1 HUGE ROOM FULL OF COFFIN LIKE OBJECTS

(As view is panned across room an announcement is made to the room,
full of lifeless, frozen – Animation Travelers.)

ANNOUNCEMENT (Loud Tone)

The 2710 referenda determines that no Animation Traveler may journey for more
than 50 Earth years at a time. Following this, each citizen is required to serve a term
of duty no less than five years, before being allowed to re-enter Animation travel.
Any objections must be made in writing, and filed with the war department before
5.30 pm on the day of the announcement. Thank you!

(Another Loud Tone indicates the end of the announcement.)

(Pan out from darkened room, away from Earth, passed the Moon and planets of
the solar system, to a barren rock, being "Terra formed". Pan down to surface, show
vehicles, suited workers and such activity, then comes a garbled radio transmission,
static, then a loud report, a blinding flash ends the sounds, then darkness – and silence.)

2 HOSPITAL OPERATING ROOM

(Fade in from previous scene, this time from blackness to pure white.
Focus ends on ceiling, then drops to a mirrored surface in the room.
In this reflection a body can be seen, that of the main character.
He is covered in machines, wires and tubes.)

WILLIAM

He screams.

(Brief fade out, then in.)

ANONYMOUS VOICE - DR STRAUSS

Mr Benson.

WILLIAM

God?

DR STRAUSS

No (he chuckles) I am Doctor Strauss, you have just come out of suspended animation.
There will be some side effects, but you will be fine.

WILLIAM

Animation travel, (he tries to recall) has the money run out?

DR STRAUSS

No, it’s the law, you can’t travel for more than 50 years at a time.

WILLIAM

Fifty years, has it been as long as that, I thought the money might have lasted as long as fifteen.

DR STRAUSS

I’m afraid it was a little longer…

WILLIAM

How long?  (desperation creeping in)
 

FLASHBACK - FORGOTTEN SECTION SEPERATED FROM MAIN BY ROCK SLIDE

(Show rock hounds discovering new section of a tunnel, and walking into Animated Travel chamber. Most of the units had been smashed by the rock slide, but a few were still intact.)

DR STRAUSS

The section you were in was overlooked, you had been sleeping, by our records for 300 years.

WILLIAM

WHAT!

(And fade out again to silence.)

3  STILL IN HOSPITAL BUT NOW IN RECOVERY ROOM

 (Come in  on conversation.)

 DOCTOR

 Name.

 (everyone expects doctor to be asking)

 WILLIAM

 Yes please!

 DOCTOR

Okay, William Benson, but the records are crap, this name may not be entirely correct.

(Doctor leaves William in cyropractic chair, William dozes, to be awakened by a female voice.)

BURLEY NURSE

Mr Benson!

WILLIAM

(Jumps from his sleep.)

Sorry, I must have dozed off.

BURLEY NURSE

Animation Travelers (snorts) my life would be so much easier, if it weren’t for the likes of you!

WILLIAM

I thought a short escape might be fun.

FLASHBACK (recalls fantasy scenes of nubile girls and endless relaxation.)

BURLEY NURSE

(Helps William into wheel chair device, and takes him to REHABILITATION WARD.)

I think you escaped for longer than anticipated (she smiles evilly) you’re going to have a
harder time here than when you were dreaming your life away.

WILLIAM

I’m prepared for the fact that there has been change!

BURELY NURSE

That, I some how doubt. (Shows joy at the thought of the anguish to come for him.)

4 REHABILITATION WARD

OVER WEIGHT MAN (MIDDLE AGED)

How long have you been back?

WILLIAM

Just come out of it. (Trying to gather his wits around him.)

OVER WEIGHT MAN (MIDDLE AGED)

That’s quick. I heard there was another recruit push on.

WILLIAM

So what is this time like?

OVER WEIGHT MAN (MIDDLE AGED)

A bit strange, then again I just came from 2788, very dull time, no skin showing at all.

WILLAM

Where do you originate from originally?

OVER WEIGHT MAN (MIDDLE AGED)

2700 was when I started Animation Traveling.

WILLIAM

So you’re just a youngster?

OVER WEIGHT MAN (MIDDLE AGED)

Sure, a youngeter of over 200… (laughs at the irony) see you round (Nurse collects him for treatment.)
But you probably won’t recognise me when I come out of treatment.

WILLIAM

Why?

OVER WEIGHT MAN (MIDDLE AGED)

You’ll see… (and is gone)

SAME SURROUDINGS, NEW CHARACTER – WOMAN - GRACE.

(Clearly not a young woman, but stunning in her appearance nevertheless.)

GRACE

Hi, you look a bit lost, but don’t worry, once you’ve been rehabilitated it will make sense
And you’ll feel like a zillion credits.

WILLIAM

So what was it like. (He is curious at all the comments about rehabilitation.)

GRACE

Very much like Animation travelling, but the end result (Runs a hand over her firm body.)
I didn’t expect this. Here feel this… (Takes his hand and places it upon her breast.) no support,
as pert as when I was a teenager.

WILLIAM

Yes. (Stunned by the situation and how good she felt.)

ORDERLY

Come on Grace, Mr Benson has only been out of Animation travel for a short time.
We don’t want him to get too excited - do we!

GRACE

Oh sorry! (Lets William's had fall from her bosom, stands as if she had done something wrong.)
Here’s my address, so I’ve been told, come round some time of you like, maybe we can hang out some time.

WILLIAM

Sure, but I don’t think any part of you could hang out now… (Yes, she is now pert.)

5 REHABILITATION ROOM

(Fade in.)

