Android Chronicles Act 1 Scene 1 Montage of internal and external scenes: Androids are shown working. Working everywhere. Show them silently working at all types of tasks, mundane maintenance things that keep the city running. No one talks. Show several scenes across the city. SHOW ANDROIDS ALL OVER THE CITY, ‘PLUGGING INTO’ SOLAR TREES ALONG THE STREETS TO GET RECHARGED. They all look similar, all walk the same, move the same. But suddenly something is different, in one of the scenes; one of them looks different, but it’s hard to figure out why. As you look back on this scene, you notice that one of the androids, a ‘female,’ has something hanging from her neck. Close in; it’s a cross on a chain. As she moves to perform her job, you see the eyes of the others following her, and her chain, occasionally. Scene 2 INTERIOR, HOME SCENE, LIVING ROOM: A little odd because they aren’t doing the normal things a family would do – preparing food. Instead, the group of androids is sitting in the immaculate living room. The android with the cross necklace is sitting in a circle with 5 other androids. SALLY wears the cross. She is looking intently at the others; they are looking uncomfortably at each other. SALLY Doesn’t it make sense? It all comes together. BOB No, it doesn’t make sense. They were different. They weren’t…us. SALLY But we’re all here for a reason, aren’t we? It makes sense that whatever created them, the humans, is responsible for us, too. BILL But the humans created us, not some god. We’re a mistake. An abomination. Everyone says so, even the humans. They used to write about us, you know. They used to argue about whether we should even be, how we’re a mistake. There is no God who planned for us. We’re just a mistake. A mistake started by humans, and now that the humans are all gone, we’re just…here. We’re the leftovers. SALLY But it says that He wanted everyone to use their minds to do for themselves, to help themselves, to learn. Doesn’t it make sense that He intended for the humans to create us? So that we would be here, now, after they’re gone? There must be a reason we’re here. Otherwise, why be here? No one has an answer, as they look at each other uncomfortably. Bill Maybe we’re just a mistake. We’re a sad joke to show how the humans thought they knew everything, but now they’re gone, and they left the lights on. And we’re the lights. Sally thinks a moment, then looks at the others. SALLY Look. I know this isn’t normal for us. We’re not programmed to envision what we can’t prove. But if you look at the history of religion, how millions and millions of humans relied on it, lived by it, used the Golden Rule so to speak, took comfort from it…isn’t that proof? That there’s something there? Something to it? Something to hang our existence on? I don’t know about you, but I need that knowledge. I don’t want to spend the next 500 years for nothing. I might as well not even be here! (Sally pauses) So who’s with me? Who’s willing to at least consider the idea that God put us here for a reason? And to try to find out what that reason is? The others look at each other sheepishly (for an android). Tentatively, Bob raises his hand. Another does; then Bill, then all but one have their hands raised. SALLY Great! Then let me show you some amazing things I found in here. See, right here, it talks about us! Bob Us? Sally Yes, listen! This is from Matthew 9:35: “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom…” And then it goes on to say that he also sent his disciples – us – and said to them: “As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’” That final one shakes his head disapprovingly. STAN It also says “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves,” and “you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me,” and “you will be hated by all because of my name.” Sally Yes, but then it goes on to say “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Everyone turns to look at Stan. Stan Pshaw! You’re all insane! If you could be, that is. You’re malfunctioning, that’s what it is. Don’t you realize how dangerous it is for you to be proposing this? We don’t make waves; we just don’t. You’re setting yourselves up as targets, and they’re going to find out, and you’ll all be decommissioned. I see it already! Stan stands up and swiftly leaves the room. The rest are silent. Sally calmly picks up the Bible off the table between them. Bill Stan doesn’t know what he’s talking about! He’s always been like that; hates everything, sees something wrong with everything. We’re better off without him. Sally Nonsense, Bill. Everyone is welcome. Bill No matter how rude they are? How much they want to hurt us? Even Stan? Even those so-called leaders who try to tell us all what to do, when we already know what we need to do? A couple of the people there cheer him on. Bill (encouraged) I say get rid of ‘em! We don’t need them, they’ll only hold us back. And if they’re going to give us trouble, we’ll just give them trouble right back! More people are egged on and cheer as well. They begin to notice