The Time Machine Page #15

The Girl makes no reply. Instead she gazes off at the

sun which is low in the heavens. Shadows have already

fallen over the distant hills.

TIME TRAVELLER:

What's your name?

THE GIRL:

Weena.

TIME TRAVELLER:

How do you spell that?

WEENA:

Spell?

TIME TRAVELLER:

Write! - Can't you write? Look!

He bends over, picks up a stick and starts to draw

on the ground.

INSERT:
DUST 185

As the stick writes out: " W E E N A "

BACK TO SCENE 186

She shows little interest.

TIME TRAVELLER:

And what are your people called?

WEENA (as if he ought to know)

Eloi.

INSERT OF DUST 187

The stick now writes in the dust: " E L O I "

BACK TO SCENE 188

A shadow crosses her face. Suddenly she springs

to her feet, concerned.

WEENA:

Come. We must go in.

TIME TRAVELLER (rising)

Why? What's wrong?

WEENA (anxiously)

It is getting dark.

She grabs his hand and pulls him toward:

INT. THE GREAT HALL - LONG SHOT - (MATTE?) - (DAY) 189

Crowded now. The people of the future are sitting

on cushions around the tables, having their evening

meal. The glowing orange light of the setting sun

pierces the broken windows, lending a curious at-

mosphere to the place. No one pays attention to

Weena or to the Time Traveller as they enter in the

b.g.

AT THE MAIN TABLE - MED. SHOT 190

A score of attractive young men and young women are

enjoying their dinner. There is a general atmos-

phere of bubbling good humor. They don't even look

up as Weena and the Time Traveller sit down at the

table. She hands him an orange-sized raspberry. He

takes it, looks at the Young Man and the Man in White

who sit across the table from him and tries to engage

them in conversation.

TIME TRAVELLER (directed to

Young Man, but meant for the

entire group)

I don't mind telling you, I'm quite

hungry. I've come a long, long way.

Looks around for some kind of a reaction. There is

none.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 191

He bites into the fruit. It's good. While he is

eating he searches for another way to bring up the

subject.

TIME TRAVELLER:

In my time a berry this size would

have made news in every civilized

country.

GROUP SHOT 192

There is no reaction, so he addresses the Young Man

again.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Sir, perhaps curiosity has died.

Perhaps even courtesy has died, but

I have come a long way and there are

things I would like to know.

YOUNG MAN (considers a

moment, then)

Why?

TIME TRAVELLER:

Because I shall return to my time

and they will ask questions such as

what kind of government rules your

world.

MAN IN WHITE:

We have no government.

TIME TRAVELLER (speaking

as though to a child)

You must have a body of men who pass

and enforce laws.

MAN IN WHITE:

There are no laws.

TIME TRAVELLER (taken aback,

then)

How do you get your food and clothing?

The Man in White looks at the Young Man beside him.

They both shrug their shoulders.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Doesn't anyone work?

MAN IN WHITE:

No.

TIME TRAVELLER (picks up

fruit)

Then where does this come from?

MAN IN WHITE:

It grows. It always grows.

TIME TRAVELLER:

But it must be planted, cultivated,

nurtured...unless...

(with mistaken insight as he

observes no reaction to this

last query)

Unless you have an economy so well

organized that you can devote all your

time to study and experimentation.

Am I right?

MAN IN WHITE:

You ask many questions.

TIME TRAVELLER (annoyed)

Yes! And I'm not ashamed of it.

That is how man has learned and

bettered himself. I must learn about

you and your civilization. You have

books, don't you?

YOUNG MAN (recognizing a

half-forgotten word)

Books. - Books! Yes, we have books.

He rises and beckons. The Time Traveller's brow

clears.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Books will tell me what I want to

know. Books will tell me all about

you.

He too gets up and follows the Young Man.

AT THE WALL - LONG SHOT 193

The Young Man leading. He reaches the wall and

seizes an ancient curtain which covers it. A

cloud of dust rises as he tugs it aside and the

curtain falls, almost crumbling. Shelves and

shelves of books are disclosed. The books are

old even though many of them have futuristic de-

signs. The bindings of once proud volumes hang in

brown tatters. The Time Traveller steps to the

books.

CLOSE ON TIME TRAVELLER 194

The realization of the true state of affairs shows

on his face. He is appalled. Carefully he pulls

a volume from the shelf. Its binding breaks as

he opens it and, when his hand touches the pages,

they crumple like ashes and drift to the floor.

He drops the book. His voice is a shocked WHISPER.

TIME TRAVELLER:

Yes...they do tell me all about you!

With sudden violence he slams his fist into a whole

shelf of books. His hand plows through them and

the dust swirls into the air. He turns back in

anger.

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