Red Valley Transcripts Archive (Unofficial)

025.2 - While You Were(n't) Hypersleeping 4: Part Two

2025-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

[LABOURED FOOTSTEPS DOWN A CORRIDOR, WALKING WITH A CRUTCH]

[GORDON HESITATES, THEN ENTERS]

[HE STEPS FURTHER INTO THE ROOM]

GORDON

She’s through the glass.

GORD

I see her.

[CUT]

It’s so strange. That we’re all still here. So much death in this place. But we’re all still here. All our brains held together with sticky tape, our bodies hobbling down corridors, with numb fingers and toes, or hair burned off, an arm missing, or old, and bitter, or…

WARREN

Handsome and winning, like me.

[EVEN IN HIS DOZY STATE, GORDON IS QUICK TO BE RILED UP BY HIS FRIEND’S NONCHALANCE]

GORDON

Will you just take something seriously, Oscar!

[IN THE MESS, A MUSICAL ACT TINKERS WITH A PEACEFUL, SLOW, MELANCHOLIC CHRISTMAS TUNE]

[THE ATMOSPHERE IS CALM AND CHEERFUL, JUST A FEW PEOPLE AROUND AND EASY CONVERSATION IN THE ROOM]

[GORDON SITS DOWN HEAVILY]

What a palaver.

GORDON

Yeah.

But also complicated.

Over here! Another early Christmas present.

GORDON

What did you do?

BLUESKY

Feliz Navidad.

[THE DRONES LEAVES]

2025-11-30T00:00:00+00:00

[WORDS OVERLAP EACH OTHER, DIFFERENT MOMENTS FROM THE RECENT, AND NOT SO RECENT PAST. THE VOICES OF FAMILIAR PEOPLE, WORDS SPOKEN IN KINDNESS AND CRUELTY]

[GORDON, S1E3:]

GORDON

… I’m the one with everything to lose here. You’ve got the power.

[S1E5:]

WARREN

GORDON

You do?

[S2E2:]

[S2E5:]

WARREN

I don’t think anyone knows anyone to be honest…

GORDON

GRACE

You went somewhere else. Just wondering where that might have been.

GORDON

Where else is there to go? Just Red Valley.

[WE CUT BACK TO THE SAME ROOM, A SHORT TIME LATER. GORDON IS DOING HIS PHYSIOTHERAPY WITH GRACE]

[GRACE OPENS THE DOOR TO LEAVE]

GRACE

You know, Gordon. If you want to talk. About… anything. I am here.

GORDON

Thank you, Grace.

[GRACE CLOSES THE DOOR. GORDON SITS IN SILENCE FOR A MOMENT]

GORDON

What do you think, Waffles? Do I want to talk?

[WAFFLES GRUNTS WITH AN AIR OF NONCHALANCE]

GORDON

Yeah. That’s what I thought.

[CUT]

[GORDON IS ASLEEP. HE IS AWOKEN BY THE SUDDEN AND LOUD ENTRANCE OF WARREN GODBY]

[WARREN LOUDLY DUMPS A BOX ON TO A TABLE. GORDON JUMPS IN SURPRISE, BUT HE REMAINS GROGGY AND UNSURE. HIS REACTIONS ARE MUTED AND A BIT INAUTHENTIC. THE OPPOSITE OF WARREN, WHO IS FAR MORE LIVELY THAN USUAL]

[WARREN LEAVES, WHISTLING DOWN THE CORRIDOR. AFTER A MOMENT, GORDON GETS UP, WITH A MAJOR EFFORT. HE STEPS SLOWLY ACROSS THE ROOM, GRUNTING WITH EXERTION, TO THE DOOR. HE CLOSES IT, THEN LEANS AGAINST IT, BREATHING HARD]

[CUT]

[GRACE AND GORDON ARE SAT IN THE QUARTERS]

[GRACE LETS THIS SLIGHTLY LOADED COMMENT PASS WITH KINDNESS]

Well I have Eomer. He’s 30. Pathetic. Nope…nope - Waffles, not for you…not for you!

[WAFFLES GRUNTS, AFFRONTED]

GORDON

Don’t snap at her.

WARREN

She’s fixated.

GORDON

We should encourage her interests.

WARREN

At what cost. Anyway here you are. Take Eomer while you still can.

[HE HANDS OVER THE CARD]

[GORDON IS KEEN TO MOVE THE CONVERSATION ON]

So, how are your dreads? What terrors have you been ruminating on, of late?

[GORDON THINKS ABOUT HIS ANSWER. HE KNOWS WHAT IT IS, ITS JUST A BIG THOUGHT, AND HE’S TIRED OF THINKING]

…And where… where was Warren? On that list?

WARREN

Gor… Gordon? Wha… What are you talking about?

[GORDON’S BREATHING IS QUICKENING. SUDDENLY HE REACTS AS IF HE’S SEEN SOMETHING TERRIBLE. WARREN IS IMMEDIATELY VERY WORRIED]

WARREN

Whoa… whoa… Hey…

GORDON

[THE WARD. COMMOTION AS THE PATIENTS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE SUBLEVEL. BEDS BEING PUSHED PAST, TROLLEYS WITH SQUEAKY WHEELS, CONVERSATIONS, RAISED VOICES. MARMITE, IN THE BACKGROUND, ARGUES WITH ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE NURSING TEAM]

NURSE

Marmite put the bed up before you unplug it or it won’t go.

MARMITE

Yeah, I know what I’m doing.

NURSE

Then why are we having this conversation?

[A BED RATTLES PAST. SHE CALLS OVER TO WARREN, WHO’S LOADING A LINEN TROLLEY]

NURSE

You okay there, Warren?

WARREN

Uh, yeah!

NURSE

Just take what we need, you don’t need to pile up everything.

WARREN

Sure!

[HE LOWERS HIS VOICE]

WARREN

Cause I know what we need. For anything whatsoever.

[HE MOVES SHEETS FROM THE CLOSET TO HIS TROLLEY]

[THIS IS NOT COMFORTING INFORMATION]

WARREN

Cool cool cool.

[WARREN’S COMM CRACKLES. IT’S HESTER]

[CUT TO: HESTER, WALKING DOWN A BUSY CORRIDOR. PEOPLE MOVE BY HER QUICKLY]

HESTER

Sorry. I was experimenting with tough love.

WARREN

That’s more Aubrey’s area, isn’t it?

[THE CLATTER OF ITEMS BEING DROPPED ON THE FLOOR. HESTER SHOUTS AT WHOEVER DROPPED THEM]

HESTER

Watch what you’re doing with those! We don’t have time to forge new weapons!

WARREN

What?

HESTER

Don’t worry about it! Warren, once everything is in place I’ll be running things from the Control room - if you’d rather join us down there than be in your quarters, you’re welcome.

WARREN

Okay, thanks. Bye.

[WARREN CLICKS OFF. HESTER CLICKS THROUGH CHANNELS, AND GRUMBLES TO HERSELF]

HESTER

Stevie? Where are we?

[CUT TO: STEVIE, IN THE FARMHOUSE. IT’S QUIET, JUST THE CREAK OF A FLOORBOARD HERE AND THERE]

GRACE

Everything else.

[CUT TO: MALCOLM’S QUARTERS. AUBREY IS ADMINISTERING SOME MEDICATION TO MALCOLM. MALCOLM IS SUBDUED BUT QUITE UPBEAT]

AUBREY

Hold still.

MALCOLM

Yes.

[AUBREY GIVES HIM AN INJECTION]

[SILENCE]

No, we like it.

RESUS

It’s kind of soothing.

GRACE

It does seem to have caught on.

BRYONY

What a regular and well-balanced group of people you all seem to be.

[PAUSE]

GRAC

Well then. Bryony?

BRYONY

I’m exactly where I need to be and if you want to have this conversation could we save it for when we’re alone?

[HESTER KNOWS WHEN SHE’S TALKING TO A BRICK WALL]

HESTER

The levels are clear, and we’re powered down. We’re dark. Sir.

[BEAT]

HESTER

Stevie, Marmite. Any traffic out there?

STEVIE

Nothing to see, nothing to hear.

MARMITE

You really think they’re coming? Tonight?

HESTER

I don’t think anything. Aubrey?

AUBREY

Who knows.

[THE DOOR CREAKS OPEN AGAIN]

WARREN

Umm, yeah. Sure.

[ANOTHER SILENCE]

WARREN

So, we’re all just standing in silence, yeah?

HESTER

Pretty much.

WARREN

Yeah. That’s cool.

[CUT TO THE INFIRMARY. THE RHYTHMIC THUDDING OF THE MACHINES DOING THEIR THING]

GRACE

Picking up any life signs yet?

ANAESTHETICS

Nope.

RESUS

This is taking too long.

GRACE

This is how long it takes.

[SILENCE]

ANAESTHETICS

Trace. End-tidal CO2.

RESUS

Grace, there’s movement in the drip. He’s taking the warm fluids.

GRACE

Open the pod. Bryony!

BRYONY

Yes, Dr Melé.

[THE HISS AND RELEASE OF THE POD’S LOCKING CLAMPS. CUT TO THE CONTROL ROOM. ]

[CUT TO THE CONTROL STATION]

MARMITE

Something just pinged on the perimeter.

[AUBREY WALKS OVER TO MARMITE’S STATION]

AUBREY

If it’s a family of pink-footed geese Marmite, I’m going to give them your bunk.

MARMITE

I think we got a picture.

[MARMITE BRINGS UP A SECURITY CAMERA SHOT WITH A FEW CLICKS. THEY LOOK AT IT]

AUBREY

Can you enhance it?

MARMITE

I… don’t know how to do that.

AUBREY

Just zoom in on it.

[PAUSE]

AUBREY

It’s not geese.

MARMITE

Yes!

AUBREY

It’s a fleet of drones.

MARMITE

Oh.

They won’t stay long. Nothing of interest.

GRACE

I want two units of O-neg pushed through and platelets ready to go.

TRANSFUSION

Got it.

GRACE

Gord?

GORD

Toothed forceps please. Larger. There is a shard of his iliac crest I am attempting to reach. I will need to check the nerve later. Splenectomy likely. Diathermy.

GORD

Just returning lost property.

BRYONY

Wow. Spicy little robot, isn’t he?

GORD

Find the fun and the job’s a game.

GRACE

If we could just focus, please.

MALCOLM

Right. Hello there. Come in, come in.

[THE BUZZING SOUND OF FLOATING DRONES ENTERING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR]

MALCOLM

Ah there’s room for everyone. In you come, in you come, spread yourselves out.

[CUT TO THE INFIRMARY]

GORD

I’m unable to control this bleeding, Grace.

TRANSFUSION

That’s 8 units.

ANAESTHETICS

Heart rate’s going up. 170.

TRANSFUSION

Everything we’re putting in is just coming straight back out.

GRACE

Okay. Okay.

[GRACE BREATHES OUT SLOWLY. ALARMS AND MONITORING BLEEPS CARRY ON]

BRYONY

Dr Melé, please. I was thinking about his aftercare. Right now, it’s obvious what he needs. Isn’t it?

Wants what to be?

AUBREY

We wanted to send a message.

[THE CRACKLE OF A COMM]

GRACE

Hester? Hester?

HESTER

Grace? Is everything okay down there?

GRACE

I need you to get Warren down here right now. Hurry.

[CUT TO THE HOUSE]

MALCOLM

Now umm… which one of you shall I address? Umm… Can any of you things talk to me?

[A SPEAKER CRACKLES ON THE NEAREST DRONE. A VOICE COMES TO LIFE. REBECCA LANDRY]

[CUT TO THE INFIRMARY]

ANAESTHETICS

Heart rate’s 200. He can’t keep up this tachy, He’s going to crash.

[GORDON STARTS TO FIT ON THE TABLE, SHAKING VIOLENTLY]

GRACE

He’s fitting. Gord.

GORD

Sharps away. Can someone please hold his legs?

This is the inexplicable reason you brought me here, isn’t it? To save the caretaker? So, it’s up to you, darling.

[CUT TO THE FARMHOUSE. MALCOLM STILL SITS.]

MALCOLM

We have outstayed our welcome, Rebecca. We have no more business here. Any of us. We have to let it go. I beg of you. Just… just let it go.

REBECCA

Dad, let me come and get you, you - you’re not well, I can help you -

MALCOLM

No, I’m not well. And I… I have finally learned there are many worse things in the world than dying. How did… how did Andrew Marvell put it? Wonderful poet. ‘Constrain’d not only to endure Diseases, but what’s worse, the cure; And ready oft the port to gain, Am shipwrecked into health again.’

REBECCA

Dad…

MALCOLM

Nos da, fy nghariad.

[A SWITCH IS FLICKED, A BUTTON IS PUSHED. A LONG BEEP. THEN THE LOUDEST AND BEST EXPLOSION IN THE HISTORY OF AUDIO DRAMA AS THE FARMHOUSE IS RIPPED TO PIECES BY AN ENORMOUS DETONATION. THE FAILING, CRASHING BLEEPS AND BLOOPS OF DYING DRONES. YAWNING AND CRASHING TIMBER. IT GOES ON FOR SOME TIME. CUT TO THE CONTROL ROOM]

MARMITE

Holy shit.

STEVIE

I think they got the message.

AUBREY

Are there any left?

[A PAUSE. AFTER A MOMENT THERE IS A BLIP ON THE SENSOR]

STEVIE

Just one. Heading to us.

AUBREY

Okey doke. Hold the fort. Shotgun.

STEVIE

Yes ma’am.

[STEVIE HANDS AUBREY HER SHOTGUN AND SHE GIVES IT A QUICK CHECK OVER]

MARMITE

You want to go out there?

AUBREY

Won’t be a moment.

HESTER

Aubrey. Aubrey!

AUBREY

Back in a jiffy.

[OUTSIDE THE FACILITY. THE FARMHOUSE FIRE ROARS IN THE DISTANCE, IT’S ROOF CAVING IN, GLASS SHATTERING. THE DOOR TO THE FACILITY IS KICKED OPEN. AUBREY COMES STRIDING OUT. THE BLEEPS AND WHIRRS OF THE DRONE APPROACHING]

AUBREY

Good evening. Hope the journey wasn’t too rough.

[AUBREY COCKS HER SHOTGUN WHICH MAKES A NICE FUTURISTIC HUM AND FIRES IT IMMEDIATELY AT THE ONCOMING DRONE. IT WHIRRS UNHAPPILY BUT NOT YET OUT FOR THE COUNT. AUBREY PUMPS HER SHOTGUN AND FIRES AGAIN. IT SINKS TO THE GROUND SADLY. AUBREY STEPS UP TO HER DOWNED TARGET]

AUBREY

The stars are out. The air is still. This would’ve been a lovely evening. Right. What have we got here?

[WITH AN EFFORT SHE FLIPS OVER THE HEAVY METAL DRONE. THE SOUND OF A DAMAGED CAMERA LENS ZOOMING IN AND OUT, UNABLE TO FOCUS. A CRACKLE OF STATIC FROM IT’S DAMAGED SPEAKER. AUBREY CROUCHES DOWN TO ADDRESS THE CAMERA CLOSELY]

AUBREY

Are you still working little guy? Can anyone hear me?

[THE STATIC CLICKS AND CRACKLES A LITTLE. REBECCA LANDRY IS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH IT, BUT HER WORDS CANNOT BE CLEARLY DISCERNED]

REBECCA

Wood - Wood – come on – you better - answer me – Jesus Clive can you make this fucking thing work? Wood - are you – come on - listen to me - Wood -

AUBREY

If you’re still there, Rebecca. He wouldn’t have felt any pain. It was his idea, I promise you. Your father talked about his death often, how he wanted it to be. He kept returning to two main principles. He wanted it to mean something, and he really wanted to explode.

[THE FIRE ROARS AWAY IN THE DISTANCE]

AUBREY

Now, the second one we were able to accommodate. But the first is up to you. Malcolm had the same choice that all who come to Red Valley are given. You can live and die in the manner of your choosing, as long it doesn’t hurt anyone else. You have that same choice. You can all walk away now and live your lives in whichever manner seems best to you. But if you come here with plans to hurt any of my people, or take anyone from here against their will, then that choice is forfeit. Let me turn this camera around. That was a beautiful old house, I don’t want it burning down for nothing. I hope you can get a good picture.

[SHE DRAGS THE DRONE AROUND SO IT’S FACING THE FIRE]

AUBREY

I want you to consider the difference between yourself and your father, Rebecca Landry. Between your people and mine. None of us are afraid to die.

[SHE PUMPS HER SHOTGUN AND FIRES. BEFORE THE SOUND OF THE SHOT EVEN FINISHES RINGING OUT, CUT TO THE BEEP OF A DISCONNECTED COMM CHANNEL]

[OVERHEAD HQ. REBECCA AND CLIVE SIT, ABSORBING WHAT’S JUST HAPPENED. THE MESSAGE REPEATS IN THE BACKGROUND]

BLUE SKY

Connection lost. Connection lost. Connection lost.

[IT IS SWITCHED OFF]

CLIVE

Wow. Becky…I’m… I’m sorry. Uh. That must have been pretty rough.

[REBECCA DOESN’T REPLY]

CLIVE

Malcolm Landry was, uh. You know, none of us would be here without him. You, more than, well. The rest of us. Obviously.

[NOTHING]

CLIVE

But this is… this is why it was good to send the drones and stay back here at HQ. You know, Wood’s played her hand. We’ll keep building support here. Make more allies, strength in numbers. I’ll speak to Pam, see how she can help, and then… then, you know all of us, uh, we can see what we can, um -

REBECCA

Clive I’m going to need you to do something for me.

CLIVE

Uh. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

REBECCA

Shut the fuck up.

[QUARANTINE ROOM. A LITTLE TIME HAS PASSED. THE FAMILIAR BLEEPS OF MONITORING EQUIPMENT BUT CALM AND STEADY. A TICKING CLOCK. MAYBE SOME PANPIPES. A PEACEFUL MOMENT. MOVEMENT ON A BED - SOMEONE PULLING THEIR ARM OUT OF A BLANKET, HALF ROLLING OVER ON THE MATTRESS]

GORDON

Ugh. Urrrrgh.

[FROM ACROSS THE ROOM, ANOTHER VOICE, A LITTLE GROGGY BUT CONTENT]

WARREN

Hey… hey… hey. Either wake up or stop grunting. Oi!

[GORDON IS HAVING SOME TROUBLE SPEAKING]

GORDON

Whu - wut – what?

[HE TRIES TO MOVE BUT IT HURTS]

How long for?

Are you er… You gonna be here when I wake up?

WARREN

That’s my line.

[GORDON’S LAUGH TURNS INTO A SNORE]

[THE CLOCK TICKS]

024 - The Gentle Art

2025-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

[PAMELA’S STOREROOM, OVERHEAD HQ. CLIVE IS ALREADY THERE, SAT IN SILENCE. PAM CAN TELL SOMETHING IS WRONG]

PAMELA

You know Clive, much as I enjoy these visits, I’m not a comfortable silence kind of girl.

[CLIVE GIVES AN INVOLUNTARY BURST OF INCREDULOUS LAUGHTER FOR A MOMENT]

CLIVE

I, uh. I don’t know why I’m sitting her telling you all this.

[HE CRANES HIS HEAD AROUND, SUDDENLY NERVOUS OF HIS SURROUNDINGS]

[HE GETS TO THE DOOR]

CLIVE

Coward? Coward is right. Do you have any idea how much I wish I was you right now? Sat quietly in a storeroom? You’re valuable to her. That’s why you’re here. That’s why you’re protected. She needs you. I’m just a big mouth she can roll shit into. I thought I knew Becky Landry. I thought she had a line. And then she screwed us over so she could keep her spot in the Overhead cryonest. And then she shot Francesca Jones in the head. Then Sophia…you don’t know what she did to get that information, and it was not the information she wanted to hear. Yes, I’m a coward. Enjoy your futon, Pam. Pray you stay valuable.

[HE MAKES TO LEAVE. PAM IS SLIGHTLY HUMBLED BUT STILL BLURTS OUT HER LAST QUESTION]

PAMELA

Do we at least know where they are? Bryony Halbech, Aubrey Wood?

CLIVE

Oh yeah. We know where they are alright.

[RED VALLEY. THE INTERVIEW ROOM, THE MORNING FOLLOWING BRYONY’S ARRIVAL. AUBREY STANDS LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS AT THE SLEEPING BRYONY HALBECH, GRACE AND HESTER SIT]

AUBREY

So, how did the night go?

HESTER

Not well.

AUBREY

What happened?

GRACE

I tried first. It went like this.

[GRACE HITS A BUTTON ON THE CONTROL DESK IN FRONT OF HIM. A TINNY RECORDING OF HIS ATTEMPTED INTERVIEW:]

GRACE (RECORDING)

Dr Halbech. Bryony. I’m aware it’s been a very long journey for y -

[THE SOUND OF BARE FEET ON HARD FLOOR SPRINTING ACROSS THE ROOM]

BRYONY (RECORDING)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

GRACE (RECORDING)

Oh. Okay, we can try again later, no problem. Bye now.

[THE SOUND OF THE DOOR TO THE ROOM HURRIEDLY CLOSING. THE RECORDING ENDS]

AUBREY

Well, you have history with her just like I do, stands to reason she’s going to hold a grudge. Who else has tried?

HESTER

I tried.

[GRACE HITS A BUTTON]

HESTER (RECORDING)

Hello Bryony. I’m here to help you -

BRYONY (RECORDING)

AAAAAAAAH -

HESTER (RECORDING)

Ooooookey dokey.