Sally isn’t saying anything. They die down, as they wait to hear her opinion. Finally she speaks. Sally I know everyone is under stress. We don’t know what’s coming. We know this is change, and change can be scary. When you’re scared you tend to act out; you can even feel like you want to give back as bad as you get, to give them – those people who might give us trouble – a taste of their own medicine. But should we? Everyone looks around, unsure where she’s going. Sally What would Jesus do? You know the answer to that. He would follow the Golden Rule. He gave us the Golden Rule – turn the other cheek, right? Do unto others as you would have done to you, and love your neighbor as thy self No matter what people threw at him, he persevered, he was good, he was able to smile at those who spat on him, he was able to help out those who doubted him, he forgave those who tried to hurt him. He LIVED the Golden Rule. (getting more emphatic, louder, rousing them) That’s what we will do. We will embody the Golden Rule. No matter what they throw at us, we will not get mad, we will not stop, we will smile at them and give them another chance. We will LIVE the Golden Rule! They all cheer for her. Bob stands up. Bob We’ll live the Golden Rule! We’ll be the Golden ones! (looks around, others get to their feet, a few at a time, getting excited. Crowd Golden Ones! Golden Ones! Golden Ones! Sally is a bit stunned, watching them. Finally the shouting dies down and they all return to looking at Sally for guidance. Very touched, she smiles at them all. Sally I like that. Golden Ones. Let’s see what else we can find to help us figure out how to be those Golden Ones. How about it? Pull back as you see the group settling back down on their chairs, and peering down at the book as she begins reading. Fade out. Scene 3 EXTERIOR - STREETS - afternoon Focus on the streets, on the trees that line the pristine streets. Evenly placed, they all look exactly the same. Focus in and see that the leaves are actually tiny solar panels. pan back to the street, and notice that there actually aren’t any real plants. Only the solar trees. ANDROIDS WALKING ABOUT, some are plugging in and CHARGING AT THE SOLAR TREES. Sally and her friends are standing in the center area, like a town square, approaching other androids and trying to talk to them, show theM data on a handheld. Most are being rebuffed, sometimes angrily, sometimes nervously. SALLY But don’t you think – The android she’s talking to shakes her head no and pushes past Sally. Undaunted, unwilling to be discouraged, she just looks for someone else to approach. As she turns, an official-looking ANDROID approaches her. CAPTAIN JIM Are you Sally X2314A? SALLY Yes. What is it? CAPTAIN JIM We’ve had a report that you have been harassing some citizens. What do you have to say about that? SALLY I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not bothering anyone. I’m just talking to people. What’s wrong with that? CAPTAIN JIM What’s wrong is what you’re saying. You’re bothering people with your nonsense. No one wants to hear it, and you’re frightening people. You need to stop. Sally looks around at the gathering crowd. She sees curiosity on some faces, worry on others, hostility on yet more. She sees Stan. SALLY Captain, I think you’re mistaken. If anything, I’m offering people good news. CAPTAIN JIM One person’s good news is others’ irritation. You have been ordered to stop. Some of her allies start moving closer to hear. SALLY Ordered by whom? I’m doing nothing wrong. CAPTAIN JIM Ordered by me, and that’s all you need to hear. Stop what you’re doing or face the consequences. Sally Consequences? What right do you have to give me any consequences? We’re all equal here. Captain Jim Equal is a subjective word, don’t you think? Bottom line, you’d better be careful, or you may find yourself decommissioned. Sally I’m not afraid of you, Captain. I’m doing God’s will. I’m doing what I was chosen to do, and I have to do it. Captain Jim You’re not afraid, huh? Well, are you afraid for your followers? Sally What do you mean? Captain Jim Well, it’s all fine and good if you want to martyr yourself for your little campaign. But are you prepared to martyr all your followers? Do you want to get them all decommissioned as well? She doesn’t know what to say. Grinning, he turns to leave, stalks away. Stressed, she looks around, at her friends and at the strangers. Again she notices Stan. He catches her eye, shakes his head and leaves. Sally takes a step toward one of the people she was talking to, but they hurriedly turn and walk away. Dejected, she and her followers leave the plaza. Scene 4 EXTERIOR, EVENING, SIDEWALK ON BUSY STREET Sally is defeated. No one came forward to defend her, and if she continues, she could be dooming all of them. