Metropolis Page #11

He moves with blurring speed, grabbing her, throwing her

back onto the bed. She's pleading now.

GENA:

Don't f***ing do this. I've got a

son. I'm all he's got. So don't

you dare f***ing do this --

Hissing of a laser.

Burns a hole right between her eyes.

A blood trickle smearing the mattress.

Christoph's face is a study in anguish.

The jazz music still bathing the roof. He whips around.

Gena stands across the roof staring at him. The digitized

Gena, the one who is barefooted and wearing the black

dress.

She is shaking, her face white as a ghost.

CHRISTOPH:

It's okay.

DIGITAL GENA:

(barely audible)

Okay...

CHRISTOPH:

(reassuring)

It's all been transferred.

She doesn't understand. He moves to her, his voice

impassioned.

CHRISTOPH:

Genetic codes. Consciousness.

Unconsciousness. Every single

dream. Every kiss, real or

imagined. The shadows of her soul.

It's all in you.

She stares at him, her voice trembling.

DIGITAL GENA:

Why?

CHRISTOPH:

To live forever.

His face burns with compassion as he explains.

CHRISTOPH:

People plug-into this world, but

remain linked to their flesh and

blood body. Such an encumbrance.

(beat)

Even if their bodies are kept on

machines, nourished by IV's, the

laws of nature eventually will be

respected. The body grows old and

dies. Then they're gone from both

worlds.

Somewhere deep inside, she is beginning to understand.

But it brings her no comfort.

Christoph heads for the elevator, motioning for her to

follow. But she doesn't.

DIGITAL GENA:

She said I have a son...

CHRISTOPH:

No, she said she had a son.

(quiet)

In a dream she once called life.

She stares at him.

DIGITAL GENA:

How come I can't remember?

CHRISTOPH:

Because I took it out of your

memory.

DIGITAL GENA:

(beat)

Why --

CHRISTOPH:

(spins on her)

-- Because there'll be no remorse.

Not in my world.

A private darkness in his eyes as he turns and disappears

into the elevator, leaving her alone on the roof.

The sound of partying echoing through the night.

CUT TO:

EXT. NIGHT CITY - STREET

Tanner moves down the crowded street, passing --

EXT. THE GATES

A growing mob of angry people bottlenecked out front.

HOSTESS:

The gates are temporarily closed for

routine maintenance. But they will

reopen soon --

OLDER MAN:

-- Been saying that for an hour,

now!

HOSTESS:

It won't be much longer.

(cheerful)

And we do appreciate your patience.

DISTRAUGHT WOMAN

But I need to get back now. I've

got to pick my kids up from school!

The hostess keeps smiling, it's all she's programmed to

do.

HOSTESS:

To help make the short wait more

enjoyable, drinks are on the house

across the street at Dante's Tavern.

But there are no takers. Everyone keeping their place in

line as these people need to get home.

Tanner cuts through the crowd, his eyes burning with

determination.

CUT TO:

EXT. NIGHT CITY - TIVOLI PARK

Tanner moves pass the carnival and is about to turn the

corner, but stops as he catches a glimpse of a familiar

building.

The Terrace is right across the street.

The building is dark except for the flashing lights from

the top floor.

Tanner stares up at the lights.

INT. THE TERRACE - LOBBY

The marbled lobby is like a museum. Priceless paintings

and tapestries fill the walls.

Tanner heads through the lobby and into --

INT. OUTDOOR GLASS ELEVATOR

He pushes the button for the penthouse.

The elevator glides effortlessly up the side of the

building.

The colored lights of Night City swirling through the

glass.

INT. THE TERRACE - PENTHOUSE

Tanner slowly steps inside. He's tensed, not really

knowing what to expect.

The party is in full-swing. Someone offers Tanner

champagne but he declines.

He looks around the room, his eyes stopping on the mantle.

He picks up one of the photos of Gena --

OLDER WOMAN:

You looking for her?

Tanner looks up at the woman.

OLDER WOMAN:

She went up.

TANNER:

Up?

OLDER WOMAN:

(points)

To the roof.

EXT. THE TERRACE - ROOF

Tanner moves slowly across the roof, the candles throwing

flickering images across his face.

He stops at the brass bed. It is empty save for the blood

stain.

GENA'S VOICE (O.S.)

You work for them, don't you.

Tanner spins. The digital Gena sits in the corner. She

tries to force a smile.

DIGITAL GENA:

That would explain your little

disappearing act in the bar.

He takes a slow, cautious step toward her.

TANNER:

What happened here --

DIGITAL GENA:

-- He works for them too, doesn't

he?

TANNER:

(beat)

Who?

DIGITAL GENA:

The sonofabitch who did this.

She pierces her arm with a broach pin. She doesn't bleed.

DIGITAL GENA:

(quiet shame)

I'm not real, am I?

He stares at her, doesn't know the answer to that one.

She meets his stare, terrified of the answer.

DIGITAL GENA:

And I can't go back, can I?

Tanner wishes he could lie. But can't.

TANNER:

That's right.

She absorbs this in steely silence. Longest of beats.

DIGITAL GENA:

He failed.

She stares at him, trying to keep back the emotions.

DIGITAL GENA:

I'm making a sandwich. Just like my

mom would. It's raining outside.

The sandwich isn't for me. It's for

him. And that makes me feel

something.

(barely audible)

No words for it. But I'll never

forget.

Her eyes are wet. Her voice coming out in a tortured

whisper.

DIGITAL GENA:

All the memories around him are

still there...

He watches her, tormented by the fact that he can't find

anything comforting to say.

She turns her eyes out into the night, giving him silent

permission to leave.

EXT. THE TERRACE - MOMENTS LATER

The elevator deposits Tanner down on the street as the

Tivoli's fireworks show starts overhead.

Colored explosions raining down as Tanner disappears into

the night.

INT. DEAD-END ALLEY - A LITTLE LATER

Tanner heads into the alley. A holographic map of Night

City shimmers in front of him.

DISEMBODIED FRIENDLY VOICE (O.S.)

You are here.

(red X glows on the

map)

To reach the club district, simply

turn around and head --

Tanner reaches through the holograph, sliding his access

card into the slot on the wall.

The map disappears as the wall opens.

INT. DARKNESS

Tanner's voice calls out.

TANNER'S VOICE (O.S.)

Lights.

The lights flicker on as Tanner races down the tunnel,

sprinting around the bend and into --

INT. DIGITAL EMPLOYEE STORAGE CENTER

The long rows of storage racks are empty, the reserve

employees no longer there.

Tanner stares uneasily at the barren racks as he makes his

way through the room and down the stairs into --

INT. HALLWAY

Tanner slides his access card into the door. It opens for

him, revealing --

INT. NEXUS CENTER

The place is buzzing with activity.

Dex supervises an army of digital employees as they move

across the catwalks rewiring the program panels with

cables.

Tanner silently slips into the room and up the --

INT. STAIRS

Tanner makes his way up around the corner, suddenly coming

face to face with a WAITER --

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