[GRACE CUTS THE RECORDING]

AUBREY

Any other takers?

HESTER

Stevie had a go.

AUBREY

Stevie?!

HESTER

She was being nosey. She always wants to help.

[CLICK]

STEVIE (RECORDING)

Hullo! I just wanted to pop in and - fuckin’ hell she’s throwing a shoe!

[BRYONY’S NEXT SCREAM IS CUT VERY SHORT BY GRACE]

AUBREY

What’s her situation now?

GRACE

She’s still in there.

AUBREY

In the dark?

GRACE

You can see her if you get right up to the glass and squint.

[PAUSE]

What’s in the bag, Aubrey?

[SHE UNZIPS IT AND THE COLD METALLIC SOUND OF A WEAPON BEING CHECKED OVER]

[BRYONY HAS PULLED HERSELF TOGETHER AGAIN. HER BONES CLICK AS SHE STRETCHES HERSELF OUT. AUBREY DOES NOT REACT AT ALL]

[THE OFFICE ON THE GROUND FLOOR. WARREN IS NOW PART OF THE GROUP]

WARREN

This is a terrible idea.

[HESTER AND GRACE SPEAK AT THE SAME TIME]

GRACE (overlapping)

Yep.

HESTER (overlapping)

Uhm… I agree.

AUBREY

We could at least experiment with positivity, everyone.

WARREN

This can’t have been the plan all along. You wanted us kept apart.

AUBREY

Yeah, that’s true.

WARREN

Which actually was a great idea.

[PAUSE]

WARREN

You know, it’s decisions I’ve made that are the reason you’re alive you old bastard.

MALCOLM

And a fat lot of good it’s done me.

AUBREY

Fucking hell are you going to say anything nice to me today!

[PAUSE]

Look at us. The inventor of hypersleep, and the man whose genes made it all happen, in a world of people either desperate to Kontinue or desperate to kill anyone who does. Both in the custody of the world’s leading cryo-terrorist. I wonder what Aubrey Wood has in store for the both of us -

WARREN

You know, I don’t know if it’s the voice, or the clothes, or if it’s just being in the future. But your puppet master schtick just doesn’t work anymore.

BRYONY

I needed two hands to hold all the strings.

[AN ALARM BEGINS TO SOUND. THE DOOR BACK TO THE STATION OPENS AND GRACE STICKS HIS HEAD OUT]

BRYONY

Fucks sake…

WARREN

Fucks sake…

GRACE

Both of you, back inside. Now.

[WARREN ENTERS THE CONTROL ROOM - THE MAIN CENTRE OF OPERATIONS AT RED VALLEY - TO A HUBBUB OF ACTIVITY. THERE ARE AT LEAST A DOZEN PEOPLE PRESENT]

STEVIE

When do we press go?

MARMITE

I don’t want to press go, we shouldn’t even have brought it inside.

MALCOLM

I agree. Take it outside and smash it up.

STEVIE

We scanned it.

MARMITE

You scanned it.

[EVERYONE SPEAKS AT THE SAME TIME]

STEVIE (overlapping)

Oh, shut your mouth Marmite.

HESTER (overlapping)

Shut up Marmite.

AUBREY

Oh, give it a rest. I asked her to bring it in.

GRACE

Marmite, don’t be derogatory to Stevie’s work.

CLIVE

Alright. This is a message for Aubrey Wood, if she’s still alive. If she’s not, this is a message for whoever’s keeping the lights on at Red Valley. My name is Clive Schill. You might have heard of me.

[CLIVE PAUSES, AND THE ROOM TAKES THE MOMENT TO REACT. THEY ALL SPEAK AT THE SAME TIME. WARREN IS SURPRISED, THE REST OF THE ROOM REACTS LIKE SOMEONE THEY WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HAS JUST SPOTTED THEM AT THE BAR]

WARREN

Oh my god… Clive Schill is still around?!

HESTER

Oh my god…

GRACE

Wow.

AUBREY

Of course. He’s a cockroach.

MALCOLM

He hasn’t aged terribly well, has he?

CLIVE

WARREN

A treat.

[HE FUSSES WITH THE VIVARIUM]

[THE SOUND OF A MESSAGE PATCH]

Jesus Christ.

WARREN

Is it? Cause it feels like it might not be okay.

HESTER

She’s saying it’s okay because she feels guiltier than you do right now.

AUBREY

Hester!

HESTER

I just wanted to save us all 10 minutes of Britishness, I have things to do today.

WARREN

So, what’s going on then?

[AUBREY CHOOSES HER WORDS CAREFULLY]

AUBREY

I… I didn’t ask you to come here this morning to talk about Jade. I think it was a good party, I’m sure she would’ve been happy with how it went.

HESTER

I know she would.

WARREN

Okay. So, what’s up?

AUBREY

44 years ago, Gordon was shot. But I was, am, not a trauma doctor. I didn’t know how bad the injury was. You were showing early signs of finally rejecting the Kontinue treatment. Shock and hemorrhage. There were two cryonic infusions, the Hartshorn infusions. One was fresh and ready to use, one had been out of containment for some time, and should’ve been discarded as a result. But it wasn’t. We used the good Hartshorn on you. This was because despite your symptoms, between the two of you, you had the better shot at survival. Clearly.

[THE PENNY DROPS]

WARREN

Oh, you’re kidding me.

AUBREY

Warren…

WARREN

You’re fucking kidding me!

HESTER

She’s the only person alive that knows that infusion. Not to mention the severity of Gordon’s condition.

Warren, I’d ask you not to presume the first fucking thing about the way I night feel about Bryony Halbech.

[AUBREY’S TONE BRINGS THE ROOM TO A STOP]

HESTER

Aubrey?

HESTER

We don’t know yet.

WARREN

Well, you can bet she’s going to know what to do with you.

AUBREY

I expect you’re right.

WARREN

Yeah, I know I’m right. For once.

[THEY EXHALE. WARREN SIPS HIS TEA AND SIGHS]

WARREN

How… how long until she gets here?

AUBREY

Grace is leaving soon to meet the courier at a rendezvous nearby. They’ll be back later today.

[WARREN WHISTLES THROUGH HIS TEETH IN DISBELIEF]

WARREN

Bryony fucking Halbech.

[THE GALLEY. WARREN IS AT THE SINK. STEVIE IS HELPING WITH THE WASHING UP. WARREN’S MOOD IS RADIATING THROUGH HIS ACTIONS AS HE WASHES MUGS AND SLAMS THEM ON TO THE DRYING BOARD. STEVIE WINCES WITH EACH SLAM AND TRIES TO APPROACH THE ISSUE AS GENTLY AS POSSIBLE]

WARREN

Need a scourer. That’ll do.

STEVIE

Could you try not to put the mugs down quite so hard? They’re forged from pretty lousy mulch so they’re actually quite perishable.

[WARREN PICKS UP A MUG]

[WARREN GETS BACK ON WITH THE TASK WITH THE SAME ABSENCE OF CARE]

STEVIE

Umm… Well… as a rule, it’s best to be careful with most forged stuff if you can, we do end up with some bad batches of mulch. Things can come out a bit flimsy or brittle. I;ve snapped 3 toothbreesh this month alone.

WARREN

Everything here is made out of plastic. It’s everywhere I look.

STEVIE

We’ve forged as much of our own stuff as we can over the years. I mean… the best mulch makes for the most durable plastic for tools, equipment, weapons. Every Blue Sky drone you see is all plastic. We avoid metal wherever possible cause of the valley floor defence system obviously -

WARREN

I’m actually fine to do this on my own, Stevie. If you have anything more pressing to do. I like washing up, it keeps me calm.

[ONE PLATE BANGS DOWN ON TOP OF THE ANOTHER]

STEVIE

Okay… yes, you do seem calm.

[AN AWKWARD PAUSE]

[HESTER ENTERS THE GALLEY]

HESTER

You can change your own sheets if you like.

[THEY BEGIN TO MOVE DOWN THE ROOM AWAY FROM MALCOLM]

GORD

Do you think they’re getting worse?

Now we wait.

GORD

You know, if you consider yourself notably changed since you last saw Dr Halbech, it’s possible she may also have reflected on her past actions.

GRACE

Humm… Perhaps.

[ANOTHER PAUSE]

[IN THE NEAR DISTANCE, ANOTHER HEAVY VEHICLE PULLS UP ON GRAVEL]

GORD

She’s here.

[A DOOR OPENS, FOOTSTEPS ON THE GRAVEL. A WOMAN GETS OUT OF THE OTHER VEHICLE]

GRACE

See you in a minute.

[HE GETS OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AND APPROACHES THE WOMAN. THE WIND OCCASIONALLY GUSTS THROUGH THE NEARBY TREES AND BUSHES]

What… What is it?

SOPHIA

We had thought… if she wanted Halbech brought all the way here… maybe Aubrey was getting back in the fight.

GRACE

We want to end the fight, Sophia.

[SOPHIA SCOFFS AT THIS]

Signed, sealed, delivered, the most wanted woman in the world.

[SHE PULLS OPEN THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR. GRACE IMMEDIATELY HOPS UP TO INSPECT WHAT HE SEES. THE BEEP OF A MEDICAL MONITOR]

[THE PORCH BY THE EXIT TO THE FACILITY, WHERE WARREN AND GORDON ONCE STOOD LOOKING AT THE SNOW. AUBREY SITS BY THE DOOR IN SOFT RAIN. IN THE DISTANCE, RUMBLES OF THUNDER. THE DOOR OPENS, AND CLOSES AGAIN]

I always get twitchy when I’m waiting for someone to come back from a pick up. Especially when the weather turns.

WARREN

Because it’s so bad out there?

AUBREY

Because I don’t know how bad it is out there. I stay here.

WARREN

You always stay here?

AUBREY

Always.

WARREN

You actually were queen of the cryo terrorists.

AUBREY

Don’t remember that being an official title.

[PAUSE]

[AUBREY TAKES A MOMENT]

AUBREY

I had become extremely adept at tracking down cryo nests and gutting them. Gutting them, torching them, blowing them up. And leading others to do the same. The world was screaming, whole countries sinking, burning, every climate horror story cliché you can imagine. And I was damned if I was going to let anyone sit it out in a cryopod while the rest of us choked and drowned. They apprehended me in Cairo. It was years before Grace found me and broke me out. And I came home to find we had… won? Hypersleep was gone, well, in this country at least. So, I got my wish. Here we all were, all frogs in the same saucepan of slowly boiling milk.

And now there’s a new authority in charge, part church, part militia, calling themselves The Bastion, and their doctrine is… anti-hypersleep. We should all come together and use the time we have left in this world productively. Wow, that’s really great! Aubrey Wood was right all along! Except the world’s still on fire and everyone’s still as mad as hell, so that doctrine becomes a stick to keep everyone in line. Life is sacred, so no one’s getting out of here. Too bad there isn’t enough infrastructure left to look after you all. So, we’ve jumped back two centuries, people are dying in the streets of ancient diseases, you know the family of anyone who takes their own life is flogged in the town square, just a bunch of wild backwards bullshit that belongs in a half- baked YA novel that you never bothered to finish. So, yeah, well done Aubrey. You got the world you wanted. Hester and I found each other again. We came here. We built this. And for a few people we offer a peaceful way out.

[PAUSE. THE RAIN FALLS]

WARREN

What was Guy Ritchie’s cryo nest like?

[AUBREY CANNOT HELP BUT LAUGH,]

WARREN

Was it fancy? Does his Blue Sky unit have a cockney accent?

[A BEAT AS THE TENSION EVAPORATES FROM AUBREY]

AUBREY

You know there’s one little outpost of Kontinue we can never get actually. Really bugged me for a long time.

WARREN:

Oh yeah? Where’s that?

[A PAUSE AS AUBREY VISUALLY INDICATES]

Grace has reached the perimeter.

[AUBREY SIGHS AND STANDS UP WITH SOME EFFORT]

Wow, what a cliche.

AUBREY

Oh, you get used to it. Every other thing you say has a dramatic roll of thunder behind it here. I’ll try it now. I’m… allergic to cat saliva.

[AFTER A SECOND OR TWO ANOTHER RUMBLE]

AUBREY

See?

[AUBREY OPENS THE DOOR TO GO BACK INSIDE]

WARREN

Aubrey?

AUBREY

Yeah.

WARREN

Do whatever you have to do.

[IS STRIDING DOWN THE CORRIDOR TOWARDS THE INTERVIEW ROOM WITH HER GORD DRONE.]

I doubt there will be any kind of confrontation and she’s on the other side of the glass in the interview room anyway. Grace said she was still sedated when they reached the perimeter, she’ll be half asleep at be -

AUBREY

[SHE OPENS THE DOOR TO THE INTERVIEW ROOM JUST AS A HAND SMACKS ON THE GLASS FROM THE OTHER SIDE. BRYONY HALBECH IS THERE. SHE IS SCREAMING, INCONSOLABLE, FURIOUS. SHE YELLS HYSTERICALLY, DEMANDING TO BE RELEASED, CURSING WILDLY. GRACE IS STANDING IN THE INTERVIEW ROOM]

GRACE

Welcome.

[AUBREY REGARDS THE SCENE IN FRONT OF HER. SHE HAS TO SHOUT TO GRACE TO BE HEARD]

AUBREY

What the hell is this?

GRACE

Hang on. Hang on.

[GRACE MUTES THE MIC FROM BRYONY’S SIDE, BUT SHE CAN STILL BE HEARD A LITTLE.]

AUBREY

Wh… When did all this start?

GRACE

The minute she woke up. Apparently, she’s been like it the whole journey.

AUBREY

From China?!

GRACE

They had to keep her sedated half the trip. The rest, like this.

What do you want to do?

AUBREY

Put her in some yellows. Nothing she can hurt herself with. Let’s get rid of the furniture. I don’t want her left alone for a second.

GRACE

No, umm… To make her more comfortable though. What treatment?

[AUBREY TAKES A MOMENT]

AUBREY

Whatever you think is best.

[SHE EXITS]

[WARREN ENTERS THE CRYO SUITE AND SITS BY GORDON’S POD.

Hey Gordon. So, we’re going to try and save you. I think. In the most stupid and dangerous way I could think of. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I don’t know what happens if it works. I don’t know what happens if it doesn’t work. I don’t know how to help. Or if I even can… help. So, all I can do is try and be ready. Ready for Bryony.

[PAUSE]

WARREN

Hey.

2024-12-29T16:00:00+00:00

[CLIVE SCHILL KNOCKS ON THE OPEN DOOR OF REBECCA LANDRY’S OFFICE]

CLIVE

Becky?

[REBECCA IS BUSY BUT WAVES HIM IN]

REBECCA

Hey, hey, come in.

CLIVE

How’s it going?

[BECKY LOOKS AT HER PAPERWORK AND WITH A WITH A SIGH, THROWS HER PEN ON TO THE DESK IN DEFEAT]

[REEBCCA RUBS HER TEMPLES, EXHAUSTED ALREADY]

REBECCA

This morning I’ve already spoken to three different divisions of the Bastion or whoever these bloody people are who run everything these days. I’ve used every trick I’ve got to charm and bullshit them. And I’m realising that maybe I depended more on those doughnuts than I thought.

CLIVE

How many of these Bastion gits are there?

[REBECCA LOOKS AT A CHAOTIC PILE OF PAPERS IN FRONT OF HER]

[REBECCA RUBS HER TEMPLES, AGAIN]

Becky, it’s not right, keeping her locked up like that…

REBECCA

I’m not going through this again. As you can see I’ve got a lot on-

CLIVE

Pam is one of us. We owe her more than locking her up like a dog. She could at least have the run of the building,she doesn’t even have a bed -

[REBECCA’S PHONE BLEEPS. SHE TAKES A BREATH AND ANSWERS IT CALMLY]

REBECCA

Yes.

No wait, that can’t be his actual -

[HOLY COLONEL JOHN BREAKFAST COMES ON THE LINE]

BREAKFAST

Ms Landry.

REBECCA

Hello. Uh, I apologise, I didn’t know we had an appointment, uh, Colonel… Breakfast…

BREAKFAST

It’s Break Fast. I am commonly addressed as Holy Colonel.

[CLIVE WHISPERS]

CLIVE

Break Fast?

[REBECCA SHUSHES HIM AS SUBTLY AS POSSIBLE]

REBECCA

Of course, of course. Holy Colonel. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

CLIVE

Is it two separate words then?

BREAKFAST

It is not for pleasure that I get in touch, Ms. Landry. I’m sure you’re aware your company, such as it is, is under quite some scrutiny since you returned to the executive’s chair.

REBECCA

Well… It’s been wonderful to get to know everyone in this… brave new world.

Thank you for your call, Holy Colonel… Break Fast.

[SHE HANDS UP AND TAKES A BREATH]

REBECCA

I refuse to live in a world where I have to worry about a person called John Breakfast.

CLIVE

Are they all that intense?

REBECCA

Yes.

CLIVE

You’re getting that story down pretty good.

[SHE STANDS UP AND MOVES TO THE WINDOW]

[CLIVE GETS UP TO LEAVE]

REBECCA

Everyone. The Jets, the Sharks, the T-Birds, the Pink Ladies, the A-Team, MacGyver, who were Shredder’s guys. The pig man and the -

CLIVE

Bebop and Rocksteady.

REBECCA

Bebop and Rocksteady. ED-209. The So Solid Crew. Everyone.

CLIVE

Okay.

[HE REACHES THE DOOR]

Yes ma’am.

[WITH A CLUNK THE DOOR TO THE CRYO SUITE ENTERS. WARREN TAKES HIS TIME WALKING AROUND TO GORDON’S CRYO POD WHICH BLEEPS METHODICALLY AND PEACEFULLY. HE HAS BROUGHT WAFFLES WITH IM AND RESTS HER ON THE TOP OF THE POD]

GORD

Landing.

WARREN

There you go, Waffles. You don’t care where you go, do you?

[HE PULLS UP A CHAIR. HE IS SILENT FOR A MOMENT]

WARREN

Hey. Uh. Gordon.

[HE CAN’T MANAGE ANYTHING MORE]

[PAUSE]

Apologies I haven’t been down to see you much. You look well. I mean I can’t see you. I thought they would’ve put windows in a cryopod. So people could see you floating about. I guess it’s nice to have privacy, isn’t it?

WARREN

Wow!

GORD

Would you like me to continue playback?

WARREN

WARREN

If you like dressing like earwax I su… suppose -

[WARREN CUTS OFF AS HE HEARD VOICE AND NOISE UP AHEAD. HE HAS REACHED HIS QUARANTINE SUITE. AS HE REACHES THE OPEN DOOR TO THE SUITE, STEVIE AND MARMITE ARE INSIDE, TAKING WARREN’S CRYOPOD APART WITH LOUD TOOLS]

I think I know what I’m talking about.

Gord?

GORD

Maybe you should speak to Aubrey.

[AWKWARD PAUSE]

WARREN

Okay. Well. I’ll be sure to do that. See you later.

[WARREN STEPS AWAY. STEVIE CALLS NERVOUSLY]

STEVIE

Morior Invictus!

WARREN

Yep, super cool. Love that.

[OUTSIDE. A HUGE FIRE ROARS POWERFULLY. THERE IS A CROWD, PLENTY OF TALKING, LAUGHING AND MOVING AROUND. AUBREY STANDS BESIDE MALCOLM]

[THE FIRE ROARS]

Umm… Where’s Stevie? She’s… she’s missing the party.

AUBREY

She’s below with Marmite. They’re dismantling Warren’s pod.

AUBREY

I thought you’d be happy. One less cryopod in the world by tomorrow morning.

MALCOLM

I’m not sure the trade off is worth it. What with it spelling certain doom for us all.

AUBREY

Let’s not talk business. Jade wouldn’t have wanted that.

[THE FIRE ROARS]

It’s a lovely fire, it’ll still be here once -

[WARREN STOPS AS HE COMES TO LOOK AT THE FIRE MORE CLOSELY]

It was not my plan to bring you out on somebody’s Completion day. But not everything is in my control. Rather, nothing is in my control. I’ll tell you anything you want to know, Warren. But tonight, I’m saying goodbye to a friend.

WARREN

Of course. I’m sorry. I am.

[THEY WATCH THE FIRE TOGETHER FOR A MOMENT. AUBREY TAKES A BREATH TO CALM DOWN]

AUBREY

Your cryopod is part of the plan to save Gordon.

WARREN

Oh. Right.

AUBREY

Try and enjoy yourself if you can. It’s what she would’ve wanted.

[AUBREY WALKS AWAY. WARREN SIGHS DEEPLY]

GORD

You really aren’t very good at parties.

WARREN

Oh, shut up.

[PAMELA’S STORE ROOM. OVERHEAD HQ. CLIVE IS ALREADY THERE, SAT IN SILENCE.

2024-12-15T16:00:00+00:00

[THE PARTY, IN THE MESS ROOM]

MORIOR INNVICTUS!

CONGREAGATION

DEATH BEFORE DEFEAT!

GRACE

I suppose I can understand where you might get that idea.

WARREN

You said it, not me.

[JADE TURNER HAS STOOD TO ADDRESS THE CROWD. A FEW WHISTLES, CALLS OF ‘SPEECH!’ AND ‘GO ON JADE!’ THE CROWD IS EBULLIENT]

JADE

Thank you, thank you. I won’t keep you all long. I just wanted to say… well, thank you. To all of you. I came here six weeks ago, so afraid, so angry. So alone. I didn’t believe I’d find anything. I’d have to haul myself to the top of Ballbag and jump off. I know for some visitors that has been suggested as a form of Completion and to those I say good luck, but do you really want to spend your last hours on Earth being shat on a hundred times by pink-footed geese?

