Z.P.G. Page #4

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It's a boy.

I'm sure you'll be very happy with him,

sir.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next couple, please.

If only I could

take him to a doctor.

Look.

For god's sake, he's sick.

Don't you understand?

You go.

Make my excuses.

And tell them what?

Tell them...

anything.

I don't give a damn.

You know I can't do that.

It's a welcome-Home

party for you.

You've got no choice.

I can't risk leaving him.

You can't risk not leaving him.

What if they begin to suspect?

Carol?

Well, maybe it would be better.

What do you mean by that?

This is all he'll ever have...

This... for the rest

of his life.

This is his world.

He'll never be able to leave here.

Time check.

Will all senior museum officials

Report to the main hall

for midday briefings?

Don't worry.

Welcome.

Oh!

Welcome back.

Oh...

oh, you frightened me.

Where are you going?

I'm going to the mart.

They deliver, you know.

Yes, I know.

Can I see him?

He's asleep.

Oh.

How is he?

He's... fine.

I'm glad you went back

to the baby shop.

It'll help you settle down.

I think so.

Well, see you later.

Yes.

Goodbye.

They're also provided

For the relief

of those who suffer

From respiratory complaints.

The oxygen hydrants

have been grossly misused

By citizens having no

legitimate need of them.

The month of June

Is climactically best suited...

Transgressors

reported in sector 12.

Transgressors reported

in sector 12.

Sector security officers

To alleyway 253.

Sector security officers

To alleyway 253.

All citizens will clear

the immediate area

Surrounding the execution globe.

Sector security officers

Have right of way.

Sector security officers

Have right of way.

...led

to the great famine

And the smog-Blanket age.

Citizens with

respiratory complaints

Should apply

to their unit doctor

For a chest examination.

Here is an announcement

From the council

for citizens' entertainment.

The council

for citizens' entertainment

Wishes to announce

That all those who have tickets

For this evening's

athletic event

Report to the mass

participation section

Of your cinema.

For survival of the fittest,

Man must be fit to survive.

The council

for cultural education

Is presenting the metropolis...

Irrespective of nutritive value,

Food was absorbed

in huge quantities.

Specific times of the day

Were set aside for

the intake of this food,

And the replenishment

of corporal energy

Was sometimes turned

into a social event.

These events were even

conducted out of doors

Without any precautions taken

To shield their activities.

Although it seems

ridiculous to us,

Provided as we are

by the society

With a calorically

calculated balanced diet,

These people were

almost criminally addicted

To food.

These 20th-Century

specimens

Took food for granted

And ate indiscriminately,

Although during those times,

Half the world population

was underfed.

It appears barbarous to us,

But until the end

of the 20th century,

Food was served on open plates.

Meat was allowed,

even encouraged,

To be hung

until it began to rot.

Makes you shudder, doesn't it?

Cheese was not

considered a great delicacy

Unless a crust of mold

had formed around it.

Not unexpectedly,

these eating habits

Contributed greatly

To the general degeneracy

of 20th-Century man.

His health was poor...

Disorders of the stomach,

And can you wonder at it?

Obesity, cardiac strain,

thrombosis...

All the conditions arrested,

Corrected, and finally abolished

By the society's rigorous

and protracted efforts

On your behalf.

If these people seem

happy to you,

It can only be because

they considered ignorance

To be bliss.

They allowed their

addiction every license,

Swallowed poisons without

a care for the morrow

Or their fellow man.

Initiates of this eating cult

Made great play

Of the trappings

you have just seen.

Plates were decorated,

painted, and sometimes gilded.

Eating utensils

were often of silver

And used time and again

Without the sterilization

which you take for granted now.

He's sick.

Turn down the lights.

Uh...

put the child on the table.

He has a terrible fever.

Nothing to worry about.

Huh.

Fine, fine.

Strong, healthy boy.

Don't be afraid, carol.

I won't tell anyone.

Believe me.

I won't tell anyone.

Please trust me.

I just want to look at him...

Just a little look.

A boy?

Please...

may I touch him?

May I?

Please, carol.

Oh!

Ooh!

He's so...

he's so soft,

So little.

Oh!

Mummy.

Oh, mummy.

Here they come.

Isn't he...

Isn't he lovely, George?

Were you there?

Yes.

Do you...

feed him?

You two have done

a hell of a thing here.

Uh...

tell them, George.

Well, look, Russ, uh...

we're friends, and, uh,

Edna and I

had a talk last night.

I mean, we really had a talk,

And we decided that, uh,

Well, that we're all in this together,

you know?

Well, like I said,

we had a talk, you see,

And, uh, we...

We would like to, um,

Kind of be...

part of the family, you know?

That wouldn't

be possible, George.

No. Just part of a big family.

You understand?

Look after the baby sometimes.

We just want to share it with you,

that's all.

I could help you change

the diapers or anything.

Look, Russ.

We're friends.

We... We live next door

to each other.

We...

We come in and out

of here all the time.

All we want to do is

come over more often

Just to see the baby,

not to interfere.

We just want to see the baby.

We could just be...

is that...

look after it.

Is that asking too much?

Please, carol.

I'd like to hold the baby.

No.

Why not?

Why won't you let...

Why won't you let us

hold the baby?

We'd let you hold our baby.

Let her.

No.

Let her hold the baby.

Maybe it's not

as bad as we think.

Russ!

Well, at least they're our friends.

Where's Edna?

Well, I don't know.

In the bathroom, I guess.

I think I heard the baby.

Why did you wake him?

He woke up by himself.

Give him to me.

Really, carol, he likes me.

Look.

Give me my baby.

Ourbaby, darling.

What are we going to do?

I don't know.

We'll have to work

something out.

How can you be sure?

I can't...

but which is the nearest

execution square?

1-5-4.

We're directly under

1-5-4.

Now, listen...

the post must be dead center.

I'm sorry,

but I am not leaving the baby here.

Only on certain days, carol.

I'll look after him, I promise.

If you want a baby so badly,

Why don't you have

one of your own?

It's against the law, remember?

Look, uh...

can't we come to some

kind of arrangement that...

that we can live with...

something...

I don't know...

every other day...

Something like that.

No.

All right.

I'm not asking you,

I'm telling you.

You son of a b*tch.

What are you going to do?

It's a lousy world.

Today's my day, carol.

You look after him.

Take good care of him.

I will.

Hey.

Give her the baby.

But I...

I don't want to disturb him.

Give her the baby.

You know, he likes it here.

He slept all night.

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