INT. UNIVERSITY AUDITORIUM - DAY
Gideon Bedford (Early 30s, White) sits in a wheelchair on a stage overlooking a crowd of students and adults. A soft light shines on him. Behind him, is a projector. He clicks a button on a remote in his hand and a picture showing a brain and a computer pops up on the screen.
GIDEON
The human brain and a computer are alike. Both process information rapidly and make decisions in seconds and yet, few have… thought to combine the two of them. Ladies and Gentlemen, Students, and staff. Today I’m going to show you the future of the human mind.
A picture of a headset appears on the projector screen.
GIDEON
What if you could communicate with people in a coma or traumatic brain injury patients? What if you could interrogate a suspect without talking to him directly? All of this can be done with this machine. The Helmet of COEUS. This device will allow an individual to enter one's mind. Their consciousness. Combined with an artificial reality that I… don’t yet have a name for but rest assured, it will not be the Matrix.
Gideon waits for laughter. Someone in the audience coughs. Gideon looks over offstage to Diana. She gives a reassuring thumbs-up. Gideon smiles back at her.
GIDEON
Of course, this research is still in the idea phase. My research assistant, Diana, and I hope to begin human testing soon.
A hand in the audience raises.
GIDEON
Ah, a question. Yes?
A man stands up.
MAN
What you're talking about is… Sci-Fi lunacy.
GIDEON
Well, the idea of landing on the Moon was crazy, and yet it happened.
MAN
It’s one thing to land a craft on a planetary object. You’re talking about combining organic and non-organic.
GIDEON
We’ve done it before. Prosthesis, Metal plates, and virtual reality.
MAN
We’re talking about the brain. The most complex organ in the body.
GIDEON
Yes, and that’s why with our research, we will not only be able to harness the brain, but we will also be able to understand it.
MAN
I think you’ve watched the Matrix one too many times.
The audience laughs.
INT. DINER - NIGHT
Gideon stares at a burger with one bite taken out of it and a full order of fries. Across from him in a booth, is Diana sipping a milkshake.
They sit in a classic American diner. Clearly a destination for tourists.
DIANA
I thought it went better than we expected.
GIDEON
They laughed at me.
DIANA
So?
GIDEON
I heard from a friend in HR that… the university is considering shutting down our research and… transferring me to a different department. Probably make me teach full time.
DIANA
Damn. Guess I’ll have to find some other project.
Gideon sighs.
DIANA
I’m kidding. Look, we knew there would be some pushback. After all, what we’re doing does sound a lot like the Matrix. Without the evil stuff of course.
GIDEON
I guess you're right. Are you sure you don’t want a burger? Fries?
DIANA
Oh no, I’m getting dinner with Adrian later.
GIDEON
The one who sleeps during my lectures?
DIANA
That’s how he pays attention.
GIDEON
Uh-huh.
DIANA
Well, I better get going. See you tomorrow?
Gideon nods. Diana gets out of the booth.
DIANA
Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.
Diana leaves the diner.
Gideon sighs and picks up his burger and prepares to take a bite. Freddy Dobson slides into the booth across from him.
GIDEON
Uh, excuse me-
FREDDY DOBSON
The human brain and a computer are alike. Good line.
GIDEON
You saw my lecture.
Dobson nods.
GIDEON
Look, I'd be happy to discuss my lecture and research tomorrow during my office hours. Assuming I still have office hours.
FREDDY DOBSON
I found the entire lecture interesting.
GIDEON
You're the only one.
FREDDY DOBSON
Maybe. I’m sorry about that man who made that joke. Some people… don’t see the potential.
GIDEON
Thank you. It’s nice to know someone out there understands.
FREDDY DOBSON
Could I ask you just one thing Mr. Bedford?
GIDEON
Sure.
FREDDY DOBSON
Your research involves a simulation, correct?
GIDEON
That’s one of the concepts we're experimenting with. How do you know this?
FREDDY DOBSON
Humor me, how long could one theoretically stay in the simulation?
GIDEON
Well, my assistant and I believe that one could stay inside a simulated environment using the Coeus Helmet for approximately two weeks.
FREDDY DOBSON
What about… 30 years or more.
Gideon begins laughing.
GIDEON
That's… that’s a good question.
FREDDY DOBSON
Well?
GIDEON
The mind gets bored easily. The simulation would have to be… real. Or at least look real. Also, the subject would have to not be aware of the fact that they were in a simulation.
FREDDY DOBSON
Hmmmmmmm. Interesting.
GIDEON
Who are you? FBI?
Dobson grins.
GIDEON
No. CIA? No, that’s too obvious. NSA?
FREDDY DOBSON
No. I’m a part of a private security firm known as LEVEL.
GIDEON
Never heard of it.
FREDDY DOBSON
That’s good. Anyway, we predict threats, and we take care of those threats.
GIDEON
Huh.
FREDDY DOBSON
Mr. Bedford, what if I told you that in about five years, give or take, a third world war would take place. One that would result in the near extinction of the human race.
GIDEON
And I thought I was the one who sounded crazy.
Dobson snags a couple of fries from Gideon’s plate.
FREDDY DOBSON
Tensions between countries are rising. Everyone has their finger hovering over the big red button. Eventually, one of those people is going to get a bad case of trigger finger and press that button and shoot one of those doomsday machines up into the air and set it sailing towards an X on the map. And then… like dominoes falling… more will follow, and the planet will become a snowglobe only instead of snow, it will be ash and dust falling onto the mass graveyard. But that doesn't mean we all have to die. With your research and participation, LEVEL plans to place a couple of thousand people in a lifelike simulation for approximately 30 years after which we will awaken and rebuild society. Now, Mr, Bedford, will you join us in this endeavor of salvation?
Gideon just stares at Dobson with a mix of horror and shock.