[LAUGHTER]

JADE

Red Valley has been a fortress for me at the end of my life. On my good days, you’ve been a source of joy. On the bad days you’ve kept me in one piece. I’m afraid I… I don’t have much for you in the way of wisdom. Aubrey - where are you? - Aubrey.

COMMUNITY

She’s over there.

JADE

You try and hide on days like this, don’t you? You and I talked about legacy not long ago. You told me legacy is nothing more than asking others to worship at the altar of your own ego. No graves, no monuments. We return to dust and you put that dust to use. It’s a strange idea, legacy. Particularly in these times. I feel, uh…

JADE

I feel like… for the first thirty years of my life, everyone told me to stop worrying what other people thought of me. Could never quite do that of course. Then… I don’t know. Something must have sunk in, because for the next thirty years of my life, I really didn’t give two shits what anyone thought. I had too much to do, apparently. Then I got old. Then I got this disease. That makes me forget where I am. That makes me call one of you by the name of my son, then become furious when you kindly correct me. That makes me forget the suit my husband wore on our wedding day. This rotten illness takes the ground out from under your feet. And I said to people, I said, what’s the point of all this, if I end up losing it all, if I’m Jade Turner in nothing more than name? They would commiserate with me at first. Then they’d say: But you live on, Jade. You live on in all those you leave behind, in the changes you made to their lives. Oh shit, I thought. Maybe it really does matter what people think of you.

[A RIPPLE OF LAUGHTER]

JADE

No. No, I think I got it right. Aubrey, even if your ashes join mine gritting the path up to this station, with all that you’ve done, you might not be able to escape your legacy. This place will live on long after me and, I hope, long after you. Those who will follow will know your name. And the world is a smidgen brighter for it. But for me… fuck it. Fuck legacy!

[GRACE COMES OVER WITH A COUPLE OF DRINKS]

GRACE

Warren. Are you enjoying yourself?

WARREN

Is that future alcohol?

GRACE

Yes. It’s not very different from past alcohol -

WARREN

Hold the tortoise.

Warren… I owe you an apology. It has been many many years for me but it must still seem very recent for you. My behaviour…. It was young and ambitious back then, but that does not excuse the choices I made. I hope you can believe I’ve spent my life trying to make up for those choices.

WARREN

Honestly Grace, at the risk of sounding rude, I didn’t pay you or anyone else that much attention. I kind of saw all Overhead people as just extensions of Bryony.

GRACE

Bryony, of course.

WARREN

You know, that’s the first time I’ve said her name since I woke up.

GRACE

I don’t suppose Aubrey has -

WARREN

Gord, I’d like to go and visit Gordon please.

GORD

Okay. Let’s go.

[SOMEONE ELSE HAS APPROACHED]

Hey, I’m sorry. Please don’t get upset. I’m going. I’ll go.

[HESTER ARRIVES]

Shit.

[HESTER’S COMM CRACKLES. IT’S AUBREY]

[HESTER DEPARTS]

GORD

Where would you like to go?

WARREN

Let’s go and see Gordon.

[A ROOM IN THE FARMHOUSE. THE MUSIC FROM THE PARTY CAN STILL BE HEARD IN THE DISTANCE THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW]

GRACE

Shall I close the window, Jade? Is the draught too much?

JADE

No, no, I like it. The air, the music. Everyone getting on. How are we doing?

[A COUPLE OF BEEPS FROM A MACHINE]

AUBREY

We’re all set. Just need to pop a drop in the back of your hand.

JADE

Oh yes. Hand squeezy, hand squeezy, get those veins up.

AUBREY

You have excellent veins, Jade, did anyone tell you that?

JADE

Oh yes, the boys often remarked on the size of my… veins.

[AUBREY CHUCKLES]

AUBREY

Sharp scratch.

[JADE DOESN’T FLINCH. AUBREY CONNECTS AN IV LINE TO JADES CANNULA]

AUBREY

That’s it. So, when you’re ready. You just press this button here. That’ll start the medicine.

[JADE TAKES A DEEP BREATH]

More… wedding day scared. It’s a big day.

AUBREY

It is.

JADE

What shall we do now?

GRACE

Tell us a happy memory, Jade.

JADE

A happy memory… You see this scar, on my chin?

AUBREY

I do.

Alright.

GUARD

Hello.

[CLIVE EXPECTED INSTANT ACCESS TO THIS ROOM]

CLIVE

May I pass please?

GUARD

Do you have clearance to see the prisoner?

CLIVE

Excuse me?

GUARD

Clearance. It means permission. Can you show me your identification?

[CLIVE PULLS AN ID OUT OF A POCKET WHICH MAKES A BEEP TONE AS IT’S CHECKED BY THE GUARD]

Oh… I - I will have to note this change of protocol in the log - sir -

CLIVE

You do that.

[THE GUARD LEAVES THE ROOM. CLIVE IS AWKWARD. HE WEAKLY TRIES TO MAKE A JOKE]

CLIVE

I guess there’s got to be some advantages to having an increasingly psychotic boss.

[A RUSTLE AS ANOTHER OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM SITS UP FROM HER POSITION LYING DOWN ON SOME OFFICE CHAIRS. SHE IS GROGGY, JUST WOKEN UP]

PAMELA

For you, maybe.

[CLIVE IS MEEK. PAMELA IS BITTER AND SARCASTIC]

CLIVE

Umm… I’ll speak to the guards. I don’t want anyone calling you - you’re not a prisoner -

PAMELA

Oh! Oh. Good to know.

[AWKWARD PAUSE]

CLIVE

How are you, Pam? Are you - Are they -

PAMELA

I’m peachy. Thanks for making the time.

CLIVE

Yeah… of course. I… I want to make sure you’re okay. Is there anything I can do for you? Is there anything I can…

[HE TAILS OFF]

[CLIVE CANNOT CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION. HE HAS NOTHING MORE TO OFFER]

CLIVE

Look I’m… I’m going to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.

[HE MOVES BACK TO THE DOOR]

PAMELA

Run back to the boss. Tell her I said hi. Did she let you keep the CEO penthouse? Or you gotta find your own digs these days? What’s the rent like in 2064? Huh? You little bitch.

CLIVE

She’ll come round. This won’t last forever. I’m sorry.

PAMELA

Everything you have is ‘cause of me! Kontinue. The Aloha. Connecticut. You only got this far because of me!

[CLIVE STOPS SHORT OF LEAVING]

CLIVE

This works both ways, Pam.

[PAM GIVES A JOYLESS LAUGH UNDER HER BREATH]

PAMELA

Clive and Pam.

CLIVE

Clive and Pam.

[CLIVE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. IT OPENS AND HE STEPS OUT]

020 - The Brigadoon

2024-12-01T16:00:00+00:00

[THE CREAK OF FAMILIAR FARMHOUSE STAIRS]

[THERE IS AN INSTRUMENT BEING PLAYED SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE HOUSE, THE TINKLE OF SOMEONE LEARNING ON A SLIGHTLY OUT OF TUNE PIANO, A CONVERSATION ELSEWHERE AS WELL, LAUGHTER]

HESTER

AUBREY

Fucking h…

[SOON ENOUGH A BLUE SKY DRONE WHIZZES OVER TO HER. SHE SHARES A CONVERSATION WITH GORD AS SHE MAKES THE DISTANCE TO THE STATION]

[A BEAT AS SHE WALKS]

GORD

Okay then.

AUBREY

I can demote you in a heartbeat. You’ll be running the Bluetooth connection on the white goods.

[SHE REACHES THE STATION AND PULLS THE HEAVY DOOR OPEN]

GORD

Fine.

[AUBREY SIGHS AND ENTERS THE STATION]

[WARREN GODBY, IN HIS QUARANTINE ROOM WITH GORD. AN ALARM CLOCK RINGS, THE SOUND OF LIGHTS FLICKERING ON]

Gord, I know Aubrey asked you not to tell me much about the future for… reasons. Can I at least ask you a sports question?

Is Aubrey coming today?

[THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON]

WARREN

You don’t have to keep turning the lights on everytime I speak -

[THE LIGHTS GO OFF]

GORD

Sorry. Off they go.

WARREN

Alright, wheres the water?

[WARREN REACHES FOR A GLASS OF WATER AND KNOCKS IT TO THE FLOOR]

[THE LIGHTS GO OFF. RAINFALL SOUNDS BEGIN. A MOMENT OF TRANQUILITY. SUDDENLY THE RAINFALL CUTS AND THE LIGHTS COME ON ABRUPTLY ON. THE INTERCOM SQUEALS]

AUBREY

Morning! How are you, Warren?

WARREN

I’m… Aubrey - what answer do I have to give to get out of here?

AUBREY

Any answer you like, Warren. Today’s the day.

[KEYPAD TONES. WITH A HISS, THE DOOR OPENS. AUBREY STEPS INSIDE]

Shall I play the rain noise again?

WARREN & AUBREY (FROM BEHIND THE DOOR)

Yes!

[RAINFALL]

[WARREN’S ROOM. AUBREY IS DOING A LAST CHECK ON WARREN’S READOUTS]

WARREN

I’m fine, we can go.

AUBREY

You’ve been in hypersleep decades longer than anyone has ever been before. Indulge me. Take this.

WARREN

I don’t want any more mood stabilisers.

AUBREY

Good, we don’t have many left. It’s a bloody multivitamin. Go on.

AUBREY

I wasn’t joking about the mood stabilisers. Medicines are very hard to come by and Eterniteze are rare in particular. Considering the patient load we have here and the sporadic nature of our deliveries, I can’t dish them out lightly.

WARREN

I never asked for them. And every time you give me another little crumb of information like that, I get more anxious. What patient load? what are you talking about?

AUBREY

AUBREY

You want to sit in here and talk about it or shall we go?

It was too good an opportunity not to take advantage of. The whole place runs off a micro reactor we installed down here when we arrived, it’s where the Blue Sky hub lives, and it’s where you and Gordon have remained the whole time.

[THEY STOP FOR A MOMENT]

WARREN

G… Gordon’s down here?

AUBREY

He’s just next door, always has been.

WARREN

Can I… Can I see him?

AUBREY

Of course you can see him.

[THEY WALK THE SHORT DISTANCE TO GORDON’S ROOM. AUBREY USES THE VOICE ID REQUIRED]

AUBREY

Wood. Aubrey Jane.

[THE DOOR OPENS. THEY DON’T ENTER]

Aubrey, I don’t know you well enough to tell if you’re joking.

[THEY REACH A LIFT. SHE PRESSES THE BUTTON TO GO UP. THE DOORS OPEN]

WARREN

You’re really not going to tell me anything else before we go up there?

AUBREY

I’ll be sure to let you know if I think of anything particularly relevant. Just get in the lift.

[WARREN GROANS. THEY STEP INSIDE AND AUBREY PRESSES THE BUTTON TO GO UP. THERE IS A SHORT PAUSE]

LIFT

Doors closing. Lift going up.

AUBREY

Oh. The plural of toothbrush is now toothbreesh. Don’t look at me like that, I don’t make the rules.

LIFT

Ground floor.

[THE LIFT DOORS OPEN]

[THE DOORS OPEN TO THE UPPER LEVEL. THEY ARE IN A MESS ROOM. A RUSH OF SOUND - AT LEAST TWENTY PEOPLE TALKING, MOVING AROUND, THE CLATTER OF PLATES AND GLASSES BEING CARRIED. IN THE DISTANCE, A GROUP OF VOICES PRACTICING A CHORAL RECITAL. ALL UPBEAT, HAPPILY BUSY]

WARREN

Aubrey, what is -

AUBREY

Come on.

[THEY MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ROOM. A COUPLE OF VOICES CALL TO AUBREY. FROM SOMEWHERE, SOMEONE CALLS OUT ‘NEW GUY!’ A YOUNG MAN INTERRUPTS THEM]

Good gravy, boy, I want the bunting diagonal, and the festoon lights go width ways, that’s much nicer.

AUBREY

Jade, you’re decorating your own party?

JADE

What else am I supposed to do?

AUBREY

Marmite, listen to Jade. She’s the boss.

MARMITE

Sure. Nice to meet you, Warren. Morior Invictus.

WARREN

Same to… you?

[THEY MOVE OFF. AUBREY CALLS BACK]

AUBREY

Jade, try and get some rest, alright?

JADE

I can rest as much as I’d like tomorrow.

AUBREY

Fair enough.

WARREN

Aubrey, what the hell is going on?

[THEY REACH THE RECITAL PRACTICE]

WARREN

Aubrey, why did that guy say -

[WARREN SUDDENLY REALISES HE RECOGNISES THE PIECE THEY’RE REHARSING - IT’S THE CHORUS OF MORIOR INVICTUS. THE CHOIR LEADER CUTS THEM OFF. ITS GRACE - A MUCH OLDER DEGRACIOUS MÉLE]

GRACE

And hold it there. Thank you. Good. Much better but remember to watch each other for your entries, eh? I won’t be conducting tonight. And Stevie, I do not know what you are worried about. That was right on the money.

STEVIE

Thanks, Grace.

WARREN

Grace?

GRACE

Hey… Warren Godby! You are up!

[GRACE TAKES WARREN’S HAND AND SHAKES IT HARD, AND CLAPS ANOTHER HAND ON WARRENS SHOULDER]

Umm… I’m… Sorry, Grace. But were you all just singing Morior Invictus by Pus Crank?

[AUBREY IS ACROSS THE ROOM]

AUBREY

Warren!

GRACE

Don’t keep her waiting, Warren.

WARREN

Sure… sure…

GRACE

Okay, so Robin, I believe you wanted to have a go at the chorus, eh… Let’s go from C, just the tenors… 3 and 4…

[AUBREY HAS KEPT WALKING AND REACHED THE END OF THE ROOM. HE JOINS HER AS SHE HEADS TO A FIRE EXIT]

AUBREY

Looks, brains, and a sublime baritone as well. I think Grace won the genetic lottery even more than you. Come on.

[THEY PASS AN OPEN DOOR TO ANOTHER ROOM. AN ELDERLY MALE VOICE CALLS OUT]

MALCOLM

[WARREN LOOKS BACK UP TO THE STATION]

[AUBREY OPENS THE DOOR TO THE FARMHOUSE]

AUBREY

Go on.

[WARREN STEPS THROUGH TO THE KITCHEN DINER OF THE FARMHOUSE, WHERE A TORTOIDE IS SITTING ON THE DINING TABLE]

Sorry to interrupt. Aubrey, they need you back in the mess.

AUBREY

Of course they do. Uh… Warren, I recommend you have a lie down for a bit. You’re upstairs, first on the left.

WARREN

Aubrey, come on I… I’ve got so much to -

AUBREY

I know, I know. There’ll be time for that. Tonight, we party!

WARREN

Okay… Okay, I’ll… I’ll see you in a bit.

[AUBREY STEPS OUTSIDE, SHE TURNS BACK AND CALLS TO HIM]

Baby girl! That’s going to get really annoying.

019.3 - While You Were Hypersleeping 3: Part Three

2024-06-23T16:00:00+00:00

[WARREN IS PACING UP AND DOWN THE QUARANTINE SUITE EATING GRUEL ANXIOUSLY FROM A PLASTIC BOWL WHILE A RECORDING OF GORDON PLAYS]

GORDON

[animatedly, no longer meticulously scripted] … it’s all hidden in plain sight. It’s not even hidden! Everyone’s heard about the guy who got pushed off the top floor of the Overhead office in Düsseldorf. Everyone knows about the woman from Applied Sciences who boarded a flight to Hong Kong and never got off at the other end. And we all know about the guy who received his P45 from the Bio Science lab and then his flat burned down 3 days later while he was sleeping. This isn’t swept under the carpet. We all know. This is lore. Look… Let me find the notes I took when I spoke to - hang on -

[GORDON SCRAMBLES THROUGH PAPERS, KNOCKING A DRINK OVER AND CURSING]

WARREN

He cares very much about presentation.

GORD

I’m sorry?

[HE STARTS PACING AGAIN]

WARREN

No worries. What’s next?

GORD

Would you like to take a break and finish your breakfast?

WARREN

No, I don’t need to - I can do two things at once -

GORD

Okay.

[WARREN SWALLOWS HIS MOUTHFUL]

No.

GORDON

The latest theory is just bananas. Cryogenics. Human cryogenics, or cryonics, or whatever it’s called!

WARREN

[upset] Oh man… No! Next!

GORD

Okay.

[GORD SKIPS]

[WARREN AGITATION CAN BE HEARD CLEARLY AS, PARALLEL, GORDON SOUNDS EXCITED, FEVERISH]

GORDON

I have just been shown the most gnarly thing I have ever seen. I’ve been hassling the guy with the Demolition Man username for proof, and they finally sent me this. It’s video of an actual catastrophic triple point cryonic event taken at Red Valley! Triple point is when temperature and pressure combine to create simultaneous solid, liquid and vapour. Basically, freezing and boiling at the same time! And I just saw that happen with a fucking person in the middle of it. This guy was in a block of ice and then in an instant he was just… alphabetti spaghetti, he was slime! Oh God… I feel sick. But like… in a good way. I think this source is the real deal. Someone actually inside the cryonic project. Someone who actually worked with Bryony fucking Halbech -

WARREN

Fuck sake! What? Listen to yourself… No, no, no, no. NO! Fuck!

[WARREN THROWS HIS BOWL AND SPOON WHICH CLATTERS AGAINST THE WALL

[GORD STOPS THE RECORDING]

GORD

Would you like to talk about it, Warren?

[WARREN LAUGHS HOLLOWLY]

WARREN

[freaked out] I don’t fucking know what you are man. You don’t even sound like him. And that doesn’t sound like him. Not the Gordon that I know.

[PAUSE]

WARREN

I mean. Yeah. When I met him, he was sat at his desk in Archives, and… yeah. Fine. He was, wasn’t he? He was just like that, I thought he was a nutjob. But tha… that’s when I was… I wasn’t really me, not really… Oh… Christ this is all so fucked up… We all become different people.

[WARREN GROWS MORE UPSET AS HE KEEPS TALKING]

WARREN

[shouting] He shouldn’t be here. If I hadn’t walked in that office that day, if I hadn’t fed whatever it is that drives this ridiculous behaviour, he’d still be sat at his desk shopping for a fucking tortoise, in 2020, where he belongs. I made him come here, and he never left.

GORD

Would you like to listen to any more recordings?

[WARREN IGNORES HIM]

This isn’t how it was meant to go, is it? Something’s gone wrong.

GORD

Warren, I think at this point we should take a moment to breathe and reflect -

WARREN

Fuck. There is no we. Where’s Aubrey? Is she even here?

[NO ANSWER]

WARREN

Hello?

[A NEW VOICE COMES OVER THE COMM]

AUBREY

I’m here, Warren.

GORD

The pink-footed goose. Its squawk heralds a new day. Covered in bird shit.

WARREN

Excellent. It’s very on brand. How many of these have you got?

GORD

119.

[WARREN SITS DOWN ON HIS BED]

WARREN

You have to what… no, no, no… What… what is this all about?

Yeah… I don’t think Double Dash was that good.

GORD

I’m sorry?

WARREN

Nothing.

GORD

Shall we continue?

WARREN

Yeap… Sure.

[GORD STARTS PLAYBACK AGAIN]

GORDON

And so, the seed vault model came together relatively quickly. Management were happy with the progress we’d made. The team were happy too. Oscar said he’d never worked on a project with so much creative freedom, and I agreed. It had been liberating to be given so few boundaries, to have such little pushback from on high. Of course, that’s exactly what should’ve made us suspicious.

GORDON

As we approached the 12 month point, our manager suddenly left the project. No leave, no notice. Gone. We’d never even met in person - they’d been brought in from outside, headhunted for the role. Then, poof. No replacement. We continued to work, what else were we going to do? But grumbles started amongst the team. Oscar had heard that budget reviews had been mentioned, and before long team members started being moved over to other projects. It became a miserable time waiting for the axe to fall. This was Overhead, we knew the game. If they don’t like the numbers, you’re toast. And one quiet Tuesday I got the email informing me that the Red Valley Seed Vault was no longer in active development, and I would recommence my old role in Archives the following week. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I was fucking livid.

[AS GORDON’S STORY RETURNS TO OSCAR, HE BECOMES A LITTLE AWKWARD, NOT QUITE SO SURE HOW TO ARTICULATE THEIR RELATIONSHIP]

GORDON

The team drifted apart almost immediately. We never really knew each other anyway, and I was hardly the life and soul of the remote working party. But Oscar and I stayed in touch. We’d actually mentioned meeting up a couple of times. We’d never made any plans but… yeah, we… still messaged each other for a few weeks. Then out of the blue one day he tells me he’s back on board. That the Red Valley project was back in action, in some capacity. He asks me if I’d been invited to return too. I said no, I’d heard nothing, not yet anyway. He’d see what the deal was and get back to me. And I waited.

[PAUSE]

GORDON

But that was it. No more contact. No response to any messages. I even called him. Nothing. Just like the job, Oscar had dropped me. I asked around the old team about Red Valley, if any of them had been taken back on. I heard back from a couple, but they knew even less than me. The others never replied. I don’t know if they’d been reached out to like Oscar, or if they just couldn’t be bothered to answer. Weeks went by, and eventually I just settled back into a comfortable pattern of quiet seething and resentment.

GORDON

But then one night I got a message. Not at work. At home. Online, a DM on my gaming account. From Oscar. No details. He just asked me to meet him. In a car park, just a few miles from my flat. That night. And he asked me… he asked me to record everything we would talk about. So… here’s what I recorded.

