Written By James Russell
Presented by
INT. CORRIDOR OF UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ANNEX – 2001 - DAY
LUCAS GREG is making his way along the corridor passing other research students absorbed in his own thoughts. He arrives to one of the doors “Research lab 2-12” and pulls a bunch of keys from the hook on his belt. Finding the right one he opens the door to his lab.
INT. ROOM 2-12 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ANNEX – 2001 - DAY
In the middle of the room sits the BOX, it is 4m cubed surrounded by a complex arrangement of light and electrical coils. In the centre of the BOX there is a clock with a large digital display and another with an analogue face. Outside the box sits two identical clocks. They are all reading the same time. An A1 sheet of paper has been stuck on the wall nearby, it lists hundreds of printed combinations in small letters. Over a quarter of the combinations have been stroked out. LUCAS sets down his tea and examines the information on the computer screen.
LUCAS
(Lucas mutters as he types on the screen)
So we up the electromagnets.
He types the parameters onto the computer and hits enter. A readout appears on screen and begins counting down from 2 minutes. Lucas lifts his tea and walks to the wall, on it he strokes out another combination of the A4 sheet. He returns to a second PC and begins to surf the net. The first PC beeps and he reads the display.
LUCAS
No temporal stasis, try again Lucas.
Lucas changes the parameters again and has already turned to the Internet PC before he hits enter. The Monitor starts to count from 2 minutes but the Clocks inside the BOX have frozen. Then DELANEY appears inside the BOX, he is pointing a weapon at Lucas
DELANEY
Lucas, switch off your experiment. The Local Unit is accessing…
In a snap he disappears and is replaced by ALISTIC, the scientist. Lucas had spun to face the BOX but only caught a glimpse of DELANEY before he was replaced. His Control PC reads “STASIS ACHIEVED 14:08”
LUCAS
(Mutters even though ALISTIC has started to speak)
What the hell is going on? This isn’t stasis.
ALISTIC
Lucas! You must listen to me. I am Alistic. I’m a scientist from the future. Your Stasis machine has created a frozen tunnel in time and I have created another machine that allows me to appear at any point in the tunnel. I will explain how when we have more time but you have less than a minute before your computer cuts off the experiment. You cannot let that happen. In the future you have already told me what you must do.
Lucas is still examining his screen while beside him his Internet PC is flicking through websites, then the screen goes blank but the lights on the computer continue to flash.
ALISTIC
(Reads from a page)
You must bring up the monitoring program main screen.
LUCAS
(In shock leaves the desk)
Who are you? And where are you from?
Alistic
(Shouts)
You must do as I say immediately or your time machine will stop and you will not be able to restart it. Bring up the monitoring program main menu.
Lucas grabs the mouse and keyboard and starts.
Alistic
(Continues to read out loud)
Open the tools menu and select the tab for power shut off. You have it set to 2 minutes. Select “none” on the drop down menu and then hit apply.
I have to go I don’t want to be in the machine in case it doesn’t work. Even though I know it will.
Alistic disappears but is immediately replaced by DELANEY with ALISTIC Beside him.
DELANEY
I represent the police; you are proceeding in a ten thousand-dollar per minute offence. One of our Units has been offline for thirty minutes as a result of your experiment. You and this scientist are both breaking the law.
ALISTIC
I already owe nearly half a million. You must switch this machine off quickly.
Suddenly DELANEY and ALISTIC disappear then are replaced by ALISTIC by herself. Lucas runs back to the control PC.
ALISTIC
(Looks embarrassed)
Hello, there! Who are you…?
LUCAS
(Stops and turns)
What? I’m Lucas Greg, I don’t know what is going on but I am going to switch off the experiment now.
ALISTIC
(Is panicked)
No! You can’t! You don’t realise what you have done. Your Stasis chamber is acting like a time tunnel.
LUCAS
But you just told me to switch it off.
ALISTIC
No I didn’t. This is the first time I’ve spoken to you!
LUCAS
So this is your first time in the box?
ALISTIC
Yes… but…
The door knocks and someone outside tests the handle then the wrong key is tried
LUCAS
(Glances at the door but ignores it)
Well Alistic I have already met you and I have figured out how the box works. I have a message for you. You have to come back at…
(He glances at the Control PC it still reads “STASIS ACHIEVED 14:08”)
Eight minutes and ten seconds past two today and tell me to prolong the experiment. It has a ten second power off timer. Have you a piece of paper?
