Copyright © 2011 by Eric Kaufman
LAVENDER
Written by
Eric Kaufman
EXT. CITY. DAY.
Business people walk efficiently along a sterile looking
industrial suspended walkway. Everyone is dressed relatively
the same in dark clean suits. The crowd moves in an orderly
manner at a brisk pace. You can see below the walkway down to
the street level. The clean modern suspended walkway
contrasts the street below which looks dirty and gritty. The
cityscape appears as a futuristic sci-fi noir with whites and
silver tones above and black, grey, and shadows below.
INT. GROCERY STORE. DAY.
KENSHIN (male, 45, Japanese) stands in line at a modern
grocery store. A long line of conservatively dressed shoppers
wait patiently for their turn at the scanner. The system is
orderly, efficient, and nearly silent.
Shoppers scan their wrists at a terminal and their grocery
list appears on a screen.
Shoppers confirm and then their order drops onto a conveyer
in front of them. Every item that comes onto the conveyer is
boxed in a compact package.
KENSHIN's list is incomplete when he scans his wrist and he
tries to add items on the spot.
He's holding up the queue trying to figure out how to adjust
his order.
INT. OFFICE. DAY.
KENSHIN sits at his desk in a stark office. The walls are
bare and hospital white. His desk sits at the end of a row
with all other desks vacant. The part of the office he's in
is secluded and he works alone. He sits near a walkway where
employees infrequently pass by. Quiet voices are barely
noticeable coming from distant parts of the office that are
more populated. He is secretly admiring colorful art
clippings in his desk drawer.
A straight and tidy co-worker walks past and gives him a
lifeless stare.
KENSHIN quickly hides what he's looking at and shuts the
drawer.
The co-worker hadn't noticed anything, but KENSHIN'S abrupt
movement raises suspicion. She looks back at him through
squinted eyes as she walks away.
2.
After she's passed he opens the drawer back up and continues
admiring the art clippings.
He carefully and secretly places the clippings into a folder,
then adds the folder to his briefcase.
INT. OFFICE HALLWAY. DAY.
KENSHIN passes his boss in the hallway. His BOSS stops him.
BOSS
Kenshin! Your collar.
KENSHIN feels around nervously at his neck and finds he had
loosened his tie and top button.
KENSHIN
Sorry sir.
BOSS
And get a black tie.
KENSHIN looks down at his tie and brings it closer to his
face with his hand. It is nearly solid black with only the
slightest bit of color in the detail. KENSHIN looks defeated.
The BOSS walks away.
INT. OFFICE BATHROOM. DAY.
KENSHIN stands in front of the bathroom mirror staring at
himself. He looks at his tie and his outfit, he adjusts his
clothes and straightens up. Then he looks intensely at his
face. He focuses on his eyes which are dark brown, almost
black.
EXT. STREET. DUSK.
KENSHIN walks home along the elevated walkway with the other
business types. They all move at a steady pace. He lags
behind the flow getting in the way and is awkwardly bumped
around.
He looks around with disgust at his peers. They don't seem to
notice him and just move past.
He is so out of joint with the flow of the masses that he is
virtually squeezed off to the side and can't walk on the
platform with them.
3.
He walks down an exit staircase taking him to a dirtier
street below.
EXT. ALLEY. NIGHT.
The under-street is dark with alleys. Not many people are
present or visible. The few that are noticed aren't dressed
like the business class above. They wear either shaggy rags
or crazy colorful costumes. They cast suspicious stares at
KENSHIN, then quickly slip into the shadows or down an alley.
As KENSHIN wanders curiously through the under-streets a
shady looking older man steps out from the shadows and
startles him (VENDOR, male, 65). The man is older but fit and
strong.
The VENDOR holds his hands up toward Kenshin with his palms
facing out as if he's conjuring spirits.
VENDOR
Not many of your kind stray off the
skywalk. Looking for something you
can't get with your collective?
KENSHIN is distracted by what the VENDOR is doing with his
hands.
The VENDOR gestures down into a dark alley, then enters it
motioning for KENSHIN to follow. He disappears into the
darkness after a few seconds.