[SUDDENLY GORDON’S RECORDING CUTS TO ANOTHER]

[HE IS SAT IN HIS CAR, THE RAIN HAMMERING ON THE ROOF]

GORDON

[awkwardly] Hello, hello, is it working? Oh er… yes. Um. This is me. Er… Gordon. Gordon Porlock. I’m sat in my car. In the rain. In the car park by the big Asda and the Pets At Home. I’m recording myself, sat in my car. It’s er… very late, and I’m very weirded out, because I’m meeting a colleague, a… a friend. My friend Oscar. We’re meeting in my car in the rain in the middle of the night. Because he wants to tell me something. He’s late. But that’s fine. He doesn’t live anywhere near here. So that’s… weird. But he said come and I’ve come. And he said record, so I’m recording.

[PAUSE]

GORDON

I like the sound of the rain on the roof of my car. I’ll let you know when he arrives.

[GORDON GOES QUIET]

[THE RECORDING GOES ON, THE RAIN IS THE ONLY SOUND]

WARREN

Oscar isn’t going to show up, is he?

GORD

No.

WARREN

How long does he wait?

GORD

The recording lasts another 40 minutes.

[THE RAIN CONTINUES WHILE NO ONE SPEAKS]

GORD

Would you like me to play the next recording?

WARREN

No. No, I can wait.

[THE RAIN GOES ON, AS THE CREDITS ROLL]

019.1 - While You Were Hypersleeping 3: Part One

2024-05-26T16:00:00+00:00

[WARREN AWAKES SUDDENLY, BREATHING HARD]

WARREN

Is there…er… a light switch? Do I…Do I just say ‘lights’ or something? How… How does the future work?

[FROM THE DARKNESS, A VOICE. COOL, COLLECTED, FAMILIAR AND UNFAMILIAR]

GORD

You can say whatever you like. I’ll probably get the gist of it.

[LIGHTS FLICKER ON]

[WARREN WINCES]

WARREN

Um… Thanks. What time is it?

GORD

It’s just after 3am. Are you alright?

WARREN

Er… Yeah… Um… Yeah… not so much. Is Aubrey coming back, she left things a little um…

GORD

Cryptic and melodramatic?

[WARREN ACTUALLY FINDS THAT QUITE FUNNY]

Just tell me where she is, I know my way around.

[WARREN GETS UP TO LEAVE]

GORDON

[aside] There’ll be some cool theme music right here.

[ANOTHER PAUSE]

GORDON

This is not a story about eggs. This is a story about preservation. Not of an object or specimen. Not a document or record. This story is about the preservation of all that we are. And what must be left behind in the process. This is The Cryonic Void.

[PAUSE]

GORDON

Oh… Wait er… the theme music should probably go here actually.

[GORDON CLEARS HIS THROAT]

[softly] Are you still awake, Warren?

[WARREN ROLLS OVER, ASLEEP]

GORD

The memoir was a good idea.

[ANOTHER VOICE]

CLIVE

This is… This is a house.

PAMELA

I know you thought your money would buy you a cryopod tucked up George Washington’s nose on Mount Rushmore, this is the best we can do.

[CLIVE GETS OUT OF THE VAN AND STRETCHES]

Nah. Everyone else is downstairs. You’re good.

[THE GROUP FILE PAST JOSH]

CLIVE

You know for all the money I’ve spent on this you could’ve bought a bigger gun. Josh.

[CUT]

[CLIVE, PAM AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WALK DOWNSTAIRS TO THE BASEMENT OF THE HOUSE]

PAMELA

Hey guys. This is Clive Schill.

CLIVE

[meekly] Hi guys. Don’t mind me, carry on, carry on.

[SUDDENLY THE CLEAR SOUND OF A GUNSHOT FROM ABOVE, OUTSIDE, ELICITING PANICKED REACTIONS FROM THE GROUP]

PAMELA

Everyone quiet! Sh…sh… Shit!

[upset] You don’t have guns! 20 million dollars and you couldn’t find the change for a few spare -

[THE BASEMENT DOOR OPENS]

FRANCESCA

I thought you’d say something like that. Pretty obvious where the weak link is then. Thanks for everything Clive.

[FRAN FIRES A SHOT]

[CLIVE DIVES BEHIND SOME EQUIPMENT]

[GASPS AND SCREAMS FROM THE GROUP]

CLIVE

Fuck it! You really could’ve hurt someone then, Fran!

PAMELA

[panicking] Whoa! Whoa! Wait!

FRANCESCA

Rebec -

[A GUNSHOT]

BILL

Are we all done with the murdering now?

REBECCA

Yeah.

[SHE COLLECTS HERSELF]

REBECCA

I really am sorry for all the fuss, everyone. The last thing I want to do is throw a spanner in the works. I can assure you that no one else knows the location of this site or what exactly you’re doing here. You can believe me because all I want is the same thing as all of you. I want to survive. But not just that. I want to wake up in a future where we can build a better world. And please don’t take this the wrong way, but no matter how good your homemade hypersleep nest is, in a thousand years when you poke your heads out of this little basement, if you don’t have some help you won’t last a week. So, my gifts to you, in return for a place to get my head down for the next millennium, are the resources that were put in place to protect and sustain the Overhead board of directors once they woke up. They won’t be needing them now, so they are yours. Do we have a deal?

[AWKWARD PAUSE]

Oh, will I make it worse?

[REBECCA HEAVES FRAN’S LEGS IN AND THEY’RE DONE]

REBECCA

[tired] There.

CLIVE

Okay. You sure this is umm…

REBECCA

It’s fine. And the animals can’t get to her at least.

CLIVE

[sarcastic] It’s what she would’ve wanted, I’m sure.

[THEY TAKE A MOMENT]

REBECCA

Francesca. May you find the peace that so eluded you in life in the boot of this Toyota Prius.

[SHE PUTS A HAND ON THE BOOT LID]

[THEY APPROACH THE HOUSE]

[REBECCA ENTERS THE HOUSE]

CLIVE

[concerned] You okay?

PAMELA

Should’ve known something would come along and fuck up our shit today. Happens to us every damn time.

CLIVE

Yeah well… It could’ve been worse. At least it wasn’t Aubrey Wood who found us.

PAMELA

Right.

[IN THE DISTANCE A FAINT BUT DISTINCTIVE NOISE CAN BE HEARD - LIKE CRICKETS, BUT DEEPER AND RUMBLING]

[THE NOISE INCREASES, MORPHING INTO A ROAR OF STATIC] [CUT]

BLUE SKY

February 12th, 2064.

[CHAOS]

[MULTIPLE ALARMS BLARE, AUTOMATED VOICES ANNOUNCE WARNINGS - ECMO LEAK, CRYOPROTECTANT TOXICITY AT THRESHOLD, FIRE DETECTED, ACTION REQUIRED]

[NEARBY, MUFFLED THRASHING NOISES FROM A POD THAT HASN’T OPENED. SOME WRETCHING, CHOKING NOISES FROM SOMEONE HALF AWAKE, CHOKING ON THEIR BREATHING TUBE]

[THE SOUND OF A FIRE, SPARKS]

[THE SPLASH OF FOOTSTEPS IN PUDDLES]

I need you to walk, alright? I can’t carry you. Here’s your stupid stick with the ice cube on it. Now come on!

[SHE HELPS HIM TO HIS FEET]

CLIVE

What’s the date?

REBECCA

I don’t know.

CLIVE

The date. What year?

[MASSIVE ELECTRICAL SPARKS GO OFF VERY CLOSE TO THEM]

[A PAUSE]

REBECCA

Helipad’s for emergencies only at the moment, sir.

[SOMETHING IS THROWN AT A WINDOW]

PAMELA

This could end up being an emergency.

CLIVE

That’s a lot of people, isn’t it? Like Princess Diana crowds.

PAMELA

Well, people tend to get upset when they find out the world is ending.

CLIVE

Oh, everyone knew the world was ending. No one put down their cheeseburger or stopped using plastic bags, did they?

[AWKWARD SILENCE]

CLIVE

Eleven Oscars. Good movie.

[CUT]

[SHOES ECHOING IN AN EMPTY ROOM]

CLIVE

Bit quiet.

PAMELA

Clive, I need you to stop pretending that this is just another day at the office. You’re freaking me out.

[THEY REACH A DESK AND CLIVE RINGS A BELL ON IT]

[SHE DROPS HER VOICE TO A WHISPER]

PAMELA

I’ve got friends, Clive. Other cryo tech experts. Maybe… Maybe we can go it alone. Build our own nest. Hunker down, somewhere safe… maybe… maybe we cou-

CLIVE

Pam. We don’t need your scuzzy little mates to build us a Blue Peter cryopod out of toilet roll holders and sticky back plastic, right? Come on… come on. Sit down.

[THEY WALK OVER TO SOME CHAIRS AND SIT]

CLIVE

[attempting to be reassuring] Pam, Pam, hey. Lo- look at me. We invented this stuff. Well, you helped invent it and I sold it. But, if it wasn’t for you and me, the board of directors would be out there screaming like the rest of them. We’ve saved them. Them and who knows how many others. Now they’re going to save us. This is our ticket, right? No one deserves this more than us.

[A DOOR OPENS]

CLIVE

Of course not.

MALCOLM

Because this is, as I’m sure you can imagine, a very formal matter, and nothing that should be dealt with lightly.

CLIVE

We’re on the same page.

That’s on the list, yeah.

[CLIVE TAKES A MOMENT TO SWALLOW HIS GROWING RAGE]

[A PAUSE]

[SHE PRESSES A BUTTON AND A GENTLE BEEP IS HEARD]

REBECCA

Gary?

[A DOOR OPENS, STEPS SOUND]

GARY

Ms Landry.

REBECCA

See that Clive and his friend get home safely.

GARY

Yes, ma’am.

FRANCESCA

We’ll send someone over to get things drawn up for your succession.

CLIVE

Right.

MALCOLM

Oh… The comfort it brings me to know the company I helped build is in such safe hands. Congratulations, Chief Executive Officer. Clive Bartholomew Schill.

[MALCOLM TAKES CLIVE’S HAND AND SHAKES IT WARMLY AND VIGOROUSLY]

I’ll have the car brought round the back, sir.

CLIVE

Thank you, Gary.

[CLIVE TAKES A MOMENT TO SLUMP HARD INTO THE CHAIR NEXT TO PAM AND BREATHE OUT SLOWLY]

PAMELA

Clive.

CLIVE

Pam.

PAMELA

Would you like me to call my scuzzy little mates?

CLIVE

Yes, please.

017 - 2035

2023-10-22T16:00:00+00:00

BLUE SKY

May 5th. 2035.

[A SHIP HORN SOUNDS]

[QUICK STEPS, A CANE CLACKING ON A CORRIDOR FLOOR]

[A CLICK OFF A COMM]

CLIVE

Pam? Pam. Pam!

[NO ANSWER]

CLIVE

Dr Jennings! Cardiac arrest on the retail deck!

Yes, sir.

[TOMAS OPENS A DOOR]

[THE ROAR OF A HELICOPTER’S CUT ENGINE FADING]

[THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN IN THE DISTANCE]

[A HELICOPTER ENGINE FADES AWAY]

[TAPPING FROM CLIVE’S CANE]

CLIVE

Rebecca! Welcome aboard the Aloha Eternity.

REBECCA

I didn’t expect you to greet me, Clive, I assume your head is needed to anchor the ship.

[REBECCA DOESN’T BREAK HER STRIDE]

[CLIVE SNAPS HIS FINGERS]

Tosser.

TOMAS

It’s Tomas, Madam.

[A CHEESY HOUSE BAND PLAYS WHILE ELDERLY DRINKERS CHATTER AND GUFFAW]

[THE FORCED LAUGHTER OF YOUNG NUBILE WAITRESSES AND TABLE DANCERS ENDURING ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE]

CLIVE

I like to sit at the bar, do you mind if we sit at the bar?

REBECCA

The bar is fine.

[in Sebastian Bedford’s voice] Aloha! Would anyone like olives?

[WITH A HURRIED CLINK OF HER HAND ON GLASS REBECCA TAKES SOME OLIVES]

[ANOTHER DRONE WHIRRS IN WITH THE DRINKS]

BEDFORD BOT

Aloha! I’m bringing drinks!

REBECCA

Jesus.

[THEY TAKE THEIR DRINKS OFF THE FLOATING TRAY WHICH THEN WHIZZES OFF]

Fantastic timing. Couldn’t be better.

[THERE IS A HUBBUB AROUND THE BAR AS PEOPLE START TO NOTICE WHAT’S GOING ON]

OLD 1

[excited] Ooh look, it must be Melvyn’s time.

OLD 2

I thought there was something. Go on Melvyn!

REBECCA

Christ, he’s not -

CLIVE

He’s having a heart attack, yeah. Everyone’s got a little wristband on. If their vitals get in the red it alerts the cryo team - oh Sophia, I think… I think he’s going to slump -

What?

CLIVE

You snooze you lose!

[CLIVE SMACKS THE BUTTON]

[OVER THE TANNOY A TINNY DRUM ROLL, THEN HAPPY DEATH DAY, SUNG BY SEBASTIAN BEDFORD, PLAYS]

[THE WHOLE ROOM SINGS ALONG, CHEERING]

ALL

[singing] Happy death day to you. Happy death day to you. Happy death day dear Melvin. Happy death day to you.

[LAUGHTER]

CLIVE

Ah Melvyn. He’ll be gutted he missed out on Rio.

REBECCA

I’ll take that other Old Fashioned please.

[CUT]

[CLIVE SCOFFS]

[PAUSE]

REBECCA

It’s late. I’ve drunk too much. I’m going to bed. We can talk more tomorrow.

CLIVE

Tomorrow you can fly your helicopter over Sugarplum Mountain and watch the sun go down over one of the most beautiful cities in the world. All courtesy of Kontinue.

REBECCA

It’s Sugarloaf Mountain. Enjoy your paintings.

[CUT]

[SOFTLY, IN THE DISTANCE, AN ALARM WAILS]

CAPTAIN

[through a comm] Mr Schill? Mr Schill.

[CLIVE AWAKENS DROWSILY, HUNGOVER]

[SOUNDS OF A RIOT - CAR ALARMS, SHOUTING, BREAKING GLASS, FIRE]

REBECCA

What’s happening?

CAPTAIN

Turn it up.

CLIVE

What are they saying?

[REBECCA BANGS THE GLASS TO THE COCKPIT]

[staticky, over the radio] We want to watch it burn, Rebecca.

REBECCA

W-Who is that?

AUBREY WOOD

We want everyone to watch it burn.

CLIVE

Aubrey? Aubrey Wood?

PAMELA

How is she doing this – wher… where is she?

AUBREY

Far enough away to have a good view. Sorry about your boat, Clive. It was very pretty.

CLIVE

You… better… find… You better find somewhere good to hide you little shit, I swear to God -

AUBREY

You’ve had every chance to walk away from this. You all have. Are you sure you want to continue?

[THE RADIO SCREECHES AGAIN AND SHE IS GONE]

CLIVE

Wood? Wood! Aubrey!

[THE ROTORS GET LOUDER, TO A DEAFENING ROAR]

016 - 2027

2023-10-08T16:00:00+00:00

BLUE SKY

September 4th. 2027.

Pam Pam Pam. Hang on. Wait! Wait wait wait wait wait. Sit down, sit down, sit down. Okay, now you’re the one making the scene, come on. Please, for me.

[PAM TAKES A SEAT]

[A DOOR OPENS]

[FRAN STEPS BACK IN]

CLIVE

You ready?

PAMELA

Let me shake my hair out.

CLIVE

Ah no, do it inside. They’ll be putty in your hands.

PAMELA

Dinosaurs. Okay, let’s go.

[PAMELA TAKES A MOMENT TO ADJUST HERSELF]

CLIVE

[whispering] Tits and teeth, Dr Jennings.

PAMELA

Same to you, asshole.

[CUT]

[CHATTER OF A PUB]

[PAM SETS DOWN A DRINK]

[A PHONE BUZZES WITH A CALL]

CLIVE

Nah.

[HE REJECTS THE CALL]

[PAM SITS AND HANDS HIM A SHOT]

CLIVE

Why the hell not! To the Aloha Eternity!

PAMELA

And all who perish in her!

Damn right.

[CLIVE’S PHONE VIBRATES AGAIN]

[A PAUSE]

Right, last picklebacks. Then something less salty, yeah?

PAMELA

PAMELA

Gotcha.

[PAM LEAVES THE TABLE, CLIVE SITS ALONE FOR A MOMENT BEFORE HIS PHONE VIBRATES]

[HE TAKES THE CALL]

CLIVE

[annoyed] Oh Christ… Babe, I told you, I am working. Can we please discuss this la -

Clive listen to me, you need to be careful -

[A BEEP SHOWS THAT CLIVE HAS A CALL WAITING]

CLIVE

What? Why?

PAMELA

Clive -

[BEEP]

CLIVE

Hang on. Stay on the line.

[CLIVE TAPS ON THE GLASS TO GET THE CAB DRIVER’S ATTENTION]

CLIVE

Just here mate.

CABBIE

You said Shaftesbury Avenue-

CLIVE

Here is fine!

[THE CAB PULLS UP, CLIVE THROWS MONEY AT THE DRIVER]

Hoo boy, why don’t you ask Charlotte how me and her met in the first place you plum.

HARVEY

What’s that supposed to –

[CLIVE HANGS UP]

[HIS CANE CLACKS AGAINST THE PAVEMENT AS HE WALKS, QUICKLY]

[HE MAKES ANOTHER CALL - IT RINGS FOR SOME TIME BEFORE BEING ANSWERED]

[CLIVE HAS STOPPED]

CLIVE

Oh, there she is. She looks terrible in blue.

[HE CLACKS STRAIGHT PAST BEFORE CALLING BACK]

CLIVE

Actually, could you bring over an old fashioned?

FRONT OF HOUSE

Um, of course.

[HE WALKS TO THE TABLE]

[seriously] I’m afraid my father has been unwell, as I’m sure you’ve heard. He’s asked me to help out for a while. Rebecca Landry, how do you do?

It’s…oh, you’re going to, oh, okay -

CLIVE

Hey Blue Sky, what’s the time?

BLUE SKY

[in a voice unmistakably belonging to Rebecca Landry] The time in London is 3:27pm.

REBECCA

It’s definitely not annoying at all when people do that.

CLIVE

It’s like meeting a celebrity.

FRANCESCA

Clive. Amos Tech have a functioning hypersleep prototype and it’s going to be on the Chinese market before the end of the year.

[A SILENCE, INTERRUPTED BY THE ARRIVAL OF CLIVE’S DRINK]

[REBECCA PRODUCES A FILE AND PLACES IT IN FRONT OF CLIVE]

CLIVE

Um hmm.

REBECCA

If you could look at the file.

[HE LEAFS THROUGH IT UNENTHUSIASTICALLY]

[CLIVE SQUINTS AS HE LOOKS THROUGH THE PICTURES]

You suppose correctly. You want to walk away from Kontinue, fine. But if you think you can leave all the trouble at my feet, you’ll find I dotted my i’s and crossed my t’s with some pretty wild fucking penmanship. Enjoy your £30 calamari rings or whatever the fuck.

[THE SCRAPE OF CLIVE’S CHAIR AND THE TAP OF HIS CANE ON THE GROUND AS HE STANDS]

REBECCA

It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr Schill.

CLIVE

You too Rebecca. I look forward to being served by you in five years at the Overhead all night pharmacy or whatever is left of this company when you’re finished with it. That’s your future. But hey, at least you’ll have got there first.

[HE DEPARTS THE RESTAURANT, HIS CANE CLACKING ON THE FLOOR]

CLIVE

[muttering] That was some Jerry Maguire shit right there.

014.2 - Clive and Let Die: Part Two

2023-05-28T16:00:00+00:00

[NO RESPONSE]

Blue Sky, add lasagnes to the shopping list.

BLUE SKY

I’ve added ‘lasagne sheets’ to your shopping list.

CLIVE

No, lasagnes. Microwave lasagnes.

BLUE SKY

No lasagnes.

[CLIVE TAKES A DEEP BREATH]

BLUE SKY

You have a new voice note.

CLIVE

[mouth full] I jsufjf whanttj to eaassrt my dfjnnner -

BLUE SKY

Voice note received today at 16:42 hours from Francesca Jones.

[CLIVE GULPS THE FOOD DOWN]

FRANCESCA

Get well soon.

[PAUSE]

I feel better getting that out of that system actu -

BLUE SKY

And co-signed by the Principal Trustees.

CLIVE

Yeah, you don’t have to read them out too. I know them all, they’re all little dicksplashes.

BLUE SKY

You don’t want me to read the names of principal trustees who signed your digital get well soon card via the Blue Sky courtesy app?

CLIVE

No!

What are you finishing up?

[THERE IS THE BANGING OF ITEMS ON AUBREY’S END]

AUBREY

Just… just some essentials.

[SOMETHING PINGS IN THE BACKGROUND]

Hey, I don’t make the rules. I just threaten people until they follow them.

[GORDON, IN THE RECORDS ROOM – HE NERVOUSLY MUTTERS TO WAFFLES]

GORDON

Hey Waffles. We’re just going to keep you in here for a bit so you’re ready to go. Look, there’s kitchen roll and lettuce, all your favourites. This was an ice cream tub. I haven’t got any ice cream for you but, what’s this? It’s a Top Trump card. From the Lord of the Rings. It’s a… wait who’s that…Gamling. Who the hell was Gamling? Mad beard. You can eat this one. There you go.