ANONYMOUS PERSON 1

Mr Benson, the treatment is complete.

WILLIAM

Get up, yes, time to go to work…

ANONYMOUS PERSON 2

Has he been interviewed yet?

ANONYMOUS PERSON 1

No, he was caught up in the last rush, doesn’t even know why he’s here…

ANONYMOUS PERSON 2

He’s not responding to the treatment, shit he’s regressing, get the blue team in here NOW!

6 PRIVATE ROOM IN HOSPITAL

DOCTOR

Mr Benson, how do you feel?

WILLIAM

Great, you have wonderful drugs in this era.

DOCTOR

You had a close call, we nearly lost you.
We were failed to be informed just how long you had been Animation travelling.

WILLIAM

How long since I was awoken?

DOCTOR

Two months, which just goes to show how serious your condition was.
During this time a Miss Jane has been into see you a number of times,
she said you had her card, and to come and see her some time.

WILLIAM

I don’t know any Miss Jane, she must have been the one I met at the rehabilitation room.
But why would she come back so often?

DOCTOR

I think you’ll be surprised, Animation Travelers have an affinity that goes beyond explanation,
as intense as the hate a lot of normal people have for Animation travelers.

WILLIAM

That would explain it, anything else I should know?

DOCTOR

In two days you’ll be interviewed, it would be best if you started preparing for that.

WILLIAM

Interviewed, yes, my newly implanted knowledge understands the importance of this interview.
To do well is to have a great future, to do badly is basically the same as to have no future at all.
Would be a correct assumption?

DOCTOR

Close. My advise is rest while you can, try and reorientate yourself, wander around,
try and get a feel for this place and time, before you really have to face it. (He leaves to continue his rounds.)

WILLIAM

(Considers his rebuilt body, it is now all muscle, no flab or excess exists anymore.
Every part of him seems bigger than it should be, and suddenly he understands how Jane had become as she had.
He gets dressed, and follows the Doctor’s advice, by opening the door and exiting into the corridor, to discover a new world.)

7 HOSPITAL CORRIDOR

(The corridor is crowded, the people here are the same as those of his own time, and yet they are different.
Amongst this throng, he sees a few that could only be described as “like” him – too perfect in their build. )

ANDROID NURSE

May I be of assistance?

WILLIAM

I was wondering where the cafeteria was?  (Not knowing what else to say.)

ANDROID NURSE

I will guide you, do you require support Mr Benson?

(They begin to walk down the corridor.)

WILLIAM

How do you know my name?

NURSE

All patient data is entered into the neural active database, of which I have complete access.

WILLIAM

You’re an android?

ANDROID NURSE

Yes, you are an Animation traveler. Did they not have androids in your time?

WILLIAM

Of course, but they were more – ah, obvious.

ANDROID NURSE

I think you will find that things have changed a great deal since your time.

WILLIAM

So I have been told. So what is the real story concerning the Animation travelers being awoken?

ANDROID NURSE

There is no real story, the Earth is in crisis, it need all the skilled citizens that can be found to assist in the repairs of critical services and machinery, like me.

WILLIAM

You are broken?

ANDROID NURSE

No, but there are thousands like me who are in need of attention.

WILLIAM

You mean I was brought back to service androids?

ANDROID NURSE

Not necessarily, but your background suggests that you may be useful in many ways.

WILLIAM

So what about this war I’ve been hearing about?

ANDROID NURSE

I wouldn’t worry about that… (she evaids the question easily.)

8 CAFETERIA

(William sits with the Android, and consumes the food he has just obtained.)

ANDROID NURSE

Feel better?

WILLIAM

Yes, even if I don’t know what I just ate.

ANDROID NURSE

Synthesised protein, soya products, vitamins, essential minerals, artificial pulp and colouring.

WILLIAM

I think I’m going to be sick…

ANDROID NURSE

You are unwell?

WILLIAM

No I was just joking.

ANDROID NURSE

Ah, humour.

WILLIAM

So how old are you?

ANDROID NURSE

My inception date was three years, eleven months, fourteen days, twenty hours, and ten seconds ago.

WILLIAM

So you have a birthday coming up?

ANDROID NURSE

Androids don’t have birthdays, we are machines created to serve.

WILLIAM

And humans, they are not machine created to serve?

ANDROID NURSE

I do not understand the question.

WILLAM

The parallels between God and Man, Man and machine, they are not similar?

ANDROID NURSE

There could be comparisons, but Androids are not considered as valued member of this society.

WILLIAM

Almost as bad as being an Animation traveler?

ANDROID NURSE

You are still human.

WILLIAM

Hmmm, somehow I think I’m closer to you than the other human beings here. Is there a bar in the hospital?

ANDROID NURSE

A place to consume alcohol, the Cosmic Glass is the closest.

WILLIAM

Good, I may enjoy myself in this time yet. Lead on, we’re wasting valuable drinking time.

(On the way, the Android shows William a casuality section, where hundreds of soldiers are being treated for mild to horrendous wounds.)

ANDROID NURSE

The war between Man and the Others has many casualties.

WILLIAM

Others?

ANDROID NURSE

Those we fight, they are called Others because they never been identified, and yet we have been at war for 210 years.

WILLIAM

Strange... Ah, I recall being a pilot, so possibly I’m here to be one again, in the war against the unknown Others?

ANDROID NURSE

It is possible. I must warn you though, it is also suspected that it was an Animation Traveler that started the war,
so you may find it harder to be what you want – than you might think.

WILLIAM

Come on let’s go to that bar, I think I’m going to need a double shot of courage, I get the feeling it’s going to be a short hard life from now on.