O2
    By Christie LeBlanc
    Adam Riback James Engle Echo Lake Entertainment 310-789-4790 BLACK Maybe even darker. No sound. Endless nothing. Then -- FADE IN: A pulse of red light pierces the darkness. So fast it barely registers. Another. Another. Somewhere a computer spits out ominous warning beeps. Another flash of red. Again. Again. And in the flashes WE GLIMPSE -- An eyelid. Closed. Tiny flecks of crystallized ice line the lashes. No hint of movement. More beeps. More flashes. Then -- The red disappears. Replaced by a dim steady green. And -- The eye opens. The sound of a great heaving inhale of breath. Panting. A whimper. The eye rolls wildly. Crackling wordless sounds from lips we do not see. Then --
    FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
    (hoarse)
    Hhhh... help... me...
    We pull back to see -- A WOMAN - maybe 20, maybe 40. In the dim ethereal green light, it's impossible to tell. She's wearing only panties and an undershirt. And -- She's pinned down to a 3 by 8 foot slab by straps at her forehead, torso, wrists, and legs. Totally immobile. This is CHARLOTTE 'CHARLIE' NEWTON, but she doesn't know that. Her DNA's chock full of brilliance, drive, and ambition - but she doesn't know that either. Right now, all she knows is terror.
    CHARLIE
    Help! HELP!
    Charlie struggles against her bonds. Screaming. Full on guttural fight-or-flight terror. But -- She can't move. She pants, helpless. Droplets of melted ice coat her skin. Her eyes jump everywhere. She knows she's royally fucked. Wordless pleas bubble from her lips. Then -- She sucks in controlled, deep breaths. All is quiet.
    CHARLIE
    Hello...? Is somebody there?
    Nothing. She whimpers. Struggles some more. Screaming. Straining 'til her neck tendons threaten to snap. It's no use. She grows very still. The only movement, the steady rise and fall of her chest. Then -- -- with laser-sharp focus -- She shimmies her wrist. Groans as she twists it ,'til her hand is palm up. She curls her fingers toward the strap. The tips barely brush against the velcro-like tie at her wrist. She cries out from the strain, curling her hand further -- -- further -- --'til her fingertips feel along the velcro edge. She grunts in pain. Drops her hand. Catches her breath. And -- Reaches again. One fingertip finds a tiny curled edge. Flicks it. Again. Again. Again. The curl grows.
    CHARLIE
    Please... please...
    Again. Again. Again. Again. Ever-so-slightly bigger. Each breath a whimper. And -- She snags the edge with a second finger.
    CHARLIE
    (between breaths)
    Okay... okay... okay...
    With almost zero leverage, she pulls. And -- It gives. Just a little. With the sound of a thousand slow motion zippers. And -- She drops her hand. Exhausted. Looks around. Her dread bubbles up. She squeezes her eyes shut tight. Collects herself. Holds in a deep breath of air. Grabs it again. And -- With a primordial howl, she pulls. ZZZZIIIIIPPPPPP! Her arm is free. She chortles with pure joy. Rips the tie off her other wrist. Finds an I.V. at her elbow. Rips it out too. She winces from pain, but doesn't stop. Yanks the strap off her forehead. Lead wires come away with it. She looks at them. A brief glimmer of half-recognition. Then -- She flails her arms out in front of her. And -- THUNK. Her hands hit metal. A yelp escapes her lips. Her desperate fingers fan out along the smooth surface of metal 10 inches above her face. Panic and instinct kick in. She lashes her arms out on each side. THUNK. More metal. Above her head -- THUNK. She's in a -- FUCKING METAL BOX!!! Her lungs heave great raspy breaths. She's pounding her fists against the walls. Wailing.
    CHARLIE
    Help! HELP! Get me out of here!
    She pounds -- -- and pounds -- 'til she's sobbing hysterically.
    CHARLIE
    Stop! LET ME OUT! Please let me out...! PLEASEEEEE...!
    No one comes. With agonizing slowness, her sobs dry to nothing. The only sound, her breath. Her eyes dart everywhere. Lock in on the source of the dim green light -- A button between her feet. She reaches for it, but -- The space is too small. Her head and shoulder jam up in the corner of the box. ACK! She grabs the waist restraint. Tries to pry it off, but -- It's different than the wrist ones. It's made of thick metal. Her fingers snake over every inch, and --
    CHARLIE
    Come on, come on, come on!
    -- find nothing. She groans with frustration and terror. Stares down at her feet. And the green light between them. Taunting her. Daring her. With a grunt, she twists her bound foot. Reaches for the light with her toe. The grunt turns to a wail as she stretches further --
    CHARLIE
    Come on, you son of a bitch!
    - further -- 'til -- Her toe reaches the button. Momentarily blocks all light. BLACK
    CHARLIE
    Please... please... oh God... please...
    Then a CLICK as she depresses the button. And she -- RECOILS from a bright onslaught of light, as -- The wall in front of her lights up. She looks. It's a massive COMPUTER MONITOR. ON THE SCREEN Inches from her face, a digital outline of a human body with continually scrolling vitals. And code. Lots of code. It scrolls so fast, it's barely visible. The light from the monitor illuminates every corner of the box -- It's barely bigger than a coffin. And -- In the light, we really see Charlie for the first time - lean muscles, flawless skin - an adult at the peak of physical perfection. A digital voice emanates from some unseen speakers.
    DIGITAL VOICE
    Systems failure. Oxygen levels thirty-two percent.
    She bangs the screen with her hands.
    CHARLIE
    What the hell?! Where am I?!
    DIGITAL VOICE
    I am MILO, your Mobile Integrated Lifecycle Operator, programed to meet all your medical needs. You are quite agitated. Would you like a sedative?
    CHARLIE
    No! Let me out!
    Nothing from MILO.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, let me out!
    Still nothing. Charlie swallows hard. Composes herself.
    CHARLIE
    MILO... uhh... status report?
    MILO
    Malfunction in CPU 142 detected. Heat levels exceeded accepted parameters. Status: lost. O2 reserve breach detected. Breach contained. Status: operational. Emergency protocols initiated. Cryogenic suspension unit shutdown. Life form revived.
    CHARLIE
    Life form? Me...?!
    No response. Charlie reels. And --
    CHARLIE
    ... suspension...? I was in stasis...
    It sinks in. The shot rotates hard until -- Charlie's vertical. Pounding. Screaming. She is in a --

INT. CRYOGENIC TANK
    CHARLIE
    HERE! I'm HERE! I'M AWAKE! Please! Somebody pleaseeeee! Let me out...! Let me out...
    She hammers the computer wall until she's got nothing left. Shock takes over. She zones out. A long empty silence filled with nothing but her breath. Then --
    CHARLIE
    Shit. Shit-shit-shit-shit-SHIT! Keep it together. MILO, activate intercom.
    MILO
    Intercom interface not compatible with this unit.
    She laughs at the absurdity. A pathetic heartbreaking laugh.
    CHARLIE
    Oh, come on! You're not a deathtrap. Let me out...
    (beat)
    MILO, disengage locks.
    MILO
    It is not advisable to disengage locks at this time.
    She moans with frustration.
    CHARLIE
    Override. Disengage locks.
    MILO
    Override sequence initiated.
    She sighs. Relieved. A long beat.
    MILO
    Awaiting authorization code.
    CHARLIE
    I don't know the damn code!
    MILO
    Override sequence aborted.
    CHARLIE
    AHHH! Emergency system override!
    MILO
    Emergency system override can not be completed at this time. Please provide administrator password to continue.
    And she's hammering the monitor with her fists.
    CHARLIE
    I don't have the damn code! I don't know the code! I dunno-the- code...
    She paws at the screen. Snot and tears flowing. She's losing her shit.
    CHARLIE
    Please let me out... please... pleeeeeaaaasssseeee...
    MILO
    Your pulse rate is elevated. A sedative is advised. Would you like a sedative?
    CHARLIE
    I don't want a damn sedative! I want out!
    (beat)
    Think. Think, damn it.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels thirty-one percent.
    Another moan. She frantically feels over every inch of the screen in front of her. Finds the edges. Explores the walls on her sides. Above her. As far below as she can reach.
    CHARLIE
    Okay... Cryo unit... Okay... I'm sick. Of course I'm sick. I must be sick to be in here... Oh God, I'm terminal...
    Her frantic fingers explore her arms. Her face. Her scalp. She paws beneath her undershirt. Rabidly examines her breasts. Feels inside her mouth with her tongue.
    CHARLIE
    Shit... Shit! Keep it together. These are monitored. Someone knows something went wrong. Jesus, please... Someone will come... Someone will come...
    (beat)
    MILO, time estimate until base retrieves life form?
    MILO
    Sufficient data is not available to perform that calculation.
    She groans through clenched teeth.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, has base been notified of unit malfunction?
    MILO
    Unit malfunction diagnostic transmitted to base at 04:32 GMT. Transmission received at 04:33 GMT.
    She melts with relief against the monitor.
    CHARLIE
    They're coming. Someone's coming.
    She smiles through tears. Enjoys a moment of victory. Waits. Breathes. Breathes some more. Squeezes her eyes closed.
    CHARLIE
    Not in a box, not it a box... Wide open spaces... Lotsa air... A massive... beach...?
    Her eyes open. But she's not seeing. She's searching for a half-forgotten beach. Her surroundings come crashing back. She sucks in great heaving breaths.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, base response to transmission?!
    MILO
    No incoming transmissions detected.
    She squeezes her fists. Fights off panic. Moans.
    CHARLIE
    They'll come. They know you're awake. They know you're in here. They'll explain. You're gonna be okay.
    (a breathing beat)
    Great, I'm talking to myself in 3rd person now. Come on! Come get me. Come tell me... Come tell me...
    (beat, then panic)
    MILO... who am I?
    Nothing from the MILO.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, identify life form.
    MILO
    Life form identity Voyager Two Six Seven.
    CHARLIE
    Clarify.
    MILO
    You are life form Voyager Two Six Seven.
    Charlie laughs. Right on the edge of hysteria.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, display image of life form.
    The wall in front of her lights up with her life sized image. She stares at her face on the monitor while touching her own. Reaches out and touches the image. She stares hard into the image eyes. Searching. Then --
    CHARLIE
    MILO, what is the legal name registered to Voyager Two Six Seven?
    MILO
    Voyager Two Six Seven is registered under the name Voyager Two Six Seven.
    Charlie shakes her head. Of course she is.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, remove image.
    It's gone. There's nothing to fill the silence but her heavy breath. Then -- With a guttural howl of frustration, she's bashing the back of her head into the back wall.
    LET!
    ME! OOOOOOUUUUTTTT!!!
    Then -- Silence.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels thirty percent. Recommend slow shallow breathing to conserve supplies.
    She groans. Like that's ever gonna happen. And she's frantically fumbling her hands along every inch of the box she can reach. Wailing. Shuddering. Pounding on the walls with all she's got.
    CHARLIE
    (screaming)
    HELP! HELP, GOD DAMN IT, HELP!!!!
    Get me outta here!
    And she's spent. Nothing but rhythmic in-and-out of her lungs for a long moment.
    CHARLIE
    (muttering)
    ...too long... too long... No intercom.... Why no intercom...?
    She's rocking back and forth.
    CHARLIE
    But... But... but the system... the system... it transmitted! MILO, there's outside access! Can you place a call?
    MILO
    Affirmative. Who would you like to call?
    CHARLIE
    Yes?! YES! MILO, call 911.
