14. Empathy Chip - Eric

FADE IN:

INT. LIVING ROOM-DAY

Two teenagers, CORY and JESSICA are sitting in front of a small device. Colorful lights flicker on and off on the black box. Several bundles of wires are connected from it to the helmet-like fixtures Cory and Jessica are wearing. Cory and Jessica’s appear to be under a lot of physical strain; they are taut, convulsing and twitching from time to time. Every so often they mutter: “Ah hah! I got yah!” or “You’re so dead!"

Outside we see hover cars soaring gently through the air. CHUG, an android dwarf wheels across the floor and serves them lunch. Cory and Jessica jerk, almost as if waking up, upon Chug’s arrival.

CORY
Would you stop doing that! How many times have I told you to stop sneaking up on us?
Especially while we’re playing games!

CHUG
I am terribly sorry, sir. Shall I dispense your food behind you to get cold next time?
Every time I inquire as to the proper procedure you produce the same response.
Sir, could you please clarify what the proper procedure is?

CORY
Chug.

CHUG
Yes?

CORY
Shut up.

Chug, bows briefly, and swivels around. He wheels across the floor back to the kitchen. Jessica is frowning.

JESSICA
Cory, you should treat him better than that.
He’s an A-37, that means-

CORY (cutting Jessica off and mocking her)
…he has the closest thing to human emotions compared to every other House-Bot.
He has feelings and emotions as far as anyone can tell.
Well, if he really had intelligence do you think he would want to live with us?

JESSICA
Well, it’s true. They do have emotions. And they can sue you for psychological abuse you know. NAFAP (National Association for Android Protection) will be in here so fast it will make your head spin.
Who knows, they might even get our house.

JESSICA yelps and winces in agony. Her body jerks violently for a second. A moment later it happens again.

CORY
Looks like we got a two for one deal.

JESSICA
Yeah, that was intense. That really hurt.

CORY
Yeah, I wonder who died… do you think this whole thing really works?

JESSICA
Haven't you watched the news? Can’t you feel it all around you?
Violent crime is almost nonexistent. This trash pit of a city got cleaned up,
no more trash lying around. The whole world is clean now.
And people just seem nicer now, don’t you think?

CORY
I guess so. I know I see a heck of a lot more people volunteering down at the nursing home.
People are leaving their doors unlocked at night. Never thought I’d see that happen.
But don’t you think it’s unconstitutional?
Implanting a chip into someone’s head is a gross violation of human rights in my opinion.

JESSICA
No, it’s voluntary, and look at the good it’s done. It just amazes me how something so simple could completely change society. All the chip does is signal everyone when someone dies, BUT on a deeper level it makes us aware of our mortality. When people are more aware of their own mortality, it tends to soften them up a bit. They’re more conscientious, and helpful. Just look at the nightly news.

CORY
I don’t know. I’m just afraid of the operation is all. Maybe I need the E-Chip.

CHUG (from the background)
You sure could use it.

Jessica and Cory turn toward the voice. Smiles play across their faces.

CHUG is in the kitchen, making desert. Next to the bowl of brownie batter there is a large opened bag of EX-LAX

FADE TO BLACK.