KENSHIN is wary but curious and follows.
Kenshin catches up with the VENDOR down the alley where he
finds him unlocking something built into the wall.
He opens a metal door revealing a storage closet with shelves
holding various items for sale. It looks more like someone's
junk collection rather than a shop.
VENDOR (CONT'D)
Antiques.
KENSHIN picks up a dusty pack of condoms and inspects it.
KENSHIN
Why would anyone have use for these
anymore? There hasn't been a
sexually transmitted disease since
before I was born. And pregnancy is
regulated by D1 capsules.
4.
VENDOR
Not everyone believes in or takes
part in collective health care.
KENSHIN looks at the VENDOR as if he's crazy and carelessly
tosses the condoms back onto the shelf.
The VENDOR digs around behind some boxes and drags out a
crate filled with electronics. He holds up a device.
VENDOR (CONT'D)
I normally wouldn't show this to
someone dressed like you. But you
don't act like a typical member of
the collective. Maybe I can trust
you a little. How about a code
scrambler? You may like to drop out
of the collective's range of
surveillance from time to time.
KENSHIN takes the device and looks it over, then stares off
blankly in contemplation.
KENSHIN places the scrambler on a shelf.
Continuing to Browse somewhat aimlessly, he finds a small box
of bright purple color contact lenses. His face lights up
with sudden interest. He opens the box to look at them
closely. Then closes them quickly, and hastily purchases
them.
KENSHIN
I'll buy these.
VENDOR
Twenty five penta.
Kenshin quickly gives the VENDOR the money.
VENDOR (CONT'D)
Remember, this item has been hot
listed. Don't get caught with them.
KENSHIN
Hot-listed? Why?
VENDOR
They dry your eyes. Anything not
clearly promoting health is banned
by the Collective.
KENSHIN looks down at the contacts in his hand, pausing for a
moment. He puts them in his coat pocket and turns to walk
away.
5.
VENDOR (CONT'D)
Hold on. Let me put those in a
shielded bag. If you walk under a
scanner they won't be visible.
The VENDER bags up KENSHIN's purchase then hands it to him
while awkwardly staring him right in the eyes.
KENSHIN takes the bag and walks away down the alley a little
confused. He looks back as he picks up momentum stumbling
over himself.
The VENDOR closes the door to his goods closet and locks it.
EXT. ALLEY. NIGHT.
Making sure he's not followed, the VENDOR continues down the
dark alley looking over his shoulder.
He stops in front of another metal door and pounds on it with
his fist.
A small panel of the door opens from the inside.
GUARD
Show your wrist.
The VENDOR pulls up his sleeve and holds his arm out in front
of the door so that his wrist can be seen through the panel.
The inside of his wrist shows a rectangular shaped scar from
where something was surgically removed.
The GUARD opens the door to let the VENDOR inside.
INT. THE BLACK MARKET. NIGHT.
The VENDOR enters a warehouse building. Inside is a network
of hallways and rooms. Stalls are set up in the open areas
where merchants and hustlers are working and arguing.
A man speaks to a group who are huddled around.
BLACK MARKET CONSPIRATOR
Remember, we can use all the help
we can get. Recruit anyone you
think you can trust. And
incentivize the doubtful whenever
possible. The collective hates us
and sees us as a threat. Keep the
area secure and report any sign of
a leak.
6.
He walks past some rooms where open doors reveal what looks
like laboratories with various technical equipment.
He walks deeper into the complex and stops before an open
doorway to a dark room.
INT. BLACK MARKET ROOM. NIGHT.
The VENDOR enters the room. It is dirty and empty with only a
few cabinets. A few others are sleeping on the floor.
The VENDOR unlocks a chest in the corner and takes out a gun.
He sits down on the floor with his back resting up against
the wall.
He places the gun in his lap and goes to sleep.
INT. KENSHIN'S APARTMENT BUILDING. NIGHT.
KENSHIN walks through a sterile colorless modern apartment
building and makes his way to his front door. The building
shows no evidence of its residents. There are no windows and
all the front entries look identical.
He holds his wrist in front of a silver panel on the wall and
after a few seconds the door opens.