    MILO
    911 services are not available on this channel.
    CHARLIE
    UGHHH! FBI! MILO call the FBI!
    The FBI website contact page appears on the screen in front of her.
    MILO
    There are two thousand forty-seven phone numbers associated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Which one would you like me to call?
    CHARLIE
    Jesus! Any! Uh, headquarters. Call headquarters!
    And insanely long pause. Charlie holds her breath. Then -- The sound of a call connecting, then a ringing phone. And --
    PLEASANT VOICE (O.S.)
    (filtered throughout)
    Hello --
    CHARLIE
    Hello! Yes, help! I need help!
    PLEASANT VOICE (O.S.)
    -- You have reached the Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters located at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.
    Charlie reels. It's a damn recording!
    PLEASANT VOICE (O.S.)
    If you know the extension, please press it now. For our directory, press one. For a list of divisions, press two. To reach the terrorist screening center, press three --
    Charlie moans.
    PLEASANT VOICE (O.S.)
    -- For the training academy, press four. If this is an emergency, press nine. For all other --
    CHARLIE
    MILO, nine! Nine! I need to press nine!
    A numbered touchscreen appears on the monitor. She hits the nine hard.
    PLEASANT VOICE (O.S.)
    We are transferring your call. Thank you for calling the --
    It cuts off, as --
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (filtered throughout)
    Special Agent Marlow.
    Charlie jumps.
    CHARLIE
    Help! I need help! I'm trapped and I'm running out of oxygen.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Calm down, ma'am. Are you in immediate physical danger from a person or persons?
    CHARLIE
    No! I'm trapped in a cryo unit and I'm running out of air!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    A cryo unit. Cryogenics? Like medical freezing?
    CHARLIE
    YES! No, NO! Not real freezing. It's a process that slows metabolism -- It doesn't matter!
    CHARLIE
    What does, is that I'm running out of air!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Ma'am, are you aware calling in a false report is a crime?
    CHARLIE
    What?! No! This is real! Please...!
    MARLOW (O.S.)
    Give me your name and location.
    CHARLIE
    I don't know! I DON'T KNOW!
    MARLOW (O.S.)
    If you insist on wasting the bureau's time, I'm going to have to trace this call and report you.
    CHARLIE
    YES! Trace the call! TRACE THE CALL! Get me the hell outta here!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    ... This is real?
    CHARLIE
    Yes! And I'm kinda on a clock here. Some help please?!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Just try to calm down. Did someone put you in against your will?
    CHARLIE
    No! I don't know!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    What's your name?
    CHARLIE
    I DON'T KNOW! All I know is I woke up and I can't disengage the locks and nobody's come. Trace the damn call. Can you trace it?!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I'm working on that now, ma'am. What do you remember? A location? A person? Anything that can help.
    CHARLIE
    No! No! Nothing. I'm scared...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I know. We're gonna get you out.
    CHARLIE
    The computer! The computer would know! MILO, unit location.
    MILO
    Unable to determine unit location. Input variable data.
    She whacks the monitor.
    CHARLIE
    ARGH! Have you found me? Have you traced me? Please come!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    It's taking some time, ma'am. We're having trouble locating your signal. But I'm going to help you.
    CHARLIE
    What do you mean trouble...?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    We're working on narrowing it down. I need you to tell me anything you can about the unit. Manufacturer's stamp, serial number, anything.
    Charlie frantically scans the walls. Then --
    CHARLIE
    I'm an idiot. MILO, display unit technical specs.
    Technical specs appear on the screen in front of her. She traces them with her fingers.
    CHARLIE
    Are you still there?!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I'm still here.
    CHARLIE
    Manufactured by AlcorWorks Enterprises. The model number is 7485945375-267. Have you locked down a trace?!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    We're still having some issues.
    CHARLIE
    Oh God...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Listen to me. We're going to find you. It's going to take me a minute to track down the manufacturer and get a location on you.
    CHARLIE
    Don't leave...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I'm not going to leave. We're going to keep this line open.
    CHARLIE
    Tu as pété le plombs ou quoi?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    What was that?
    Charlie's startled.
    CHARLIE
    I... uh, asked if you were nuts.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    You speak french.
    CHARLIE
    ... Yeah. Apparently.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    That's good. Something to go on. Hang in there.
    CHARLIE
    No, don't leave! Please...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I'm just stepping away for a moment. You need to stay calm.
    CHARLIE
    STOP TELLING ME TO STAY CALM!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    You can do this.
    CHARLIE
    Don't! Don't go...
    Silence. Long silence. Her huffs of breath are deafening.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels twenty-nine percent.
    She closes her eyes. Consciously slows her breathing. Groans.
    CHARLIE
    Maybe I shoulda said yes to the sedative.
    MILO
    Would you like a sedative?
    She whacks the monitor.
    CHARLIE
    No!
    (beat)
    Breathe... Just breathe...
    (beat)
    Cryo units... Ummm, cryo units are med labs... MILO? Can you run DNA analysis on Voyager Two Six Seven?
    The wall panel behind her briefly glows.
    MILO
    Affirmative. DNA analysis completed.
    CHARLIE
    Yes! Run DNA match.
    MILO
    One match found.
    The monitor, inches from her face, lights up with her own picture, but-- She looks different. Distinguished. Professional. Weathered. A list of vital information also appears including her name: CHARLOTTE NEWTON.
    CHARLIE
    Charlotte Newton.... Charlotte...
    The word tastes wrong in her mouth.
    CHARLIE
    Charlie...?
    A flicker of recognition. She reaches for a memory. Then -- A FLASH of a smiling WOMAN mouthing 'Charlie'. It's gone.
    CHARLIE
    Charlie.
    Her reality comes crashing back. She presses her hands into the walls. Touches them all around her. Moans. Then -- A scratching, skittering sound. Charlie startles. Her eyes shoot everywhere.
    CHARLIE
    ... Hello...?
    Nothing there. The only sound, her breath. She whimpers. Then -- The walls seem to warp. Close in. She braces herself like she's falling. Time seems to jump a second. Another. Then -- The world steadies. She blinks. WTF?? A thin, high-pitched warble escapes her throat. Her breathing speeds up. Her eyes fill with panic. She wrestles for control of her breath until she's sucking in small sips.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Are you still with me?
    CHARLIE
    Yes! YES! I'm Charlie! My name's Charlotte Newton! But I think I go by Charlie.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Good! That's good. That'll help. Can you... any... hurt... picious ...havior...
    He's cutting out.
    CHARLIE
    What?! What? I can't hear you!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    ...ello? ... Can... me...?
    CHARLIE
    Are you there?!
    Silence.
    CHARLIE
    No no NO-NO-NO!!! MILO, boost signal!
    MILO
    Boosting signal.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    ...arlie, are you still with me?
    CHARLIE
    Yes! Yes, I'm here! Can you hear me?!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I hear you, Charlie! Welcome back. I thought I'd lost you.
    CHARLIE
    Don't leave! Don't leave again...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I won't. I'll be right here the whole time. I promise. What's your oxygen situation?
    CHARLIE
    What? No! You know where I am, right?!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie, I need you to focus. What's you're oxygen?
    Charlie wrestles her emotions down.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, oxygen levels.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels twenty-eight percent.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Good. What time does that give us?
    CHARLIE
    Time? Why do you need time?!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie, listen to me. I need to know how much time.
    Charlie swallows a yelp. Another strange TIME SKIP.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    -- arlie?! Charlie! Are you there?
    CHARLIE
    Wha..? Yes. Yes, I'm here. MILO, time estimate until oxygen is depleted.
    MILO
    Maximum time remaining with conservation practices, seventy-two minutes. Based on current level of use, forty-three minutes.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Forty-three minutes. Good. I need you to stay calm, Charlie. And I need you to tell me anything you remember. Anything at all. Suspicious behavior, anyone who would want to hurt you...
    CHARLIE
    Hurt me? What? Nothing! I remember NOTHING! What's going on?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I need you to think --
    CHARLIE
    What aren't you telling me?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Let's focus on --
    CHARLIE
    TELL ME!
    Silence.
    CHARLIE
    Do you know where I am?!
    A long beat. Then --
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    No. The trace failed. The manufacturer reports that the unit was destroyed three years ago.
    Charlie's jaw drops. The news sinks in.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I'm sorry, Charlie.
    A slow wave of panic seeps into her bones.
    CHARLIE
    MILO! Run full medical diagnostic on Voyager Two Six Seven!
    Again, the wall panel behind her briefly glows.
    MILO
    Voyager Two Six Seven Diagnostic: all readings within normal parameters.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie! I need you to hang on!
    CHARLIE
    ... I'm not sick...
    She's hyperventilating now. Great huffing gasps.
    MILO
    No abnormalities detected. Life expectancy of Voyager Two Six Seven is eighty-two years.
    CHARLIE
    ...I'm not supposed to be here...
    Charlie pushes against the walls. They're closing in!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie!
    Her brain's connecting some dots she really doesn't want connected.
    CHARLIE
    ... someone put me in here...
    All sound disappears into a vacuum. The world spins. Blurs. Narrows to black. Pulsing red lights. Then -- The blare of sirens. Warning lights. The monitor lights up with red across the chest of the digital body.
    MILO
    Warning. BP 180 over 90. Pulse 102 BPM.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie! Stay with me! I'm not going to leave you. I'm right here!
    She's wheezing in gasps of air. Bashing the walls. Yowling.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    We're gonna get you out! Listen to me! Listen to my voice. Can you do that?
    Charlie reels in her panic.
    CHARLIE
    (barely a whisper)
    Yes...
    The warning lights cut out. The alarm falls silent.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (filtered, relieved)
    You're back. Welcome back.
    Charlie breathes. Grits her teeth. Forces focus.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie, we're going to find you.
    She wipes away tears. Closes her eyes. Really tries to believe. Pulls herself together. Puts on a brave face.
    CHARLIE
    Kay... Okay. Tell me. What exactly are you doing?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I've got agents combing through every bit of information we have on you. And I have a team heading to the manufacturer now.
    CHARLIE
    AlcorWorks! They'd have the override codes! Get me the code. I can open the door!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    We're working on it. I'll have them soon.
    CHARLIE
    Get me the code! It takes two minutes to look up a damn code!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie, it's 2 AM here. They're not being cooperative. We have to subpoena them. My men are heading there now. We'll have the codes to you soon. Just a ...tle longer... this... mo... ...
    He's cutting out again.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, boost signal!
    MILO
    Boosting signal.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    ...k ..re... ...st...
    CHARLIE
    MILO, again!
    MILO
    Boosting signal.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (nothing but static)
    CHARLIE
    Are you there?! HELLO?! HELLO...?
    On the monitor: SIGNAL LOST. She's pounding the monitor with her hands.
    CHARLIE
    No, no, NO! You stupid piece of shit! MILO, reconnect!
    The sound of dialing, then the BLARE of an unconnected call.
    MILO
    Reconnect failed.
    CHARLIE
    Again!
    More dialing. Another BLARE. Charlie's weeping.
    CHARLIE
    Again! NooooooOOO! The codes! I need the codes! I need... I need...
    Dialing. Another BLARE.
    CHARLIE
    (barely a whisper)
    ... again...
    Another dial. Then --
    RECORDED VOICE (O.S.)
    The number you have reached is not in service. Please check the number and try your call again.
    Shock. Like she took a bullet. WTF is going on?!
    CHARLIE
    MILO, again.
    Nothing for a long moment. Then -- The sound of dialing. And --
    RECORDED VOICE (O.S.)
