHT

MARK opens the door slowly. LUCIFER is standing there in the
same suit as he was before.
LUCIFER
It's time for an answer, Mark.
MARK stands there in the doorway. Clearly still undecided.

INT. JOE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

JOSEPH is in bed asleep, in his own room. Suddenly, he found
himself inside a massive dome. This dome was obsidian-black,
stretching far wide and surrounding him on every side. At
closer inspection, there were hundreds or thousands of people
walking toward it, all pushing past one another trying to get
inside. Each and every one of them torn apart, becoming part
of the dome. However, none of them died, something kept them
going, maybe they were keeping the dome going. After an
eternity of watching the suffering unfold in front of him, a
man appears in front of him. He stood tall above him, wearing
a dark tailored suit, frowning at the intruder in his domain.
JOSEPH recognises the man yet, in his dreamlike state, does
not know how. The man was angry, and simply stood there not
saying a word to him, letting all the agonising screams of
the people around him do the talking. It's as if he's proving
a point. Eventually, he breaks his silence with one sentence.
LUCIFER
I'm very disappointed in you,
Lilith.
 22.

It's revealed that the body JOSEPH is experiencing this in is

not his.

INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

JOSEPH jolts awake, breathing heavily. He thinks for a second
and remembers where he remembered the man from. He has an
urge to get out of his bed and go downstairs. He follows his
urges leading him into the back garden.

EXT. BACK GARDEN - CONTINUOUS

He sees MARK laying, lifeless on the cold stone. He is
brought to his knees at the sight.
JOSEPH
You were the one, Mark. You were
the only one...
JOSEPH sobs kneeling next to MARK.

EXT. UTOPIA
There is only darkness. Suddenly a voice echoes through his
ears.
LILITH
You aren't supposed to be here.
MARK jolts back to consciousness. All he sees is a blur of
his surroundings, a mixture of blue and white. His eyes
slowly adjust to the light hitting them. MARK is clearly
scared and confused at his surroundings.
He looks up and sees this visually ageless yet strangely
ancient being in front of him.
MARK
I died, didn't I?
LILITH scoffs.
LILITH
You took his deal. Just like the
rest of them. All tempted by his
offer of eternal life.
MARK is barely listening. The light that once blinded him
displays a beautiful cityscape with modern architecture and
people flocking the streets. Just like he saw.
 23.

MARK
Wow, it's... beautiful.
LILITH
Don't let it fool you, this isn't
what it looks like.
LILITH's casual demeanor stops MARK in his awe.
MARK
Who... even are you?
She puts her hands to her lips and snaps her fingers and, in
an instant, the beautiful modern streets warped into a
rundown, abandoned city. The buildings are made from
concrete. There metal support poles that are holding the
buildings up are sticking out from the corners. Rubble and
muck fall down onto the street that were once filled with
people. Now, they all are on one road, heading in the same
direction. Disgusting grotesque creatures are guarding the
sides stopping anyone from diverting from the path. The once
beautiful, blue sky is replaced with a disgusting, blood-red
colour.
LILITH
This is what you were given in
exchange for your mortality, Mark.
Not the beautiful Utopia you were
promised is it?
MARK doesn't even look away. He can't, he's in shock. Panic
shoots through his body as he falls to his knees in defeat
with his head hanging down. After a moment he looks up, tears
in his eyes, taking another look at this hellscape he
volunteered himself to.
MARK
I should've listened...
END OF SCRIPT