[THE COMM CRACKLES]

GRACE

Why does she want this data now?

PAMELA

How should I know?

[GORDON PICKS UP HIS COMM]

GORDON

Aubrey? Aubrey! What the fuck is going on? Are you here?

[CUT]

[INCIDENTAL MUSIC]

[GRACE HAS BACKED INTO THE WALL OF THE TUNNEL AND SLID DOWN IT A LITTLE AFTER BEING HIT WITH A LOWSTRENGTH ELECTRIC SHOCK]

[HE FLAILS IN THE DARKNESS, PANICKING]

GRACE

What the fuck was that? Who’s there? What the fuck is this?

AUBREY

This, Dr Melé, is a defibrillator.

[THE HUM OF THE DEFIBRILLATOR CHARGES AGAIN AND THE BANG OF IMPACT AS SHE PUTS THE PADDLES ON EITHER SIDE OF GRACE’S ARMS]

[HE YELPS AND DROPS TO THE FLOOR OUT OF SHOCK]

Calm down, you big baby. That was barely enough to kill a salmon.

GRACE

Oh my God, Jesus what have you done to me. You’ve put me into an arrhythmia. I need a… a 12 lead ECG to check for, for myocardial damage…who are you?

[THE SOUND OF A ZIPPO LIGHTER BEING STRUCK]

[GRACE YELPS AGAIN]

AUBREY

I’m Aubrey Wood. I used to work here. How do you do?

GRACE

Aubrey Wood… W… why are you…

AUBREY

Why am I illuminating the space between us with a zippo lighter? Well, if you look closer, you’ll see I’ve duct-taped it to a can of my favourite antiperspirant. If you don’t do exactly what I tell you I’m going to spray it, which will burn your face off. On the plus side you’ll be protected from excess sweat and body odour for up to 48 hours.

[GRACE TRIES TO SCRAMBLE TO HIS FEET]

[AUBREY SIGHS, AND HITS THE SPRAY CAN]

[A MASSIVE LICK OF FLAME SHOOTS OUT AND AUBREY PUSHES HIM BACK AGAINST THE WALL]

I’m sure you’ll just get another job. Like Clive said.

BRYONY

You may have noticed that there’s a recurrent theme linking the ex-staff of Red Valley, my love. You don’t find many of us at the fucking Job Centre.

WARREN

I never saw you get this angry when we were together.

[BRYONY LAUGHS HOLLOWLY, AND TAKES A DEEP BREATH]

BRYONY

No. No, you didn’t.

[PAUSE]

WARREN

Was any of that ever real? You and me?

BRYONY

No.

WARREN

Right.

BRYONY

Well, let’s get it over with. Ah, the Records Room. Bear with me a moment, I just have to get something from the safe.

[BRYONY CROSSES THE CORRIDOR AND OPENS THE DOOR TO THE RECORDS ROOM]

GORDON

Bryony! Jesus, you scared me. Warren?

WARREN

Hey.

BRYONY

Evening Gordon. How’s that data coming along I asked you to collect?

GORDON

Oh, yeah, it’s all here.

[GORDON PUSHES SOME HARD DRIVES ACROSS HIS DESK]

BRYONY

Wonderful.

[BRYONY WALKS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM, TO THE SAFE]

GORDON

How was the meeting?

WARREN

GORDON

A pub?

WARREN

Yeah. It was quite nice actually. It was called the…what was it called?

BRYONY

The Boat and Bridger. Oh Gordon, before I forget. Do you remember the night we cut open the skull of Ben Thomas, the poor old sod who used to work here, then ran away and betrayed us?

WARREN

Sorry, wh… what are we talking about?

BRYONY

I told you Clive found him and killed him. Do you remember that, Gordon?

GORDON

I, what?

BRYONY

I lied. Clive meant what he said up there, Warren. He’s all talk, and no action.

[A GUN BEING COCKED, AND THE IMMEDIATE AND LOUD CRACK OF A SINGLE GUNSHOT]

[THE HEAVY SLUMP OF A BODY HITTING THE FLOOR]

[CUT]

[STATIC]

[TWO COMM UNITS]

CLIVE

What was that? Hello?

PAMELA

Clive?

CLIVE

Pamela, what was that?

PAMELA

I don’t know, I’m in the cryosuite. Grace?

CLIVE

Bryony?

[STATIC]

Bryony?

[STATIC]

Fuck sake. Where is Gordon bloody Porlock?

[CUT]

[AUBREY, FRESHLY EMERGED FROM THE TUNNEL, CREEPING DOWN THE CORRIDOR]

[SHE HISSES INTO HER COMM]

AUBREY

Gordon? Gordon, what the hell was that? Gordon, I’m right by -

[AT THE OTHER END OF THE CORRIDOR, THE FAMILIAR CLICK OF HEELS WALKING AWAY]

[AUBREY PUTS THE COMM DOWN]

[A SHARP INTAKE OF BREATH, THEN A SHOUT IN ANGER]

Bryony!

[BRYONY TURNS ON THE SPOT IN SURPRISE]

[THEY TALK FROM OPPOSING ENDS OF THE CORRIDOR, THE RECORDS ROOM BETWEEN THEM]

BRYONY

My God. Aubrey Wood? Is that a bobble hat you’re wearing? Good lord, you haven’t been living down here all along, have you? Like that Parasite movie?

AUBREY

Where’s Gordon?

BRYONY

Ohhh… I see what’s happened. I have you to thank for my new professional freedom, do I? Should’ve known Mr Porlock wasn’t capable of a dastardly plot like that all by himself. Well, it seems we’ll both be freelancers then. We can do LinkedIn or something.

[AUBREY PULLS SOMETHING FROM HER BAG]

[BRYONY PULLS HER GUN AND IMMEDIATELY FIRES IT AT AUBREY]

AUBREY

Shit!

[AUBREY DUCKS BEHIND A WALL AS THE SHOT HITS IT WITH A METALLIC CLANG, FOLLOWED BY TWO MORE SHOTS WITH THE SAME EFFECT]

[AFTER A MOMENT OF SILENCE, THE SOUND OF THE DOOR TO THE STAIRWELL OPENING AND SLAMMING, FOOTSTEPS RUNNING AWAY]

[AUBREY, BREATHING HARD, POKES HER HEAD ROUND THE WALL]

[SHE GOES TO HER COMM FRANTICALLY AS SHE RUSHES DOWN THE CORRIDOR TOWARDS THE RECORDS ROOM]

Gordon? Warren? Are either of you… Are either of you -

[SHE OPENS THE DOOR WITH A CREAK]

WARREN

Help me. Help me. Please. Help me.

AUBREY

Oh my God.

[CUT]

GORD

Are you sure you would like me to continue playback, Aubrey?

AUBREY (FUTURE)

Yes. Carry on, Gord.

[GORD IS PLAYING HER THE RECORDINGS]

[THEY ECHO AROUND THE CHAMBER]

That was… faaaaauuucking hell, now Bryony, I want you to think very carefully about -

[A GUNSHOT]

[THE COMM CUTS OFF]

PAMELA

Clive? Clive?!

[NOTHING]

[PAMELA KEEPS MOVING, UNABLE TO STOP]

Oh, fuck me, fuck me –

[SHE RUNS RIGHT PAST THE RECORDS ROOM]

AUBREY

Hey! Hey!

CLIVE

Tied up. Oh, right. Well, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d be grateful if you popped up here and helped me not bleed to death, you bloody idiot!

[HE CLICKS OFF]

PAMELA

Grace, I’m going.

GRACE

I… I’m going to stay.

PAMELA

Whatever.

AUBREY (FUTURE)

Skip.

[THE RECORDING SKIPS]

AUBREY

The breathing bag. Like a rugby ball with a mask attached to it. Look at me. One hand here, one on the mask, like this. Warren you can do th -

AUBREY (FUTURE)

Skip.

[THE RECORDING SKIPS]

AUBREY

Okay. Mask off. Grace, bit of pressure on the neck. To the right. Damn it.

GRACE

Can you see? Don’t you want to use the video assist?

AUBREY

I think I’ve got it. Tube.

AUBREY (FUTURE)

Skip.

[GORD STOPS PLAYBACK]

GORD

Would you like me to stop playing these recordings Aubrey? I imagine they may be upsetting to you.

AUBREY (FUTURE)

No. And you don’t have the capacity to imagine. Skip.

[GORD CONTINUES]

[AUBREY IS THINKING HARD]

AUBREY

Halbech was working on the haemostatic properties of the infusion, right, so it could be used in emergency medicine. Wasn’t she?

GRACE

How do you know that?

AUBREY

Gordon told me. Fuck it. Freezing someone is the easy part. We’ll worry about the rest later. Come on, Warren. We need to move him. Warren?

WARREN

I can’t do this. Aubrey, I can’t…

GRACE

There’s no walking away from this, is there?

AUBREY

I’m the only person I know who walked away from this place. And look how far I got. It’s not an easy life, Grace.

PAMELA

Grace? Gra -

[GRACE TURNS OFF THE COMM, AND SMASHES IT ON THE FLOOR]

[WITH A BEEP THE TIMER IS ACTIVATED, AUBREY PUTS IT DOWN]

Come on. We’ve got rounds to do upstairs. And then you’re going to see Warren. He’s awake.

[HESTER HUGS AUBREY WITH HER FREE HAND AND KISSES HER ON THE TOP OF THE HEAD]

AUBREY

Yes sir.

[CUT]

[WARREN AWAKES WITH A START]

[THE ONLY SOUND, THE GENTLE BEEP OF A MONITOR, A SUBTLE WHIRR OF VENTILATION]

[PEACEFUL MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY IN THE BACKGROUND, AMBIENT SOUND EFFECTS - A BABBLING BROOK, BIRDS FLAPPING BY]

[WARREN MAKES AN IRRITATED WHINE OF RESIGNATION AS THE RELAXANT HITS HIM]

[HE PUTS HIS HEAD BACK ON THE PILLOW]

AUBREY

Is that better?

Have you actually seen Alien?

CLIVE

It’ll be too big for him but at least it’ll look like he made an effort. Warren, put the shirt on.

What do you want to drink?

[THE NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER]

WARREN

Um. Gu… Guinness.

BRYONY

What?

[THE NOISE REACHES A CRESCENDO]

[SUDDEN CUT]

[SILENCE, EXCEPT FOR A CLOCK TICKING AND CLIVE NERVOUSLY DRUMMING HIS FINGERS]

BRYONY

You see Warren. No expense spared here. There’s a dartboard and everything.

Of course not.

MALCOLM

First things first. Have you all ordered? You know they close the kitchen at half past 8 now?

CLIVE

Yes, we’ve ordered.

[to bryony and warren] I went steaks all round. Medium rare? Peppercorn sauce? Hope that’s cool.

FRANCESCA

Of course you did. So Clive, are you going to introduce us, or…?

MALCOLM

Oh straight down to business, eh!

CLIVE

I would expect nothing less. Warren, this is Malcolm Landry, Senior Vice-Chairman of Overhead Industries, and Francesca Jones, Acting Director of Research and Development.

Yes.

[VARIOUS NOISES FROM A TABLET - UNLOCKING, THE CLICKS OF OPENING AN APP]

[SHE HITS PLAY AND A RECORDING BEGINS]

[IT’S WARREN, ABOUT TO HOLD HIMSELF HOSTAGE AT RED VALLEY]

MALCOLM

A Newton’s cradle made of testicles. Umm… I love it.

WARREN

Tha… Thank you.

[THE RECORDING CONTINUES]

CLIVE

Sorry, do you all think I’m someone else?

And what I need you to do, Bryony, is go back to your hole, give us everything we need to continue our work, then put your things in a box and get your skinny arse out of this company. And if you don’t cooperate, Clive, here has my permission to throw you out of a helicopter. And if you’d prefer that in two words rather than ten - piss off.

[HE HOLDS THE COMM UP FOR BRYONY TO HEAR THE RACKET AS ANOTHER TILE HITS THE GROUND]

Dear Friend!

WARREN

EAT SHIT!

GORDON

Well, I tried.

PAMELA

Your heart wasn’t really in it.

GORDON

You’re welcome to do the next one. Bryony!

[BRYONY CRACKLES BACK]

BRYONY

You’re the caretaker, Gordon. Take care.

[SHE CLICKS OFF]

GORDON

Brilliant. Someone should go up there.

PAMELA

And who’s that going to be?

GORDON

Who do you think can eat the most shit?

PAMELA

I’ll call Grace.

WARREN

VICTORIOUS AND GLORIOUS AND -

GORDON

Oh God he’s going for the high note.

WARREN

TRIUMPHAAAAAAAAA -

[CUT]

AUBREY

Where’s Warren now?

GORDON

He was starting to calm down. He climbed back in through his bedroom window so he could eat the fondant fancies I’d got for him. Somehow we got talking about his memory, it was stupid of me.

AUBREY

What happened?

GORDON

He wanted to show off how good his memory was, so he put Trading Places on and started screaming all of Dan Ackroyd’s dialogue at me. The synchronicity was very impressive but after the first half hour it started to get uncomfortable, so I said I was going to the toilet and I never went back. He’ll cool off. He’ll probably be fine tomorrow. It’s like whiplash. He’ll go from one extreme to the other. And I’m just…well, I do nothing.

[GRACE ENTERS THE ROOM]

GRACE

Warren -

WARREN

Did you know Gordon is half Brazilian? Isn’t that crazy?

GRACE

Unhinged. We need you to do some life admin, Warren.

GORDON

I’m sorry?

[GRACE STARTS LEAFING THROUGH A PILE OF LETTERS]

GRACE

We’ve been able to cover for you so far but frankly none of us gets paid to deal with your…pension plan, your phone contract, your change of tax code…

WARREN

And what would you like me to do about it?

GRACE

We need you to call these people up and sort all of this out. They need to speak to you, not us. Your absence is starting to bring attention, and we need to keep that under controL.

[HE DROPS THE LETTERS ON THE TABLE NEXT TO WARREN, WHO POKES THROUGH THEM]

WARREN

I guess I kind of assumed when my whole life was revealed to be an elaborate facade, this kind of thing would be taken care of. I mean it’s one of the few silver linings isn’t it, when you’re plucked out of society and dropped into a top-secret science experiment, maybe you don’t have to deal with… hold on, why have I got to call the broadband provider?

[BRYONY HAS ENTERED THE ROOM]

[to grace] You know Grace, you don’t have to be here.

GRACE

Apparently, I have nothing better to do.

PENSION

80% of your salary?

WARREN

Yeah, I’m a kept man. Let’s keep it aside for the future. Who knows how things will turn out?

PENSION

Sure!

WARREN

I’m glad I made you happy today.

[THE TRANSFER HAS GONE THROUGH WHILE WARREN IS DISTRACTED]

[SHE POURS A CUP OF TEA AND BLOWS ON IT IMPATIENTLY]

[AN ALARM GOES OFF]

[SHE PICKS UP THE COMM AND CLICKS IT SIX TIMES]

[CUT]

[WARREN SITS, EXHAUSTED IN THE COMMS ROOM]

[GRACE GETS UP TO LEAVE]

GRACE

Well, I’m sure that was a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

WARREN

Yeah, thanks for the opportunity, Grace.

GRACE

Believe me it wasn’t my idea. The only thing less enjoyable than making calls to internet service providers is being forced to watch someone else do it.

[THE DOOR OPENS AND BRYONY ENTERS]

WARREN

Fine. I’ll… I’ll do it -

BRYONY

You’ll do it now.

WARREN

Fine.

BRYONY

The number’s here.

[WARREN SNATCHES IT AND ENTERS THE NUMBER]

WARREN

Fine. Fine, fine, fine…

[IT’S STARTS RINGING]

BRYONY

I’m glad it’s fine.

BRYONY

Hi, is that Emily?

EMILY

Who is this -

BRYONY

This is Karen, I’m Warren’s wife. I’m sorry we haven’t had a chance to meet but I think it’s important to say that Warren was a real fucking mess when we met, and the more I learn about his family the happier I am that he’s left you far behind. I’m afraid neither of us give a shit about splitting up the contents of William Godby’s garage. Feel free to keep Warren’s half of the lawnmower, the Austin Metro and the hard drive collection of underage girl pictures. If I remember this right, the last thing you said to him was that he could ‘stay fucked off’, and that’s the advice he’s delighted to have taken on board. Take a flying fuck into the sun.

[SHE HANGS UP THE PHONE]

You’re welcome. Come on, it’s time to go back in the pod.

[CUT]

AUBREY

One of the main reasons Warren never made the selection for Teddy Bear’s Picnic was his psych evaluations. The impact of the trauma in his life made him seem far too unstable for such mental and physical endurance. But all this time, that’s what’s been keeping him alive. And what killed all the others.

GORDON

You’re saying his trauma is the reason he’s survived the treatment?

AUBREY

The other subjects. Their minds were in perfect health, that’s what we were looking for. The healthiest specimens we could find. Yes, they were individuals capable of horrendous things, rape and murder and other terrible crimes, but anatomically they were perfect. Warren was nowhere near. I’ve gone through everything you gave me. The scans show exactly what’s happening to his brain. An enlarged amygdala, a dramatically reduced cortex and hippocampus. And it’s getting worse the more treatments he has. I’ll bet anything that when Bryony brought him in to the program it was because she had no other choice. Just another body for her to work on. She had no idea what she’d discovered. But she does now.

[CUT]

WARREN

But I’m… I’m the one… The one that made it work.

BRYONY

The reason I’m putting you in that pod over and over again is not because you’re The One. And it’s not because you’re invulnerable. It’s because you’re a time sensitive resource. I’m afraid you won’t be on the cover of Time Magazine with the beautiful people. You’re not the next big thing. You’ve been a profoundly useful cog in the machine. But your time is almost up. Around 15% of your mind has turned to sponge over the last 6 months. I intend to get as much from you as possible before the day that pod cracks open and I look into your eyes and see nothing but a lobotomised ape. And then I’ll pull your mind and body apart like I’m picking the last morsels off a roast chicken for the dog and that’s what will be presented to the powers that be. The best of you will fit comfortably inside a petri dish. You’re not the answer. You’re only the seed. And no one will miss Warren Godby.

[WARREN GETS UP, FORCIBLY KICKING HIS CHAIR BACK]

There he is. There’s Warren Godby. The only power he ever had. A wide-eyed stare and that intimidating breathing. You don’t frighten me, Warren. You’ve never frightened anyone. Not even the man you killed.

[HE RETREATS, COLLAPSING INTO A CHAIR]

[BRYONY CLICKS HER COMM]

Pam, Grace. Prep the cryopod. Reservation for one.

[CUT]

AUBREY

Helicopter.

GORDON

Oh God, it’s Clive.

[CUT]

[A DOOR BURSTS OPEN, AND CLIVE SCHILL ENTERS]

GRACE

Gordon, I need you to help Pamela with the saline. We need to top up the supply, there’s not enough down here for another freeze and Bryony wants him in before 7 o’clock.

[THEY PAUSE]

[IT RAINS AS AUBREY IS IN HER VAN]

[SHE POURS A CUP OF TEA AND BLOWS ON IT IMPATIENTLY]

[A LITTLE ALARM GOES OFF – SHE PICKS UP THE COMM AND CLICKS IT SIX TIMES]

[CLICK, STATIC, CLICK, STATIC]

[EVENTUALLY THE COMM CRACKLES TO LIFE]

[IT FINALLY GIVES AND WARREN DRAGS IT’S HEAVY WEIGHT SO ITS FULLY OPEN]

Shut up.

[CUT]

[THEY’VE REACHED THE END OF THE TUNNEL]

[THEIR VOICES ECHO A BIT]

WARREN

I think, this is it.

GORDON

Yeah. Great isn’t it.

WARREN

I guess. It’s got a kind of Batcave feel to it.

[A RUSTLE OF BISCUIT WRAPPERS]

GORDON

Custard cream?

[WARREN TAKES ONE]

No, no, you don’t like being down here on your own. You go.

GORDON

Okay.

[CUT]

[AUBREY MAKES HER WAY OUT OF HER END OF THE TUNNEL]

AUBREY

[elated yet exhausted] Oh thank God! Daylight! Sweet overcast freezing daylight! Right, right, so -

[SHE PULLS OUT HER PHONE]

That was 2 hours to get in, 1 hour 40 to get back, 17,464 steps. Jesus.

[SHE DRAGS HERSELF BACK TO THE VAN, PARKED AT THE MOUTH OF THE TUNNEL]

[SHE GETS IN, REMOVES HER JACKET AND HAT AND COLLAPSES INTO A SEAT]

Bloody hell. Right. It’s 15:30. I have the data. I’ll look at it now.

[SHE PAUSES]

Actually, I’m going to have a nap. And then I’ll look at it.

[CUT]

Stop.

GORD

Would you like me to play the next entry, Aubrey?

[A LONG PAUSE BEFORE AUBREY ANSWERS]

Would you like me to play the ne -

AUBREY

No.

GORD

Would you like to talk about your feelings?

AUBREY

No.

Alright, Warren. Visiting time is over. Time for cards with Gordon.

[AUBREY GETS UP FROM HER CHAIR WITH SOME EFFORT AND PULLS OPEN TO THE DOOR]

[SHE WALKS A SHORT DISTANCE DOWN AN ECHOEY CORRIDOR TO THE CRYOSUITE]

[A FINGERPRINT READER BEEPS]

[GORD’S VOICE IS ECHOEY IN THE CORRIDOR]

GORD

Fingerprint verified. Wood, Aubrey Jane. Cryosuite.