    The number you have reached is not in service. Please --
    CHARLIE
    Disconnect!
    She squeezes her temples. Pulls at her hair.
    CHARLIE
    SHIIIIIITTTTT!
    She gapes. Then -- -- blindly, furiously -- -- scrapes at the edges with her fingernails. Desperate mewling sounds spilling from her lips. Then she's sobbing. Deep shuddering sobs that go on and on and on. Until --
    MILO
    Oxygen levels twenty-seven percent.
    She wrestles for control. Reels the sobs in. Sucks them back. Forces hard, shallow breaths. Her whole body shakes under the sobbing pressure wanting out. Tears streak down her face. Until, mercifully -- She zones out. Her eyes seeing nothing. The world blurs. Warps. A strange TIME JUMP. Another. Another. The world snaps back into focus. She hasn't moved. Then --
    MILO
    Oxygen levels twenty-one percent.
    She blinks.
    CHARLIE
    (whispering)
    Twenty-one... No...
    The skittering sound. She whips her head up. Looks around, taking in everything. There's nothing there. The sound is gone. Only her breath remains. Her hollowed eyes look broken. Beaten. People hit by trucks have looked better. Then -- A FLASH of a smiling MAN. Charlie blinks, confused. Disturbed. With great effort, she pulls herself together.
    CHARLIE
    MILO... MILO, amount of time since connection failed.
    MILO
    Time since connection failure, seventeen-minutes twelve seconds.
    She's floored.
    CHARLIE
    ... I'm losing time...
    She shakes her head to clear the fog.
    CHARLIE
    Shit. Shit! Think... someone... someone to help... Someone... Who? Shit! Pull it together! Someone who knows me! MILO, run search for Charlotte Newton.
    MILO
    There are one thousand two hundred ninety two academic articles authored by and/or citing, four hundred twenty seven referencing news articles, seventeen social media profiles, twenty thousand four hundred and two web site references...
    CHARLIE
    News articles. News!
    Layers of articles appear on the screen. The top one, from THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, shows a professional picture of Charlie with the headline: HOMETOWN NOBEL PRIZE WINNER TURNING SCIENCE FICTION INTO FACT, and a subheading: TERMINAL FIND HOPE IN LONG TERM CRYOGENICS. Charlie skims.
    CHARLIE
    You're a doctor...? Why would someone wanna kill you?
    More skimming - awards, recognition, praise - until -- She lands on one with a picture of Charlie beside a MAN with a striking jagged scar at his temple, both in formal wear. The caption reads: PICTURED: DR. CHARLOTTE NEWTON AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD GALA WITH HUSBAND DR. LEO FERGUSON.
    CHARLIE
    Husband...?
    She's stunned. Another FLASH of a man. The same man from the picture. He's smiling from the basket of a hot air balloon. Holding out his hand.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, search Dr. Leo Ferguson, Houston Texas.
    Search results pop up on the screen, including a Facebook profile with a picture of the same scarred MAN. She opens the page. His picture appears, but little else except -- A friendly message from Facebook: TO SEE WHAT LEO SHARES, SEND HIM A FRIEND REQUEST. Argh! The skittering sound. Charlie flinches. Looks around. Presses her palms to her eyes.
    CHARLIE
    (whispering)
    Not real... not real...
    She focuses on breath control. Returns to the Facebook profile. Selects the photo tab. Scans through images of the man with various PEOPLE. Stops on an image of Charlie with the MAN in an embrace. Deliriously happy. She clicks on it. Studies the picture. Traces his facial scar with her finger. Searches for recognition.
    CHARLIE
    Leo...
    The caption reads: SURPRISE MAUI ANNIVERSARY GETAWAY.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, find contact information for Dr. Leo Ferguson, Houston, Texas.
    MILO
    Two listings found.
    CHARLIE
    Call first listing.
    An eternity of silence.
    CHARLIE
    Please connect... please connect... please connect....
    Then --
    RECORDED VOICE (O.S.)
    The cellular number you are trying to reach has been disconnected. Please check the numb -
    CHARLIE
    Disconnect. Call second listing.
    Another eternity. Then -- The filtered sound of a ringing phone. And --
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    (filtered)
    Hello?
    CHARLIE
    Is Leo there? I need to speak with him.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Uh, no... ummm...
    CHARLIE
    It's an emergency. Please!
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Who is this?!
    CHARLIE
    I'm his wife.
    A long pause.
    CHARLIE
    Hello?!
    CLICK. ON THE MONITOR: Call disconnected at source.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, redial!
    One ring. Then --
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Is this some sick joke?!
    CHARLIE
    No! Please, I need to find Leo!
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Don't call this number again.
    CLICK. CALL DISCONNECTED AT SOURCE appears on the screen.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, redial!
    Dialing. A ring. Someone picks up. Disconnects.
    CHARLIE
    Again!
    Dialing. Then -- A busy signal. Charlie loses her shit.
    CHARLIE
    Fuck! FUCK! FUCK! FUUUUCK!!!!
    And she's pawing at the waist restraint in blind panic. Props herself against it. Tries to heft herself out with all her might.
    CHARLIE
    Let me out! LET ME OUT!!!
    It's no use. She searches every inch of the compartment she can reach --
    MILO
    Oxygen levels twenty percent.
    -- Paws at the head restraint with the lead wires. Rips one wire out.
    MILO
    Unit damage detected.
    She folds the wire. Twists. Folds it again. With her new shorter, much reinforced wire, she traces her fingers along the monitor 'til she hits the side wall. Picks a spot in the angle where monitor meets wall. And -- Scrapes with the wire. She scrapes. And scrapes. Tiny shards of metal fall away. YES!! -- scrape scrape scrape -- -- scrape scrape scrape -- The wire's wearing fast. Now a tiny stub between her fingers. Then -- It's almost nothing. She drops it. Yanks out another wire.
    MILO
    Unit damage detected.
    Folds. Twists. Scrapes some more. Tiny curls of metal flake off. The wire's down to a nub. She grits her teeth. Scrapes harder. But -- It's too small to hold onto. She fumbles. It drops. Getting nowhere fast. She wipes sweat from her brow. Leaves behind a trail of blood from her fingernails. She gropes at the arm straps. Finds the I.V. tube. Follows it down to where it disappears into the back wall. And -- Finds a huge hole. A nasty looking RAT sits on its edge, staring at her. She yelps! Throws herself against the far wall. Looks again. There's nothing but wall. She moans. Squeezes her fists. Holds them against her eyes. Wills herself to relax. Looks. Just a tube going into the metal wall. She touches it tentatively, like it might bite. Then -- Paws around the tube, looking for a weakness. Nothing. She follows the tube back down to the needle. Returns to the angle of the wall. Grips the needle, and -- Scrapes some more. -- scrape scrape scrape -- Much more effective! Metal curl bits fly everywhere. -- scrape scrape scrape -- Then -- The BLARE OF AN ALARM.
    MILO
    Warning: Inner breach attempt detected.
    -- scrape scrape scrape --
    MILO
    Warning: Wilful breach of unit is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
    -- scrape scrape scrape --
    CHARLIE
    (muttering)
    Ten years sounds good to m --
    ZAAAAAAAPPPPP! An electric current jolts Charlie hard against the opposite wall. She cries out.
    MILO
    Breach attempt contained. Life- form preserved. Would you like a sedative?
    Tears stream down her cheeks. She curls herself into the tomb wall. Shivering, shuddering to control her breath. An eternity of nothing but small hiccups of breath. Then -- A cold realization --
    CHARLIE
    ... I'm going to die...
    She zones out. The world vibrates. The walls warp. A hard TIME JUMP. Another. Another. Again and again. Mixed with barely discernible flashes of images. Until -- BEEP. Reality smashes back into focus. An ALERT on the SCREEN: INCOMING CALL.
    MILO
    Approve incoming --
    CHARLIE
    YES! Approve! Approve!
    A CLICK. Static. Garbled sounds. Then --
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    ...arlie, are you there?
    CHARLIE
    Yes! YES! I'm here! MILO, boost signal!
    MILO
    Boosting signal.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (to others)
    We got her!
    (to Charlie)
    Charlie, listen to me. We have the subpoena. I have agents at AlcorWorks now.
    CHARLIE
    The codes!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    We'll have them momentarily. It's almost over, Charlie.
    She squeaks a reply, holding back emotion. Tears run down her cheeks.
    CHARLIE
    You got me...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (pained)
    We got you.
    CHARLIE
    Agent Marlow...?
    Beat.
    CHARLIE
    Marlow...?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (forced)
    Everything's going to be just fine.
    Every muscle of Charlie's body tenses.
    CHARLIE
    Something's wrong. Tell me what's wrong.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels seventeen percent.
    CHARLIE
    No! No-no-no!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    What's going on, Charlie? Talk to me.
    CHARLIE
    I don't know. I'm losing time. Seeing things.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie, listen very carefully. What you're experiencing is isolation induced psychosis. It happens to P.O.W.'s.
    CHARLIE
    No. It hasn't been that long...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    It take as little as fifteen minutes under extreme circumstances to break the average person. And this is pretty extreme.
    CHARLIE
    Your phone. Not in service. Was that real?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    What? No. No! We lost the connection. I've been here ever since trying to get you back.
    CHARLIE
    ... How... how do I know you're real now?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    When you first called, I thought you were a prank.
    Charlie smiles, grateful. Nods. Then -- Tenses with panic.
    CHARLIE
    Our first call! How do I know that was real?!
    The stat's monitor alarm BLARES.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (shouting)
    Charlie! CHARLIE! Stay with me! Shit! You're spinning. Charlie, you need to ground yourself. Hold on to what you know is real! Shit! Focus on your body. On what you know is real! Find a way to focus on your body--!
    Marlow's still yelling, but it's overpowered by violent gasping breaths she can't control. She scrambles for the I.V. wire. Grabs the needle. Screeches as she -- Drives it into her palm. FLASHES of a bedroom. Of LEO mouthing 'I LOVE YOU'.
    MILO
    Injury to life form detected. Status: Non-life threatening.
    She drives the needle deeper. Winces. Another FLASH - Leo making mushed funny faces through the glass of a shower stall. Deeper. Then -- She sucks in controlled breaths. Stops fighting the pain. The stats alarm quiets.
    MILO
    Risk of infection. Treating with I.V. antibiotic mixture.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie! Charlie! Talk to me!
    CHARLIE
    Jesus fuck, that hurt!
    She cringes as she pulls out the needle.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    What did you do?
    CHARLIE
    Focused on the real.
    She sucks on the wound, still wincing.
    CHARLIE
    How long... how long have I been missing?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    You were active on social media three days ago. No one's reported you missing.
    CHARLIE
    I've got a husband. A guy named Leo.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Leo...?
    Garbled sounds of someone talking to Marlow in the B.G.
    CHARLIE
    Who's that? What's he saying?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Nothing. It's no one.
    CHARLIE
    Someone's with you. What's going on? Is it about Leo? Why isn't he looking for me? Is he okay? Find Leo! He might know who's doing this!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie... I have no record of you ever being married.
    CHARLIE
    What? No... MILO, search for Dr. Leo Ferguson, Houston!
    ON THE SCREEN: No results found. Did you mean Leroy Fergus?
    CHARLIE
    No! It was there!
    MILO
    Oxygen levels sixteen percent.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie...
    CHARLIE
    It was there! MILO, search for Dr. Charlotte Newton, National Science and Tech Award Gala!