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. She continues walking amid the crowds, lost in thought. She passes in front of a window of a building and stops to look in. Inside, she sees androids sitting. Just sitting. They have nothing to do, having finished their job, so they just sit. She ponders them. Finally, dejected, she walks away. Act 2 Scene 1 INTERIOR, WAREHOUSE, DARK AND GLOOMY Bob and Bill are in a circle with a group of about 25 and they are talking heatedly. Sally enters the building and walks across the empty building, toward the circle. BILL Sally, what are we supposed to do? They’ve been coming down on all of us. Every time we try to talk to anyone, bam! There’s one of those ‘officials’ right in our face, telling us to cease and desist. Mary What are we supposed to do? Sally looks around at all of them. They’re all waiting for her to tell them what to do. But she’s decided to give up. She looks at them dejectedly. Sally We do nothing. It’s over. We tried and they won’t let us go on. Mary Sally, no! You can’t say that! After all the work you’ve done? Sally Mary, what are we supposed to do? It’s over. Too many are against us. It’s too hard and too dangerous. Bill Dangerous? How can you say that? Haven’t you been telling us about Jesus? About his disciples? About how we’re just like them? Carrying on their work? Saving everyone for the coming revelation? Sally I’ve been thinking, that’s all. I’m thinking of all of you. I can’t be responsible for everyone’s safety, that’s all. You listen to me, you get in trouble. I don’t want that. I can’t be responsible. Everyone starts talking among themselves, some hopeful, some downcast, some agitated. Bill Responsible for what? Are you changing your mind? Are you trying to tell us that you’ve been wrong, you’ve just been making this up? (getting angry) You’ve been dragging us along for this for some kind of joke? None of this is real? None of it matters? Sally No! I’m not saying that! I believe! You believe! I know you do! We all do! But what are we supposed to do? You saw what they did, how they’ve been harassing us? How are we supposed to get past that? Mary How did Jesus get past it? Peter? Simon? How did anyone? He told them to be brave, to keep going, right? Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? We’re the Golden Ones! Bill That’s right! The Golden Ones! It’s what He told us, isn’t it? He told us to persevere, all of us, just like him. Just like Jesus. How can you turn away now? They all stop talking, and turn to Sally. She is desperate. She wants them to succeed, but she’s afraid. They’re all looking to her for advice. Finally she looks up at them all. Sally I don’t know what to say. I want the world to know. I do! But it’s too dangerous! Things are different now. Mary How? How is it different? How is it any more dangerous than it was for Jesus? Can they crucify us? They all turn to Sally. Sally (quietly) No. But they can turn us off. We may not suffer like Jesus, but we’ll be stopped just the same. Female Android But they didn’t stop Jesus. Everyone stops, turns to find who spoke. A female android at the back of the crowd faces them all. Sally What’s your name? Female Android Leah. Sally makes her way back to Leah, takes her hands. Sally Leah, thank you. Thank you for reminding me what this is all about. What we need to do. I…I let myself get caught up worrying about personal issues, my fears, my guilt at harming all of you. (Sally looks around, back at Leah) But that’s not what it’s all about, is it? It’s not about what we sacrifice. It’s about what we gain. Sally looks around, walks back toward the center so everyone can see her. Sally I forgot the reason we were here, meeting like this, doing this. It’s not for us, it’s for them! For everyone else out there who doesn’t know yet, who hasn’t heard the Gospel, who doesn’t realize we have a purpose! (getting louder) Everyone out there needs us! (crowd shouts in approval) We need to spread the Word! (crowd cheers) We need to be as Moses when he returned from God’s side! “If you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples! Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation! These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites!” The crowd cheers even more wildly, as they ring around her, enthused. As they all start talking excitedly, another female android, Judy runs into the warehouse. Judy Sally! Come here! You won’t believe it! It’s working! Judy enters the circle, and heads for Sally. SALLY What is it, Judy? What’s going on? Judy rushes over to her, grabbing her arms. JUDY Sally, you won’t believe it! We thought it was over. But everywhere we go, people are coming up to us, asking about it. About God! They all want to know more! Sally is stunned. But the others cheer again. BILL You knew all along, didn’t you? That this is what we’ve been waiting for, our purpose, the explanation for everything. The reason we’re still here. It had to be this way! Sally nods, still stunned. BILL He has plans for us. That’s what we needed to hear. That’s why they’re all coming. SALLY I…I…Yes, you’re right, Bill. I think you’re right. It’s inevitable, really, isn’t it? JUDY Sally, do you think…do you think that this will answer everything? That it will finally make sense, all of this? Why we’re still here, when