[THE DOOR OPENS WITH A HEAVY CLUNK]

Aubrey told me a lot of wild stuff about Overhead back then. It’s what got me hooked on Red Valley, on cryonics, in the first place. The utter madness of it all. The man who started it all was one of the founders of the company in the 70s, Malcolm Landry. He was the first head of R&D. To begin with it was all above board, boring cryogenics work on plants and amphibians. Aubrey’s convinced he’s behind everything that happens after that, but his name is nowhere near any of it. He’s still at the company now though, on the board of directors.

[PAUSE]

GORDON

It didn’t take many years for Overhead’s work to get grisly. Testing extreme temperature endurance on the homeless in the 80s. Igniting a vat of hydrogen sulphide that blew up an entire cohort of test subjects in North Wales in the 90s. And then… this place. So, I thought, I’ve finally got the whole archive here. Going through all this is what Bryony asked me to do anyway. And if I can corroborate what Aubrey told me with what’s in here, then maybe that’s a step closer to trusting her. I mean…I assume half of it isn’t true.

[CUT]

[GORDON DUMPS A BUNCH OF DOCUMENTS DOWN ON THE TABLE HARD]

GORDON

Nope. It’s all true. All of it. Here’s a cutting of Malcolm Landry in 1972 barking on about suspended animation and how we’re doomed to repeat our mistakes unless we ‘harness the wisdom from past generations’. Here’s a note from the lead scientist of those experiments on the homeless. Oh, good God. ‘The vagabonds are a surprisingly cheerful bunch, which has made the liquid nitrogen immersion far less tedious than one might have anticipated.’ Fuck.

[A QUICK GULP OF TEA AS HE RIFLES THROUGH MORE DOCUMENTS]

GORDON

Photos of the burned down research station in Wales. The guy in charge of that one was so desperate to protect his work, he shot five members of the local volunteer fire service with a hunting rifle as they tried to put out the blaze and then injected himself with his own infusion.

[HE TOSSES THE PHOTOS BACK DOWN]

GORDON

Here’s my take on why cryonic preservation has been such a total bust (until Warren, obviously). It’s not because the concept is ridiculous. Fringe science begets fringe scientists. Narcissists, control freaks, God complexes. Those are your entry level traits. It’s not a long walk to get to sociopathy, psychopathy, and well, straight up Dark Lord of the Sith. In the end, it doesn’t matter how gifted they are or what results they get. Maniacs gonna maniac.

[PAUSE]

GORDON

Wait. Is that - no fucking way -

[CUT]

[GORDON PACES THE SPACE, TRYING TO REMAIN CALM]

GORDON

Here’s a fun wrinkle. So, the brazen shithead running the homeless experiments disappears from the story once the project yields no decent data. Until you look at the photos of the victims in the Wales station fire 10 years later. He is one of the bloody test subjects. They turned the lead scientist on one project into a Guinea pig in the next.

[HE STOPS AND GOES BACK TO THE DESK]

GORDON

Which begs the question, what happened to the guy with the hunting rifle? Wait, what was his name? Umm… Hansmann. Alexander Hansmann. Where did I see that? -

[CUT]

[GORDON MARCHES BACK TO THE ARCHIVE]

[HE SITS AT HIS DESK, NOW STILL AND REFLECTIVE]

GORDON

So… here is where the past arrives unpleasantly at the present. At my present. To Red Valley being active as the new home of cryonic research. Before any Teddy Bears, before Warren Godby. Some dissection and analysis carried out on a selection of frozen internal organs. All clearly labelled. See… I thought Hansmann was the name of the physician who harvested them. No, he’s the bloody subject. Their analysis was the first duty of the newly appointed cryonics lead. Doctor Bryony Halbech.

[HE TAKES A BEAT]

GORDON

It’s hard not to look back at Malcolm Landry’s words about being doomed to repeat yourself and think, yeah, no shit. You hire lunatics, expect lunacy. I guess recycling your lead scientists is economical. Creates a tidy little closed loop. Once you’ve started cannibalising your own staff though, where does that leave you? Where next can you turn?

[PAUSE]

GORDON

Bryony knows everything I learned here tonight. She knows how Overhead treat their own people. Does she even need it archived, or did she just want to show me? To show me who she is. Show me what she can do.

[ANOTHER PAUSE]

[HE STARTS SCOOPING UP DOCUMENTS AND PUTTING THEM BACK IN A BOX]

GORDON

Aubrey’s stories match up at least. And if all of this is anything to go by, she might be the only person involved in this research that’s ever managed to escape it. And she’s come back. She’s come back to stop it. I guess…I guess that’s not nothing.

[HE SEALS A LID ON THE BOX]

GORDON

Warren, I hope they wake you up soon. We need to talk.

010 - Idiots In The Snow

2021-12-12T16:00:00+00:00

WARREN

Well, you seem very trusting, whoever you are.

AUBREY

I’m pointing pepper spray at your face.

WARREN

Oh excellent.

[THE SOUND OF ZIPS AND RUSTLING AS WARREN REMOVES HIS HAT AND SCARF, UNZIPS HIS JACKET]

AUBREY

It’s Dr Aubrey. Dr Wood. Aubrey. Wood. Let me boil the kettle.

[SHE FUSSES FOR A MOMENT WITH A SMALL CAMPING KETTLE AND A PAIR OF TIN MUGS]

WARREN

Ah well, that makes sense.

AUBREY

Why does that make sense?

WARREN

Well Dr Aubrey Dr Wood Aubrey Wood. It seems a lot of the real things that have happened to me I don’t remember, and a lot of the things I remember have turned out to not actually be real. So here I am taking a walk in a snowstorm, and out of nowhere is a Mazda Bongo Friendee, and inside that Mazda Bongo Friendee is Aubrey Wood. I think there’s at least a passing chance that none of this is real and I’m out here to have, I don’t know an epiphany of some kind, and you’re like my…Obi Wan Kenobi.

[THE KETTLE IS BOILING, THEIR VOICES RAISE]

AUBREY

Obi Wan Kenobi?

WARREN

Yeah. Maybe I’ve passed out in the snow like Luke Skywalker, maybe I’m just screaming into the wind who knows. And here you are to tell me to go to the Dagobah system, learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who- yes, yes, you know it, of course.

AUBREY

Oh, the Empire Strikes Back? Shall we wait on the kettle for a moment?

WARREN

Yeah sure, why not?

[AUBREY GOES TO A BAG AND PULLS OUT A STACK OF FILES]

WARREN

Since all those people died and Bryony Halbech abandoned you.

AUBREY

Yes. After Teddy Bear’s Picnic I didn’t know where they would go next but I still knew all the rejected candidates we had interviewed, so I checked on them occasionally and sure enough, they just went back and hoovered up all the people who didn’t make it first time around. They must’ve been desperate. No offence.

WARREN

None taken, spirit guide.

AUBREY

I’m not your spirit guide, Warren. I mean, the reason we chose who we chose for the Teddy Bear’s Picnic was because of their physical condition, not just their health but their family’s…no history of Alzheimer’s or any form of dementia or brain cancers or neurological disease of any kind, a completely clean bill of physical and mental health. You…everyone else had red flags…

[SHE RIFLES THROUGH FILES AND FINDS HIS]

AUBREY

Your, uh, your mother, she had…

WARREN

A… An aneurysm. You have a file?

AUBREY

Yes, that was it, an aneurysm. And there were multiple cancers and so on in your family weren’t there…

WARREN

You probably know more about that than I do.

[SHE PASSES THE KNIFE]

WARREN

Thank you.

AUBREY

You have a comm with you.

WARREN

Yeah, Gordon gave me his. We talk on sneaky channel 6 but everyone else…

AUBREY

Is on channel 2!

WARREN

Bingo.

[HE SWITCHES IT ON AND TURNS TO CHANNEL 2.]

CLIVE SCHILL

Grace! Have you got eyes on this prick yet? If your answer is no I’ve got a fire extinguisher I want you to meet. Gonna bash your fucking hea-

[WARREN CLICKS IT OFF.]

WARREN

I mean really you could set your watch by him, couldn’t you. If you want to stay a secret squirrel, I’d better be off.

AUBREY

Warren…could I - could I have that?

WARREN

The comm? Yeah sure, there’s loads.

[WARREN PASSES IT OVER. AUBREY IS AWARE WHAT AN IMPORTANT GIFT THIS IS.]

You… record everything?

AUBREY

Yes, all of this, I can put it on a stick and you can listen again later when you’re…when you’re in the mood. And you’ll know it’s all real. Here you go.

WARREN

You people and your recording. You can take the girl out of Overhead…

AUBREY

Truer than you know.

WARREN

Right. Well, see you later then.

[HE OPENS THE DOOR TO LEAVE. THE WIND HOWLS IN.]

BRYONY

Downstairs. Everyone. Walk.

Grace, you suck.

…what?

WARREN

Okay guys.

Well, let’s get going.

How are you going to hold us hostage?

WARREN

Oh no. I mean. I’m holding myself hostage. Look like this.

I know I know I know. You’ll grind my brains into caviar, you’ll drape your iron balls around my neck and bang them against my skull like a Newton’s cradle until my teeth fall out. It’s all very intimidating. But it’s unnecessary. What I’m saying is, I’m happy to do it. I’m… I’m happy to go back in the special box, I don’t mind.

I know.

[A BEAT AS HESTER REALISES SOMETHING.]

HESTER

Fucking hell.

AUBREY

His hand…when I was helping put his IV back in, I saw it…the wound on his hand. It hasn’t even scarred over yet.

AUBREY

You get why I’m listening to all this now. It was just a few weeks ago for him.

[HESTER DROPS INTO A CHAIR.]

This is going to work. Just the Kontinue treatment alone will be having a therapeutic effect on his brain chemistry. For better or worse, this is what Halbech’s treatment does.

HESTER

Beyond the science bullshit though. Can we give him what he actually needs? Which is a safe space, a support network, friends…

AUBREY

I don’t know. You’re the one who’s supposed to walk in here and give me the reassurance. You’re the brick, and I’m the balloon tied to it, that’s what you used to say.

HESTER

Even bricks get to freak out occasionally, my love.

AUBREY

It’s going to be okay.

[HESTER MAKES A SKEPTICAL NOISE.]

It’s really late. I’m sat in the Records room because I’m currently listening to the contents of the USB stick that was tucked into Warren’s glove.

[AN EXCERPT OF WARREN’S MEETING WITH AUBREY PLAYS.]

GORDON (con’t)

Warren’s been put back into hypersleep. No bedside chat to reassure each other this time. But I don’t think he needed it. He looked totally calm. Bleeding with a hole in his hand, that he did to himself. I looked over at Clive and for the first and surely only time ever we both had the exact same expression, which is perhaps the scariest thing that’s happened to me since I first got here. Then Bryony kicked us both out. Clive ordered his helicopter and was gone in an hour. So, I’m alone again.

[THE EXCERPT OF WARREN’S MEETING WITH AUBREY CONTINUES.]

GORDON (con’t)

Oh my God, the comm!

[HE TAKES OUT HIS COMM AND PLACES IT ON THE TABLE. HE TURNS IT ON. IT CRACKLES WITH STATIC. HE WAITS FOR A MOMENT, THEN PUSHES THE BUTTON TO TALK.]

GORDON (con’t)

Aubrey?

WARREN

Uhuh, Gordon and I were on a road trip to find Red Valley, erm… for my work, and we found it, clearly. And then we came downstairs and Clive Schill was there and he was all like, ooh, surprise, and there was cheesecake or something…and then I met both of you, and you were all ‘this way Mr Godby’ and off we went… and then I was in here again, like you were just discussing, with the headbutting and, uh, my life… that’s all made up, um. Then I went to sleep. Hyper…magic sleep. And now I’m back.

[PAUSE]

WARREN

My name, sorry?

[MUFFLED VOICES]

GRACE

–for me to decide.

PAMELA

No it isn’t.

GORDON

Let’s get Bryony.

GRACE

Don’t even think about it -

GORDON

You suggested it first, I’m just agreeing -

WARREN

Everything okay in there guys?

[MUFFLED VOICES CONTINUE]

Guys?

[A PAUSE, AND A LITTLE SQUEAL AS THE SPEAKER COMES BACK ON SUDDENLY]

GRACE

Your name. Why did you keep it?

WARREN

Is this still a memory test?

GRACE

Yes.

WARREN

I… I don’t understand the question.

GRACE

You left your home town after your mother’s death never to return. Your father William Godby was a sex offender and domestic abuser. You wanted to start over again yet you still carried his name. Warren William Godby. Did you not think to change it?

PAMELA

Dr Melé, outside now!

[A DOOR SLAMS IN THE DISTANCE]

[HURRIED FOOTSTEPS DOWN THE CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE INTERVIEW ROOM]

[MUFFLED VOICES - PAMELA AND GORDON’S]

GORDON

How about some fresh air?

[CUT]

GORDON

It’s bloody cold outside. Kind of a blizzard actually.

WARREN

Aw, is it snowing?

GORDON

Oh yeah, yeah, been this way for weeks. It’s fun at first but a bit much after a while.

WARREN

That’s cos you’ve had no one to play with.

[THE DOOR OPENS AT THE OTHER END OF THE CORRIDOR]

[CLIVE CLAPS HIS ARM ON WARREN’S SHOULDER, MAKING HIM ALMOST STUMBLE]

CLIVE

You look great. Alright Games Workshop, here take this would you.

[CLIVE DUMPS A HEAVY RUCKSACK ON GORDON]

Not at all.

[WARREN AND GORDON STRIDE PAST BRYONY AND CLIVE AND GET TO THE DOOR]

[THERE’S A RUSTLE AS THEY PULL ON COATS]

[BRYONY AND CLIVE ARE HAVING A BUSY, UNINTELLIGIBLE CONVERSATION IN THE DISTANCE]

WARREN

Clive seems a little…stressed.

GORDON

Wait till we’re outside.

[CUT]

BRYONY

Fine, let’s get him indoors.

[GORDON GOES TO THE DOOR]

GORDON

I think everyone’s over-reacting.

[HE OPENS IT AND STANDS THERE FOR A MINUTE]

CLIVE

Porlock.

GORDON

Well. Don’t I feel silly.

[CUT]

[THE WIND HOWLS, BLOWING A BLIZZARD AROUND WARREN AS HE WANDERS FORWARD IN THE SNOW]

[HIS BREATHING IS HEAVY BUT HE IS ENTIRELY RELAXED]

[HIS COMM HISSES WITH STATIC]

GORDON (VO)

Warren! Warren are you there!

[HE FINALLY STOPS, FUMBLES WITH THE COMM]

2021-11-13T16:00:00+00:00

No. No.

[BRYONY COMES TO A STOP]

[BRYONY WALKS AWAY]

For the most part. Well then. Let’s do another, shall we?

[BRYONY STEPS A FEW PACES ACROSS THE ROOM TO ANOTHER CAPSULE]

GORDON

I think I’m done for the night.

BRYONY

I insist.

[HISSING AND THE SOUND OF METAL ON METAL AND SHE BEGINS REMOVING THE CLAMPS AND SEALS ON THIS POD]

[THE SAW AGAIN]

GORDON

I’ve never met her, or him, I only know what they look like cos I saw CCTV footage, everything was anonymous, we used aliases, it was all online or things left for me in storage units -

[THE SAW DIES OFF]

[calling back to him] No one is useless Gordon. They just need to find their place.

[slightly fearful] Morning Dr Halbech.

BRYONY

Ah you made drinks. How kind of you.

[SHE POURS HERSELF A DRINK AND FIDDLES WITH MILK AND SUGAR]

Aesthetic?

BRYONY

GRACE

Check.

BRYONY

Okay.

[BRYONY PACES ROUND TO THE CONTROL PANEL OF THE PARTICLE GENERATOR]

[SHE FLICKS ONE BIG SWITCH]

[A BEEP, AND A DEEP MECHANICAL CHUGGING AS THE MACHINE COMES TO LIFE]

Hot… dog.

[SHE FLICKS A SECOND SWITCH]

[A DIFFERENT BEEP, AND A LOW HUM SOUNDS, SLOWLY BUILDING IN PITCH AND VOLUME]

[THE CHUGGING BEGINS TO ACCELERATE]

Jumping frog.

[A FINAL SWITCH]

[A SUPER GOOD SCI FI NOISE ADDS TO THE MIX]

Albuquerque.

[CUT]

AUBREY

Stop.

GORD

Would you like me to play the next entry, Aubrey?

She what?

BEN

She’s gone. It’s just us and Winnie the fucking Pooh. Are you going to help me or not?

[THE CRACKLE OF A WALKIE TALKIE]

AUBREY

Halbech? Dr Halbech? Bryony, answer your fucking comm!

BEN

She’s gone, you’re in charge of this fucker’s airway. Come on.

[CUT]

[THRASHING IN THE WATER]

AUBREY

Okay. Pass me the scope. Alright.

[A CHOKING, WRETCHING NOISE]

Down with the cuff. Down. Fucking rip it then. Suction. Come on!

BEN

You’re doing it. We’re doing it!

AUBREY

Shut up.

[A COUGH, A SPLUTTER, THEN SILENCE]

BEN

Aubrey -

[A SUDDEN CONVULSION, THEN VIOLENT THRASHING]

AUBREY

Hold him!

[AN AWFUL, GUTTURAL VOMITING NOISE, IMPACT ON THE FLOOR]

Suction back - turn him on his side -

[A DEEP AGONAL MOAN, THEN MORE VOMITING]

Ben. Ben! What are you doing?

BEN

Oh… I can’t. I can’t do another.

AUBREY

Ben! He’s fucking dying on me! Ben! Where the fuck are you going! BEN! Ben, please don’t leave me with him. Ben! Be-

[CUT]

[THE ROOM IS SILENT EXCEPT FROM THE WHIRRING OF THE VENTILATION]

[AUBREY SPITS INTO A SINK, RUNS A TAP, DRINKS FROM IT]

[SHE MAKES HER WAY BACK OVER TO THE MICROPHONE, BREATHING SLOWLY AND DELIBERATELY]

[composing herself] Right.

[CUT]

[MULTIPLE HEAVY FOOTSTEPS ENTER THE CRYO SUITE AND SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE ROOM]

[MEN MUTTER IN MUFFLED, SPARSE CONVERSATION, INSPECTING EVERYTHING]

[THEIR LEADER IS A DEEP VOICED MAN WITH AN AIR OF IMPATIENCE AND NO TIME FOR ANY SORT OF NONSENSE]

Shh… We’re here to take you home Miss Wood. Where’s the other one?

AUBREY

The other one? We…we had to take him to the furnace, like the others…

LEADER

No no no. The other one of you. Thomas?

AUBREY

Oh. Ben Thomas? He…he left. He ran.

LEADER

He ran?

[SNAPS FINGERS TWICE]

[OTHER MEN IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO LEAVE]

Start up. Spread out. Billy, you’re on point.

BILLY

Yup. Let’s go.

[THE OTHER MEN IMMEDIATELY FILE OUT WITH HEAVY, FAST-MOVING FOOTSTEPS]

[CUT]

At the fork, bear right.

AUBREY

And what will happen to the study?

LEADER

I wouldn’t know anything about that.

[HE REACHES FOR A WALKIE TALKIE WHICH CRACKLES TO LIFE]

[THE WALKIE CRACKLES INTO LIFE]

Stay on him.

[THE CAR SWERVES SUDDENLY TO CHANGE DIRECTION]

[CUT]

BLUE SKY

At the junction, turn around.

LEADER

Stay here.

AUBREY

Do you want me to help look? I could call out for him… maybe?

LEADER

Oh no! Oh bollocks! Open you bastard’s bastard!

[WITH MUCH CURSING AND MUFFLED GRUNTS AND BREAKING OF GLASS, AUBREY PULLS HERSELF THROUGH THE BROKEN WINDOW]

[THE KETTLE BOILS AS THE RAIN CONTINUES TO BEAT THE WINDOWS]

[AUBREY SWALLOWS]

[AUBREY GATHERS HER BAG QUICKLY AND STANDS UP]

Aye. Curly Chops. You going to want something you can sleep in. Something you can take into the hills for a bit.

[THE WIND BLOWS THE CANVAS OF A TENT, WILDLY RUSTLING A LARGE HEDGE AND TREE NEARBY]

[RAIN POUNDS FROM ABOVE, ON TO THE TENT AS WELL AS A NEARBY ROAD]

AUBREY

Hello. This is Aubrey Wood. Thought I might address this directly instead of just passively taping everything around me. Bryony always drilled us with the importance of regular log keeping and the benefits of personal reflection spoken aloud rather than written. Thought it was a… a faster route to the truth. So, what’s my truth. Right now, my truth is, it’s 2am, and I’m in a tent, behind a bush, about 50 metres from the camper van I bought this morning. So, a Mazda Bongo Friendee is a real thing, they really named it that. I recognise the model actually, my old neighbours opposite had one, even the same colour, swamp water green with a raincloud go-faster stripe. It’s virtually camouflaged out here. It’s perfect. Lovely little conversion on the inside, little sink, little fridge, strange little foldaway loo, it’s warm, it’s dry, it has little Christmas lights fitted around the roof. What’s that?

