EXT. BATTLEFIELD DESERT - NIGHT
A loud BOOM shakes the ground GEMMA stands on. Gemma, a soldier, hides behind a hill. Rocks and dust scatter all over her from the explosion.
Gemma holds a communication device to her ear.
GEMMA
Seventy fivers ground force to Eitorian
command: We're out numbered and under heavy
attack. We need air support NOW.
Two other soldiers from her platoon pop out and fire multiple rounds at the advancing enemy.
GEMMA (cont'd)
Stronglandian regiments are advancing from
the South and the West. We're pinned...
A grenade flies over and lands by one of the soldier's feet, SEBASTIAN.
GEMMA (cont'd)
WATCH OUT.
Gemma lunges for the grenade and throws it as far away as she can. It explodes in mid air.
Gemma finds herself launched off her feet. The shockwave lifts and slams her into the rocky hill. CRACK, her head hits the rock violently. Even though the helmet she wears provides some protection, Gemma drowns in a cloud of white
EXT. LUSH GREEN FIELD - DAY
RAPHAEL, a confident man in his early thirties, holds Gemma's hand and guides her through the field.
RAPHAEL
No peaking okay?
GEMMA
Ooh, I'm so excited. How long?
RAPHAEL
Almost there.
Raphael makes a gesture with his hand and a PORTAL appears right in front of him.
He turns to Gemma and holds both her hands.
RAPHAEL (cont'd)
(whispers in her ears)
This is gonna feel a bit weird, but trust me.
Raphael touches her cheek. Gemma leans her face into his open palm and smiles.
GEMMA
Okay.
Raphael turns to the portal. It swirls with a myriad of colors.
RAPHAEL
Jump.
They both jump through it.
Instantaneously, they are transported to ...
EXT. ANCIENT CITY, ROOF TOP - NIGHT
Gemma loses her balance for a moment and opens her eyes.
GEMMA
Whoa. Where did we go?
She stands on a roof top in front of a table with a birthday cake. The cake has the number 29 floating on top of it. It spins around slowly. The words "Happy Birthday" are in lit letters on top of the number.
RAPHAEL
Gemma, Happy Birthday, you don't look a day
over 25.
GEMMA
Aww.
Raphael makes a gesture with his hand and the "Happy Birthday" explodes into a colorful mini fireworks.
Gemma laughs at the display and hugs Raphael.
GEMMA (cont'd)
Oh this is so great.
RAPHAEL
Oh, Oh. It's not over yet.
Raphael guides her to the edge of the roof and makes a grand gesture intended to encompass the view of the ancient city.
RAPHAEL (cont'd)
Tada.
GEMMA
Oh wow!
RAPHAEL
I didn't want to just do anything, you know.
I wanted something special.
Gemma is mesmerized by the view.
GEMMA
This is amazing. Eitoria, what? Two thousand,
three thousand years ago?
Raphael smiles, mischievously.
RAPHAEL
Are you sure it's Eitoria?
Gemma looks around and spots a distinguished watch tower.
GEMMA
Yeah. The south watchtower is right there.
(points to an open area)
Liberation square.
(points to a river running
to the south)
The River Wild. It's Eitoria alright.
RAPHAEL
But haven't you read "The Road to
Strongland"? Two Stronglandians rescue an
Eitorian Count's son, who is half Eitorian,
half Stronglandian.
Gemma laughs.
GEMMA
That's a fairy tale.
RAPHAEL
When he grew up he returned the land to the
Stronglandian people... Just saying!
GEMMA
Come on Raphael. Are we going to get our
history from fairy tales now?
RAPHAEL
(leans closer)
What if I told you, it isn't a fairy tale.
Gemma looks at him a bit bewildered.
GEMMA
It is. Are you serious? You don't really...
Are you pulling my leg?
Raphael smiles and pulls her closer to him.
RAPHAEL
How about pull your hand... for a dance.
Raphael gestures with his hand and music starts playing. It comes from all around them.
GEMMA
You had me going for a second there.
Raphael spins Gemma around and then dips her. She giggles.
RAPHAEL
I was hoping it would be more than a second.
They continue slow dancing; a couple in love.
RAPHAEL (cont'd)
Sometimes, I just wonder what our country
would be like if we're not in constant
conflict with Strongland, you know? How much
different our lives will be if a few people
stood up against the constant war?
Gemma snuggles close to Raphael.
GEMMA
I hear ya.
EXT. ANCIENT CITY, ROOF TOP - LATER
Gemma sits on the edge of the roof with her head resting on Raphael's shoulder.
GEMMA
Wanna hear a story?
RAPHAEL
Does it start with "Once upon a time"? you
know me... I love fairy tales.
Gemma smiles.
GEMMA
Well, once up on a time...