ALISTIC
(Fumbles in her pocket)
Yes, Go ahead.
LUCAS
Tell me to bring up the monitoring program main menu.
Open the tools menu and select the tab for power shut off. I’ve it set to 2 minutes. I have to select “none” on the drop down menu and then hit ‘apply’.
Now get out of here before they arrive.
ALISTIC disappears as the door opens; the janitor has used the spare key. Behind him is one of the university security guards and the Dean.
THE Dean
(Consults a printed email)
Are you Lucas Greg?
Lucas
(He is amazed)
Yes.
THE Dean
I don’t know what you have done boy, but I received a phone call and email just now from the head of InTime.com. They offered to buy your project for quite a lot of money if I ran down here immediately to ensure that no-one tampers with or switches off the machine until their subcontractor arrives.
The camera travels through the tunnel to the time when ALISTIC is preparing for her first journey.
INT. ROOM 2-12 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ANNEX – April 2097 16:44
The BOX still sits in the room but there have been numerous modifications. The walls of the room have been knocked through and there are numerous cables lying around. ALISTIC stands in the machine. At a control console, her colleague begins to engage buttons.
Alistic
Wish me luck on the maiden voyage John. I hope the natives are friendly
Int. The home of Mark Wilkinson – 16:45
Mark is an image on a large flatscreen. On the sofa his wife is sitting. She has been crying.
Mark
I was mad at first too, honey. Everything had being going so well until the car accident.
Natalie
But you were convicted with debt like a criminal, Mark. Four million in debt. Lilae told me that commoners get less than that for murder.
Mark
Two years, Natalie, working as a processor Unit for InTime then the debt will be clear and we will have enough in the bank to cover the medical expenses to have me re-constructed. And maybe a little extra.
INT. inside Mark’s unit CELL <13497> – 16:46
Mark’s body is captive inside a Computer Unit. Implants have been surgically attached through his eye sockets and through the back of his skull. Through the surface of the unit activity can be seen.
Int. The home of Mark Wilkinson – 16:46
Mark
I’ve been put in charge of computer network control for the area four miles around InTime head quarters. Its so fast Natalie you wouldn’t believe it. For you this conversation has only been a few minutes, with the implanted processor it seems like hours for me. I am still controlling thousands of computer transactions and all the vehicles.
INT. ROOM 2-12 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ANNEX – 16:47
ALISTIC Braces herself as the assistant engages the BOX, With the device active we can still see her but she is behind a sheen and is talking to someone else.
Int. The home of Mark Wilkinson – 16:47
Mark
(Seems distracted and amazed)
A section of my Network zone at the old university has just expanded. I now have access to the world network but it is telling me it’s the year 2001.
(Laughs)
I don’t know what’s going on but there are no security protocols InTime doesn’t exist yet and I have access to everything. I’m downloading.
INT. ROOM 2-12 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ANNEX – 16:48
ALISTIC Returns from the past.
Alistic
Quick, John. Power the machine up again, we have to go back earlier and make sure Lucas doesn’t switch off his machine.
Int. The home of Mark Wilkinson – 16:49
MARK’s image is frozen.
NATALIE
What’s going on Mark?
Mark
(Returns his attention)
WOW, its finished, the machine is off. I have downloaded and analysed the data. This guy in 2001 built a time stasis machine. It created a frozen tunnel in time then another scientist has modified the machine so it can transmit a signal from now back to the past. Alistic is preparing to go back again. I have prepared a list of instructions for the next trip. We’re going to start a 2001 dot com company.
Int. The home of Mark Wilkinson – 17:30
MARK reappears on the screen accompanied by a ringing. Natalie runs back into the room.
Mark
(Is dressed in year 2001 fashions)
It is working, honey. I think we’ll make enough to clear our debts. Alistic is away writing a report for InTime. I have taken control of the console in our time and I have paid a group of contractors to maintain it in the past. I’m going to go back to write my name in history. I’ll see you in the flesh soon so pack your bags. In three hours a car will arrive for you. Be ready to go with the driver.
INT. INTIME CORP headquarters Lift to carpark - 17:35
Delaney is standing alone in the lift, going down. There is a tiny red light flashing under the skin of his cheek, it goes green and he starts to speak.