He enters, cautiously closing the front door behind him so
nobody can see into his apartment.
INT. KENSHIN'S APARTMENT. NIGHT.
The entry room is as drab and colorless as the rest of the
building and the rest of the city.
He opens another door leading into the main living area. It
is filled with color -- deep reds and blues on one wall.
Purple, green, and orange fill the space of another. Art
hangs on the walls filling most of the apartment. Art
supplies are around as well.
KENSHIN's attitude changes when he enters his brightly
decorated apartment. He is clearly much happier to be at home
among his art work.
He pulls open the bag and digs for his new contacts.
He pulls them out but discovers there is something else still
in the bag.
7.
He shakes the bag out onto his table and out rolls the
VENDOR's scrambler.
KENSHIN looks confused for a moment, but then returns his
focus to the contacts. He quickly stashes the scrambler away
in a drawer to get it out of sight.
He rushes to the bathroom, fumbling and eager to put in his
new color contacts.
INT. KENSHIN'S BATHROOM. NIGHT.
KENSHIN carefully but awkwardly puts in his new color
contacts.
He has a difficult time getting them in.
He looks at himself in the mirror admiring the extremely
artificial bright purple color of his eyes.
The front door buzzer rings.
He panics to quickly remove the lenses and answer the door.
The buzzer rings again and he's still rushing to remove the
lenses.
INT. KENSHIN'S APARTMENT FRONT DOOR. NIGHT.
KENSHIN
Yes?
KENSHIN opens the door only a crack and peeks through. He is
blinking heavily. His eyes are irritated.
NEIGHBOR
Collective officers were by earlier
to distribute a new round of
immunization. Here.
The NEIGHBOR hands KENSHIN a canister through the cracked
door.
Kenshin takes the canister and turns away to hide his face
blinking uncomfortably. He rubs his irritated eyes.
NEIGHBOR (CONT'D)
Apparently the objectors are
putting the whole city at risk
again. I hear they cough.
Disgusting.
8.
I understand the upper city remains
sterile. Make sure to take your
round and you'll be fine.
KENSHIN
Thank you.
KENSHIN looks over the canister and gives it a little shake
of curiosity.
KENSHIN (CONT'D)
You ever wonder what would happen
if we stopped taking the rounds?
NEIGHBOR
It's every citizen's duty to take
his round.
KENSHIN closes the door on the NEIGHBOR mid sentence and sets
the canister on the counter.
The NEIGHBOR screams through the door.
NEIGHBOR (CONT'D)
Do I need to report you?
INT. KENSHIN'S APARTMENT. NIGHT.
KENSHIN goes to a self-portrait he's done. It shows him in
extremely colorful attire, contrasting sharply with how he
really looks.
He finds some lavender paint and colors in the eyes of his
portrait. He makes sweeping circular strokes.
When he's finished the portrait makes him look like a fantasy
space alien.
INT. OFFICE. DAY.
KENSHIN sits at his desk staring at the phone.
After a while of internal debate he opens his briefcase and
takes out the scrambler. He makes sure nobody sees him and
then sets it next to the phone and activates it.
He makes a phone call. He's trying hard not to be overheard.
The operator's voice comes through the speakerphone.
KENSHIN panics to turn off the speakerphone and switch on the
phone's ear speaker.
9.
COLLECTIVE OPERATOR
Collective health services.
KENSHIN
Yes, I wanted to know if color
change eye surgery is covered.
COLLECTIVE OPERATOR
No sir. Definitely not.
KENSHIN raises his voice momentarily but then catches himself
and quiets down.
KENSHIN
But why not? I'm sure I could think
up a reason for its benefit.
COLLECTIVE OPERATOR
It doesn't promote health. In fact,
black-market surgeons doing this
kind of surgery are currently under
investigation. Sir, you're calling
from an uncoded signal. May I have
your name and code please?
KENSHIN
Uh, yes. It's uh...
KENSHIN ends the call right away.
INT. COLLECTIVE SWITCHBOARD. DAY.
A switchboard operator has just ended a call and is reading
data from it on a computer screen.