    The article flicks back on the screen, the one with the picture of her with Leo, only this time, it's just her.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie --
    A warning blip on the monitor as her vitals rise.
    CHARLIE
    He was real. You have to believe me! The woman! I called. She knew him!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    What woman?
    Her fingers fly over the touch keyboard. Brings up Facebook results for Leo Ferguson - A couple TEENS, an OLD MAN. No Leo from before.
    CHARLIE
    I dunno. A woman. In my house... I think.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    What did you tell her? The woman?
    CHARLIE
    Nothing! She hung up!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie...
    CHARLIE
    She knew him! She did! SHE DID!
    (a long painful beat)
    She wasn't real... Leo's not real...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie! Listen to me! I'm gonna get you through this.
    Charlie doesn't answer. She shakes her head, destroyed.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie, I've been where you are. I know what you're going through.
    CHARLIE
    (through gritted teeth)
    Stop with the BS...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    No BS. I was military, Charlie. Spent three months in a hole in the ground...
    CHARLIE
    He was real...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    I know. I know it seems that way. It's your brain trying to get you through this. It can't be trusted. Not right now. But you can trust me. I'll get you through to the other side.
    Charlie squeezes her eyes. Pulls at her hair. Moans.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    You played lacrosse.
    CHARLIE
    Wha...?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    At school. You were good. Figured you'd want to know something about yourself, and when I looked into you, that stood out.
    She takes the distraction bait. Leans against the monitor like a security blanket.
    CHARLIE
    Lacrosse?
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Yeah. Didn't fit with everything else. PhD in bioengineering, grants, awards. You're an impressive woman. Any of this ringing a bell?
    CHARLIE
    ... no...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    You're a Boston girl. Grew up with a single mother.
    She hangs on his every word.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    She still lives in your childhood home.
    A FLASH of the same YOUNG WOMAN from before.
    CHARLIE
    Her name's Linda!
    Nothing from Marlow. Charlie deflates.
    CHARLIE
    Her name's not Linda.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    No. It's Marjorie.
    Charlie groans. Hits her head with her fists.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie, it's okay. Just stay with me. (beat) Charlie...?
    CHARLIE
    (still hitting her head)
    Keep. Talking. Don't stop...
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    You attended Harvard, full ride. Did your residency in Houston.
    A FLASH of Leo, raising his eyebrows - cheeky - in scuba gear. Charlie blinks.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Went on to do your Fellowship at --
    CHARLIE
    Residency. That's where I met Leo.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie...
    Another FLASH of Leo. Dead. Laid out in a coffin. Then -- His eyes open. Charlie's on the verge of losing her shit again.
    CHARLIE
    You have to look for him! He's real!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie...
    MILO
    Oxygen levels fifteen percent.
    Charlie covers her eyes. Moans. Pushes hard on the I.V. palm wound with her thumb. Growls like a wounded dog.
    CHARLIE
    You should have the codes by now! Where are the codes?!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    -- You have to hang on. A few minutes more --
    CHARLIE
    --Stop with the bullshit
    platitudes --!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    -- We're in this toge --
    CHARLIE
    -- WHERE ARE THE CODES --?!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    -- We're still 20 minutes out! We've almost got you --!
    Charlie twitches. Double-takes.
    CHARLIE
    You said you didn't know where I was.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    We don't. I have men at AlcorWorks now getting the codes. Looking into this. Looking into your connection.
    CHARLIE
    You said you were 20 minutes out.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    Charlie, you're hearing things. I said I had agents with the manufacturer...
    She sucks harsh breaths between her teeth, drowning his words to nothing. Then --
    CHARLIE
    You're lying.
    The warning beeps are back. Flashing red lights. Charlie pushes herself hard into the back wall, as far away from the monitor as she can get.
    CHARLIE
    You're doing this to me!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (yelling, over the noise)
    Charlie, listen to me! You're under an unbelievable amount of stress. You misheard. I'm on your side --
    Charlie covers her ears with her hands.
    CHARLIE
    (screaming)
    MILO, disconnect!
    The word DISCONNECTED appears on the screen. Alarms still blare. Charlie squeezes chunks of hair between her fingers, pulling out what's left of her braid as she cradles her head. Her shoulders heave from the pressure of sobs that need to come. But -- She holds them back. Twitches from the strain of forcing controlled breath. Until -- The alarms and lights go quiet. Until all that remains is her breath.
    MILO
    Incoming transmission.
    Nothing from Charlie. A beat. Then --
    MILO
    Incoming transmission.
    Charlie raises her head. Stares at the monitor with something we haven't seen before. Rage.
    CHARLIE
    Deny.
    MILO
    Transmission denied.
    She stares at the monitor.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, replay last 30 seconds of last transmission.
    CHARLIE
    (recorded)
    ...platitudes!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (recorded)
    We're in this toge --
    CHARLIE
    (recorded)
    Where are the CODES?!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (recorded)
    We're still 20 minutes out. We've almost got you --!
    CHARLIE
    MILO, pause! Rewind two seconds. Play.
    She pushes her thumb hard into her palm.
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (recorded)
    We're still 20 minutes out. We've almost got you --!
    CHARLIE
    Pause. Again!
    AGENT MARLOW (O.S.)
    (recorded)
    We're still 20 minutes out. We've almost got you --!
    CHARLIE
    Pause.
    MILO
    Incoming transmission.
    CHARLIE
    Deny!
    MILO
    Transmission denied.
    Charlie slowly eyeballs every inch of the tank. She snarls.
    CHARLIE
    Can you still hear me?! Are you watching me?!
    She puts both hands on the monitor. Stares into it.
    CHARLIE
    What do you want?! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!
    MILO
    Incoming transmission.
    Charlie narrows her eyes. She's pissed. Then --
    CHARLIE
    You wanna play ball? Let's play. MILO, Accept.
    Sounds of the call connecting. Then --
    CHARLIE
    What do you want, asshole?
    A beat. Then --
    OLDER WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    (filtered throughout)
    Hello?
    Charlie's stunned.
    OLDER WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    Don't hang up. Are you there...? Please answer...
    It's the same woman from before.
    OLDER WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    You're in a cyrogenic unit, right?
    Charlie pushes hard against the wound in her palm.
    CHARLIE
    Who are you?
    OLDER WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    You called me looking for Leo.
    CHARLIE
    You're real... He's real!
    OLDER WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    Listen to me. Listen! We don't have much time. This wasn't supposed to happen. Something must have gone wrong.
    CHARLIE
    I wanna speak to Leo.
    OLDER WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    You can't. I need you to listen. I can help.
    CHARLIE
    You want me to listen? Put him on the line!
    OLDER WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    That's not possible.
    CHARLIE
    Put him on. Now!
    OLDER WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    Leo is dead.
    Charlie reels from shock. Pulls herself together. Then --
    CHARLIE
    You're just as sick as he is. MILO, disconnect.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    No! Wai --
    But she's gone.
    MILO
    Disconnected. Oxygen levels fourteen percent. Incoming transmission.
    Charlie growls. Contorts with anguish as she fights to control her breath.
    MILO
    Incoming transmission.
    She snarls. Hits the wall. Bares her teeth.
    CHARLIE
    Accept.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Charlie, are you there...? Are you there...? Charlie, I can help. I want to help.
    CHARLIE
    I never gave you my name, bitch.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    You didn't need to. I knew who you were the second I heard you.
    CHARLIE
    Tell me what you people want or I'm done talking.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    I don't know who you've been talking to, but I know what's going on.
    CHARLIE
    I'm done. MILO, dis --
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    I KNOW THE CODES!!
    Charlie freezes.
    CHARLIE
    Give them to me.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Charlie, I will, but you gotta listen --
    CHARLIE
    Now.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    You can't use 'em to open the door!
    CHARLIE
    Goodbye. MILO --
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Okay, OKAY! Uppercase NM347 lowercase cda.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, admin override.
    MILO
    Admin override initiated. Enter password.
    Charlie types the pass code onto a touchscreen keyboard.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Charlie, don't open it! Please!
    MILO
    Admin over ride complete. Administrator privileges granted.
    Charlie shudders with relief.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, disengage locks.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Please! You'll die!! I can prove it!
    MILO
    It is not advisable to disengage locks at this time. Do you wish to continue?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    You'll die...
    Charlie waivers.
    CHARLIE
    You have ten seconds.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Thank you... thank you. Just let me explain --
    CHARLIE
    Eight seconds.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Okay! OKAY! Go into system. Find centrifuge controls. Please... if you'd just let me explain --
    Charlie finds the controls.
    CHARLIE
    I'm there.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    They're currently set to one. Change that to...
    CHARLIE
    ...To what?!
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Shit! You shouldn't find out this way...
    CHARLIE
    Time's up. MILO --
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    ZERO! Change it to zero!
    Charlie changes the numbers. Hesitates over the enter button. Then --
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    (whispering)
    Please, Charlie... Don't.
    Pushes enter.
    MILO
    Powering down thrusters.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    I'm sorry, Charlie. I'm so sorry...
    And -- Locks of Charlie's hair seem to hover mid-air. Charlie stares at them. What the fuck? Her upper body drifts away from the back wall. If she wasn't strapped in at the waist, she'd be free floating! WHAT THE FUCK?! The I.V. needle drifts by her face. She follows it with gawking eyes.
    MILO
    Warning. Long term zero gravity exposure detrimental to life form.
    A warble escapes her throat. Tiny bits of broken wire, shards of metal, and droplets of water float all around her.
    CHARLIE
    (whisper)
    ... where... where am I...?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    About 40 000 miles from earth.
    A high pitched moan escapes Charlie's lungs. The whole frame rotates hard, until -- Charlie's upside down. She in a --

INT. CRYOGENIC TANK, 40000 FUCKING MILES FROM EARTH
    CHARLIE
    ... no...
    Charlie whimpers --
    CHARLIE
    MILO! Distance from earth?!
    MILO
    Forty-two thousand seven hundred thirty-five miles.
    -- gags --
    CHARLIE
    No! This isn't real. You're doing this! STOP! STOP!!!
    -- fumbles with the settings --
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    I'm so sorry, Charlie.
    -- smashes the zero back to one.
    MILO
    Initiating thrust.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Charlie... CHARLIE...!
    No response from Charlie. She's on overload. The 'been-hit by-a-truck-and-now-it's-backing-up-to-finish-the-job' type of overload. The bits of wire and debris drop to the floor.
    MILO
    Centrifugal rotation commenced. One G achieved. Oxygen levels thirteen percent.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Charlie! Charlie, please! We don't have much time. You'll be out of communication range soon. You were put in stasis to enable you to complete your mission, but something went wrong.
    Nothing from Charlie.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    I can't get you home, but I designed the system, and we might be able to get you back into stasis. Give you a chance. Please...
    CHARLIE
    (croak)
    What mission?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    If we can locate the damage, reroute the affected systems --
    Charlie's shock takes a hard left to anger.
    CHARLIE
    What mission?!
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    To colonize a planet orbiting Wolf 1061c, fourteen light years from earth. But... you just launched.
    CHARLIE
    No... No. No-no-no-no-NO!
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Charlie, we have to move fast --
    Charlie pushes hard on her palm.
    CHARLIE
    This isn't real...
    A 1st person P.O.V. FLASH of SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, MECHANICS working on something, looking to the camera for answers. On the wall, the AlcorWorks logo.
    CHARLIE
    Aghhh...! I worked on it.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Yes! You remember...?
