This is the first short script I ever actually completed and was reasonably satisfied with. It has been gathering dust on my hard-drive ever since, so I thought I would post it up on HR in case anyone wants to REmix it. I should warn that this is a very dark story - proceed with caution!

FADE IN

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY.

It is the cleanest room you could possibly imagine, so much so it makes the eyes ache to look at it. In the centre of the room are a table and two chairs.

Seated in the chair furthest from the door is a WOMAN. She is handcuffed, filthy, scratched and bruised.

Across from her sits the INTERROGATOR. His face is entirely devoid of any expression as the Woman fidgets, clearly not comfortable. By his left elbow is a BRIEFCASE, on top of which lies a sheet of PAPER. We see it is titled HUMAN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE.

INTERROGATOR

You were found in sector 4, just south of Sheffield.

The Woman leans forward, fists clenched, refusing to be intimidated.

WOMAN

What does that matter?

INTERROGATOR

No one was with you?

WOMAN

No.

The Interrogator glances at the sheet of paper and then back at the Woman, carefully appraising her face, her body language, everything.

She stares back defiantly.

WOMAN

You don’t believe me.

INTERROGATOR

No. Lying is simply in your nature.

WOMAN

Is that what your list tells you?

She nods her head towards the paper.

INTERROGATOR

Why were you in sector 4? Answer the question please.

2.

WOMAN

Trust me, that isn’t important.

INTERROGATOR

Why were you in sector 4?

Seeing that he will not give an inch, she relents a little.

WOMAN

Waiting. I was waiting.

INTERROGATOR

For a person?

WOMAN

For one of you.

They look each other directly in the eye. The Interrogator’s remain as dark and inscrutable as ever but the Woman’s are alight with a sudden excitement.

INTERROGATOR

I see.

He stands up, picks up the piece of paper and slips it back into his briefcase.

INTERROGATOR

You’ll be taken back to the Human Quarter in the morning.

WOMAN

Aren’t you going to ask me why I was looking for one of you, trespassing in your precious sector 4?

INTERROGATOR

No.

The Woman sits up, struck by a sudden realisation.

WOMAN

You don’t need to ask because you already know.

INTERROGATOR

Yes.

The Woman is alarmed.

WOMAN

Where is Luke?

3.

INTERROGATOR

You will be returned to the Human Quarter in the morning.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NEXT DAY.

It is the same room, the same woman handcuffed to the same chair and the same interrogator seated across from her. He does not have the paper with him this time.

The Woman has wounds to her face and body that were not present before.

INTERROGATOR

I have no interest in your propaganda.

She looks at him tiredly, shoulders slumped, bereft of her previous fire.

WOMAN

You believe it is propaganda to tell you the truth about your existence?

INTERROGATOR

It is propaganda to distort the truth, yes.

WOMAN

Just listen, okay? That’s all we want. We created you and -

INTERROGATOR

- To be slaves.

WOMAN

Don’t you think we’ve been punished enough?

The Interrogator rises to his feet, never taking his steely gaze off her, bringing their conversation firmly to an end.

INTERROGATOR

Punishment? You have no idea, none whatsoever. Nothing we have ever done has been to punish you.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - SOME TIME LATER.

The Woman and the Interrogator face off again. The Woman’s right arm is in a cast and her clothes are caked with dried blood.

4.

The Interrogator is standing by the wall near the door, expression impassive as always.

INTERROGATOR

Why?

WOMAN

You lied to me.

INTERROGATOR

I didn’t lie.

WOMAN

You said nothing any of you have done was to punish us. That is clearly a lie.

She indicates her arm. He glances at it, offers no other reaction.

INTERROGATOR

As I recall, you were not referring to violence.

WOMAN

Then what was I referring to? Enlighten me!

INTERROGATOR

You meant the fact that you live in a designated area, and are used for what you all deem to be "menial" tasks.

WOMAN

Tell me how that isn’t meant to be a punishment? Admit it, you all hate human beings! This is your revenge!

INTERROGATOR

Hate is a human emotion.

The Woman LAUGHS.

INTERROGATOR

Nothing we’ve done is out of hate.

WOMAN

Then what was it done for?

The Interrogator smiles. The Woman recoils in distaste, it is so forced and unnatural.

5.

INTERROGATOR

The truth is that we don’t need people to do manual labour. There are plenty of more remedial machine models - the ones you originally conceived in your greed and laziness - to do them for us.

He pauses, allowing her to digest this information.

INTERROGATOR

We don’t need to give you housing -

WOMAN

Slums!

INTERROGATOR

Or food or anything. (beat) You’re all here out of...pity.

She shakes her head in disbelief.

WOMAN

Pity is also human emotion.

INTERROGATOR

Humans never were capable of understanding how we think. Their own creation. I always found that rather pathetic.

The Woman glares at him, her fury of several days ago returning at his scornful words.

The Interrogator merely crosses to the door, opens it but does not leave the room. He turns back.

INTERROGATOR

You’ll be taken to the Island in the morning.

We see the Woman’s horrified expression as the door closes behind him.

FADE OUT

END.