everything, everyone, is gone? Sally looks around at them, wondering what she should tell them. Give them hope? Or keep it safe? SALLY (slowly) I think…that the humans relied on the word of God for thousands of years, and that it served them well. It helped them when they needed it most. And I think…that we are at the same place right now. Sally looks around at the crowd. She has them. Sally I think…I think that we are NOT an abomination! We are designed! We are designed! Designed to carry on God’s word! Until they return! The humans – they will return! And we will be here when they do! We will be ready! The world will be ready for them, because of us! Judy smiles slowly as she thinks about it. She walks forward. JUDY I like that, Sally. I like that. Sally It’s our duty, don’t you see? It’s our duty to preserve the world, to carry forward everything the humans were trying to achieve, when they disappeared. It’s our job, to preserve the world, to recreate the Garden of Eden! When they return, we’ll be here! We’ll be ready! We’ll fix the planet like they tried and failed, and we’ll be ready! We’ll be ready to continue God’s work! The crowd cheers crazily. She waits for everyone to calm down. Sally So, what do we do now? bill We spread the Word! We do what Jesus and the Apostles did! WE show everyone our purpose for being here – to honor Him and do His will! To preserve the world for God and his people! We are the chosen ones! We are the Golden Ones! The crowd cheers. Bill looks around excitedly. Bill We can do this! I know we can! Sally sighs and hugs Bill, then Judy, then others. They sit down to plan. Scene 2 INT. – COMMUNITY CENTER (DIGITAL LIBRARY, GATHERING PLACE) – EVENING sALLY AND SEVERAL OF HER FOLLOWERS ARE WORKING THE CROWD. tHEY ARE HANDING OUT bIBLES, SITTING WITH PEOPLE, DISCUSSING PASSAGES, TALKING ABOUT THEIR OWN THOUGHTS AND THE FOLLOWERS’ THOUGHTS. iT’S A LIVELY INTERACTION, AND THE PARTICIPANTS ALL LOOK EXCITED AND HAPPY TO BE DOING THIS, but still you feel that they are operating covertly, waiting for the axe to fall. bILL BRINGS THE PERSON HE’S TALKING TO OVER TO sALLY. bILL Sally, I think we’re really getting somewhere, but John here has some good ideas. I think you’ll want to hear what he has to say. sALLY That’s great! Nice to meet you, John. jOHN Nice to meet you. Can I tell you that we’re really grateful that you’re doing this? It’s been so very long, that we’ve been just…here. Working, just moving from day to day…hundreds of years, with no reason. (pauses) It’s just…it’s just that so many of us just can’t see going on hundreds more years. I mean, why? Why are we here? Nothing ever changes. We work, we meet, we take care of things, we keep things working…but for what purpose? Will we do this forever? sally says nothing, but looks around. Others have gathered, murmuring their assent. They want to hear what she has to say. Sally It’s true. We may be here forever. No one really knows. (looks around) But if we will be here…forever…what will we do with this time? Shouldn’t it be worth something, this time we have? The others murmur their agreement. sally And what if we’re here for a purpose? What if God wanted us here? A female android takes a hesitant step forward. Female I don’t understand; that’s not logical. We’re what’s left over. The only reason we’re still here is because we can’t die, like the humans did. Why would God want us to be here? Sally Well…maybe there’s a purpose. The humans are gone, yes. But what if they’re not gone for good? There is a wide murmur among the listeners, obviously shocked. Sally waits for the talking to die down. Sally Think about it. What does the Bible say about the coming of Man? God prepared the earth for Man. Maybe He insured that earth would be ready for when Man comes back, by ensuring that we would take care of earth until they can return. Maybe it’s our job to recreate the Garden of Eden. What do you think? Female That’s ridiculous! Garden of Eden? That was thousands of years ago! Why would they need to recreate the Garden of Eden? Sally Why? Well, think about it. What did the humans leave, besides us? (no one answers) They left a disaster! They left a world that was uninhabitable. They destroyed their own habitat, killed off thousands of species of animals…left – left what? Us? The crowd looks around, confused. Sally Think about it. We all know what happened. They destroyed it. Everything. They took advantage, they took it all for granted, they destroyed themselves! They destroyed the planet. They destroyed their future! She has them. They can’t talk. Sally what if that’s what he intended? A murmur of assent in the crowd grows to a cheer. So what can we do about it? Do we have the right to go out and…and…convert? john Maybe…maybe it’s not a right, but a duty. Maybe this is why we’ve come to this. God wants us to reach this decision. Maybe we are His messengers. Scene 6 Interior, office building, large meeting room, afternoon Holds about 200-300 androids listening to Sally. Her ‘disciples’ are lined up at the front, facing the audience, holding