FREDDY DOBSON
You don’t have to answer now. I would like an answer at the end of the week though.
Dobson slides a business card across the table and exits the booth.
FREDDY DOBSON
The world may laugh at you now, for ignorance is a blessing. In the end, that will be their downfall. Goodnight.
Dobson exits the diner. Gideon looks at the food on his plate and shoves it forward.
INT. UNIVERSITY OFFICE - DAY
Gideon sits in his office staring into space. Diana enters.
DIANA
Well, the good news is we’re not fired. The bad news, our research won’t be moving forward.
Gideon doesn’t acknowledge her presence.
DIANA
Gideon?
Diana snaps her fingers and Gideon returns to reality.
GIDEON
Huh?
DIANA
What’s up? You’ve been… out of it for hours.
GIDEON
Diana… do you think… do you think an extinction level event could happen soon?
DIANA
Why do you ask?
GIDEON
Last night, after you left, some guy who runs a security firm, told me that they’ve predicted that World War III would begin in about five years and wipe out the human race.
Diana begins laughing.
DIANA
Obviously, you don’t believe him.
GIDEON
I… I do.
DIANA
Well, why did he tell you all this?
GIDEON
He wants to use our research. He wants to place a couple of hundred-thousand people in a simulation. Until the war ends. After, we’d rebuild.
DIANA
Gideon, he’s messing with you. My goodness, he’s probably trying to make you look more like a fool.
Gideon frowns at Diana.
DIANA
I’m sorry, I didn’t-
GIDEON
It’s alright. Look, Whether or not he’s lying, at least someone is interested in our research. If the war doesn’t happen then at least our research will have resulted in something. If it does… Well, then we’re the heroes of the human race. Either way, we win. So, what do you say? Let’s finish what we started.
Diana sighs and nods reluctantly. Gideon smiles and pulls out Dobson's business card. He dials the number on his cellphone and places it to his ear.
GIDEON
Hello, Dobson? It’s Gideon. We’re in.
Gideon gives Diana a thumbs up.
Five Years Later
INT. LEVEL DEBRIEFING ROOM
Dobson stands at the head of a conference table. Sitting at the table is Gideon, Diana, and Adrian. On the other side, are soldiers.
FREDDY DOBSON
Latest intel report says that Russia is planning a nuclear strike against the U.S. West coast. America will retaliate and both sides and their allies will engage in air and ground combat. How are the pods doing?
GIDEON
Life signs are stable as is the simulation.
DIANA
Gideon and I have patched any glitches we've run into thus far.
FREDDY DOBSON
I think you mean Pro-
GIDEON
Can we not?
FREDDY DOBSON
What, I thought you liked your new nickname, the boys and I put a lot of thought into it. Anyways, we’ll all enter in one hour.
ADRIAN
For ten years, right? No more, no less.
FREDDY DOBSON
I get the sense you are reluctant to be in the simulation.
ADRIAN
For all we know, this war won’t happen. And then what. 10 years wasted in a fake world.
FREDDY DOBSON
You’re more than welcome to stay out of it. If you wish.
Adrian prepares to retort. Diana grabs his hand.
DIANA
Our body will be in cryogenic sleep, when we wake up our body and consciousness will be exactly in the same state. No time is wasted.
Adrian nods.
FREDDY DOBSON
Okay. One hour. 10 years. Good luck.
10 Years Later
INT. LEVEL HEADQUARTERS
A room full of medical pods. Each containing an individual. A select few open. Dobson, multiple soldiers, Diana, Gideon, and Adrian awaken.
They slip out of their pods and dress into civilian attire. Gideon wheels along in his wheelchair.
They board an elevator and ride it to the control room. The lights and computers slowly turn on. They all stand in front of a blacked-out window. Dobson nods to a soldier and the soldier presses a button. The widow begins to lighten and reveals a landscape of sheer horror and destruction. Only a few buildings are still standing in the distance. An orange-yellow haze envelopes the horizon.
DIANA
Oh my gosh.
GIDEON
W-what happened?
FREDDY DOBSON
Clearly, we… underestimated the outcome of the war.
ADRIAN
Underestimated? Look out there! There’s nothing!
FREDDY DOBSON
Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out.
ADRIAN
Figure something out? You don’t mean go back in do you?
FRREDDY DOBSON
That’s… one possibility.
Adrian punches Dobson.
ADRIAN
You son of a-
Two soldiers grab Adrian.
FREDDY DOBSON
Let him go. It’s okay.
The soldiers let Adrian go and he storms out. Diana looks at Gideon and follows Adrian.
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Gideon reads a book. Diana enters.
GIDEON
Dobson says we’ll reenter the Refugium in a few days.
DIANA
Adrian, and I are leaving.
GIDEON
What?
DIANA
Adrian believes we can rebuild. That all of this. The simulation. It’s just a prison. We’ve convinced others to join us. I just… wanted to ask you…
GIDEON
I’m not going.
DIANA
I know. I just thought I’d ask. Goodbye Gideon.
Diana leaves.
INT. CONTROL ROOM - DAY
Gideon stares at his computer screen. It displays the landscape of the wasteland. Dobson joins him.
FREDDY DOBSON
We lost them an hour ago. I’m sorry. I’m surprised you didn’t go with them.
GIDEON
I believe in this project.
FREDDY DOBSON
That’s why I chose you. Are you sure you won’t reenter the sim?
GIDEON
Yes. I just… In case they return.
Dobson nods.
FREDDY DOBSON
See you in a few years, Programmer.
GIDEON
Are you really going to keep calling me that?
Dobson smiles and leaves.
Gideon, The Programmer sits alone in the control room overlooking the multiple computer screens displaying events in the Refugium. One of these screens shows Daniel, Joel, and Tyler hanging out.
END.