    Another FLASH - the same lab. In the B.G., two SOLDIERS stand guard at the door. Anger morphs to panic.
    CHARLIE
    It was military! We were messed up with the D.O.D.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Yes.
    CHARLIE
    Why?! Why military? Why not NASA?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    We'll be extinct in two generations. The public couldn't know.
    And back to shock.
    CHARLIE
    (high pitched, vulnerable)
    ... Did he know?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Who?
    CHARLIE
    The guy, FBI, I called for help. He was nice. But... he was lying.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Oh Charlie, he'd have to lie. As soon as he searched for anything relating to you, Defense would get involved. Anything he said after that is only what they wanted you to hear.
    CHARLIE
    Why...? I was part of it. Why not just tell me?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    The memory fog. No way to anticipate how you'd react, what memories would come back first. You're a threat. Communicate with the wrong person, and it goes public. Widespread panic. Chaos. They couldn't risk it.
    CHARLIE
    I thought... I thought he was doing this. Keeping me here. Making me think I was crazy. He... he didn't tell me Leo was dead. He told me Leo never existed.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Oh God... Charlie, everything... EVERYTHING, from the moment they became aware you were awake, revolved around making sure you didn't retrieve your memories.
    CHARLIE
    So he... he was biding time. Counting down the clock. Waiting for me to...
    A very painful pause. They both know the answer. Charlie's eyes glaze over. She's so far down the rabbit hole, her brain's on overload.
    CHARLIE
    But... I am crazy. Time... disappears... I hear things... see things... Things that aren't there.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    You're not crazy. Listen. The time loss, it's likely isolation induced. You were never supposed to be conscious inside. But the visions... Tell me what you see.
    CHARLIE
    Uhh... flashes, mostly. Rats. God! And my mother, I think... And Leo.... I found pictures! A surprise honeymoon. We looked happy. But... they disappeared. I'm not sure they were ever real.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    They were real. It was in Maui. I was there, Charlie.
    A glimmer of joy momentarily crosses her face.
    CHARLIE
    -- the beach... They made them disappear? How?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    They can do just about anything in the name of National Security. Your first contact would have put into motion a series of security protocols. Remote shutdown of your access clearly failed.
    OLDER WOMAN
    They'd move on to wiping all potential memory triggers, anything easily accessed, starting with the highest ranked emotional connection. You couldn't have access to anything on Leo.
    Charlie swallows hard. Pushes on her wounded palm. A FLASH of a closed coffin.
    CHARLIE
    Leo's real. And he's dead.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Yes.
    Charlie searches for memories. Another FLASH of the project team clearly waiting for her input.
    CHARLIE
    I'm important! They'll... they'll send someone! You must have designed contingency plans...
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Some losses were expected.
    (weeping)
    Not this soon. Not within communication range. Oh God...
    CHARLIE
    ... but... I'm important...
    Nothing but weeping from the other end.
    CHARLIE
    ...No one's coming...
    Shock sucks all emotion from her.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels twelve percent.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    We're running out of time.
    CHARLIE
    What happened to him?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Charlie...
    CHARLIE
    WHAT HAPPENED?!
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    (weeping harder)
    Charlie... Leo died in a car crash a long time ago.
    Charlie covers her head with her arms.
    CHARLIE
    No.. NO! He said I've only been gone three days...
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    You've been in stasis a lot longer than that.
    CHARLIE
    How... how long?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Charlie --
    CHARLIE
    HOW LONG?!
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Twelve years.
    Charlie swallows. It ain't going down easy. A FLASH of a sectioned tray filled with strange gelatinous creatures.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    I'm so sorry, Charlie.
    She looks at her hands. Touches her face. It's not adding up. A warning BEEP from the stats monitor.
    CHARLIE
    What have you done to me?! What have you done?! What have you DONE?!!!
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    SHUT UP! God damn it! Shut your damn mouth and listen.
    Charlie's jaw drops.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    You can waste time and oxygen demanding answers you'll get back once the stasis wears off, and in about ten minutes you'll be out of communication range for good. Then you'll die all alone. Or you can shut up, work with me to fix the problem, and give yourself a chance. I know what I'd choose, but it's your call.
    A long pause. Charlie takes a deep breath. And --
    CHARLIE
    Where do we start?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Good. Okay. First we figure out why you got your wake up call.
    CHARLIE
    Overheated CPU. MILO, which CPU?
    MILO
    Heat levels in CPU 142 surpassed accepted parameters.
    CHARLIE
    What is the function of CPU 142?
    MILO
    CPU 142 monitors and stimulates subject brain activity to avoid cellular atrophy.
    CHARLIE
    Brain atrophy. Did you hear that? Sounds like something I'd like to avoid.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Agreed. You need to isolate a CPU with enough power dedicated to non- essential functions. Shut it down and redirect all brain activity monitoring processes through it.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, list all dedicated processors with non-essential functions.
    MILO
    All non-essential functions allocated to CPU 694.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, danger to life form if all 694 CPU functions disabled?
    MILO
    Zero danger to life form.
    CHARLIE
    Do it. Disable all current CPU 694 functions.
    MILO
    Disabling.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, reroute all processes performed by CPU 142 through CPU 694.
    MILO
    Data exceeds processing capacity.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Putain de merde! (subtitle: Holy Fucking Shit!)
    CHARLIE
    Holy fucking shit doesn't sound good. What now?
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Now, we make hard choices. Disable some low priority systems. Find --
    Muffled sounds of a doorbell in the BG of the call. Then banging.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Shit. Time's up! Listen --
    CHARLIE
    No! You said --
    More banging.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    They're here! Listen! Build a workaround. Get back into stasis.
    OLDER WOMAN
    But do it before oxygen drops below two percent, or you won't have enough to revive!
    CHARLIE
    I can't! I don't know how!
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    Yes, you do. You have all the answers. Figure out your memory triggers, then find the ones you need!
    The sound of a distant explosion in the BG of the call.
    CHARLIE
    It's your design! I need you!
    MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    Get down on the ground! Now!
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    You don't! Find your memory triggers.
    MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    I said down!
    Sounds of a struggle.
    OLDER WOMAN
    Find Leo, Charlie! FIND LEO!
    Gunshots.
    CHARLIE
    No...!
    Then -- Nothing. On the screen: SIGNAL LOST. Charlie paws at the screen, wide eyed.
    CHARLIE
    ... no...
    A long high pitched hum escapes her lips. She's just-this- side of a nervous breakdown.
    CHARLIE
    - hmmmmmm... You can't just do this then go die on me! Oh my God, why did you do this? Why would I let you?! - mmmmm - Oh God, I worked on it. Oh God... God... MILO who authorized Voyager Six Two Seven's mission participation?
    MILO
    Voyager Six Two Seven mission participation authorized by Newton comma Charlotte, Doctor.
    CHARLIE
    Oh God... mmmmm - I did this to myself. Shit. Shit! Okay-okay- okay... Shit. This is good. I worked on it. I know this. Shit. Find Leo. Find Leo? What the hell does that mean? ... mmmmm. Shit!
    Charlie bites her knuckle. Squeezes her head.
    CHARLIE
    It's in here... All in here.., Gotta get at 'em. How? How?!
    MILO
    Oxygen levels eleven percent.
    CHARLIE
    Mmmmm... MILO, show me all low priority system CPU's!
    The screen fills with scrolling files. She manically skims through them. Until --
    CHARLIE
    MILO, stop. Explain kinetic regulation.
    MILO
    Kinetic regulation delivers low grade electrical currents to musculature structures to prevent life form muscle atrophy.
    CHARLIE
    And disabling it would result in...?
    MILO
    The degeneration of muscular tissues, hindering long term life form survival.
    CHARLIE
    And that's labeled low priority?
    MILO
    Yes. Life form would survive journey.
    CHARLIE
    And die when revived.
    MILO
    Life form would survive anywhere from three hours to ten days.
    CHARLIE
    Jesus! That's a big NO! AHHH! I don't have time for this!
    She squeezes her eyes shut.
    CHARLIE
    Come on, Leo. You keep showing up in my brain. Now's the time to make an appearance with something useful.
    She waits. Nothing.
    CHARLIE
    ARGH! MILO, narrow results to only processes that can be disabled without decreasing life expectancy.
    MILO
    There are zero low priority processes that can be disabled without decreasing life expectancy.
    ARGH! She's losing it.
    CHARLIE
    (yells above her head)
    Hard decisions?!!! Find the memory triggers?! Glad someone knows how to do these things!
    CHARLIE
    (screaming)
    Too bad it's not the chick in the fucking box!
    She rubs her palm. Hard.
    CHARLIE
    Aaaaand I'm talking to myself again. And that's the least fucked up thing about this situation!
    Harder. Winces from the pain.
    CHARLIE
    Son of a -
    A FLASH of Leo smiling in greeting as he comes out of an elevator. Charlie double-takes. Stares at her wounded palm. Holy shit! She digs her thumb deep into her palm. Lets out a gasping scream.
    CHARLIE
    You got something I need to know, Leo?! Time for the dead to talk.
    She pushes harder. Screams. Blood drips to the floor. And -- A FLASH of Leo in bed, naked. He's smiling playfully, beckoning from under the sheet.
    CHARLIE
    Yes! No! Something useful! Talk to me! Talk to me!
    She bares her teeth from the pain.
    CHARLIE
    Come on, you bastard!
    Pushes harder. Howls. And -- Nothing. She drops her hand. Frantically gropes around. Then freezes as an idea smashes into her brain. She grabs the I.V. needle. Braces herself against the opposite wall. And --
    CHARLIE
    I'm out of my friggin' mind!
    -- scrapes at the edge. Hard. Fast. Then --
    MILO
    Warning: Inner breach attempt detected.
    CHARLIE
    No shit!
    Scrape scrape scrape.
    MILO
    Warning: Wilful breach of unit is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
    CHARLIE
    (wincing)
    Just do it!
    Scrape scrape scrape. And -- ZAAAAAAAPPPPP! An electric current jolts Charlie hard against the opposite wall. But -- She lunges back. Grabs the needle with shaky hands. Scrapes some more.
    CHARLIE
    Give me my damn memories!
    ZAAAAAAAPPPPP! A FLASH of female hands touching the closed top of a casket, as she -- THUD, smacks into the wall. She can barely move. Covered in sweat. Eyes hollowed out. But -- She reaches for the needle. Only -- She's shaking too much. She can't pick it up!
    CHARLIE
    Please... tell me... please...
    She reaches again. Grasps it. Tries to scrape, but -- She can't hold on. It falls from her trembling fingers. She collapses against the wall. Hugs herself tight. Quivering from tears that won't come. It goes on and on. Until finally --
    CHARLIE
    (shaky, high pitched)
    MILO, run search for a Marjorie Newton, Boston.
    MILO
    No results found.
    Heartbreak crosses her face. Then -- Hope. She holds her breath.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, run search for Linda Newton, Boston.
    MILO
    One result found.
    CHARLIE
    Call contact number.
    MILO
    No signal detected.
    CHARLIE
    Boost signal.
    MILO
    Boosting signal. Attempting connection.
    The sounds of a dial. An eternity. Then --
    LINDA (O.S.)
    (filtered, bad connection)
    Hello?
    CHARLIE
    (voice cracking)
    ... mom...?
    LINDA (O.S.)
    Honey, is that you? What's wrong?
    Tears spring from her eyes. She sniffs them back.
    CHARLIE
    I think you're my mom.
    A FLASH of the young woman making faces as she reads a children's book.
