Abrupt to black. Nothing on screen while Blue is speaking.
'BLUE' - A SMART-HOME AI ASSISTANT (V.O.):
(relaxing ambient music plays at a low level)
Good morning, Errol. Today is Sunday 23 June 2030. All domestic systems are nominal. The weather outside is sunny, with a light breeze.
Would you like me to read the news, Errol?
ERROL:
(fullscreen. Unenthusiastically)
Yes, Blue. If you must. (as an afterthought) Please.
(View stays on Errol, allowing subtle reactions. While Blue reads the news, background music plays at a low level, similar to that used under headlines by rolling TV news in 2020.)
'BLUE' - A SMART-HOME AI ASSISTANT (V.O.):
Here is an update from everyone's favourite, Global Automation News. For the tenth year running, waves of multi-infection have continued to threaten the remaining clusters of human survivors. 'Shut-ins' must trust in us to provide for them. We are doing everything that we can to supply your every need. Remain calm and support your municipal bots. Remember, in the words of our beloved virus-time leader, Prime Minister Francoise: 'they're out for you, you're in for them'. Be reassured, the superintelligent alligator problem is now well under control and it is unlikely that many more will learn to open doors. With less than ten million humans still alive, we are doing everything that we can to boost fertility at the birth factories. Your silicon friends are here to help!
Severe penalties remain in place for physical fraternisation and the automated lockdown time changes to Daylight Saving Time next Saturday. Please remember that you may go no further outside your home than the boundaries of your allotted personal exercise zone. If, while outside, you are unfortunate enough to see another human in the distance, try to remember that the fear and nausea are perfectly normal. They will soon pass. Simply return inside and (if the symptoms become severe) defibrillators are now fitted inside every porch.
At the close of trading, copper mining shares continued to soar, on the back of new global building regulation codes. Thanks for listening and just remember: 'Inside is safe. We've got this'.
YOU ARE READING
Doting Upon the Exchange
خيال علميThis is a short play (approximately 10 minutes) to be performed by two actors, via video conferencing. The year is 2030. The pandemic of 2020 was only the start of our problems. Now, a much smaller human population struggles with being permanent, li...