EXT. BATTLEFIELD DESERT - NIGHT
Three military jets fly over head. The ground shakes with falling bombs. Gemma's eyes fly open. Her vision is hazy. Her fellow soldiers yell in triumph, pumping their fists in the air.
A soldier, SEBASTIAN, helps Gemma up.
SEBASTIAN
We got them. Your message got through. We got
them. WOHOO
Gemma grabs her rifle and follows the other soldiers to inspect the damage.
EXT. BATTLEFIELD DESERT, FLAT LANDS - CONTINUOUS
Gemma and five other soldiers comb through the battlefield. Armored vehicles are destroyed and on fire. Bodies of Stronglandian soldiers are scattered here and there.
BANG BANG. Gemma jumps at the sound of two shots ringing out. She rushes towards the source.
Sebastian had shot a Stronglandian soldier in the chest. Another wounded one crawls away. Sebastian points his rifle at him, but Gemma pushes it away just in time, causing him to miss.
GEMMA
What are you doing?
SEBASTIAN
They attacked us.
GEMMA
We're not monsters. Put your weapon down.
Gemma looks at the wounded soldier. He rests his back against a rock and holds his side. Blood seeps through his fingers as he breathes rapidly.
Gemma takes a medical kit from her back pack and approaches the soldier.
GEMMA (cont'd)
We're not going to hurt you.
EXT. BATTLEFIELD DESERT - LATER
The Eitorian soldiers hide behind rocks. They aim their heavy artillery towards the battlefield.
Sebastian lays beside Gemma.
SEBASTIAN
This is a bad idea.
Through the smoke and the fog, they see a Stronglandian soldier emerge with a raised white flag.
Gemma looks through her binoculars.
GEMMA
Hold your fire. He's unarmed.
Two other Stronglandian soldiers approach with a stretcher. They load up the wounded soldier on to it and back up.
EXT. ANCIENT CITY, ROOF TOP - NIGHT
Gemma looks distant.
RAPHAEL
You're a hero. You're my hero. We need more
people like you, who can show us the right
path.
GEMMA
(chuckles)
The Eitorian military doesn't share your
sentiments. I was released from my service
shortly after this incident. There is no
place for emotions on the battlefield, they
said.
Raphael holds her chin up.
RAPHAEL
It's their loss.
They look into each others' eyes and then lean over for a passionate kiss. They part.
GEMMA
Let's take the leap. Let's really meet.
Raphael looks away. Gemma immediately feels embarrassed.
GEMMA (cont'd)
Oh. Oh. I thought... I didn't mean to... I
just thought it's been going so good
Gemma gets up
RAPHAEL
Please. It's not that.
GEMMA
I'm gonna go.
RAPHAEL
No. Please. It's not what you think. I just
need more time.
GEMMA
Sure. Sure. Thanks for the Birthday.
Gemma reaches for her head and grabs a hold of an invisible helmet. She pulls it off.
Her image disintegrates.
INT. GEMMA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Gemma takes off her VIRTUAL REALITY GOGGLES and puts it beside a 3D computer screen. She scans the back of her left hand over a sensor attached to the computer.
On the screen, the words "DEREGISTERATION FROM THE EITORIAN NET COMPLETE" flash for a moment and then are replaced by "EITORIAN NET: EITORIAN TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EITORIAN PEOPLE"
Gemma gets up and paces back and forth, visibly upset. Her phone beeps. It's an e-mail from Raphael, no last name. It reads "SORRY DIDN'T WANT TODAY TO END LIKE THIS. I'LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU NEXT WEEK. I PROMISE."
Gemma puts the phone down frustrated.
EXT. LIBERATION SQUARE - DAY
Gemma walks with a friend, TULSI, in Liberation square; an open garden. In the center stands the south watchtower, which we saw in the Eitorian Net simulation. Except it looks very old, down to the bear bricks; no paint. A futuristic building serves as the backdrop. It has a logo of a lion's head with two swords crisscrossed behind it.
GEMMA
Maybe I did something wrong. I could've
waited a bit.
TULSI
Stop it, Gemma. Seriously? You're not
actually putting the blame on yourself, are
you?
GEMMA
I mean...
TULSI
No. You don't mean. I'm tired of hearing you
put yourself down. Any guy would be lucky to
have you.
GEMMA
Well, we both know that's not true.
TULSI
Why don't you get out and meet people, huh?
It's always work and home for you. You're
missing out.
Gemma looks away.
GEMMA
It's just the connection I have with Raphael.
It's so.. real.
TULSI
Gemma, you understand you actually don't know
who that guy is. Right? He could be some
creep living in his mother's basement.
GEMMA
No. We've been seeing each other for more
than a year now. I would've known.
TULSI
You've been seeing each other in a virtual
world. Using Avatars that don't even look
like you. Come on. Doesn't that seem weird to
you? Falling in love with someone you've
never met.