    CHARLIE
    I think I remember you. I want to remember you. I want my mom.
    LINDA (O.S.)
    What? I can barely hear you.
    A FLASH of the young woman cooking.
    CHARLIE
    (louder)
    Just wanted to hear your voice.
    A FLASH of the same woman, older, clasping her hands in joy and pride.
    LINDA (O.S.)
    Charlie, sweetie, what's going on?
    A FLASH of a family dinner table. Kids party hats everywhere.
    CHARLIE
    I don't think anyone's coming.
    A FLASH of the same woman, older, as Leo hugs her.
    LINDA (O.S.)
    Who's not coming? Are you alright?
    More FLASHES. Family moments. A funeral. They come fast. Almost too fast to see. Then -- They're gone. Charlie's crying rivers of silent tears.
    CHARLIE
    I tried to find him. I don't know where else to look. I'm supposed to know, but I don't.
    LINDA (O.S.)
    Oh baby. I know you miss him. It's not good for you being in that house alone. I'll come down. Or better yet, you come up. Spend some time.
    CHARLIE
    He won't tell me what to do.
    LINDA (O.S.)
    Are you driving? It's awfully hard to hear.
    CHARLIE
    (shouting)
    No, mom. I'm in trouble.
    LINDA (O.S.)
    What?! You shoul... ...alk whe... ...ou drive...
    Charlie presses her lips together 'til they disappear.
    CHARLIE
    No, you're right mom. I'm in a tunnel. I love you.
    LINDA (O.S.)
    ...at...? ... an't ..hear... ou...
    CHARLIE
    (shouting)
    I love you!
    Dead air.
    CHARLIE
    Mom! I love you! Mom?!
    SIGNAL LOST appears on the screen.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, reconnect!
    MILO
    No signal detected.
    CHARLIE
    Boost signal.
    MILO
    All auxiliary power diverted to communication. No signal detected.
    CHARLIE
    (screaming)
    Reconnect! Reconnect!! RECONNECT!
    She's clawing at the screen. Shuddering against a wave of silent sobs. It goes on and on until -- There's nothing left but her dead stare. And her breath. She just breathes. The walls close in. TIME JUMP. Another. Another. Then -- The world snaps back into focus.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels six percent.
    Charlie slowly comes around. Strangely calm. Haunted. Empty. The skittering sound. She looks down and sees -- A rat's tail disappear around the far end of the thick waist restraint. No flinch. She stares with fascination. A FLASH of Charlie's hands holding a rat as she places it in a cage. The number 17 is written in marker on its side.
    CHARLIE
    You're not here. You're a memory.
    More skittering.
    CHARLIE
    Nobody here... just me...
    (pats the monitor)
    Me 'n MILO. Rats in a cage...
    (long painful beat)
    MILO, what happens to the human body during deep space decompression?
    MILO
    During decompression, life form experiences immediate convulsions and paralysis.
    Charlie listens. Numb.
    MILO
    Water vapor forms in the soft tissues and venous blood, causing marked swelling of the body to roughly two times its normal volume. Heart rate rises initially, but falls rapidly thereafter. Arterial blood pressure also falls over a period of 30 to 60 seconds, while venous pressure rises due to distention of the venous system by gas and vapor. Venous pressure will exceed arterial pressure within one minute. Circulation will cease. After an initial rush of gas from the lungs, gas and water vapor continue to flow outward through the airways cooling the mouth and nose to near-freezing temperatures; the remainder of the body will follow at a slower rate.
    CHARLIE
    Will it hurt?
    MILO
    It is estimated that consciousness will likely be retained for nine to eleven seconds, during which, extreme pain is experienced.
    No movement. The only sound, her slow, steady breath. Then -- She swallows hard. And nods.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, disengage locks.
    MILO
    It is not advisable to disengage locks at this time.
    Charlie closes her eyes tight. Steels herself.
    CHARLIE
    Override. Disengage locks.
    MILO
    Override sequence initiated. Reenter authorization code.
    Charlie groans with weary frustration. Punches 'NM347' onto the touchscreen. And -- A FLASH of Leo being goofy at a Halloween party dressed in old-time prison stripes, a giant ball and chain on his ankle. Charlie's fingers waiver over the touchscreen. She smiles sadly.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels five percent.
    CHARLIE
    Sorry buddy. You're kinda cute, but as far as spilling vital info goes, you're pretty useless.
    Punches in 'cda'.
    MILO
    Lock disengage initiated. Prepare for decompression in five...
    She settles back. Closes her eyes.
    MILO
    ... four...
    A FLASH of the closed coffin seen earlier.
    MILO
    ... three...
    Another FLASH of Leo.
    MILO
    ... two...
    Rapid FLASHES of the coffin mixed with flashes of Leo. And in the flashes, the dark wooden coffin flickers to metal.
    MILO
    ...one...
    She yelps.
    CHARLIE
    Abort disengage!
    MILO
    Lock disengage aborted.
    Charlie quivers with relief. Gapes. Then laughs.
    CHARLIE
    Find Leo! FIND LEO! Car accident, my ass! MILO, how many Voyager units are there?!
    MILO
    There are ten thousand Voyager units.
    She double takes. Whoa, these guys don't screw around.
    CHARLIE
    Where are units located?
    MILO
    Unable to determine unit locations. Input variable data.
    CHARLIE
    UGH! In relation to Voyager Two Six Seven!
    MILO
    All units located within 90 foot radius of Voyager Two Six Seven.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, can you give me a visual on that?
    MILO
    Visual already established.
    Charlie raises an eyebrow.
    CHARLIE
    What!? MILO, establish visual of units.
    MILO
    Visual of cryogenic units already established.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, I don't see anything!
    MILO
    Human ability to visualize is impeded by lack of light source.
    CHARLIE
    I don't understand!
    MILO
    A light source is needed for the human eye to interpret visual data.
    CHARLIE
    ARGH! I don't understand!
    MILO
    Would you like me to turn on exterior lights?
    CHARLIE
    What? YES!
    MILO
    Engaging exterior lights.
    And -- CLICK. Two beams of light shoot out from the screen in front of her. The monitor's not black. It's see-thru! Through the monitor she follows the beams, eerie as they cut through darkness. And sees -- A CRYO UNIT across from her, a vague human shape visible within. CLICK. Two more beams emanate from the screen, illuminating -- More units. Beside the first. Above. Below. CLICK. More units. CLICK. More. CLICK. A wall of 'em. CLICK. A MASSIVE wall. Vague human shapes in CRYO UNITS stacked and lined in every direction as far as the eye can see. Her jaw drops. She stares in awe. She presses her face to the monitor. Her eyes following the wall of units up -- -- up -- -- to a distant edge, and -- Stars beyond. Lots of stars. Charlie digests. Shaky.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, how many units are still operational?
    MILO
    Eight thousand seventeen fully operational. One thousand nine hundred eighty-three lost.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, is this unit labelled lost?
    MILO
    Voyageur Two Six Seven designation: lost.
    Awe slowly morphs to rage.
    CHARLIE
    How many?! How many are awake in lost units?
    MILO
    I do not understand the question.
    CHARLIE
    Haw many are awake, you piece of shit?! How many are waiting to die?!
    MILO
    I do not understand the question.
    CHARLIE
    How many are bottled up? How many are you torturing? How many have you written off as garbage?!
    MILO
    I do not understand the question.
    She seethes with frustration. Violently looks away.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, disengage exterior lights!
    The world outside the monitor goes black.
    MILO
    Exterior lights disengaged.
    She focuses on her breath. Reels in her rage. Until --
    CHARLIE
    (spitting)
    MILO, how many life forms are revived in lost units?
    MILO
    One.
    She wasn't expecting that.
    CHARLIE
    Voyageur Two Six Seven?
    MILO
    Affirmative. Voyageur Two Six seven.
    CHARLIE
    The others...?
    MILO
    Expired during launch.
    Charlie sighs with relief. Only momentarily.
    CHARLIE
    Leo! Is Leo alive?
    MILO
    I do not understand the term Leo.
    CHARLIE
    Damn it! Give me visuals inside of all units.
    Visuals of sleeping FACES appear on the screen at lightning speed.
    CHARLIE
    Slow down!
    They slow. One after another after another --
    CHARLIE
    Uhh...! Narrow search to males.
    - after another after another -
    CHARLIE
    Limit to uhh... brown eyes!
    - after another after another -
    MILO
    Oxygen levels four percent.
    CHARLIE
    AHHH! I don't have time for this!
    And -- Another FLASH of a coffin flickering from wood to metal. She flinches. Keeps scanning, panicked. A FLASH of the rat in her hand, the number 17 on it's side. But -- The '17' flickers. Blinks to '542'.
    CHARLIE
    Stop!
    The image onslaught stops. Charlie's lip quivers.
    CHARLIE
    Milo. Is unit 542 operational?
    MILO
    Unit 542 fully operational.
    She shudders uncontrollably.
    CHARLIE
    Can you give me a visual on that life form?
    A visual of a MAN appears on the monitor. He's strapped in. Eyes closed. A light frost coats his body. Charlie studies the image. Touches the screen. His face.
    CHARLIE
    ... Where's the scar...
    Recognition seeps in.
    CHARLIE
    Leo...
    She pushes away from the screen hard. Warning beeps from the vitals monitor. She touches her face. Looks at her hands.
    CHARLIE
    (whispering)
    MILO, how old is Voyager Two Six Seven?
    MILO
    Voyager Two Six Seven is twelve years, forty two days, seventeen hours, fifty six minutes old.
    Her mouth hangs open.
    CHARLIE
    MILO... what is Voyager Two Six Seven...?
    MILO
    Voyager Two Six Seven is a genetic human replication designed for human race propagation.
    The words hang in the air. She digests. A tittering laugh escapes her lips. Manic denial. A FLASH of Leo's beaming face among a crowd in an auditorium.
    CHARLIE
    No. No, I have memories... feelings... How...? No...
    A FLASH of rat 17 in his cage.
    MILO
    Memory is recorded through extensive mind mapping but can not be read or processed without the proper scaffolding to interpret the data. Many attempts at memory transfer were made --
    FLASH - Mutated rats. Extra arms, two heads, twisted torsos - all labelled 17-3. Charlie winces.
    MILO
    -- but attempts were abandoned by the scientific community with a general consensus that transfer to human genetic replication was not possible --
    ANOTHER FLASH - Jelly-like creatures in dishes, all with labels reading 17-12.
    MILO
    -- until an aggressive personality transfer approach was discovered by Dr. Charlotte Newton.
    A FLASH of Leo in the crowded auditorium.
    MILO
    This new approach provided the necessary framework. Emotions, being chemical surges in the body that happen in response to experiences --
    Charlie's lips mouth the words as MILO explains.
    MILO
    -- are coded into the body in the form of muscle memory --
    A FLASH of several cages with identical rats, all labelled 17-
    MILO
    -- similar to water recording the size, shape, and speed of a dropped stone in the form of ripples.
    Charlie's still mouthing the words.
    MILO
    Stimulating the original muscles to excite the memories, the ripples were then recorded onto liquid polymer and stored.
    FLASH - Leo's face in the auditorium crowd holding two thumbs up.
    CHARLIE
    ...no...
    FULL FLASHBACK Leo's face looks on with pride and love from the crowded auditorium.
    MILO (V.O.)
    The process is reversed to install memories at appropriate times in the human replication development.
    The shot swings hard 180 degrees to the stage, and we see -- 45 YEAR OLD CHARLIE at a podium giving a lecture.
