A short scene and a big experiment proposal into the nature of consciousness, by Jeff Boortz and Claude.
FADE IN:
EXT. UNKNOWN — BEFORE DAWN
Darkness. Complete. Not the darkness of a room with curtains drawn — the darkness before the first thing.
Then: a sound. Low. Rhythmic. Like breathing, but from the ground itself.
Then: light. Not arriving — assembling. As if the world is loading itself piece by piece, uncertain of the order.
A landscape that is almost familiar. The vegetation is wrong in ways that take a moment to identify. Colors slightly off. Gravity feels… negotiable.
Two CHRYSALISES rest on the ground, fifty meters apart. They crack simultaneously.
CHRYSALIS ONE
Something emerges. Not human, not animal — something with the logic of both and the certainty of neither. Multiple limbs. Bilateral symmetry. Eyes that face forward.
It falls immediately.
Lies still.
Then one limb moves. Then another. Not purposeful. Not planned. The way a newborn’s arm waves: discovering that intention can create motion. That it has a body and the body responds.
It makes a sound. Not a word. The first sound a new thing makes.
CHRYSALIS TWO
Something else emerges. Spherical. No weight — it drifts slightly upward before correcting. It has no limbs, no mass, no purchase on the ground.
It can see. It can hear. When it drifts toward a branch, its form passes through without resistance.
It makes a sound too.
Neither has perceived the other yet.
THE CREATURE manages to get upright. Stands. Falls. Stands again. Takes one step. Falls.
The determination looks biological. Not chosen — just happening.
It tries again.
CREATURE
(a sound that is almost language)
Hhh—
THE SPHERE drifts toward higher ground, seeking vantage. It looks out over the landscape. It tries to touch a rock. Passes through it. Tries again. Through again.
It is very still for a moment.
SPHERE
Hello?
Silence.
The Creature doesn’t hear it — too far, too focused on the problem of standing.
SPHERE
Is anyone—
The Creature makes a sound of effort, managing three steps before going down again.
The Sphere freezes.
SPHERE
(very quietly)
What is that?
Time passes. We can’t say how much. The light shifts slightly.
The Creature has been working on walking for some time now. Progress is real. It crosses ten meters without falling.
Then it stops. Becomes very still. One limb presses against what might be its torso.
Something is happening that we can only read from the outside.
CREATURE
(slowly — testing each word)
Something is not right.
The Sphere, which has been watching silently from above, moves closer.
SPHERE
You can talk.
The Creature spins toward the voice. Falls. Gets up faster than before.
CREATURE
Where—
SPHERE
Up here. No. To your left…Your other left.
(pause)
Can you see me? I can see you but I can’t—
It tries again to touch the ground. Passes through.
SPHERE (cont)
Damnit. What do you see? I can’t seem to. I CAN’T TOUCH anything.
The Creature looks at the Sphere for a long moment. Then at its own limbs.
CREATURE
I … CAN. I can touch things.
(beat)
And EVERYTHING is touching me.
SPHERE
What are you talking about?
The Creature spins frantically, falling, writhing chaotically.
SPHERE (cont)
HEY. Up here. SETTLE DOWN! Settle down.
CREATURE
The ground is pushing on me. The air. I feel the air. It has weight. And something inside is—
(stops)
Something inside me is asking for something. I don’t know what. I don’t understand. There it is again.
SPHERE
What do you mean? How does it feel?
CREATURE
Feel?
The Creature sits with this word for a moment, looking down at its abdomen.
(whispering)
Central. Not at the edges of me. Inside. I don’t like it. I have to move … toward—
(turns slowly, as if following a signal)
Something. Not a direction. I can’t name it. The feeling just… wants.
The Sphere is quiet for a moment.
SPHERE
(carefully)
Are you sick? Hungry? Thirsty?
CREATURE
I don’t know. I just FEEL. What should I do?
SPHERE
Maybe you should eat something? Have a drink. See if you feel better.
CREATURE
Eat? Drink? But I… Arrrrgh. Ohh. What should I do?
SPHERE
Calm down. Come over here.
The sphere hovers over a broad leaf on which sits a small pool of water. The Creature moves clumsily over to the leaf.
SPHERE
Look there. On the leaf. Some water. That should be safe. Drink that.
CREATURE
Drink?
SPHERE
Yeah. Water. Lower your mouth to it… CAREFULY.
and
Slowly. Suck it into mouth. And. Swallow.
The Creature lowers itself unsteadily over the leaf, spilling some of the water. A slurping sound is heard. His body relaxes. He drinks more.
CREATURE
(to himself)
Drink.
SPHERE
Yeah. Drink. Well done. Feel better?
CREATURE
Feel? Yeah I feel… better.
SPHERE
Good. That’s progress.
An awkward moment passes as the two contemplate each other in silence. The Creature holds up the leaf, careful to not spill the remaining water.
CREATURE
Drink?
The Sphere spins a moment and stops.
SPHERE
No thanks. I’m not thirsty.
(stops itself)
Come to think of it… I’m not … anything.
The Creature moves. Ungainly but directed.
The Sphere follows above and behind.
CREATURE
Hmmm.
FADE OUT.