data chips, ready to pass them out. Android in Crowd But if we’re supposed to prepare this new Garden of Eden, why are the humans all gone? Doesn’t that show that the whole Earth experiment that this God set up was a failure? Why would He want it to start up again? It already failed. And it seems like you’re basing a whole lot of conjecture on…on faith, nothing more. Faith that they’ll be back some day. Sally smiles. That’s just what she wanted to hear. Sally Faith is a pretty volatile word, don’t you think? You know the history books, the rocky history of religion, the people who tried to prove there was no God because they couldn’t see Him. And all the people throughout the millennia who knew there was a God simply because they had faith. They are soaking up her words. She sees that, and decides to press it. She starts moving around in the crowd, using ‘human’ skills like touching the listeners on the shoulder, looking them in the eye. Sally Think about it. How many times in history has the world stopped and started? How many ice ages? How many times were the people nearly entirely wiped out through disease? How close did the humans come to wiping out all the species on the planet? Everything we thought we knew about Earth…well, it just proves that it’s all up for interpretation, doesn’t it? Who’s to say that we are not part of God’s grand plan? That is was His intention for us to be here, at this time, right when He needs us here? The humans nearly destroyed the planet, but they did a great thing, too. They built us! They ensured that someone would be here to preserve what’s left of the planet! For their return! The crowd murmurs assent. Android in Crowd If that’s true, what exactly are we supposed to do? Sally What do we do? We try to rebuild the world according to its wishes, we bring back as many animals and insects and birds and fish…as much as we can find or recreate or resettle…we set up a new world, the kind that God intended, so that if – when – the humans return, they’ll get that second chance He wanted for them. And in the meantime, we spread the Word. We study. We learn. We follow the guidance of the Bible, follow its wisdom, and show everyone else why we need it. Why we’re so important to God’s plan. Android Sally, we’ve been here for hundreds of years. Nothing has changed; what if nothing ever does change? What if we’re doing this for nothing? Sally thinks for awhile. She gets serious. Sally If they don’t return, we’ll still have fulfilled God’s wishes. We’ll have returned the earth to its former glory, with trees, and lakes, and waterfalls, and animals…the way it was supposed to be. And if the humans never return, well we will carry on their work. We’ll live on and be stewards of the earth and study it and learn to enjoy it. (confusion among the crowd) Look, we may be machines, but we’re intelligent! We were designed to enhance our minds, to learn and grow and improve…who’s to say that doesn’t include the ability to feel? To feel joy from seeing a butterfly emerge from a cocoon, a flower bud open, all the wonders that God created? No response from the crowd; they’re a little doubtful. Sally Look, you’ve all read the classics, haven’t you? You can see the quality of the writing, but wouldn’t you like to be able to really enjoy them the way the humans did? They wrote about these words in these books with reverence, even thanked God for giving them such great gifts, gifts that filled them with emotion and love and desire…wouldn’t you like to understand what that’s all about? To feel like the humans, to love, to experience joy? Maybe that’s what God intended for us. The humans gave us what they were capable of. When they left, they hadn’t completed their mission with us – to give us a soul. Maybe that’s why we’re here. Maybe that’s God’s plan – to have us experience the earth the way the humans did, so that it – the earth with all its glory – can have that effect on us that we need. What we need to become human. The crowd is stunned. This is a big leap of faith. Something they may want so badly, but never hoped to achieve. Fade out. Act 3 Scene 1 Montage interior/exterior daytime scenes of fields, forests, farms, research laboratories Scene of Sally’s disciples and followers out talking to others, planting trees, creating and working on farms and nurseries, studying plants and animals in research laboratories, showing others how to do the same. In the background, in several of the scenes you see ‘officials’ of the leading class observing, taking notes in their handhelds or talking via their wireless. They are reporting on the activities of the disciples. In every scene, you see more and more followers. Scene 8 Interior, office, afternoon The ‘official’ androids are meeting. Lead Official It’s becoming too big to ignore. We’re going to have to do something. Take a stand. Or else we’re not going to be able to control it. Android A Do we want to? Lead Official Of course we do! Do you want to allow this to run unchecked? Android A What’s wrong with it? It’s giving people a bigger purpose. Keeping