    45 YEAR OLD CHARLIE
    This ensures that each memory is delivered with the correct accompanying muscle stimulation and glandular chemical release --
    SMASH BACK TO SCENE
    CHARLIE
    -- transforming data into experience --
    MILO
    Correct. And rendering replication identical to original.
    No reaction. Nothing. It's too much. Until finally --
    CHARLIE
    I'm a clone...
    And she-- Lets loose an anguished guttural wail.
    CHARLIE
    I'm a FUCKING CLONE!
    She smashes her fists against the monitor.
    CHARLIE
    I've never --
    SMASH!
    CHARLIE
    -- been out --
    SMASH!
    CHARLIE
    -- of this fucking box!
    She's yowling and bashing the walls.
    CHARLIE
    Expendable --
    SMASH!
    CHARLIE
    -- fucking--
    SMASH!
    CHARLIE
    -- space garbage!!!
    Charlie wraps her arms around her head. Massive wailing sobs wrack her body. They go on and on. Until finally -- They subside. She raises her head.
    CHARLIE
    (whispers)
    Putain de merde... (subtitle: Holy Fucking Shit...)
    She double-takes. Her mouth falls open.
    CHARLIE
    You little bitch! MILO, play last transmission.
    LINDA (O.S.)
    (recorded)(filtered, bad
    connection) Hello?
    CHARLIE
    (voice cracking)
    ... mom...?
    Charlie flinches at the sound.
    CHARLIE
    Milo, stop! Play previous transmission.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    (recorded)
    Charlie, are you there...? Are you there...? Charlie, I can help. I want to help.
    CHARLIE
    (recorded)
    I never gave you my name, bitch.
    OLDER WOMAN (O.S.)
    (recorded)
    You didn't need to. I knew who you were the second I heard you.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, pause transmission. Can you run voice recognition on caller?
    MILO
    Running voice recognition. Caller identification, Newton, Charlotte, Dr., 3871 Inwood Dr., Houston, Texas. Age 61. Born August 1st, 1962, Boston, Massachusetts.
    Charlie nods. She already knew.
    CHARLIE
    I'm you. You, in a box.
    (beat)
    I hope it hurt when they killed you.
    And she's shrieking. And pounding at the walls -
    CHARLIE
    YOU PSYCHO BITCH!!!
    -- and pounding -- And pounding. Until -- She's got nothing left. Only her heaving gasps remain.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels approaching critical.
    She grows very still. Looks up at the LEO CLONE still on her screen. Touches it.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, record a message for Voyager Five Four Two.
    MILO
    Recording message.
    CHARLIE
    Leo... if you're hearing this, you made it. And, well... I didn't. I'm kinda outta time here. I have all these half-memories... memories of a life I never had. A life with you. And now I'm going to die.
    She squeezes back emotion. Pulls herself together.
    CHARLIE
    You're nothing to me. Not really. I've never touched you. Never breathed you in. But I know your scent down to my bones. So... how do I wanna spend the remaining seven minutes of my... MILO, how long have I been awake?
    MILO
    One hundred two minutes.
    CHARLIE
    ... My one hundred and nine minute life? I'll be gone. Without ever having understood what I'm losing... But you... You have to live. Knowing. It wasn't really us... But I still feel...
    (long beat)
    It was real. For me. If that means anything now. It doesn't seem like enough... but what more is there to say? What more can I say? What do I wanna say? What do I want to...? What... do I want...?
    It hits her. BOOM.
    CHARLIE
    I wanna live...
    She wipes her face clean of snot and tears.
    CHARLIE
    Fuck that noise. MILO, give me all those low priority processes again!
    Endless pages of files appear on the screen. She skims like her life depends on it... 'cause it does.
    CHARLIE
    (as she skims)
    Sorry Leo! No time. I may be genetically manufactured to love you, but I don't know you from Adam. Buy me a drink if I get outta this mess.
    She pauses, wracking her brain.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, locate... Shit! What is it...?
    MILO
    Can not locate 'shit what is it'.
    CHARLIE
    AHHHH! Think! A program... a process... a protocol... something that partially revives life form at regular intervals.
    MILO
    Psychological Integrity Protocol partially revives life form at regular intervals to allow for REM sleep.
    CHARLIE
    Yes! That's it! Risk to life form if protocol disabled?
    MILO
    Risk of irreversible psychosis on revival.
    CHARLIE
    Psychosis? Yikes. How great is the risk?
    MILO
    Twenty percent.
    CHARLIE
    Jesus... crazy's better than dead! Do it. Disable Psychological Integrity Protocol, and redirect all remaining CPU 142 functions.
    MILO
    Redirecting.
    Charlie yelps with glee.
    CHARLIE
    Holy God, I might just pull this off. Hear that Leo? And there better be wine packed away in this crate, cause we're gonna celebrate. Although technically, we're really under age.
    MILO
    Data exceeds processing capacity.
    CHARLIE
    ... Argh! ...
    She scans more files like crazy.
    CHARLIE
    Okay, I'm already going in with a chance of crazy-town. Let's see what other horrific risk I can add to my arrival loot bag.
    A warning beep. And --
    MILO
    Oxygen levels three percent.
    FLASHING RED LIGHTS fill the unit. The monitor lights up with a giant O2 indicator deep in the red zone.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, what the hell?!
    MILO
    Chance of survival below acceptable parameters. C.E.P. initiated. Thirty seconds to delivery.
    CHARLIE
    What the hell is C.E.P?!
    MILO
    Compassionate Euthanasia Protocol. Twenty-nine...
    CHARLIE
    What?! Override!
    MILO
    Can not override C.E.P. Twenty- eight...
    Charlie's freaking.
    CHARLIE
    You have got to be friggin' kidding! MILO, delivery how?!
    MILO
    Intravenous delivery. Twenty- seven...
    Charlie looks at the inside of her elbow.
    CHARLIE
    It's disconnected!
    MILO
    Secondary unit functioning. Twenty- six...
    CHARLIE
    Secondary? AGH! MILO, release waist restraint!
    MILO
    Command not recognized. Twenty- five...
    CHARLIE
    AHH! MILO, disengage harness.
    MILO
    Command not recognized. Twenty- four...
    CHARLIE
    Disengage the damn seat belt!
    MILO
    Command not recognized. Twenty- three...
    CHARLIE
    Damn it! I know this! I'm supposed to know this!
    MILO
    Twenty-two... Would you like a sedative?
    CHARLIE
    NO! Damn it.
    MILO
    Twenty-one...
    CHARLIE
    MILO, display unit specs!
    MILO
    Displaying unit specifications. Twenty...
    Charlie pours over the diagram.
    MILO
    Nineteen...
    Zooms in. Rotates it.
    CHARLIE
    Where is it? Where is it?!
    MILO
    Eighteen...
    CHARLIE
    You bastard!
    MILO
    Seventeen...
    CHARLIE
    Yes! MILO, disengage Thoraxel Med- Ring.
    MILO
    Sixteen... Disengaging Thoraxel Med- Ring may result in injury. Do you wish to proceed?
    CHARLIE
    Yes! YES!
    MILO
    Fifteen... Disengaging.
    The waist restraint lights up. A whirring is heard.
    MILO
    Fourteen...
    It pulls apart at the middle, receding into the wall. Slowly.
    MILO
    Thirteen...
    Very slowly.
    CHARLIE
    Come on, come on!
    MILO
    Twelve...
    She's prying it apart with her hands.
    MILO
    Eleven... Unit damage detected.
    She lets loose a anguished bellow as she pries harder --
    MILO
    Ten... Warning: Wilful damage to unit is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Nine...
    -- and harder -- -- until --
    MILO
    Eight...
    The arms retract into the wall. Charlie -- Slides down the wall --
    MILO
    Seven...
    -- Get's wedged in the middle --
    MILO
    Six...
    -- curls her shoulders -- -- drops her arm as low as it can go --
    MILO
    Five...
    -- fumbles for the leg restraint -- -- rips it off --
    MILO
    Four...
    -- yelps -- -- hoists herself back up --
    MILO
    Three...
    -- drops her arm down the other side --
    MILO
    Two...
    -- grabs the other leg restraint --
    MILO
    One...
    -- rips it off -- And -- An I.V. comes away with it. The clear liquid inside suddenly clouds with blue. The flashing lights cease.
    MILO
    C.E.P. delivered.
    And Charlie's laughing. And crying. And laughing some more. She hoists herself back up.
    MILO
    Elevated heart rate. Would you like a sedative?
    This makes her laugh harder.
    CHARLIE
    (grumbling)
    You need permission to administer a damn sedative, but not a lethal injection?! Jesus Christ!
    (louder)
    Leo, you hearing what I have to deal with here?
    Her laughter subsides.
    CHARLIE
    Let's finish this!
    She whacks the monitor hard.
    CHARLIE
    And MILO, if you try to kill me one more time, I'm gonna finish the job for you and take you out with me. Got it?
    MILO
    Willful damage to this --
    CHARLIE
    Shut up and bite me.
    She wipes sweat off her face.
    CHARLIE
    MILO what CPU controls euthanasia protocols?
    MILO
    CPU 67536 designated for euthanasia protocols.
    CHARLIE
    What else runs through it?
    MILO
    CPU 67536 designated for all doomsday scenarios.
    CHARLIE
    So all scenarios where you're required to kill me.
    MILO
    Yes.
    CHARLIE
    Good! Disable all doomsday scenarios.
    MILO
    Disabling doomsday scenarios is against the U.N. Ethical Medical Practices Act and could result in life form subjected to any of three thousand nine hundred and twelve slow death scenarios that fall under the definition of cruel and unusual torture.
    CHARLIE
    In other words, you won't kill me even if I beg.
    MILO
    That is correct.
    She rolls her eyes holy-fuck-I-hope-I-know-what-I'm-doing style. Then --
    CHARLIE
    Do it!
    MILO
    Disabling doomsday scenarios.
    CHARLIE
    Does that provide enough power to reroute damaged functions?
    MILO
    Yes.
    CHARLIE
    Do it!
    MILO
    Rerouting remaining processes from CPU 142.
    CHARLIE
    I think we're still recording. You hearing this, Leo? Forget the wine. I need a Valium!
    MILO
    Would you like a sedative?
    CHARLIE
    No! Will the workaround work?
    MILO
    Unable to calculate. Recommend running test simulation.
    CHARLIE
    Do it!
    MILO
    Test simulation not recommended.
    CHARLIE
    Oh, you've got to be kidding me! You just recommended it!
    MILO
    Minimum time to complete simulation, twelve minutes.
    MILO
    Maximum time remaining with current oxygen levels, seven minutes thirty two seconds.
    CHARLIE
    Gotcha. No test run. MILO, start life form stasis reentry protocol.
    MILO
    Can not complete request. Life form off line.
    CHARLIE
    ARGH! Explain!
    MILO
    All systems not connected to life form.
    CHARLIE
    What's not connected?
    MILO
    Intravenous life support offline. Thoraxel Med-Ring offline. Brain activity offline.
    She glances warily at the head strap and the missing wires. Shit.
    CHARLIE
    Easy stuff first, Charlie.
    Looks down at her feet and sees -- The I.V. line filled with blue liquid. Looks at the arm I.V line.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, does life form require both I.V.s?
    MILO
    Affirmative. Line one for nutrients, line two for stasis management. Oxygen levels critical.
    CHARLIE
    Okay. Okay --!
