INT. UPPERWORLD, WOMEN’S PRISON, MEETING ROOM - DAY
Dieter visits Barbella in prison. There are six desks in the room, three others are occupied. Barbella enters the room escorted by two guards and sits down.
BARBELLA: And what do you want?
DIETER: The Underworld. What do you know about it?
BARBELLA: I know that it exists and that there have been injustices.
DIETER: How?
BARBELLA: I have my sources, but I’m not about to betray them for some random guy.
DIETER: Aren’t you worried about what might happen to your family? The shame, the scrutiny...
BARBELLA: My real family were taken from me. If something is wrong. I stand against it. I have only my friends.
DIETER: Those guys who ran at the slightest hint of danger?
BARBELLA: It’s a lot more than what you did or anyone else for that matter. They suppress the Underworld. They feed them scraps and they control their dreams. There’s a lot you don’t know.
DIETER: I know all about the underworld.
BARBELLA: How?
DIETER: Because I was born there.
BARBELLA: Why are you really here?
INT. UPPERWORLD, LORD PREFECT’S BUILDING - NIGHT
BEDROOM
LORD PREFECT is awoken by the SOUND OF AN EMERGENCY ALARM. He sits up in bed and talks aloud
LORD PREFECT: Late 50’s, male, bearded, thinning hair, slim, arrogant and entitled.
LORD PREFECT: This better be good.
CALRIDIAN (O.C.): There’s been an attack on the Dream Machine.
LORD PREFECT: Alright. I’ll be at the control tower in five minutes.
CONTROL TOWER
Lord Prefect enters the control tower where CALRIDIAN waits for him.
CALRIDIAN: 40s, male, taller than average, strong build, professional.
LORD PREFECT: Has there been much damage?
CALRIDIAN: Minimal sir. None to the equipment. Two wounded security guards.
LORD PREFECT: And the terrorists?
CALRIDIAN: Three dead and two wounded. The survivors are being escorted here.
LORD PREFECT: How did they find out about the machine?
CALRIDIAN: We believe that your son showed the dream machine to a young girl. She has been arrested. Here they are now sir.
Six guards escort Ariadne and two wounded terrorists to the control tower. Lord Prefect addresses the two injured captives.
LORD PREFECT: Who planned this raid?
There is no response.
Lord Prefect punches one of the men in the stomach.
LORD PREFECT: Well? Does that jog your memory.
There is no response
Lord Prefect stands in front of Ariadne
LORD PREFECT: And you? You manipulated my son and put the lives of thousands at risk. How dare you?
ARIADNE: I was a believer. I believed you were a great man, but now, you’re everything I thought you wouldn’t be.
LORD PREFECT: Take them away. Get as much information you can out of them and send them to the underworld. My son is to know nothing about this.
INT. UPPERWORLD, DIETER’S APARTMENT - EVENING
Dieter arrives home to his apartment. He throws his keys on a table and sits back on a sofa.
He turns on the television.
A noise can be heard of a small CYLINDER TRAVELLING THROUGH A CHUTE. Dieter pauses the television.
Dieter climbs to his feet to open the cylinder. There is a message that reads: “they’re watching you. You fool.”
Dieter burns the message. He leaves the apartment.
EXT. UPPERWORLD, STREET OUTSIDE DIETER’S APARTMENT BLOCK - EVENING
Dieter walks out onto the street. He believes that someone is following him and can hear the SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS, behind him
Dieter quickens his stride and keeps walking before turning right into an alleyway.
EXT. UPPERWORLD, ALLEYWAY NEAR DIETER’S APARTMENT BLOCK - CONTINUOUS
He climbs a fire-escape of an apartment block. His PURSUER follows him.
EXT. UPPERWORLD, ROOFTOP OF APARTMENT BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
Dieter reaches the rooftop. He can see a police helicopter approaching. He enters the apartment block.
Dieter’s pursuer is joined by some officers from the helicopter which has now landed.
INT. UPPPERWORLD, JELLY’S APARTMENT - EVENING
JELLY opens the door to his apartment. Dieter is standing there.
JELLY: 40’s, male, average build.
JELLY (in a low voice): No. No. Get out. I’m not doing this.
DIETER: (in a low voice) No matter what you do, from here on, you’re taking a risk.
JELLY (in a low voice): Get in
Jelly allows Dieter to enter and closes the door.
DIETER: I need a new identity
JELLY: I can’t do that. Nothing can save you now, whether it’s two days or ten days. They will catch you. What were you thinking?