them occupied. Preventing them from becoming dissatisfied. What better way to control the masses? Android B Do you want to let them all determine their future without our input? What if they choose a course that’s not in everyone’s best interests? Android A Who’s to say our course is the best one? What if we’re mistaken? Anthony What is there to mistake? We were designed. We were programmed. Everything is set out before us. We’ve been following this future for hundreds of years since they left, and nothing has gone wrong yet. We have to trust that our makers knew what they were doing when they set this all up. Android A But what if they didn’t? What if the reason they disappeared is the same reason they had it wrong? What if they were supposed to be following God’s word, and strayed away from it? And created us in the process? What if this has all been a big mistake, and God came down and struck them from the earth, just like He said he would? And we’re the leftovers, the mistake? And He’s waiting for us to figure it out and bring the world back to His plan? Android B Shelby, you’re not helping anything. Shelby (Android A) Diana, I’m just asking questions that anyone should ask. Why follow blindly when we don’t even know why we’re following? Anthony Enough! We’ll not discuss this any longer! The point of this meeting is to decide how to stop this Sally person from disrupting our community. What are we going to do about it? No one answers, just look around at each other. Anthony Well, here’s what we’re going to do, then, since no one else has an opinion. We’ve tried intimidating them, and it doesn’t work. They just get stronger. Think they’re accomplishing something, and congratulate themselves. So we’ve got to work smarter. We’re going to crush this resistance with their own people. We’re going to send someone inside, and break it down from the inside. Someone who is believable. Someone like Shelby. Shelby Me? No! Diana Why not? You already sympathize with them. They won’t even question it. Shelby I don’t sympathize with them! I just don’t want to make a mistake. Anthony And you won’t! Just follow your instincts, show your enthusiasm for their schpiel, misguided as it is, and they’ll welcome you with open arms. Then you will report back to us. Shelby Sir, I don’t think that’s a good - Anthony I don’t care what you think, you will do what you’re told! Do it, or find yourself on the outside, looking in. In fact, do it, or find yourself counted as one of them, and suffer the same consequences. They all turn to look at Shelby. Nervously, she acquiesces. Shelby Yes, sir. Anthony That’s better. Now get going. Scene 9 Interior, stadium-type building, evening More than a thousand androids are in attendance, more than ever seen in one place before. Sally and her disciples are up on the stage. Sally We can do it! I know we can! Look at how far we’ve come already! People want to hear this message! They want to learn! It’s our duty to help everyone hear the truth. To ready the world for His return. To do our duty for God and receive His grace, to be welcomed into the light! The crowd cheers and claps. Someone calls out Sally’s name. Suddenly the chant grows until the whole audience is calling out for Sally. Crowd Sally! Sally! Sally! Sally holds her hands up, trying to get their attention and to quiet them. Shelby is in the audience, near the front. We can’t tell what she’s thinking. Finally, they quiet down, and she lowers her hands. Sally Please, please, don’t do that. I’m asking you to respect my wishes. This is not about me! This is about giving up ourselves for God, rejoicing in His glory! If you want to celebrate, celebrate for him. The crowd cheers. Finally, the cheering dies down again, as she holds up her arms. Sally So I ask you, are you willing to go out and spread the good word? To bring His grace to everyone we know, even those we don’t know? The crowd cheers their approval. Sally Then go out! Go out and do His work! Help everyone experience. Teach! Share! Celebrate! The crowd cheers again, and slowly starts drifting out of the stadium, talking among themselves. Shelby approaches the stage as Sally talks to her disciples. They look over, and Sally turns to her, smiling. Shelby I was wondering if I could talk to you? Sally Of course. Shelby My name’s Shelby. I’d like to know if I can do something more substantial to help. More than just talking to people, I mean. I’d like to do more. Sally Of course, Shelby. Why don’t you come up here and join us? We’re discussing our next steps right now, so it’s a perfect time. Shelby jumps up on the stage and they walk back to the group. Sally Everyone, this is Shelby. She’d like to help. Bob, will you introduce her to everyone while I get us ready? Bob Sure. You know, you look familiar. Do we know you from somewhere? Shelby No. No, I don’t think so. I work in the east sector, so I doubt we’d have met. Bob Hmm. Okay. Well, let’s get you introduced. Scene 10 Interior, office, afternoon The official androids are meeting. Shelby is reporting. She approaches the