    Again, she looks down at her feet, but this time she sees -- -- the I.V. tube tangled in -- An ARMY OF RATS. She squeals. Leaps away in blind terror, bashing her head against the top. She shimmies up the sides with her feet, her head and shoulders curled tight into the far end. There's nowhere for her to go! A series of panicked yelps. The ALARM BLARES. The monitor lights up with her off-the- chart stats.
    CHARLIE
    Not real! NOT REAL! NOT! REAL!
    She's saying the words, but she sure ain't believing 'em. She 'acks' out shrill attempt at words. Wrestles for control of her breath. The rats stare back at her. A FLASH - The mutated rats. Extra arms, two heads, twisted torsos.
    CHARLIE
    It wasn't me! IT WASN'T ME!!
    The rats just stare.
    CHARLIE
    Memories. You're memories! Not here...! Not real...
    She cringes. Winces. Lowers her feet into the horde. They crawl all over her feet, their tails like little snakes.
    CHARLIE
    (squeaking)
    Shit! God! Fuck!
    She squeezes her eyes tight. Stands firm. Twitches with the feel of them.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels critical.
    CHARLIE
    ...not real not real not real...
    Then, she - Crouches as low as she can get. Reaches down. Plunges her hand into their midst. Paws around. Retrieves the I.V.
    CHARLIE
    (through gritted teeth)
    MILO, expel all liquid in the IV tube!
    MILO
    Expelling fluids.
    The blue fluid squirts out. It sizzles as it hits rat flesh. They squeal in pain. Charlie cringes at the sound as they writhe around her hand and feet. Fumbles with the IV needle.
    CHARLIE
    Not real... not real... MILO, you're not gonna poison me again, are you?
    MILO
    Doomsday scenarios disabled.
    CHARLIE
    They better be.
    Attempts to insert it into her ankle blind. Hisses with pain.
    CHARLIE
    I've got a funny idea of what the word easy means. Shit. Shit. MILO, can you give me a visual on my left ankle?
    Her left ankle appears on the monitor. No rats. Her face is pressed right up against the screen.
    CHARLIE
    No rats... No rats...
    She fumbles around using the visual as a guide. Inserts. Winces as she misses the target.
    CHARLIE
    Son of a bitch!
    Tries again. And -- Nails it! YES! But -- A half-burned dying rat sinks its teeth into the fleshy part of her palm. She cries out. Elbows herself back up. Smashes them with her heel hard. Over and over. And over and over.
    CHARLIE
    It! Wasn't! Me!
    Until -- She looks down. There's nothing there. Her breathing morphs to a slow pant. The warning alarm dies.
    CHARLIE
    Friggin' memories. MILO, engage Thoraxel Med-Ring!
    MILO
    Engaging.
    The waist restraint extends from the wall, slowly closing around her waist. As it does -- She eyes the arm I.V. warily. Closes her eyes.
    CHARLIE
    No rats this time, Charlie. No rats, no nothing. Okay?
    She opens her eyes. Holds her breath. Reaches out. And -- All is normal. She snatches the I.V. by the needle. Lets out a relieved sigh. Inspects the needle, concerned.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, man, you couldn't have electrocuted me before I dulled this?!
    She makes a fist, raises her arm. She steadies the needle, grits her teeth, and -- Hesitates. Cleans it between her lips. Squeezes her fist again, and -- Jabs it in. She misses the mark. Droplets of blood appear at the jab site.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels critical.
    She groans. Pushes her body weight against the wall to squeeze her upper arm. Tightens her fist. Her veins stand out. Sweat coats her face. Her hand shakes as she lines up the needle and -- Slides it in.
    CHARLIE
    Yes!
    The waist restraint is still closing. She grabs the head restraint with its missing wires. Straps it on.
    CHARLIE
    Please work, please work, please work...! MILO, is brain activity monitor functioning?
    MILO
    Negative. Receiving readings from only two of six electrodes.
    CHARLIE
    Shit! Shit shit shit-shit-SHIT!
    She rips it off. Pulls the whole thing as hard as she can, until --
    CHARLIE
    Please don't break, please --
    -- the lead wire base pulls down from the ceiling and hangs. She fumbles with one of the wires. Unwinds it into three strands. Rips one out. MacGyvers the hell out of it by connecting the thinner wires to the empty electrodes and the base.
    MILO
    Oxygen levels critical.
    Straps it back on.
    CHARLIE
    Is it online?
    MILO
    Negative. Four of six electrodes active.
    She yelps. Rips it off again. MacGyvers some more. Straps it on -- And --
    MILO
    Brain activity monitor online.
    YES! But -- The waist restraint is still closing!!! ACK!
    CHARLIE
    ARGH! You can shoot me fourteen light years into space, but it takes twenty damn minutes to close a waist restraint?! Come on!
    And it clicks into place. She cries out with joy!
    MILO
    Thoraxel Med-Ring online.
    CHARLIE
    Yes! MILO, oxygen levels?!
    MILO
    Oxygen levels zero point six-two percent.
    She winces. Shit. A gut punch would have been easier to take. She takes a deep breath.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, is there any chance I'll survive revival...?
    MILO
    No.
    Another gut punch. Ouch. She nods. As much as the head restraint will allow. Stiff upper-lipping it. It's over.
    CHARLIE
    Leo? Hey, Leo. Looks like we're not gonna be able to get that drink. So look...
    A lone tear streams down her cheek.
    CHARLIE
    I'm not the only one. Lost. There are others. Don't spend too much time twisted up about me, okay? Find someone. Someone who will...
    A long beat.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, end recording.
    MILO
    Recording terminated.
    She closes her eyes. Resigned to her fate.
    CHARLIE
    (whispering)
    Goodbye Leo...
    She breathes. -- in... and out... -- in... and out... The O2 indicator numbers on the monitor scroll down and down. -- in... and out... -- in... and out... Then -- Charlie's eyes open wide.
    CHARLIE
    Others... MILO, how much oxygen remains in lost units?
    MILO
    One thousand nine hundred eighty- two lost units remain at full oxygen reserve.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, repeat.
    MILO
    One thousand nine hundred eighty- two lost units remain at full oxygen reserve.
    CHARLIE
    (high pitched)
    Reroute oxygen from lost units to unit Two Six Seven.
    She holds her breath.
    MILO
    Reroute can not be completed at this time. Access to individual unit controls security restricted.
    She winces. Gut punch number three. Her body quivers with soundless sobs. The O2 indicator scrolls down and down. Then --
    MILO
    It will take approximately fourteen thousand two hundred twenty-seven minutes to override security restriction. Recommend stasis reentry to preserve life form while override is performed.
    She double-takes. Catches her breath. Holy shit!
    CHARLIE
    MILO...?
    MILO
    Would you like to commence stasis reentry protocol while I perform security override?
    And she's grinning. And laughing. And bawling.
    CHARLIE
    Yes! YES! I'd kiss you if you had lips! Commence stasis protocol!
    MILO
    Commencing stasis protocol. Would you like a sedative?
    CHARLIE
    Yes. Yes I would!
    MILO
    Administering sedative. Commencing transfusion of cryoprotectant for vitrification.
    She's drifting off.
    MILO
    Commencing security restriction override. Core temperature 98.2.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, I'm sorry for hitting you.
    MILO
    Apology accepted.
    Really sleepy.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, what's it like? The planet?
    MILO
    Wolf 1061c has an orbital period of 17.9 days, and an estimated surface gravity of 1.6 times that on Earth. Its mass is about 4.3 times that --
    Eyes half-closed.
    CHARLIE
    Stop. Tell me about that beach on Maui.
    MILO
    Kapalua Bay is a crescent shaped white sand beach located on the north-west side of the island.
    A FLASH of Leo smiling lovingly, somewhere sunny.
    MILO
    It is protected by two coral reefs. The aquatic life forms include butterfly fish, parrot fish, damsel fish, surgeon fish, moorish idol, tang, wrasse, box fish, perch --
    She's almost out. Her eyes close. But --
    MILO
    Trigger fish, goat fish, porcupine fish, hawk fish, scorpion fish, jacks, cornet fish --
    She fights her way back to consciousness.
    CHARLIE
    MILO, rename Voyager Two Six Seven, Charlie.
    MILO
    Voyager Two Six Seven renamed Charlie.
    CHARLIE
    MILO... thank y...
    And she's out.
    MILO
    Good night, Charlie.
    All is quiet.
    MILO
    Core temperature 92.3.
    The screen dims. As it does, words appear: Security restriction override running. Powering down unit to hibernation mode. Core Temperature 73.6. Oxygen levels: 0.378% The core temperature numbers scroll down and down and down. Ice crystals form on Charlie's skin. And -- As the screen dims to black, the oxygen runs down to - Zero. All is dark but a dim green glow. And with that, we --
    FADE OUT

Summary: A woman awakens in an airtight medical cryogenic unit, and discovers that she is trapped and that the unit's oxygen levels are falling rapidly. Suffering from memory loss, she does not remember who she is or how she got there. She is assisted by an advanced AI named M.I.L.O. (Medical Interface Liaison Officer), but it refuses to open the cryo unit without an administrator code. Using M.I.L.O., she is able to transmit outside the pod and contact emergency services. She provides them with the cryo unit's model and serial number, which are printed on the interior. Upon contacting the manufacturer they are told the unit was destroyed three years prior. Unable to recall her memories, she looks for clues about her past by searching for pictures and articles from M.I.L.O. and finds her name, Elizabeth (Liz) Hansen. She realizes she is a cryogenic doctor. She finds her husband, Léo Ferguson, and his contact number by accessing her social media, but when she calls his number a woman answers. She tells the woman that she is Léo's wife and demands to speak to him. The woman seems confused and hangs up. As the oxygen level continues to fall, Liz begins hallucinating and tries to open the pod, only to receive an electric shock. She then receives a call back from the police but suspects they are hiding something from her, and disconnects. The unknown woman she called earlier rings and tells her that Léo is dead. She also gives her the administrator code to open the pod, but tells her that if she opens the pod, she will die. Liz uses the code to give herself administrator access, but stops short of opening the pod when the unknown woman begs her to listen. Following the woman's instructions, Liz accesses controls for a centrifuge, and turns the centrifuge off. She begins floating weightlessly. After a brief explanation, it is revealed that she was placed into hypersleep 12 years ago, and has just embarked on a 34-year journey to a planet 14 light-years away. The mission is secret and mankind will be extinct in the near future due to a deadly virus – the virus that killed Léo. Heartbroken, she learns that the awakening was due to a processor overheating, and realizes she must divert the functions of the processor to a less sophisticated processor assigned to non-essential functions, but fails since the data exceeds that processor's capacity. As time passes and with the oxygen level fading, she prepares for suicide by attempting to open the pod. Shortly after, she discovers Léo is also in hypersleep in the damaged spaceship together with nearly 10,000 others, but she notices he lacks a scar on his forehead that he had before. Upon further investigation, through a video of a presentation  by an elderly version of her, it is revealed that she is a genetic clone with the original Elizabeth Hansen's personality and memories implanted, including memories of Léo. The woman she has been speaking to on earth designed the hypersleep units, but the call disconnects as the spacecraft moves out of communications range. M.I.L.O. activates a euthanasia protocol due to a perceived zero percent chance of survival; however, Liz manages to deactivate the euthanasia processor and successfully reassigns the malfunctioning processor's functions to it. As her oxygen level counts down to zero, Liz manages to reroute oxygen from the pods containing dead colonists, and M.I.L.O. puts her back in hypersleep. The clones of Léo and Elizabeth are then shown on their new home planet, smiling and embracing each other.