body. He is as
pale as death.
For him time has really stopped running. But the
screens show something happened.
A quiver of the right hand. He moves a finger, raises
his hand.
Slowly, he opens his eyes. Pupils veiled from a long
sleep.
A few seconds, as long as eternity. A HOORAY! AS
DEAFENING AS THUNDER bursts out.
INT. ALPHACITY COMPUTER SCIENCE INSTITUTE -- three
days later morning
The scientists are gathered in front of the director
and Eve. An electric atmosphere. The director stands up.
DIRECTOR
A week has passed from the contagion. Now the
treatment is ready to be used on a large scale. Unfortunately the
last tests had a negative outcome. We can cure only part of the
population.
A shiver runs through the group.
EVE
I thank all of you for your dedication and team
spirit. As said by the Director, the outcome is uncertain.
SCIENTIST
Can you quantify the result?
EVE
The success rate is between fifty and eighty per
cent.
beat
Whatever happens, we must be proud of our work: we
have done everything possible. In a few hours, millions of people
will be brought back to life.
Those in the hall feel a surreal calm. Eve turns her
eyes towards the screen above the platform. A low altitude shot of
Alphacity appears.
Streets and buildings scattered with an expanse of
yellow dots, among which show up vivid red lights.
EVE
The infected are yellow. The deaths in red have
reached the ten percent of the population. Now I am freeing the
repair programs.
A circular wave spreads from a corner.
Like a foaming torrent, it flies along the streets,
insinuates itself into the buildings, invades the basements,
progressively coloring the town with green.
But here and there red specks flash tenaciously.
Eve raises her arm towards a number on the right of
the map, fluctuating unceasingly.
EVE
That's the success rate. In half an hour, we will
have the first estimate.
Bodies frozen by tension, exclamations turned to
WHISPERS. Data are updated. The verdict arrives and is received IN
TOTAL SILENCE.
EXT. alphacity -- EVENING
Long silent processions, shining with the lights the
inhabitants hold in their hands, moving towards a single
destination, the main square of Alphacity, where the ceremonies are
taking place.
They stop in front of a platform at one side of the
square.
ADMIRAL
We are here to bid the last farewell to our parents,
sisters, brothers, relatives and friends that a cruel fate has
robbed of life. For all of them, I am asking for a minute of
silence.
The people of the Caravels bend their heads.
ADMIRAL
A month ago, we were celebrating the beginning of our
voyage and the birth of the Alpha Centauri Republic. The moment we
waited for so long. But the evil ravaged our minds and killed the
most unlucky of us. Now we are here again, to grieve for our dead
and dedicate our lives to the objective we have chosen to follow by
embarking on the Caravels.
turning towards Eve
To this woman, I say thank you for having brought us
back to life and having given us the opportunity of restarting our
mission.
After an EMOTIONAL SILENCE, the audience bursts into
a FLOOD OF APPLAUSE. Eve goes to the platform.
EVE
I decided to take part in the voyage to Alpha
Centauri because we can give dignity to the virtual people only by
migrating to a new world.
She stares at the living sea; she senses their
emotions.
EVE
Your presence this evening is for me your biggest
gift: in this moment I can feel the force of our solidarity and the
firmness of our motivations.
When Eve leaves the platform, her friends and
colleagues run up to her.
Victoria and Adam hug the woman. The COMMANDER OF
SPECIAL FORCES is among them.
COMMANDER OF SPECIAL FORCES
Congratulations!
He draws her aside.
commander of special forces
We completed the inspection of the underground world,
but we couldn't find Nihil. He must be on the surface.
EVE
Have you picked up his trail?
COMMANDER OF SPECIAL FORCES
Not yet, but the search has narrowed to a