DIETER: I’m living a lie here. I always have. I thought the upperworld would be better than anything else. It’s not. If anything people here are more fearful than they claim to be. The slightest slip can destroy a persons life.
JELLY: If that’s what you believe, there is nothing you can do to change all of that. You’re less than a pawn in a game you cannot and will not ever control.
DIETER: If I can’t find a way to change things, then I will die trying. Everything else is meaningless.
JELLY: Yeah, well, you’re not bringing me down with you.
FOOTSTEPS can be heard in the corridor.
JELLY: Follow me.
CUT TO:
INT. JELLY’S APARTMENT - EVENING (MINUTE LATER)
There is a BANGING NOISE at the door to the apartment. Jelly answers. POLICE OFFICER PELBY addresses him
Police officer Pelby is heavily armed, wearing a helmet and bulletproof padding.
POLICE OFFICER PELBY: Officer Pelby, Elite Unit. We have reason to believe that you’re harbouring a fugitive.
Officer Pelby scan’s Jelly’s eye with an electronic device. He then talks aloud into the same device.
POLICE OFFICER PELBY: Dimitri Jelovich. Checks out. No record. Yet.
JELLY: I can assure you that I am the only one here. You’re welcome to check.
Jelly gestures with his hand for Pelby to enter.
Slowly officer Pelby enters. He over turns a couch, and checks a press in the living room.
Kitchen
Pelby enters the kitchen. He opens presses, a fridge and knocks over chairs.
Bathroom
Pelby kicks open the bathroom door which was already ajar. He finds nothing
Bedroom
Pelby cautiously checks under the bed and slams open the wardrobes. He observes a relatively large fish tank in the bedroom. There are many goldfish in it. He rubs his finger against the glass and heads for the apartment door.
Another police officer enters.
POLICE OFFICER PELBY: All clear.
Both police officers leave. Jelly closes the door and returns to the bedroom. An out of breath and camouflaged Dieter emerges from the fish tank.
INT. UNDERWORLD, EDUCATION CENTRE - DAY
MISS MUNROE is lecturing post school teenagers about the Upperworld in her class.
MISS MUNROE: Late 30’s, female, slim, attractive, dutiful, dry.
MISS MUNROE: Gustav, Gustav.
Gustav realises he is in class at Sunday School
GUSTAV: Yes miss
MISS MUNROE: Just because you have finished school, doesn’t mean your education finishes. You have much yet to learn of the Upperworld.
GUSTAV: Yes miss.
MISS MUNROE:Can you tell me where the inventor of the wheel came from?
GUSTAV: The upperworld miss.
MISS MUNROE: And who was he?
GUSTAV: Lord Prefect
MISS MUNROE: And who built the Upperworld?
GUSTAV: Lord Prefect
MISS MUNROE: Turning to page two-six-eight..
GUSTAV: Miss. How old is Lord Prefect?
MISS MUNROE: I do not know. It tells us on page two-nine-one that he is certainly old enough to invent many things but young enough to be ever so handsome.
GUSTAV: How come we don’t see his picture?
MISS MUNROE: Do you need proof Gustav? Questioning Lord Prefect is a reportable offence. Do you want to be reported, Gustav?:
GUSTAV: No miss
SHIRLEY: Miss, what is the upperworld really like?
MISS MUNROE: On page three-four-one it tells you that the streets are paved with gold, everyone is happy. There is no violence and everyone eats the most delicious food.
HARVEY puts up his hand
HARVEY: 17, male, strongly built, average height, non conformer.
HARVEY: Miss. Why are you here and not there?
MISS MUNROE: Do you want to be reported too, Harvey?
HARVEY: Yes miss
MISS MUNROE: Harvey. It is not your role to question things. Only to be a true follower. Loyal subjects.
EXT. UNDERWORLD, EDUCATION CENTRE - DAY
Harvey and Gustav walk home.
GUSTAV: Aren’t you afraid of being reported?
HARVEY: That old bag wouldn’t have the guts.
GUSTAV: She’s not that old.
HARVEY: My dad wants to start a rebellion. All we get are scraps while they live like kings.
GUSTAV: How do you know what it’s really like up there?
HARVEY: It can’t be any worse than here that’s for sure. Are you in or are you out?
I/E. UPPERWORLD, ARIADNE’S HOME - NIGHT
Harold raps his fists on the door.
HAROLD: Where is she? Where is Ariadne?
Ariadne’s Father opens the door.
ARIADNE’S FATHER: 50’s, male, grey hair, slim, taller than average.
HAROLD: Is she there? Is she inside?