[A CAR APPROACHES]

[SHE PULLS THE ZIP OF THE TENT OPEN FOR A MOMENT, BUT THE CAR PASSES HARMLESSLY, IF NOISILY]

[SHE SIGHS IN RELIEF]

The cafe man sent me to see his friend who, sure enough, introduced himself as ‘Curly Chops’. I never found out his real name. He was so kind and straightforward I found him implicitly untrustworthy. He sold me the van for a lot more than it was worth but I was in no position to haggle. He said with a quite unnecessarily theatrical wink, that if I really wanted to get away from it all, I should go north, take the ferry to Harris. Perfect spot to hide from the rest of the world apparently. I thanked him and commended him on a great idea, I’d set off immediately. Went in the opposite direction of course. Drove for a good while. I’m in Glencoe. Went to a mountaineering shop, panic-bought everything in there. Stopped at a little gravel car park for hikers at the foot of some great grey monolith. And so convinced was I that the SAS were going to abseil down the mountain and machine gun my little Bongo while I slept, I took out my new tent and sleeping bag, marched to the other side of the road, set upcamp in the pissing rain, and here I am, talking to myself, spying on my own van. For 3 and a half hours.

[SHE PUTS THE RECORDER DOWN, UNZIPS THE FRONT OF THE TENT]

[THE WIND AND THE RAIN INCREASE IN VOLUME]

Sod it. I’m going to get in the van.

[CUT]

[AUBREY IS REMOVING A COUPLE OF LAYERS OF SOAKED WATERPROOFS AND HER BOOTS, BUSYING HERSELF UNFOLDING THE BED, CLEANING HER TEETH, BANGING AROUND HER TINY CUPBOARDS]

[AN ELECTRIC HEATER HUMS]

AUBREY

On the drive… I found myself trying to remember what Harrison Ford did in The Fugitive. Shaved his beard off of course, not much help. First thing I need to worry about is money. Bryony told both of us, Ben and I, she took us for a Chinese and she said, calm as you like, make sure you have an exit strategy, and told us over prawn toast where we could get a fake passport, why we should store cash and other essentials in a storage unit, even gave us the name of the one she uses apparently, outside Kettering or somewhere. Ben could probably have lifted the table with his boner of excitement. Thought he was Jason Bourne. And I nodded and smiled like I was the coolest person in the world and this was all so obvious, of course I’d be getting a fake passport, piece of cake, and I’d hide my spare helicopter under a tarp in my dad’s allotment, and I’d be in the Seychelles before the fuzz even knew my name. Absolutely ridiculous. But I did it. Well… some of it. I took out the inheritance I promised my nan on her deathbed would be going to towards a house deposit, told Bryony I’d used the storage unit she mentioned, but I didn’t. Split it four ways, used three different units from Wales, Scotland and England and kept the rest on me the whole time. Maybe you’re listening to this Bryony, so if you’re wondering where those units are, suck my balls, that’s where they are.

[SHE SWITCHES OFF THE HEATER WHICH FADES OUT WITH A CRACKLE]

Winnie the Pooh was a murderer. I mean, Robert Masters. I interviewed him for the treatment when he was in prison in Yorkshire. I was the one who made him the offer. Transfer out of maximum security. Appeal within 2 years, new legal team provided by us, free in well under 5. He killed 3 security guards in an armed robbery on some warehouse. Had one count downgraded to manslaughter because he reversed the getaway van over one guard’s stomach instead of hitting him face on. He laughed when he told me that. I was supposed to be frightened I think, or at least disgusted. But I wasn’t. I was thrilled. Not at what he’d said, what he did, not… not that at all. It was what it meant. It… gave me permission. Just a big green light in my head. I can see his eyes opposite me in that interview, smiling eyes, me smiling back, both of us desperate to sign the pieces of paper in front of us. He thought he was getting out. I knew I could throw him in a cryopod and sleep like a baby.

[PAUSE]

[RAIN PATTERS ON THE WINDOW]

He didn’t take long to die after Ben left. Could’ve been a hundred things that did it. I spent an hour standing at his pod. His eyes were open. Not smiling anymore. I stood and I waited for someone to tell me what to do.

[THE RAIN CARRIES ON]

[CUT]

Are you finished with audio playback?

AUBREY

Bloody hell, just a… just a moment with my thoughts please!

GORD

You’re due on shift in just under 4 -

AUBREY

I know! I write the shifts!

[GORD STARTS TO PLAY SOME SOOTHING PAN PIPE MUSIC AS HESTER LEAVES THE ROOM]

AUBREY

Stop.

[THE MUSIC STOPS]

Play the next entry please, little pumpkin.

GORD

Of course.

006.4 - While You Were Hypersleeping: Part Four

2020-12-20T16:00:00+00:00

[GORDON BUSTLES IN WITH A BOX UNDER HIS ARM]

GORDON

Eyyy! It’s only bloody Christmas Eve! Hi Warren. Thought I’d come down and spend some of the evening with you. I had a poke around in the cupboards and found some Christmas shit. There’s a little 8 inch silver Christmas tree here made of tinsel. Look… you can have that. Oh… And speaking of tinsel…yikes.

[GORDON PULLS TINSEL OUT OF THE BOX]

GORDON

There. That fits quite nicely. Oh… Right - the piece of resistance…music.

[GORDON PULLS OUT A TAPE RECORDER AND A TAPE]

GORDON

This is ‘O Little Town of Bethmayhem’, one of Pus Crank’s festive rock medleys. They were a regular fixture at the annual Unholy Night Christmas all-dayer at the club in my hometown. Ah… You would’ve loved it.

[HE LETS THE MUSIC PLAY FOR A MOMENT]

GORDON

So, you look good. I mean your pod looks good. The bleep bloops sound happy. This pod is far more advanced than the ones used on other subjects that I’ve seen or read about. It’s much smaller. More, uh, coffin- sized. Like umm, Spock’s coffin in Wrath of Khan. It would fit nicely into a photon torpedo chute, I think? It’s fully portable… apparently. They told me it can run on battery power for 100 years, Lightweight alloy, the wheels pop out the bottom if I press the unlock -

[HE PRESSES IT]

[THE HISS OF HYDRAULICS AND A LITTLE BLEEPING ALARM AS THE POD UNLOCKS AND RELEASES IT’S WHEELS]

GORDON

Oh shit. Ah no, Shit. Lock. Lock. Lock. Lock. Lock.

Oh my god. Oh my god. What was I thinking? Why…why was Guy Pearce even in that movie, why wouldn’t you just hire an old person to play an old person…why did they run away from the doughnut spaceship when it was falling over in that direction, if they just turned 90 degrees and they wouldn’t have… forget it. Fine, Let’s do it, CGI Christmas Carol. Goodnight.

[PAUSE]

GORDON

Okay. Do we think you’re finished or -

BLUE SKY

Sorry, are you talking to me?

GORDON

No, I’m not talking to you. We’re still not tal -

WARREN

Why would Robert Zemeckis dedicate so much time to making so many films about creepy dead eyed PlayStation characters? Why? What do you gain? Creepy android Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge, if Michael Caine was here, he’d step on your fucking neck -

[CUT]

Jesus. Well, this was remarkably similar to a family Christmas at my parents’ house, so thanks for that little triggering episode. I think I need some freezing cold air.

[GORDON GETS UP TO LEAVE]

GORDON

Oh! Wait! I forgot the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come! Bit of a reach this but it’s the best I could do in these uncertain times. A voicemail I got last night.

[GORDON HITS VOICEMAIL ON HIS PHONE AND TURNS THE SPEAKER UP LOUD]

VOICEMAIL

Message received at 23:40 p.m. on Monday the 23rd of December.

[A PARTY IN A PUB, DRUNK CLIVE SCHILL RINGS THROUGH THE VOICEMAIL]

CLIVE

[to the melody of a silent night] Gordon night, Porlock night, Fuck this up, I’ll set you on fire, alight, that’s better, I’ll set you alight.

[CLIVE DROPS HIS PHONE]

VOICEMAIL

Next message received yesterday at 23:43 p.m. on Monday the 23rd of December.

CLIVE

Away in a Gordon, a dick on his head, the little lord Gordon is such a dickhead, I’ll be coming in January to see how you are, if you’ve messed up anything I’ll hit you with my car. I’ll actually be coming in a helicopter though. A hel-ee-cop-tahh. Merry Christmas bitch, see you soon, love to Warren, kisses, what a dick. Oh hello darling, sorry Daddy was just making a phone call to one of his special frien -

[GORDON TURNS OFF THE VOICEMAIL]

[HE CHANGES THE TAPE BACK TO PUS CRANK]

GORDON

So that’s something to look forward to, isn’t it. I’ll leave the music with you for a while. Look… I’ll be back tomorrow, we can sing some carols or something. Merry Christmas, Warren.

[HE TURNS PUS CRANK BACK UP AND WALKS AWAY]

[CUT]

[A LITTLE BREEZE, SNOW FALLING SOFTLY OUTSIDE]

[THE BONFIRE CRACKLES AS GORDON STAMPS HIS FEET TO WARM UP]

GORDON

Personal log. It’s Christmas Eve. Oh, no, it’s it’s actually Christmas Day now. I lit a fire with the left over wood. Thought it would be a problem with the snow falling but I tossed the dregs of some anaesthetic vapour over it. Nearly took my bloody eyebrows off.

[THE FIRE CRACKLES]

GORDON

[HE STARTS TO RUN TO THE SOURCE OF THE NOIS]

GORDON

Hey! If you didn’t want to be seen, don’t shine your full beams at me! Hey! I didn’t mean that about Prometheus! Come back!

[WITH A CRUNCH OF GEARS AND WHEEL SPIN ON GRAVEL, THE VEHICLE DEPARTS]

[GORDON RUNS ON FOR ANOTHER MOMENT BEFORE GIVING UP]

Ahh… Boom. Warden of the Valley. That deserves a badge. Hey Blue, that deserves a badge, right? I didn’t quite catch that. That’s what she says when I deserve a badge.

[TAKES ANOTHER SHOT]

[CUT]

GORDON

I thought I better take some of these duties seriously. The caretaking duties I mean. I remembered what the manager of the Overlook Hotel said to Jack Nicholson. Not the bit about the guy who went crazy and murdered his family, the boring stuff about going around the hotel and warming different parts of it, making sure the pipes don’t freeze. So I’ve done that. I’ve systematically gone through all the radiators, and checked all the light switches, and most of them work, and when I find one that doesn’t, I make a little note of it, and then I remember I have no idea what to do about any of that stuff so I just shut the door to that room and don’t go in there again.

[CUT]

GORDON

[echoey] I’m reading more too. The pink footed goose, or Anser Brachyrhynchus, doesn’t breed in the UK but, probably Iceland or Greenland, and is just wintering here. Anyway, if they’re going to shit on me every day, I thought I should at least be able to address them by their full scientific names.

[A TOILET FLUSHES]

[CUT]

[IN THE BACKGROUND AN ANCIENT RECORDING OF A CHRISTMAS CHOIR]

You know a Blue Sky unit is a microphone as well as a virtual assistant right?

BLUE SKY

Hello.

GORDON

I, uh. I did not know that actually.

CLIVE

I don’t give a shit if you’re haunted by local sprites or some Highland bumpkin is plucking up the courage to invite you to the next caber tossing festival, keep your eyes on the cryonically preserved prize.

[CLIVE HANGS UP]

[PAUSE]

BLUE SKY

Is there anything I can help you with, Gordon?

GORDON

You and me are done professionally.

[CUT]

[MUSIC BREAK]

[CUT]

[WARREN TURNS ON THE RECORDER AND PUTS IT DOWN]

WARREN

[extremely out of breath] Hi. Warren Godby here. Just got… back from a run. 8 o’clock in the morning, already done a run. Haven’t even had breakfast. All 6 of us, along with umm…what’s his name Doctor umm… Doctor Mister Motivator. I don’t know. Do you know what, I started this too soon, give me a minute.

[CUT]

Hello, hi. So I don’t need to be so sycophantic. Apparently, there are no bonus points for obsequious behaviour or indeed, brown nosing, as Dr Halbech calls it, of any kind. Now that I’m in my little bedroom, and I’ve got my three minutes, erm… I do have a few thoughts about the induction day, you know that I could share. This is clearly a second hand induction pack. The main clue is the massive cock and balls that have been doodled over the contents page. Unless that’s your new Overhead watermark or something.

[WARREN PULLS THE BLURB FROM HIS INDUCTION PACK]

WARREN

Right let’s look at this. ‘Congratulations from everyone at Overhead Industries! Here at Red Valley, our state of the art facility, you’re about to join our team of expert clinicians and researchers, supported by our humm… caring, dedicated and highly qualified hospitality team that will make this experience closer to a rural retreat than a scientific study!’ I take issue with the term ‘state of the art’, I suppose. My expectations for Red Valley were quite high. Er… I knew it was a laboratory underneath a military station in the wilderness, so of course I imagined, not unreasonably I think, Area 51 from Independence Day. White lab coats, stuttering science nerds played by Star Trek actors, maybe something like that crossed with the Dolph Lundgren training montage from Rocky IV, I don’t know.

WARREN

Apologies I haven’t been down to see you much. You look well. I can’t actually see you. I thought they would’ve put windows in a cryopod. So people could see you floating about. But, I guess it’s nice to have privacy, isn’t it?

[PAUSE]

GORDON

I’ve been struggling Warren. With what’s going on here. The truth is I have to make a choice. To be a friend to you or not. I’m going to keep listening to your tapes. But I’m not going to find out what you did. I’d like to say it’s because I’m respecting your privacy, but the truth is I recognise the guys on these recordings. He doesn’t sound too different to me. He’s scared, he’s lonely, he hates exercise. Look… maybe you’re not who I think you are. But given the company we keep, you might still be the least awful person I currently work with. So, let’s be friends. I’ll be back tomorrow. And maybe I’ll bring Top Trumps or something.

006.2 - While You Were Hypersleeping: Part Two

2020-12-06T16:00:00+00:00

GORDON

Gordon Porlock…Red Valley Superintendent. Ugh. I found a thesaurus. I’m going to go through every bloody synonym until I find one I like. And then… well, I don’t know, maybe they’ll make me a badge.

[HE SORTS THROUGH SOME PAPERS AND CASSETTE CASES ON HIS DESK]

[WARREN BEEPS THROUGH THE SETTINGS ON HIS WATCH]

WARREN

Stopwatch. 3 minutes. I mean I must be halfway there already. Go.

[BEEP]

So, uh. We are supposed to use our names. I’m Warren. I’m Warren Godby. Umm… Stop umming… We arrived yesterday. It’s… I mean it’s not quite what I imagined. I mean not in a bad way, not in a bad way at all, it’s, it’s, uh. I mean it’s amazing, we’re out in the wilderness, we’re by this huge mountain, it’s called Beinn Bagg, it’s wild, it’s isolated, and yeah, yeah. It’s it’s dark and cold, but I love, I love dark and cold, I’m pale and ginger, this is my happy place.

[BEAT]

WARREN

So, I saw the farmhouse as the van pulled in. We don’t go in there, do we? That’s just for the staff, I think. It looks… It looks lovely, very rustic. We’ve had the short tour, of all the necessaries. It’s, it’s quite, uh, retro, is that the word? The base I mean. Getting a definite kind of John Carpenter meets like… Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy kind of thing. It’s very cool, it’s very in, very in.

[GORDON HITS THE KEYBOARD, PLAYBACK STOPS WITH A BLOOP]

GORDON

Oh my god! That’s exactly what I said!

[SILENCE]

Anyway… I really did just want to take this opportunity to thank Overhead for this…opportunity…um, it’s a real privilege to be to be part of an exciting piece of scientific research. I guess we’ll all learn a lot more about what’s actually involved er… now that we’re here, and erm… you know everyone seems really nice, I think I think it says a lot that you would give people, people like me… a chance. I know that I deserved to be where I was. And a lot of people would never…will never be able to look past that. I won’t let you down. That’s got to be 3 minutes.

[ABRUPT CUT]

GORDON

[dispirited] Well, that’s a bit more like it. Well, that sounds like Warren, doesn’t it? Kind of… I mean… I guess… I wouldn’t really know. I’ve only known Warren for a few weeks. And before that he was living a kind of… well fake life. And before that he was in hypersleep which he doesn’t even remember. And before that he was in prison, like all the other people in this cohort, for doing…I have no idea.

[BEAT]

[THE ENGINES AND PROPELLOR START UP SLOWLY, THE NOISE GROWING LOUDER AND LOUDER]

GORDON

[raising his voice] Oh, marvellous. Here they go. Oh, this is quite loud isn’t it. Oh… and windy, very windy– oh shit–

[GORDON DROPS THE RECORDER]

[CUT]

[CUT]

[GORDON IS IN AN ECHOEY TOILET]

GORDON

For the record, it was a goose. A pink footed goose.

[HE FLUSHES]

[CUT]

GORDON

So, I guess I should talk about the station. Here’s the main corridor, where we first came in. The walls used to be white but are now yellow. There’s noticeboards everywhere with nothing on them, oh, however - there is a 1993 calendar from the TV show Gladiators which has been attached to one of the boards with a staple gun and had all the pages removed except the one with Jet on it. She remains the most beautiful woman to have ever starred on UK television and the only person to ever make me wonder if I did in fact fancy girls after all, so I see no reason to amend this.

[CUT]

GORDON

So, I’ve skipped the boring parts like the stripped out infirmary and thoroughly grim group shower situation, but! Here on the first floor is the… mess? Rec room? Nah… mess. There is a fussball, a pool table with 3 balls missing, and a jukebox like the one in my dad’s old snooker club when he worked for British Gas. That’s it for your regular everyday disused military base with attached farmhouse. But, I guess if we’re doing the full tour, we have to go… downstairs.

[CUT]

[GORDON REACHES THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS, INTO BRYONY’S UNDERGROUND LAB]

GORDON

Right. So here we are, the exact spot where Warren and I first bumped into Clive Schill and Bryony, who Warren thought was his wife Karen and… well, it was all very, very confusing and ghastly.

[A BEAT]

GORDON

So, what are we looking at. These corridors feel like I’m in a whole different place. Not at the edge of the world in a knackered old military station but like the basement of the FBI or something. It’s so…clean, and modern. It’s just…cold. In every sense. It’s not a welcoming place.

[CUT]

GORDON

[trying to be nonchalant] So…the cryosuite. Beyond this door is where the magic happens. Where Warren was placed into hypersleep. We can…go in there later.

[A BEAT]

[CUT]

[GORDON OPENS A DOOR AND PACES]

GORDON

This is the Records Room. My favourite room. I realised I knew the layout before I’d even walked around it - this is what was designed to be storage area of the Red Valley Seed Vault. The design that I helped work on! And everything has been stuffed in here. Everything ever documented at Red Valley. It’s utterly disorganised, all just thrown in boxes and stuffed on shelves. And it’s my job to go through it all, to archive it. And it’s not just records. There are actual items here, devices, prototypes, all under white sheets. Which is extremely exciting. Ah… This is my happy place.

[CUT]

GORDON

So, I’ve got all my kit set up. They sent everything I needed from my old flat. The tech here isn’t exactly state of the art but they gave me a brand new Blue Sky speaker. Overhead, still trying to wedge into the virtual assistant market. But, no one uses it outside the Overhead offices. Hey, Blue Sky.

[FROM ACROSS THE ROOM, A QUICK TINKLE OF THE OVERHEAD IDENT TONE]

Hey Blue. Let’s just be quiet now, yeah?

[A PAUSE, SILENCE]

GORDON

[lowering his voice] Okay. So, the computer is old, and the monitor is ugly, but it should at least be updated to the most recent OS -

[IT GRUNTS TO LIFE]

[FROM THE COMPUTER’S TINNY SPEAKER RIGHT BY GORDON, THE IDENT TONE PLAYS AGAIN BUT A FULLER, SUPER CHEESY VERSION]

[GORDON ROOTS THROUGH A BOX OF TAPES]

GORDON

As a bit of a tease for what’s to come, why don’t we start with ‘Godby Log #1’. This is exciting. This is Warren before I knew him. When he was here. As an ex-convict. Here we go.

[GORDON HITS PLAY]

[A SCRUFFY RECORDING, SOMEONE WHO’S NEVER USED A DICTAPHONE BEFORE]

WARREN

Hello, hello, erm… Okay… I’ve… I’ve been asked by lady in charge Dr Halbech to record an audio diary. Uh, for some reason. So, I don’t really know what what this is, umm… My name’s… umm… ooh… I didn’t ask if we were supposed to use names on this so I won’t. It’s my first night at the the Overhead place in Scotland. It’s cold there are horrible midge things everywhere. Umm, er… It’s…nicer than prison, I guess. Okay… Good… Goodnight.

GORDON

Oh. That’s it. Right. Well… er, tune in next time for more from Gordon Porlock… Red Valley Caretaker.

[A BEAT]

GORDON

Nah, nah that was shit. Gordon Porlock, Red Valley…Watchman, watch…keeper. Ugh. I need a thesaurus. And a wee.

[GETS UP]

006 - Do You Want To Continue

2020-04-12T16:00:00+00:00

That’s fine.

[THEY BOTH LOOK AT THE BASE IN SILENCE]

[WARREN WALKS AWAY, TOWARDS THE BASE]

GORDON

Oh, come on!

[CUT]

GORDON

[out of breath] I lost you there, you have to slow down.

WARREN

There’s a door here.

GORDON

Right. Well shall we -

[A CLUMSY BUT LOUD BANG AS WARREN KICKS THE DOOR]

[WARREN AND GORDON’S FOOTSTEPS ECHO]

[A LIGHT SWITCH, THE FLICKER AND HUM OF STRIP LIGHTING COMING TO LIFE]

GORDON

Colder in here than it is outside.

WARREN

Smells like my old school.

GORDON

I don’t think anyone’s here. It looks like no one’s been here in a long time.

Ho ho ho ho. Ha ha ha ha.

[SILENCE]

Come on. You’re meant to say, ‘I know that laugh.’ And then the curtain rolls back and its Jabba the Hutt! Yahn chass Solo, chung Wookiee! I love this thing.

