“T’WAS BETTER IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS”
Multinational Tech-Billionaires and Totalitarian Authorities are overseeing the destruction of the human experience…
FADE IN:
INT. GRAY, DRAB ROOM – DAY
A MAN tries to Play a Musical Instrument. A man in suit and dark sunglasses, known as AUTHORITY, takes away instrument. Hands MAN a gray box with a red Music button.
A MAN tries to Write a Poem. AUTHORITY steps over and hands MAN another gray box.
AUTHORITY: Hit button. Box will create a poem for you.
A MAN: I’m going to go outside and Read this Book under a shady tree.
MAN starts to leave room. AUTHORITY grabs book.
A MAN: Let me guess…
AUTHORITY hands MAN gray box with monitor.
AUTHORITY: Reduces paper. Good for environment.
MAN tries to Plant a Flower on his bathroom windowsill.
AUTHORITY: Sorry… no more seeds.
AUTHORITY hands MAN a plastic flower.
AUTHORITY: It will last longer. And… it’s pretty.
MAN tries to Walk his Dog outside on the sidewalk.
AUTHORITY: Er, sorry sir, that’s been determined as too messy. Here…
AUTHORITY confiscates dog. Hands MAN leash with Robot Dog. Robot Dog “Poops” nuts and bolts.
A MAN tries to Pay Food Delivery Guy in Cash. AUTHORITY steps in and points to Card Only sign.
A MAN tries to Calculate Math in his Head. AUTHORITY stops him. Hands him Gray Box.
MAN TO HIMSELF: This has got to change.
A MAN tries to Vote. Sees voting booth with curtain. AUTHORITY smiles and points.
AUTHORITY: You’re Democracy at work here.
MAN hits Blue Button. AUTHORITY behind booth holds up output with words “Corporate Candidate”. A WOMAN walks up to booth and presses Red Button. AUTHORITY behind booth holds up new output with words “Corporate Candidate”. ANOTHER MAN tries to outfox results.
ANOTHER MAN (magnanimously): I’ll vote on paper!
AUTHORITY: As you wish.
ANOTHER MAN writes down None of the Above and stuffs paper in paper box. He smugly crosses his hands.
His slip of paper come out the other end… reads “Corporate Candidate”. AUTHORITIES smile. ANOTHER MAN stands rejected.
And Finally….
MAN tries to leave his house.
NEIGHBORS: Shame, Shame! You Must Go Back Inside… YOU MUST!
AUTHORITY steps in.
AUTHORITY: There is a Germ out there. For your own well-being, and others, you must quarantine yourself.
MAN: But I feel fine. The air is so refreshing.
NEIGHBORS: Shame! Shame!
AUTHORITIES wave their fingers at MAN and escort him back inside, handing him a Gray Box with a Monitor, and a special gummy bear, as a pacifying replacement.
AUTHORITY: Do some binge watching instead. It’s much more FUN.
MAN is undeterred.. Waits until nightfall. Exits his room. Sees no one. He escapes.
At daylight, MAN is seen gleefully running through field of flowers near a flowing brook.
MAN cheerfully announces to the world.
MAN: I’m FREE, I’m Really FREE! Now I can do what I used to be able to do on my own, Like Back in the Good Ol’ Days.
Panning away we see MAN is merely in an artificial Blue Screen generated environment. He is still inside. AUTHORITIES are in the other room, watching the MAN on a monitor. They look at each other and smile.