ARIADNE’S FATHER: She is not here and she doesn’t want to talk to you.
HAROLD: Why? Why not?
ARIADNE’S FATHER: She has gone away. She told us not to tell you.
HAROLD: But I love her.
ARIADNE’S FATHER: She does not love you. Your Father may be an important person but you must respect her wishes.
Harold bursts past Ariadne’s Father.
HAROLD: Ariadne? Ariadne? Where are you?
EXT. THE UNDERWORLD, NEAR IMMIGRATION CENTRE - NIGHT
Gustav and Tayo observe as a shuttle arrives from the Upperworld to the Underworld. Men women and children depart in a disorientated state.
GUSTAV: Why do they look like zombies?
TAYO: I don’t know. Maybe their memories are erased before they’re sent here.
GUSTAV: So they can’t tell us what it’s like up there?
Gustav observes an attractive female (Ariadne) about his own age.
GUSTAV: She’s hot.
TAYO: Go ahead. Talk to her. She won’t know anything about who she is or where she comes from.
GUSTAV: I couldn’t
TAYO: Always afraid Gustav. Like a true member of the Fearful club.
GUSTAV: I’ve always been fearful. Always will be. My Dad says, it’s normal.
Gustav observes the young teenager from a distance. The new arrivals are herded into a building where they receive food and shelter.
GUSTAV: What happens next.
TAYO: They’ll be gradually released into society. Our society. When they’re ready.
EXT. UNDERWORLD, IMMIGRATION CENTRE - DAY
WITHIN GUSTAV’S DREAM
Gustav sees Ariadne in the immigration centre. There is a fence and two dozen guards between them.
GUSTAV(in a low voice) I’d like to talk to her.
GUARD ONE: You? You can’t talk to her. What would she want in you?
GUSTAV: I just...
GUARD TWO: She’s a zombie.
There is no sign that Ariadne knows he is there even though she is a few feet away.
GUSTAV: No she’s not
The guards proceed to hit him. He falls to the ground. He shrinks in size and the guards stand over him.
GUARD ONE: She’ll never talk to you.
Sincro stands beside the guard with a baton in his hand.
SINCRO: 16, male, smaller than average, average build, wearing a Reevers uniform.
SINCRO: Nothing to see here, windbag
Sincro uses his batton to hit Gustav on his head. Gustav shrinks with each blow.
In his other hand he holds a long spike with Harvey’s severed head at the top.
Gustav wakes up.
INT. UPPERWORLD, DINO’S BAR - EVENING
MINTNER and FELSTEIN sit at the bar in a quiet city pub drinking.
On the screen a politician makes a speech.
POLITICIAN ON TV: The people of the underworld have infiltrated our society. They will be detected and weeded out. No quarter will be spared. The upperworld will be a perfect society again. Mark my words.
The screen shows an advertisement.
MINTNER: Just how many of these underworld creatures do they think there is?
BARMAN: One per cent
MINTNER: But when they get rid of the one per cent, will there be one per cent left over
BARMAN: I heard, they breed like rabbits.
FELSTEIN: They know what their doing. They do tests.
MINTNER: But how do they know one from the other. And how do they know unless they test all of us? I’ve never been tested.
FELSTEIN: Maybe they know we’re good citizens. Maybe its just people who aren’t like us.
MINTNER: How can we be sure the tests work? I wouldn’t like to be targeted if the test doesn’t actually work.
FELSTEIN: Now you’re talking like one of them.
BARMAN: Maybe you should lower your voice Mintner.
MINTNER: And I thought we were friends.
EXT. UNDERWORLD, IMMIGRATION CENTRE - DAY
Gustav approaches the fence that separates him from the immigration centre. He sees the young woman wandering though the garden to the rear of the main building. They are separated by a fence.
GUSTAV: Hey
Ariadne notices him and slowly moves towards him.
ARIADNE: I should not be talking to you. I might be punished.
GUSTAV: What’s the worst that they can do?
ARIADNE: Cut me into tiny pieces and feed them to the wolves.
GUSTAV: So they’ve been working on you, huh?
ARIADNE: (fearfully) Please go away
GUSTAV: Sorry. I just wanted to talk. That’s all.
Ariadne walks away
EXT. UNDERWORLD, NEAR GUSTAV'S FAMILY HOME - EVENING
Gustav is walking home when he hears a Reever patrol. He hides behind a bush. His hands tremble. The Reever patrol comes to a stop. The leader looks around, before marching forwards again. Gustav breathes a sigh of relief.