Delaney
Jonas, meet me at my car and bring your warrant card, we have a code red alert in the University street warehouse 212. Someone has engaged a program that has snared the control unit for this area. We have routed another unit to take control.
INT. INTIME CORP headquarters carpark. - 17:36
The doors open and Delaney marches out. His car is moving on a section of floor and settles just in front of the lift. Delaney climbs into the driver seat as JONAS, the Police officer, runs from the waiting room towards him. In the waiting room other police officers can be seen looking out.
Delaney
InTime does not pay for Police representatives to be late. I expect you to be in my car when I need you.
INT. DELANEY’S caR - 17:36
The car starts up as JONAS climbs inside and starts toward the doors under its own control. DELANEY’s seat is too far from the controls. Once outside the traffic is jammed all along the street.
Delaney
The new unit must be having trouble with the backlog.
DELANEY reaches under his seat and it moves forward into driving mode, the steering column comes out and he knocks it into drive.
JONAS
Are you qualified to drive in manual?
Delaney
Shut up! You’re the police, with you in the car I can do anything.
DELANEY steers the car through the traffic.
Ext. the president’s statue outside the InTime HQ - 17:37
The statue is illuminated.
INT. ROOM 2-12 UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ANNEX. 18:00
DELANEY and JONAS enter the room with the BOX dragging ALISTIC and her assistant.
ALISTIC
(Points at the box)
It is a time machine but I told you it is switched off.
DELANEY walks to the console the BOX is on.
Delaney
(Points to Jonas)
Read them their rights.
DELANEY draws a weapon and points it to the Unit connection box on the wall, he fires and the small box explodes. The BOX becomes disengaged.
Delaney
(Reads from the console)
This device has been on for the last thirty minutes. What has it been doing to our Unit.
JOHN
(Trying to help)
Perhaps your unit was visiting the past.
Delaney
Thirty minutes is like one hundred years to a class A unit like 13497. Could he have changed the past?
ALISTIC
We’re not sure how temporal change works. That is why we were spending so much time analysing the data.
(She moves to the controls)
OH My God! The unit has used up all the tunnel time right up to the present.
Delaney
What do you mean?
ALISTIC
The BOX can send it’s contents back into the past but each point in time can only be occupied once. Once someone has gone back to a time slot it cannot be overwritten. The Unit has used them all up. All except two short slots at the start.
Delaney
Send me back, and you’re coming with me.
ALISTIC
Yes we can persuade Lucas to switch off the BOX before the Unit can access it.
ALISTIC and DELANEY climb into the machine as John starts on the controls. The Device is activated but only for a few seconds. When they finish nothing has changed. DELANEY throws ALISTIC out of the BOX.
Delaney
Send me back, to the earliest time I am going to shoot that science freak.
JOHN
You Can’t
Delaney
(Interrupts)
Do it!
JOHN activates the controls but the trip only lasts for a flash and DELANEY is back. He did not fire.
Delaney
(Climbs out of the BOX furious)
Jonas, book them for half a million to date. We are going to find out what happened here.
JONAS
(Uses a small console)
Transaction completed!
Delaney
(Marches to the door)
We are going to pay a visit to Unit 13497.
INT. InTime corp basement level six unit-storge - 18:45
Delaney stands beside a clerk at his console, Jonas is no longer with him.
Clerk
I’m sorry sir Unit 13497 was a new recruit in my section but he was transferred to level 40 room 3 yesterday. An invoice from the president himself.
INT. InTime corp Lift to upper levels - 18:50
Delaney stands facing the door as the lift rises; he is itching at his gun.
INT. InTime corp Level fourty room 3 – 18:52
The lift door opens and Delaney steps out. There is re-constructive surgery in progress. MARK is being extracted from the Unit Cell by a team of doctors. A security guard is present.
Guard
I’m sorry sir you will have to leave; this is a restricted area.
Delaney
Stop what you’re doing. This unit may have changed the course of time.
Guard
I think you’re mistaken, sir. This is the president of InTime.com.
Mark is being sat upright by the doctors. He is conscious.
Delaney
You’re wrong, he is an impostor. He is just one of my workers.
MARK
You are wrong Delaney. You have always worked for me.
Ext. the president’s statue outside the InTime HQ – 18:55
It is still the same; identical to Mark Wilkinson.
The End