He selects the words "Inbound Uncoded" from a drop down menu.
He then types the command "/track" and presses enter.
A city map comes up on the screen with a processing bar
running.
The map eventually zooms to a more focused view with a circle
drawn around the perimeter of a neighborhood.
The screen then flashes the words "Unable To Track Further."
The operator selects the words "Log Data For Further
Investigation" from a drop down menu.
10.
EXT. STREET. DUSK.
KENSHIN is walking home from work again. This time he walks
with purpose as he passes the crowd on the skywalk.
He drops down again to the under-street level.
He goes to the place where he met the VENDOR but he's not
there.
He catches an oddly dressed old man by surprise.
KENSHIN
Have you seen the vendor that sells
in that alley?
The old man is irritated.
OLD MAN
What you want... to haul us off for
making a living?
KENSHIN
But I'm not a collective officer.
I'm just...
The OLD MAN turns away. He isn't helpful.
KENSHIN continues exploring the alleys.
EXT. ALLEY. NIGHT.
He passes a wildly dressed young woman (Seda, female, 35),
then stops and stares at her.
She looks back at him.
SEDA
Well? Aren't you afraid you'll get
sick for being too close to me?
KENSHIN
Um, no. I'm not really worried
about that.
SEDA
Your people think we're going to
bring on another epidemic and spoil
your state of healthy perfection.
11.
KENSHIN
Well, isn't it? We don't get sick.
You do. I don't understand why you
refuse the immunizations.
SEDA
That shit is poison! Your whole
lifestyle is poison. Look at you
all in your sterile world. You've
sterilized your spirit. Don't you
see, they use science to control
you. Don't believe what they say
about us. We're just artists who
live natural lives.
KENSHIN stops and thinks about what she's saying. He looks
her over again, then leans in and whispers to her.
KENSHIN
You want to know a secret? I'm an
artist too. I'm Kenshin.
SEDA
My name's Seda. I didn't think
there were any artists left living
among the collective. You should
come see our commune. It's at the
Oak Dam. We're not interested in
revolt like those that live here in
the under city. We just want to be
left to live as we please.
A mainstream suit-clad woman passes and glares at KENSHIN
talking to SEDA.
He catches her stare and looks away with a guilty
nervousness.
SEDA (CONT'D)
You should definitely come see what
we're all about.
KENSHIN
No, I don't think so.
KENSHIN turns and walks away.
EXT. COMMUNE. DAY.
Life on the commune -- everyone is dressed in wild expressive
colors, sharply contrasting the stiff sterile look of the
mainstream in the city.
12.
Seda is painting in a garden. Others are around building,
creating artwork, and working in the gardens.
A man is heard coughing in the background.
Someone is giving a speech speaking out against the
collective.
VOICE
Now we're being blamed for
contributing to re-population. Can
you believe it? That was an ancient
concern. And the epidemic took care
of it quite nicely. Ancestors of
the collective were the cause of
both issues, I might add. We should
not allow them to impose their
medical ideals upon us. And why are
we being lumped in with those black
market urchins? Our only common
thread is that we both choose a
life of freedom outside of the
collective. Personally I think
they're reckless and dangerous.
EXT. COMMUNE GARDEN. DAY.
A gardener walks along a row of vegetables picking a variety
of fresh produce out of the ground and adding it to his
basket. He takes great care and pride inspecting each item
individually.
INT. COMMUNE KITCHEN. DAY.
Commune cooks wash and prepare the freshly grown and picked
food for a large meal.
A clay oven has been built into the side of the kitchen. It
glows from a wood fire inside.
Large kettles hang over open flamed cooking fires.
INT. KENSHIN'S BOSS'S OFFICE. DAY.
KENSHIN's BOSS is seated behind his desk in his office. The
office is perfectly tidy with nothing out of place. The walls
are white and the furniture is black. Two collective officers
are seated in front of him. They wear the distinct uniform of
black jumpsuits marked by two white rings running around the
arms on both sleeves. One officer has a tablet computer on
his lap.
13.
The INVESTIGATING OFFICER brings up some data on his tablet.
The tablet makes a distinct computer alert ringing sound as
it loads the information.