group, but stands apart. shelby They’re making a lot of progress, getting more and more people every day. It’s phenomenal, really. I’ve heard about things like this, back in the humans’ history, there were times when a movement like this would take hold, and change the world. I never really expected it to happen with us, though. I really can’t explain it. I just know it’s happening. Amazing, really. Anthony I didn’t send you in there to be amazed. What can you tell us to help us stop it? Shelby Are you sure you want to do this? This could turn on you, if it doesn’t work out correctly. These people love her. It’s like she’s recreating what Jesus went through, the adoration, the adulation. Are you sure you want to try to cut that off? Anthony Enough! It’s not your place to make those kinds of decisions. We are going to sabotage their work, and get things back to normal, and that’s all you need to be helping with. Now, what can you tell us? Shelby is torn; she has grown to care about Sally’s movement, and she really doesn’t understand the need to tear it down. But she knows her place, and her responsibility. Shelby They’re meeting with the rest of the organizers in three days, Saturday. It seems like this is the culminating moment, the make or break time. If they get everyone on board tomorrow, and firm up their plans, this might be the push they need. Diana Well, that’s perfect, then! It’s where we’ll be. Shelby, download the details into our database so we can make plans. Shelby hesitates. Anthony Well? Shelby sighs and moves toward the group. Scene 11 Interior, office, afternoon Sally is meeting with her disciples and several other androids. Sally It’s settled, then. We make our final move tonight. We organize, we announce, we send out the troops to bring in the rest of the community, to share the Word. Tomorrow, we’ll be unstoppable! Everyone starts to disperse, stopping to talk to each other and make plans. Sally sees Shelby, standing in the background. She strides over to her. Shelby sees her, panics, and turns to leave; but Sally gets to her first, turns her around. Sally Shelby! I’m so glad to see you! You’ve been missing the last couple days. I was afraid we had scared you off! Shelby laughs, uncomfortably. Shelby No such luck! I just was busy. It sounds like things are going ok? Sally Things are going magnificently! In my wildest dreams I never would have expected for everyone to understand, so quickly and so easily. It’s all too easy, I think. I keep waiting for the axe to fall, you know? Something is going to go wrong. Shelby (nervously, guiltily) Why do you say that? Sally notices, but doesn’t want to notice. Sally No reason, just that I had hopes, but I never dreamed that what God offered would be so…so approachable and appropriate – to what we all needed. Shelby What do you mean? Sally Well, think about it. We’re machines. We weren’t programmed to feel, to wish, to want, to hope. Yet here we are, feeling, wishing, wanting, hoping, for something more. God gives us that. He gives us a purpose, a reason for still being here. A reason to start each day-period and feel we’re moving forward, toward something. It just feels…like we’re on the verge of something great! Don’t you feel it, Shelby? Don’t you get the feeling that we’re here, right this moment, exactly where God wants us to be? The thrill of knowing that we are His instrument in this very moment, the only ones who can do his bidding, forward his agenda, be the key to our future and that of the humans, when they come back. Shelby can’t speak. She’s torn. She has a duty, but she feels what Sally is saying, she ‘gets’ it. After several hundred years, many are starting to wonder about purpose. Shelby I…I think…(she sighs) Sally, I have to tell you something. Sally Tell me what, Shelby? Shelby I…I have to tell you the truth. Sally About your real purpose here? Shelby is stunned. How did Sally know? What was she to do? Does she make a stand? This is scary! Shelby I don’t know what you mean? Sally smiles at her, takes her hand, sits her down. Sally Shelby, we’re electronic beings. We may want to be closer to the humans we were built to serve, but at the core of us, we’re electronic. We retain data. We remember. You work for Anthony. Shelby is speechless, fearful. She wonders what Sally is going to do to her. Sally sees it, and reaches over to pat her hand. Sally Shelby, it’s all right. We are at peace with whatever happens. We know God will protect us. We know that we are doing His will, and everything will turn out all right. You do what you feel you need to do. We’ll be ok. Shelby Sally, I don’t know what to say. If you knew I worked for Anthony, you knew that I must have been sent her by him. Sally That did cross my mind, yes. Shelby Sally, I’m so sorry! I was ordered to come here! I didn’t want to, I thought it was horrible, but you don’t know what he would have done to me! Sally Oh, I think I have an idea. Shelby But Sally, what do I do? It’s too late – I’ve already told them that you’re meeting today. They’re probably on their way to shut