(beat)
Are you sure you're not just trying to escape
your past?
GEMMA
It's not about James. I made my peace with
that.
TULSI
You did? You sure? You guys were about to get
married when he left you because you stood up
for that Stronglandian soldier. He chose his
military career over you. That must've stung.
Gemma looks away, hurt.
TULSI (cont'd)
I'm sorry, I didn't mean... I just don't want
to see you go through that again.
GEMMA
I'm gonna put this to rest, okay? I'll sort
it out with Raphael. We can't keep doing this
virtual thing forever. I'm gonna find out if
he's serious about pursuing a real
relationship... or not.
Tulsi looks at Gemma sympathetically.
TULSI
If you want my advice, just forget about him.
He sounds like trouble to me.
INT. GEMMA'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Gemma hesitantly puts the VR goggles on.
EXT. LUSH GREEN FIELD - CONTINUOUS
Gemma stands in the green field.
GEMMA
History.
A menu appears in front of her. She scrolls through and clicks on an entry.
The portal appears. She jumps through it.
EXT. ANCIENT CITY, ROOF TOP - CONTINUOUS
Gemma appears on the roof top in the ancient city. She gestures with her hand and pulls up another menu.
GEMMA
Find the owner of this EN Realm.
The menu oscillates and flashes for a moment. "NO OWNER REGISTERED FOR THIS REALM" appears.
GEMMA (cont'd)
What? Identify the origin of this Realm?
"NO MATCHING RECORDS FOUND"
GEMMA (cont'd)
Search for Raphael in the EN Directory and
cross reference the results with this Realm's
creation date.
"NO RAPHAEL FOUND IN THE EITORIAN NET DIRECTORY"
GEMMA (cont'd)
That doesn't make sense.
She swipes with her hand and the menu disintegrates.
Suddenly the entire world is drowned in red. The sky flashes different shades of red and an alarm sounds.
COMPUTER
This is an illegal EN Realm. Deletion is
imminent. This is an illegal EN Realm.
Deletion is imminent.
The ground shakes under her feet.
GEMMA
What the hell?
She reaches for her head and tries to take off the invisible helmet, but she can't. She panics and tries again with desperation. The disintegration of the EN Realm approaches.
The buildings on the horizon start to decay; past them only static.
GEMMA (cont'd)
What is going on?
The chaos approaches her quickly. After a brief moment's hesitation, Gemma heads towards a scaffold erected by the face of the building and climbs down.
Her weight dislodges a few old wood planks and they go tumbling down. Gemma loses her balance but halts her descent by grabbing onto a pole. As she does she cuts her hand on a sharp edge.
GEMMA (cont'd)
Aah
There is a strange looking cut in her hand; part organic, part digital.
GEMMA (cont'd)
This can't be possible.
CRASH. Gemma snaps towards the noise and sees the building next to the one she's on start breaking apart. She climbs down in a hurry.
EXT. ANCIENT CITY, STREET - CONTINUOUS
Gemma runs. She turns a corner and stops, looking back. The disintegration process continues. She tries again to take off the invisible helmet, but to no avail.
She gestures with her hand, trying to call up the menu, but nothing happens.
GEMMA
Damn it. This can't be possible. How am I not
getting out of here?
That's when she notices a flickering blue light break through the bleak RED color of the world. It originates from a building ahead of her. The window on the second floor pulsates blue. But destruction approaches it in haste.
Gemma sprints to that building and bursts through the front gate.
INT. ANCIENT CITY, BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
Gemma enters the building and climbs up to the second floor. The blue light seeps through from under a closed door. She tries to open it, but can't. She backs up and kicks it in.
INT. ANCIENT CITY, BUILDING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Gemma sees a portal. Just then the back wall of the room vanishes in a burst of digital mayhem. The portal itself destabilizes.
Gemma dives through it.
EXT. WHITE SPACE - CONTINUOUS
Gemma is propelled through and lands roughly, groaning in pain. She scrambles up on her feet, looking around, left and right. Everything is disorientingly white. Then her sight lands on a revolving logo, a lion's head with two swords crisscrossed behind it. Underneath it are the words: "EITORIAN DEFENSE NET (EDN)".
GEMMA
Holy shit. How did I get here?
The whiteness starts to make way for more structure. It looks like she's in ...
INT. ADVANCED LAB - CONTINUOUS
Raphael catches her eyes. He works on a console connected to one of the mainframes in the room. A strange energy field surrounds him.
GEMMA
Raphael?
(louder)
Raphael.
Gemma hears growling noises behind her. She snaps around and finds herself face to face with a mythical beast.
GEMMA (cont'd)
Whoa.
Gemma backs up.
The beast charges her. She dives to the side, but not fast enough. The beast head butts her. She's launched backwards and CRASHES into the machinery of the lab. Sparks fly.