The tablet shows the map of the area and a list of business
names.
INVESTIGATING OFFICER
We're investigating some uncoded
communications transmitting from
your borough. As a preliminary step
we're meeting with management for
all the businesses in the area to
find out if they've noticed any
unusual, suspicious, or non
conforming behavior. Keep in mind
that regardless of any information
reported the commercial rating
score of your business will not be
affected.
INT. OFFICE. DAY.
The investigating officers wander around the empty office
looking at employee desks. They poke around, picking up pens
and pencils and looking in drawers. KENSHIN's is among the
desks they're inspecting.
INT. KENSHIN'S APARTMENT. DAY.
KENSHIN stands alone in his apartment contemplatively looking
at his artwork and looking at his contact lenses.
He holds one of his contacts up next to his paints to match
the color.
He takes some lavender paint with his finger, closes his eyes
and rubs the paint onto his closed eyelids.
He sits down meditatively and breathes keeping his eyes
closed.
After some moments he opens his eyes abruptly, staring with
intensity.
INT. NEIGHBOR'S APARTMENT.NIGHT.
Inside the neighbor's apartment a woman is preparing her
dinner.
14.
Her kitchen looks like the rest of the sterile upper city --
more like a laboratory than a kitchen. Along the wall is a
counter with a machine sitting on top.
The NEIGHBOR presses a button on the machine and a serving of
food squirts out from a tube into a bowl. The food looks like
brown baby food.
The NEIGHBOR sits at a table eating her food.
She takes a pill out of a canister and swallows it down along
with her food.
The door buzzer rings.
She answers the door and finds two collective officers.
COLLECTIVE OFFICER
Sorry to bother you. We're hear to
ask you about your neighbor, a Mr.
Kenshin in unit 31?
NEIGHBOR
Why don't you ask him yourself?
COLLECTIVE OFFICER
We'll get to that in due course.
Right now we'd like to talk to you.
Can you tell us if he's had any
unusual visitors lately?
NEIGHBOR
Visitors? Hah. He's never had a
visitor in his life! He very much
keeps to himself, you know. He
certainly hasn't invited me in. Not
that I'd go if he did. Is this
about the rounds? Did he stop
taking them and contract something?
COLLECTIVE OFFICER
No maam, thank you that'll be all.
The officers start to walk away. The neighbor calls out to
them.
NEIGHBOR
Wait, you have to tell me! I could
be at risk living right next door!
COLLECTIVE OFFICER
It's nothing like that. Thank you.
15.
EXT. STREET. DUSK.
On his way home from work the next day, KENSHIN walks down
from the skywalk to the lower streets near the black-market
area again and finds the first VENDOR loitering near where he
keeps his goods closet.
VENDOR
No refunds.
KENSHIN
I don't want a refund. How do I
find a surgeon?
VENDOR
Hmm... Curious. But I'd rather not
know. It's none of my business, is
it now?
The VENDOR writes something down on a scrap of paper and
holds it to his chest while staring at KENSHIN.
KENSHIN hands the VENDOR some money in exchange for the note.
VENDOR (CONT'D)
You should dress differently.
People won't trust you.
EXT. ALLEY. DUSK.
In a dark alley around the corner from where the VENDOR
dwells there is a computer ringing noise. It's the same sound
heard in the BOSS's office.
At the distant end of the alley where it joins the street
KENSHIN walks past.
EXT. COMMUNE. DAY.
KENSHIN walks over grass and dirt up to the commune. He's
still dressed in his usual conservative attire.
He stops at a distance unnoticed under some trees and watches
the outsiders living in their commune.
He focuses on someone painting on a canvas.
There is a crunch of branches behind him. He turns to find
SEDA watching him.
SEDA
You came to see after all.
16.
KENSHIN
Yes, I like what it is that you do
here. I mean, how you live. I just
don't quite fit in, do I?
SEDA looks him over with a long smile.
SEDA
You should be more colorful.
KENSHIN
I'm working on it.
KENSHIN walks back toward the city with a happy purpose in
his step.
SEDA
Where are you going?
KENSHIN calls back from a distance.