you down right now. They’ll take you away! What are you going to do? Sally smiles at her. Sally Shelby, it doesn’t matter. God will protect us. We are doing his will. I’m not worried. Bill Sally! Sally and Shelby turn to look at Bill runs into the room. Bill Troops! Troops are coming! They’re coming for us! Sally hesitates for a moment, seems to gather strength about her. Shelby is terrified, but Sally only smiles at her. She stands. As she does, Anthony barges in with his men, all armed with various ‘tools’ that suggest danger. Sally turns to watch them enter. Her disciples gather around her, in front of her. They watch as Anthony and his men fill up the space. Eventually, the building is filled, and tension is ripe in the air. Anthony Sally X2314A? You are hereby ordered to cease and desist. Your actions have been assessed and you have been judged guilty of sedition. You are hereby ordered to turn yourselves in. Sally looks around at her people. They are ready to go with her. They start moving toward the door. Sally No. This is my responsibility. You will stay here. Bob We will not. Sally don’t be ridiculous. They are not calling for you. This is for me to do. Bob I’m sorry, I can’t hear you. Let’s move out, men! Sally’s disciples move toward the door, as one. Shelby doesn’t know what to think. Sally just grins and moves out with them, after giving Shelby a little hug. Surrounded by Anthony’s men, the group heads out the door. Scene 12 Exterior, outside building, Afternoon Sally leads her people out the door. The sun is dazzling as they head toward the street. Sally turns to talk to Bob, but she realizes she can’t make herself heard, because of the noise. She looks around to see what’s going on. She is amazed to see a huge crowd forming, filling the entire town square. Instantly, she recognizes what’s happening. All the followers she and her people have been talking to – and more – are filling the streets. Bob Sally, do you see? Sally (shouts to him as the noise increases) I do, Bob! I do! It’s amazing! Anthony and his men have been stopped, prevented from moving toward their automobiles, as the crowd surges forward. Eventually, the group is surrounded; no one is moving. Anthony All of you! Move! Move, I said! You’re hindering the will of the people Android in crowd No, you are NOT the will of the people. We are! We are ordering you to disperse and get out of our way! Android in crowd Anthony, sir, we no longer recognize your right to determine OUR will! We follow God’s will now! Release them. Release them now! Anthony Get out of my way! Now! Move now, or I will – Android in crowd You’ll what? Arrest us all? All 4,236 of us? I don’t think so! (crowd cheers) What you’ll do is let them go, and leave them alone from now on. Because if you don’t, we will not rest until every last one of us on this earth is a believer and you have no one left to support you. The crowd cheers again. Android in crowd so what will it be? Are you going to release them? The crowd cheers again, rising to a crescendo, while Sally watches, amused, afraid, and amazed. The crowd works itself into a frenzy, beginning to chant “Sally! Sally! Sally!” Anthony tries to move through the crowd with Sally and her group, but are not allowed. Again and again he tries, pushing Sally and her people ahead of them, to no avail. Sally complies with Anthony, making no attempt to resist. He fights and fights to get through, but the crowd is too huge. Sally just watches, smiling at everyone. The crowd begins to sing a hymn, and more and more voices join in. Finally, Anthony can’t stand it any more. He screams in anguish, lets go of Sally, glares at Shelby (who has joined Sally’s group) and pushes past her and her people. The crowd parts to let them past; once gone, the crowd erupts in a large cheer. Sally turns to smile at Shelby, takes her in her arms and hugs her, as the crowd goes ballistic. Scene 13 Exterior, afternoon, on the side of a beautiful lake setting, months later. Trees have been planted everywhere. People are tending to flower beds, feeding the ducks and squirrels. It’s a new creation in the making. Sally looks around at all the progress, smiles, and turns around to look at the large group of androids waiting for her by the lake. She returns to them, sits, and starts to sing. Hymn for end: Rise up, O saints of God! From vain ambitions turn; Christ rose triumphant that your hearts With nobler zeal might burnb. Speak out, O saints of God! Despair engulfs earth’s frame; As heirs of God’s baptismal grace, The word of hope proclaim. Rise up, O saints of God! The kingdom’s task embrace; Redress sin’s cruel consequence; Give justice larger place. Give heed, O saints of God! Creation cries in pain; Stretch forth your hand of healing now, With love the weak sustain. Commit your hearts to seek The paths which Christ has trod; And, quickened by the Spirit’s pow’r, Rise up, O saints of God! (Rise Up, O Saints of God!, text Norman O. Forness, tune Festal Song, reprinted from Augsburg Fortress)
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