Gemma collapses on the ground and coughs blood.
She looks at her blood on the floor, not believing what's happening.
The beast approaches her calmly. Gemma backs up on all fours. Then the beast lunges at her. But before it makes contact it explodes into a burst of digital light.
When the sparkles from the explosion disappear, she sees Raphael with a mobile device in his hand.
RAPHAEL
Are you okay?
GEMMA
What the hell was that?
RAPHAEL
It's an anti-virus program. It's designed to
protect the Eitorian Defense Net.
Raphael helps her up. He looks concerned for her.
RAPHAEL (cont'd)
You sure you okay?
GEMMA
What is going on? I shouldn't feel pain in
the EN. But all my body bloody hurts.
Gemma tries to pull off the invisible helmet, but again is met with failure.
GEMMA (cont'd)
And why can't I get this thing off. ?.
RAPHAEL
It's no use trying. The EN has taken over
your brain. It's paralyzing you in the real
world. Gemma, you were never suppose to be
here. You're putting your life in danger.
Gemma backs away from Raphael and heads to the console he was working on. But when she gets close she hits the energy field.
RAPHAEL (cont'd)
Please stop.
GEMMA
You're trying to break into the Eitorian
Defense Net. Why? What are you trying to
steal?
Gemma turns to Raphael.
GEMMA (cont'd)
Who in the bloody hell are you?
RAPHAEL
Okay, take it easy. I'll show you.
Raphael types a few commands in the device on his hand. And an image of another person forms around him. The image lasts only for a moment. It's the SOLDIER Gemma saved that many years ago.
EXT. BATTLEFIELD DESERT, FLAT LANDS - FLASHBACK
Gemma approaches the wounded soldier. He's Raphael.
INT. ADVANCED LAB
GEMMA
You! How are you here? This is a closed
network. And it's way beyond Stronglandian
technology.
RAPHAEL
Please believe me. I never wanted you
involved. Never wanted to hurt you.
Raphael steps closer to her, but Gemma takes a step back.
RAPHAEL (cont'd)
At first I just wanted to meet the woman who
saved my life. I never thought I'll fall in
love with you.
GEMMA
Love? You lied to me.
RAPHAEL
I didn't lie to you Gemma. I wanted to tell
you who I really am, but I couldn't.
The console beeps. They both look there and see "DOWNLOAD COMPLETE".
Suddenly Gemma kicks Raphael in the chest sending him hurtling back. With another swift kick she dislodges the CONTROL DEVICE he had from his hand.
RAPHAEL (cont'd)
No please.
But Gemma acquires the control device and deactivates the field around the console. She sprints to it. Raphael catches up and tries to hold her back, but she elbows him in the face.
Gemma unhooks a STORAGE DEVICE from the console.
GEMMA
You're not getting this.
RAPHAEL
Gemma, listen to me. The data in these files
will change everything we know about our two
nations.
Suddenly, drones materialize out of nowhere. That moment of distraction is enough for Raphael to snatch the control device from Gemma. He shoves her behind another machine in the lab.
RAPHAEL (cont'd)
Hide.
GEMMA
Get away from me.
Gemma pushes Raphael away and rushes out into the open space.
The drones detect and scan her. Raphael hurries to her side.
RAPHAEL
Great. You just painted a target on your
back.
GEMMA
I'll tell them the truth.
RAPHAEL
Do you really think they'll care? Do you?
Especially when they realize who we are to
each other?
Gemma looks at Raphael as she realizes the gravity of her dilemma.
RAPHAEL (cont'd)
I have to get you out of here.
The drones circle them. Raphael taps a few commands on his control device and presses the execute button. The device explodes forcefully.
Everything goes white.
INT. GEMMA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Gemma exits the EN. She snatches the VR goggles off her head and throws them on her desk.
On her 3D screen a folder icon rotates slowly, below it: "DOWNLOAD COMPLETE".
Her mobile phone rings. It's an unknown number.
GEMMA
(carefully)
Hello.
RAPHAEL
Gemma, they're coming for you.
Rapid knocks sound on her door.
OFFICER (O.C.)
Gemma, open up. It's James.
RAPHAEL
Don't trust him. Take the file and leave.
The knocks get louder.
JAMES (O.C.)
Open up.
RAPHAEL
(pleading)
Do it now. Please. I'll find you.
Gemma swipes the folder from her computer to the mobile device and heads to the window. With the first few steps she holds her side in pain. But she overcomes her pain and continues on.
At the window, she looks down at a ledge which runs across the tenth floor of her apartment building. She takes a deep breath and steps out.
JAMES breaks the door open and walks inside, gun ready. He goes to the computer and examines Gemma's VR goggles.
JAMES
Oh, Gemma. You crossed the line.
(in ear piece)
Start tracking procedures.