KENSHIN
I have to do something. It's a
surprise. I think you'll like it.
I'll be back.
SEDA
Hey wait a minute. I have to pick
up some uh... hard to come by
supplies tomorrow. Can you meet me
in that same alley? I'll be there
at three.
KENSHIN
Maybe.
After KENSHIN is out of sight an artist approaches SEDA from
behind some nearby bushes.
COMMUNE ARTIST
What the hell does he want?
SEDA
He's looking for a change. He's
sweet and I think he needs us. He's
living in a world he doesn't feel
connected to. Haven't you ever felt
like that?
COMMUNE ARTIST
No... I don't trust him. And even
if I did, who knows what trouble he
could bring on our community.
17.
We need to protect ourselves and
unfortunately that means isolating
ourselves.
SEDA
Oh, don't worry so much. He's
harmless.
INT. COLLECTIVE INVESTIGATOR'S OFFICE. DAY.
An officer stands in a police office before his seated
superior. The officer holds a tablet computer. The officers
have a stern and military demeanor.
INVESTIGATING SUPERIOR
What have you got?
INVESTIGATING OFFICER
Sir, we've been following a loose
lead. It's an upper city citizen.
Clean record. Coded. But he's been
keeping unusual company and
spending time in the lower dregs.
We haven't connected him to any of
the underground resistance groups
yet. He might be nobody. We're not
sure.
INVESTIGATING SUPERIOR
Keep following him. If he is
connected he might lead us to their
staging ground. If we're lucky we
might have the chance to squash
their revolt before it begins.
EXT. ALLEY. DAY.
SEDA walks down the alley looking for KENSHIN. Nobody seems
to be around.
Trash bins make banging noises at the end of the alley beyond
sight.
SEDA stops and waits. She looks nervous.
The sound of footsteps is heard approaching from down the
alley.
Seda's face lights up with a smile.
Her face drops when she sees that it's not KENSHIN
approaching.
18.
A dirty under-dweller is walking toward her with a grin on
his face.
He reaches his hand into his pocket.
SEDA starts walking away from the stranger.
The man begins running toward her.
SEDA looks back and begins running too.
When SEDA turns her head back forward she slams right into
the chest of someone else. It's KENSHIN. He catches her.
The under-dweller seeing KENSHIN turns around and runs off.
KENSHIN looks confused and startled at SEDA running into him.
When he sees the man running off, he looks relieved that he
wasn't forced into an altercation.
KENSHIN and SEDA stand in an embrace for a few moments.
KENSHIN
What's happening here?
SEDA
I'm glad I didn't have to find out.
Nice timing, Kenshin.
They walk together quietly down the alley.
He looks straight ahead, and she looks up at him periodically
as they walk along.
KENSHIN
So what sort of supplies are you
after that bring you into this
wonderful area?
SEDA
It's funny, things that used to be
so common and easily accessible,
now you'll only find in the under
city. It's nothing scandalous or
associated with rebellion. Just
women's supplies that the
collective no longer have a need
for and no longer produce. And even
if they had what I needed, I
wouldn't be able to purchase
anything without a coder. They've
really left me no alternative but
do business with the under city.
19.
KENSHIN
Yes, this is really the only place
I can get my art supplies.
SEDA
We actually make a lot of our own
paints using food dyes.
KENSHIN
That's fantastic. I'd love to learn
how you do that.
INT. SEDA'S ROOM. NIGHT.
SEDA is sewing in her room at the commune. Her space is
wildly colorful. Various art projects are under way in
different areas of her room. There are large windows on the
walls and the room is well lit with natural light. She has a
smile on her face as she works.
She is sewing a men's shirt by hand using deep blue colored
cloth with purple detail.
As she works she is singing to herself an improvised melody
and adding her thoughts as lyrics to the melody.
SEDA
How can I expect him to show up in
anything interesting. It's not like
he has much to choose from in those
gloomy shops. This is just what he
needs.
She holds up the shirt and inspects her work then makes some
final snips of loose threads.
She admires the finished product.
She folds the shirt carefully, then wraps it into a
decorative bundle and ties it with twine.