GORDON

[close] Seriously can I have my keys back now?

TANNOY

Right, enough dicking about. Follow the corridor to the end of the fire exit, push the door then come downstairs. Please.

WARREN

Last chance mate. Anything you want to tell me?

GORDON

I’m telling you… we need to turn around and drive as far away from this place as possible. Warren.

[WARREN AGAIN TURNS AND WALKS AWAY]

Please stop walking away like that. Please. This is too weird now, I… I don’t like it!

[WARREN PUSHES OPEN THE FIRE EXIT DOOR WHICH OPENS WITH A HEAVY CLUNK, ECHOING DOWN A STAIRWELL]

WARREN

I’m sick of this London Dungeons shit.

[CUT]

[WARREN AND GORDON DESCEND A METAL STAIRCASE, THEIR STEPS ECHOING DOWN THE STAIRWELL AND DOWN AN UPCOMING CORRIDOR]

[THERE IS A SOFT HUM OF ELECTRICITY AND THE REPEATED BEEPING PATTERN OF DISTANT COMPUTERS]

GORDON

Now this feels more like a seed vault.

WARREN

Shh.

[THEY PACE ON IN SILENCE FOR A FEW MOMENTS. EVENTUALLY A DOOR OPENS NEAR WARREN]

CLIVE

[over the tannoy] Guys, help on Level 1, please.

GORDON

How many people are here?

CLIVE

Warren, you’re the first man ever to have survived cryonic preservation. Congratulations! And tonight, you’ll be the first man to go in twice.

BRYONY

[annoyed] Clive, we had a plan.

[DOORS OPEN AND MULTIPLE HEAVY FOOTSTEPS HURRY DOWN THE CORRIDOR]

CLIVE

Thanks guys, if you could just take him downstairs for a bit, call us if his brain starts running out of his ears or whatever.

[WARREN IS SILENT AND DOES NOT STRUGGLE]

GORDON

Warren. Hey Warren, you don’t have to go with them, Warren! Wh… Where are they taking him?

CLIVE

Now it looks like we won’t be sleeping for a bit so I’m going to take some uppers and get in the mood, either of you guys want anything?

BRYONY

You are a clown, Schill.

CLIVE

Hey, we only do what we can live with, right? Ain’t that right Warren? Ehhhhhhh –

[CUT]

[close] Clive! Shut the fuck up!

CLIVE

Oh, come on Bryony! Is this guy anything like the one that went in?

BRYONY

That’s enough. Take a break. And get him some fucking tea.

CLIVE

What is the point of being able to put someone into hypersleep if they have a personality transplant when we wake them up? What if they all come out like Forrest fucking Gu -

[IN A SUDDEN COMMOTION, WARREN LEAVES HIS SEAT]

[THERE IS A LOUD, VIOLENT THUD AS TWO HEADS COLLIDE, AND THE SOUND OF CHAIRS FALLING OVER]

[WARREN AND CLIVE STRUGGLE TOGETHER, CLIVE YELPING AND CURSING IN PAIN]

BRYONY

For God’s sake.

[SHE HITS A BUTTON AND AN ALARM STARTS WAILING]

GORDON

Whoa. Ah! Ow! Jesus.

[THE DOOR TO THE INTERROGATION ROOM OPENS AND THE ASSISTANTS ENTER]

BRYONY

[over the tannoy] Just separate them. Take Warren for a lie down please.

CLIVE

Taze him for fuck’s sake!

BRYONY

There’s no need for that, just…there that’s it. Grace, have you got him? Pamela if you could - good. Well done. Clive clean yourself up and we’ll have a chat, shall we?

GORDON

This place is demented.

WARREN

Karen. Karen!

CLIVE

‘Karen, Karen!’

BRYONY

Oh shut up you craven little prick!

[WITH A BUTTON PRESS THE INTERROGATION ROOM GOES SILENT]

[BRYONY DROPS BACK DOWN INTO HER CHAIR]

[brightly] Well, what do you think of the place?

You keep talking about Warren, before all this…like he was a different person.

[CLIVE LAUGHS AND SPITS OUT BLOOD]

BRYONY

Like I said, Gordon. You’ll have access to everything.

[CUT]

Did you know a warren is the name for a rabbit’s burrow?

WARREN

Yeah, I did know that, yeah.

GORDON

Ah! But did you know Warren is also the name of Bucky O’Hare’s home planet?

Everything is ready to execute, there’s no need for you to be present after you give authorisation.

[AUBREY PULLS UP A CHAIR AND POURS HERSELF A DRINK FROM A THERMOS]

AUBREY

I know. It’s just quieter down here.

[NOW SOME HISSING, MECHANICAL NOISES FROM A NEARBY POWERFUL DEVICE]

GORDON (BLUE SKY)

Thawing sequence initialising. 2200 hours. November 19, 2064. Mark. Godby, Warren. Mark. Authorisation?

AUBREY

Wood, Aubrey Jane.

[THE SPEAKER SAYS HER WORDS BACK AT HER TO CONFIRM HER VOICE]

GORDON (BLUE SKY)

Mark.

[THE MECHANICAL NOISES PAUSE, A SUBTLE, THROBBING BEEPING]

Do you want to continue?

005 - Morior Invictus

2020-04-08T16:00:00+00:00

[GORDON IS INSIDE THE GOLDEN BULLET. THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS HE HONKS THE SAD LITTLE HORN. A MOMENT AFTER HE TAPS THE WINDOW]

GORDON

Ah… Hey. Over here.

[THE PASSENGER DOOR OPENS]

WARREN

Can I stick this somewhere?

GORDON

Yeah, yeah just throw it in the back seat.

[WARREN OPENS THE BACK DOOR, THROWS HIS BAG DOWN. SHUTS THE BACK DOOR, DROPS LIKE A SACK OF POTATOES INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT]

Oh God, I love you.

[WARREN RUFFLES THROUGH A PAPER BAG]

I don’t think you can stop here actually.

GORDON

Oh yeah, okay, hang on.

[GORDON GOES TO PULL AWAY AND STALLS]

GORDON

Lol. Whoops.

[OTHER CAR HONKS MULTIPLE TIMES]

WARREN

Oh, fuck off -

[DRIVING IN SILENCE]

There’s really not much to tell.

[SILENCE]

WARREN

Oh, you’re serious, you’re not going to tell me anything.

GORDON

I…

WARREN

Oh, sorry man, don’t worry about it. I’m sorry to ask.

[SILENCE]

WARREN

Can we have the radio on?

GORDON

Oh, someone snapped the aerial off. I replaced it, then went through the car wash a day later, which snapped it off again, and now I just think I’m not supposed to have an aerial.

WARREN

Okay. Got any tapes?

GORDON

Oh yeah! Yeah, glove box.

[AFTER A FEW MORE SECONDS WARREN TURNS IT OFF]

Ah shit.

GORDON

[loud] What?

[HE TURNS THE MUSIC OFF]

[THE PHONE CONTINUES TO RING]

GORDON

Oh… Just tear the plaster off.

WARREN

Yeah thanks.

[ANSWERS]

Then why did you tell him he could stick it up his shitpipe?

[GORDON BURSTS INTO LAUGHTER]

WARREN & KAREN

Shut up, Gordon!

WARREN

Karen, I’m gonna be home in the next day or two–

KAREN

Oh, will you?

WARREN

and I’ll explain everything.

KAREN

I’ll just make you up a dinner then, shall I? Keep it warm for you, when you deign to come home?

WARREN

Look let’s… let’s talk later, please?

KAREN

Hmph.

KAREN

Ross is obviously the worst Friend.

[KAREN HANGS UP]

[WARREN AND GORDON ARE IN A ROADSIDE CAFE]

[to a waitress] Er… Hi. Yeah, can we get the bill please?

WAITRESS

Sure.

[WARREN AND GORDON DRIVE IN SILENCE, A TAPE PLAYING]

[THE VOICE IS SLOW AND ENTIRELY MONOTONOUS]

MR ALOHA ETERNITY (on tape)

There’s no denying the allure of the cruise lifestyle. I myself have taken 16 cruises with my wife and family over the years. I’ve been to the Mediterranean, seen the Northern Lights, Budapest, the Caribbean, Thailand. I believe there is a great opportunity here to celebrate the spirit of adventure at that time of life when it might seem most far away. To not know where in the world you might pass on, but to be secure in the knowledge that when you do, highly skilled cryonic technicians will be on hand to vitrify your corporeal form––

But given the circumstances you’ll face. Isolation, limited rest or relaxation, rationed food, very little company. How do you predict those risks, the apparent certainty of a mortality rate, will affect you? Given your own responsibility in… managing those risks?

AUBREY (on tape)

When I was vetting potential candidates, I spoke to a man who had seen terrible things, maybe he’d done terrible things. Part of the process is very similar to this conversation, only I’m in your chair and the potential candidate is in mine. I tried to gauge his state of mind considering the exceptional circumstances under which we were meeting. I asked him about the things he had done, the things done to him. He said, ‘You should only do what you know you can live with.’ It’s a far easier thing to say than it is a code to live by, but it’s stuck with me since… I know what we’re facing… And I’m still here.

[THE INTERVIEW ENDS, THE TAPE STATIC ROLLING ON]

[STILL DRIVING, TIME HAS PASSED]

GORDON

It’s so dark, how are you supposed to see anything…

[WARREN IS SILENT]

GORDON

At least it’s not raining, I guess.

[SILENCE]

GORDON

I’m sure we’re in the middle of some dramatic scenery, if there was just some moonlight or something. Oh wait, was that it?

[THE CAR SLOWS]

WARREN

What?

GORDON

Was that a sign?

WARREN

Was that a sign?

[GORDON PUTS THE CAR IN REVERSE]

GORDON

Ah yeah, this is it.

[THE CAR SLOWLY TRUNDLES UP A ROCKY PATH]

[THE CAR COMES TO A STOP]

[EVENTUALLY HE PICKS UP A TAPE, PUTS IT IN THE DECK – REWINDS IT FOR A FEW SECONDS, PLAYS]

INTERVIEWER

––iven the circumstances you’ll face. Isolation, limited rest or relaxation, rationed fo––

[HE WINDS FORWARD A COUPLE OF SECONDS]

AUBREY

––candidate is in mine. I tried to gauge his state of mind considering the exceptional circumstances under which we were meeting. I asked him… about the things he had done, the things done to him. And he said, ‘You should only do what you know you can live with.’ It’s a far easier thing to say than––

[WARREN STOPS THE TAPE, AND DOES NOTHING FOR A MOMENT]

[FOOTSTEPS OVER GRAVEL APPROACHING]

WARREN

Babe I need to go, alright?

KAREN

What’s going on? Is someone there?

WARREN

It’s fine, I’ll speak to you soon.

KAREN

Warren? War-

[CUT]

AUBREY

Personal. I’m really glad Bryony is here. Dr Halbech I mean. She likes formality, and so do I. I didn’t properly realise until she got here but I was excited for her to join us not just because she’s the leader of the operation but because, and maybe it makes me sound weak or whatever, I was tired of being the only woman up here. I’m tired of the way the subjects look at me. It’s intimidating and it freaks me out. I’m tired of looking to Ben for…what? Protection? Reassurance? He couldn’t protect me from a malicious bag of crisps. Plus I catch him staring at my arse every other day.

[CUT]

[A BELL JINGLES AS WARREN OPENS THE DOOR]

[MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY IN THE BACKGROUND]

ASSISTANT

Hey.

WARREN

Hey.

[A PAUSE AS WARREN PACES THE SHOP]

[WARREN RIFLES THROUGH A BOX]

WARREN

Wait, do all these games come with it?

ASSISTANT

Uh, yeah. Think so.

WARREN

I have to have it.

[WARREN SCOOPS UP THE GAMES CONSOLE, CABLES AND GAMES AND LUMPS THEM HAPPILY ON THE COUNTER]

WARREN

It would’ve been great to see your dad after all these years. He would never remember me but I never forgot him. He was a wise dude.

ASSISTANT

Do not let him hear you say that, I’d never hear the end of it. Cash or card?

WARREN

Oh, card.

ASSISTANT

Sure, go ahead.

[WARREN OPENS HIS WALLET, PICKS A CARD AND TAPS IT ON THE READER. IT BEEPS]

No.

[WARREN SCOOPS UP HIS PURCHASES CLUMSILY]

WARREN

Don’t worry about the receipt either.

ASSISTANT

I won’t.

[CUT]

[CLICK]

AUBREY

Personal. Teddy Bear’s Picnic is real, it’s happening, Dr Thomas and Dr Halbech and I took the evening off to celebrate, and the subjects are having some relaxation time too, in their, uh, in their area. There was champagne, which I didn’t know was here, which was very smart of Dr Halbech I suppose because it would’ve been gone a long time ago. It’s been a hard few months. It’s been lonely, and cold, and… brittle, that’s the word I’m looking for, I’ve felt brittle. It wasn’t what I thought it would be. For better as well as worse, it has been such a privilege to get even this far. I can’t wait to see what happens next. The first infusion begins tomorrow, on Yogi bear. I will get used to the stupid names. It’s going to be great! I’m going to bed. Which is also great! Goodnight!

2020-04-01T16:00:00+00:00

AUBREY (on tape)

We’re really doing this…

WARREN

Whoa whoa, what’s this?

AUBREY (on tape)

It’s 06.00am and I haven’t slept. Not for a minute.

GORDON

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

[GORDON TURNS THE STEREO OFF]

Tubes in cocks. Tubes everywhere. All the monitoring is going, they’ve been studying them the whole time, recording all the data. The course lasts two weeks.

WARREN

Two weeks? Those bears have been frozen for two weeks?

GORDON

This isn’t the first time they’ve done this. The company, I mean. They’ve been building up slowly. A day, a long weekend. All our teddy bears are first timers of course, and Wood too, she’s new. We rejoin the story at the end of the course. We’re down to 3 teddy bears

WARREN

What happened to the others?

GORDON

Well Brown and Polar didn’t make it more than a day. One of them didn’t survive the rapid cooling process before the big freeze, the other one held out for a few hours after, then their heart just gave up. I forget which was which… Here we go.

[PAUSE, THE TAPE KEEPS PLAYING]

GORDON

Now here we go.

[ANOTHER CLUMSY TAPE-TO-TAPE CUT]

AUBREY (on tape)

We’re really doing this. It’s 06.00am and I haven’t slept. Not for a minute. I was sick earlier. I don’t know if I’m excited or the most terrified I’ve ever been in my life. Dr Halbech oversaw the Hartshorn infusions at midnight, the 8 hour activation period is nearly up. She sent Dr Thomas and me to bed, for whatever use that could be. How are we supposed to sleep when all we can think about is waking someone up?

[CUT BACK TO THE CRYO SUITE, THERE IS LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION, UNINTELLIGIBLE]

WARREN

I can’t hear what’s going on.

GORDON

You will.

WARREN

What did she say? What’s Hartshorn?

GORDON

I had to google it myself. It was a type of smelling salt or something. For people who fainted in ye olde times. It has literally nothing to do with what’s in that infusion, I think they just liked the sound of it.

And then we break for lunch.

[CUT]

[INSTANT ALARM BELLS AGAIN]

[THE SOUND OF THRASHING IN WATER]

Thank you. Ben, his arm, he’s straining–

DR THOMAS (on tape)

Got it.

[A SICKENING CRACK]

AUBREY (on tape)

What the fuck did you do?

DR THOMAS (on tape)

It’s… It’s…

[A SQUEAK AS THE ARM LEAVES HIS GRIP, AND A SHATTER LIKE GLASS ON THE FLOOR]

[CUT]

AUBREY (on tape)

His arm just came off. In Ben’s hand. The shock killed Grizzly in less than a minute. We’re done, it’s all over. I told Halbech to go fuck herself and I’m locked in my bathroom with half a packed bag and my coat on like I’m a bloody teenager. There isn’t anywhere to go. Next delivery is three days. No way out on foot. I’ll work something out with Ben. Anything is better than-

[IN THE DISTANCE ALARM BELLS RING]

AUBREY (on tape)

No no no-

[CUT]

[THE CRACKLE OF A WALKIE TALKIE]

AUBREY (on tape)

Halbech? Dr Halbech? Bryony, answer your fucking comm!

DR THOMAS (on tape)

She’s gone, you’re in charge of this fucker’s airway. Come on.

[CUT]

[MORE THRASHING IN THE WATER]

AUBREY (on tape)

Okay. Pass me the scope. Alright.

[A CHOKING, WRETCHING NOISE]

AUBREY (on tape)

Down with the cuff. Down. Fucking rip it then. Suction. Come on!

DR THOMAS (on tape)

You’re doing it. We’re doing it!

AUBREY (on tape)

Shut up.

[A COUGH, A SPLUTTER, THEN SILENCE]

DR THOMAS (on tape)

Aubrey–

[A SUDDEN CONVULSION, THEN VIOLENT THRASHING]

AUBREY (on tape)

Hold him!

[AN AWFUL, GUTTURAL VOMITING NOISE, IMPACT ON THE FLOOR]

AUBREY (on tape)

Suction back– turn him on his side-

[A DEEP AGONAL MOAN, THEN MORE VOMITING]

AUBREY (on tape)

Ben. Ben! What are you doing?

DR THOMAS (on tape)

I can’t. I can’t do another.

AUBREY (on tape)

Ben! He’s fucking dying on me! Ben! Where the fuck are you going? BEN! Ben, please don’t leave me with him. Ben! Be-

[THE TAPE IS EJECTED FROM THE PLAYER. THERE IS A LONG MOMENT OF SILENCE, PUNCTUATED ONLY BY THE RAIN ON THE WINDSCREEN]

Yeah. I… don’t know where to sit now. They’re all taken aren’t they?

[AWKWARD PAUSE]

JEMMA

Hmm… Well, I assumed you’re meant to be on the road today, that’s why there’s nothing free.

[PHONE RINGS]

WARREN

Okay, Okay, cool, humm. It’s fine, it’s fine, if it’s just today.

JEMMA

Oh no, it’s every Thursday.

WARREN

Oh what?

JEMMA

It’s… every Thursday. Because of Neil and Doug…

[PHONE RINGS LOUDLY]

[WARREN MOVES THROUGH THE OFFICE TO AN ECHOEY STAIRWELL]

[PAUSE, GORDON SIGHS]

GORDON

Look, I’m going to be in the car park of the north build at 7pm tonight. I’ve got a gold colour Vauxhall Astra. Well…it’s more coppery but I like to say its gold. I call it the Golden Bullet. It doesn’t go very fast.

WARREN

Thank you for telling me that but I don’t–

GORDON

Meet me in the car, but I recommend you get to the end of the tape first as you obviously haven’t. Then we can discuss how ‘interesting’ it is.

WARREN

I actually have a lot of other things that I need to-

Find the money!

[THEY BOTH LAUGH]

[CLICK]

AUBREY

It’s 3.43am. Yogi is dead. He was back in the medibay for a few hours and we’d ceased the infusion… six, no, seven hours ago. But he arrested just after midnight. Bryony and Ben were already there, I arrived as soon as I heard the alarm. We did everything right, everything we could, but we couldn’t get him back. I’m going to sleep.

Well that’s another pound isn’t it.

WARREN

It sure is.

[CHANGE CLINKS ON THE COUNTER]

[MUFFLED SOUNDS ON THE LINE]

[WARREN RUMMAGES IN BAG]

GORDON

Of course I am. But you need a copy for your own records.

WARREN

Can’t I just have a copy of yours?

GORDON

Now you’re being ridiculous.

Another tape.

GORDON

Another tape.

WARREN

This one’s not going to fit in my Dictaphone.

GORDON

No, it won’t Mr Godby, but luckily you’re sitting in a 1998 Vauxhall Astra. What it lacks in air conditioning it makes up for in a top-notch cassette player.

[GORDON PUTS THE TAPE IN THE PLAYER AND IT BURSTS TO LIFE]

001 - Tortoise

2020-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Sorry, what did you say it was?

WARREN

A seed vault.

VOICE

A what?

[ANOTHER CALL]

WARREN

Is that Geographical Science?

VOICE

No, this is Bio Science.

WARREN

Sorry, do you have the extension for-

[ANOTHER CALL, THE RUSTLE OF FOOD WRAPPING]

You took your pills this morning?

[ANOTHER LINE RINGS, IT IS PICKED UP]

[DOUG LAUGHS]

WARREN

I’m sorry, it is!

DOUG

No, you’re right. It is.

WARREN

I’ve never known anything like it.

DOUG

Welcome to Overhead. Keep digging.

WARREN

Oh. Yeah, yeah I do!

[close] Am I what?

GORDON

[close] Recording this. You should be. I am.

WARREN

[close] You’re recording this conversation. Right now.

GORDON

[close] You bet I am.

[GORDON TAPS A NEARBY MICROPHONE, HIDDEN ON HIS DESK]

Have you…streamlined any other department yet?

[WARREN IS SURPRISED AT THE QUESTION]

WARREN

Um… Yes, I did. A meat-printing project.

GORDON

Meat-printing?

WARREN

Yeah. Like organic 3D printing. It was a terrible project, we closed the whole department.

GORDON

And how did that feel?

[PAUSE]

WARREN

It was awful.

[AWKWARD SILENCE]

Fuck.

GORDON

-anyway, call me when you get my package, I sent an Overhead courier actually so you should prob-

Sorry, say that again?

GORDON

You’re alone.

WARREN

Yes, it’s late, my wife’s in bed already

[THE CLICK OF A TAPE RECORDER BEING SWITCHED ON]