INT. WIRING TUNNEL. NIGHT.
Inside an underground tunnel, two men are creeping along.
They are dressed in old ratty military style attire. They
both carry backpacks. The tunnel is lined with miles of
modern electronic cable.
The men stop walking and start looking through the wiring.
They find the wire they're looking for and isolate it from
the rest.
20.
One man takes an electronic device and some tools out of his
pack. He connects his device to the wire.
The two men jump up and start running back down the tunnel.
INT. BUISINESS OFFICE. NIGHT.
Rows of computer terminals are lined up inside a large
office. It is after hours and nobody is around. The computer
monitors sit in the dark. All of them display the same
company image.
Suddenly all of them uniformly change to a Unix screen.
A list of commands scrolls through as they are executed.
Then all of the terminals go dark.
EXT. CITY. NIGHT.
Looking down at the city from high above the lights
throughout buildings illuminate the night.
All at once a neighborhood in the center of the city goes
dark.
INT. COLLECTIVE INVESTIGATOR'S OFFICE. DAY.
A COLLECTIVE OFFICER gives a report to his superior.
COLLECTIVE OFFICER
Last night terrorist attackers
successfully loaded a virus into
some of the control systems. It
disabled some of the city grid.
Other than that, we don't yet know
which systems may have been
compromised and to what extent.
COLLECTIVE SUPERIOR
If we let this go any further it
could get out of control. Move
forward with the intervention.
EXT. UPPER CITY STREET. NIGHT.
In the dark a boy is finishing up with a wall mural on the
side of a building in a blacked out neighborhood of the upper
city. The image is of a nature landscape with a bright sun
and green colors.
21.
The nature landscape is caving in on a clean modern city
landscape below it. It shows a moon and skyscrapers in blue,
white, and silver. The modern city is caving in on a dirty
industrial urban landscape even further below.
INT. OPERATING ROOM. DAY
KENSHIN is laying back on a reclined operating chair in a
makeshift surgery room. A man hovers over him working on his
eyes with something that makes the sound of a vacuum.
Suddenly noises come from outside the room -- smashing
sounds, doors slamming, voices yelling, people running.
The doctor stops what he's doing, throws some of his tools in
a bag and rushes out.
KENSHIN gets out of the chair. He can't see. He feels his way
to the doorway.
His eyes are burning. He grimaces and holds his hands over
them.
He stumbles over something and falls, then stands up and
holds onto the door frame to the hallway.
He stands frozen and scared.
INT. CORRIDOR. DAY.
KENSHIN starts moving down the corridor away from the noise.
Behind him officers are breaking in doors and arresting
people.
KENSHIN fumbles randomly through a network of warehouse
hallways.
Someone grabs him. It's the VENDOR. He helps him escape to a
safe exit.
EXT. COMMUNE. NIGHT.
The VENDOR walks KENSHIN across the field and up to the
outsiders camp.
22.
INT. COMMUNE CABIN. NIGHT.
KENSHIN is laid onto a cot and tended to by SEDA. His eyes
are closed and dried blood drip marks stain his cheeks. The
commune leader and the VENDOR are also there.
VENDOR
I found him at the black market.
SEDA
What were you thinking? You're a
fool. Oh God, what have you done?
KENSHIN doesn't respond.
COMMUNE LEADER
KENSHIN, you're welcome to stay
here as long as you like. We can
talk about it more tomorrow. Get
some rest, fella.
SEDA bandages KENSHIN's eyes.
INT. SEDA'S ROOM. DAY.
KENSHIN and SEDA sit in her room. KENSHIN's eyes are still
bandaged, but he has been cleaned up and looks better.
SEDA retrieves the bundle she had prepared for KENSHIN and
presents it to him.
KENSHIN feels the package and unwraps it revealing the shirt
that SEDA made.
He feels every stitch carefully, and strokes the fabric.
KENSHIN
It's beautiful.
SEDA
I wish you could see it.
KENSHIN
What color is it?
SEDA
It's whatever color you want it to
be. And it can change color every
day if you like. Every minute.
23.
INT. COMMUNE CABIN. DAY.
KENSHIN lies on the cot. SEDA and the COMMUNE LEADER are in
the room.
COMMUNE LEADER
KENSHIN, we can take you back to
the collective. Their surgeons can
repair the damage done to your
eyes. But if you decide to go,
they'll imprison you after the
procedure. It's your choice, but
you don't have to go. You can stay
here with us. Become part of our
family.
SEDA
Please stay with us, Kenshin.
A commune member bursts in, angry.
COMMUNE MEMBER
They're tracking him! He's leading
them to our camp! We've got to get
rid of him!
KENSHIN
Wait. How do they know I was at the
black market?
COMMUNE MEMBER
Your bio-transponder! You were
coding! They scanned the area
before the raid!
KENSHIN touches his forearm.
The VENDOR hearing the loud voices enters the cabin.
COMMUNE MEMBER (CONT'D)
They're probably tracking him too!
The COMMUNE MEMBER points to the VENDOR.
The VENDOR pushes the COMMUNE MEMBER against the wall. He
rolls up his own sleeve and holds his forearm in front of the
COMMUNE MEMBER's face showing the rectangular scar.
VENDOR
You see this? You think because you
were born free, you're better than
me? I got free the hard way.
24.
Do you know how difficult and
painful it is to remove an active
bio-transponder? If it's not done
right it'll send charges through
your body destroying your nervous
system.
COMMUNE MEMBER
Get rid of him!
The COMMUNE MEMBER runs out of the cabin.
VENDOR
Come on. I know how to help you.
The VENDOR helps KENSHIN up and walks him out.
INT. BLACK MARKET. NIGHT.
The VENDOR leads KENSHIN through the black market. Most of it
is in rubble due to the raid.
They enter a dark room full of equipment. The VENDOR
shuffles through some tools searching for something.
A loud beeping sound rings out through the building.
The VENDER starts searching faster. He finds what he's
looking for -- a metal box the size of a toaster oven.
He grabs KENSHIN and the box and drags them out of the room.
The sound of officers searching rooms nearby grows louder.
The two rush down the hallway and enter another dark room.
The VENDOR makes KENSHIN climb a metal ladder affixed to a
wall. It runs up to the rooftop.
The VENDOR follows him up.
EXT. ROOFTOP. NIGHT.
VENDOR
They're tracking you. We have to
kill your coder fast. Put your arm
in here.
The VENDOR opens the box and presses some buttons.
KENSHIN lays his arm inside the box. The box starts humming
and KENSHIN screams.
25.
The VENDOR holds KENSHIN's mouth to keep him quiet.
They hear noises and voices below.
OFFICER
I think he's on the roof.
INT. BLACK MARKET LADDER ROOM NIGHT.
Officers begin climbing the ladder below.
EXT. ROOFTOP. NIGHT.
As the process finishes up, the VENDOR opens the box to
reveal KENSHIN's bloody forearm. The bio-transponder is in
the box.
The VENDOR runs the box across the roof and throws it down an
air ventilation shaft.
INT. BLACK MARKET ADJACENT ROOM. NIGHT.
The box slides down and lands inside a room adjacent to where
the officers are climbing up.
INT. BLACK MARKET LADDER ROOM NIGHT.
The officers hear the crash and stop climbing. They check
their tracking equipment.
OFFICER
He's next door.
The officers rush back down the ladder and head to the other
room.
EXT. ROOFTOP. NIGHT.
KENSHIN and the VENDOR sneak down the side of the building to
safety.
EXT. ALLEY. NIGHT.
The VENDOR and KENSHIN sit in the dark in a nearby alley and
recover their breath from the escape.
26.
VENDOR
I guess you've made your choice,
haven't you? If you turn yourself
in to the collective now, they'll
re-code you and tack on another ten
years.
KENSHIN
I never had any choice.
EXT. COMMUNE. DAY.
KENSHIN and SEDA are seated under some trees. Kenshin is
dressed like Jimi Hendrix. SEDA is handing him blobs of clay
and teaching him how to sculpt. He no longer wears bandages.
His eyes are open wide although he cannot see. They are a
cloudy lavender color.
