Most people including my own family does not know i write. As i was going through my files I found this screenplay i wrote in 1998. It was for a creative writing class i had in school. The theme was a children s fairy tale of our choosing. We had to twist and mold it into a story of our own. After it was written, we acted out the play. I thought i would show a partial glimpse into the thoughts of Michael Rose. Admission is free!
This is the first time i have ever posted any of my screenplays, stories, poems, etc online! Please note it is copyrighted by law.
Jack Styles was the best. As a system analyst for IO TECH, he had saved countless corporations from immense financial loss, information piracy, and system crashes. Life in the new millennium was called the “ Wired Age.” All of mankind had finally embraced technology with open arms. The computer had become an extension of oneself. Existence was precise and orderly.
Jack absorbed himself in his job. That obsessive dedication is what made him so good. It was all he had left. He had lost his wife Brianna and their daughter Dava during the Great Systems Crash of 1999. During that horrific time, a simple oversight by the world’s computer programmers led to a massive shutdown of worldwide systems. The style women were killed when a malfunction in radar tracking caused the airplane to crash into the Atlantic Ocean. It was ten years ago. Jack could never bring himself to let go. He ran from the pain but somehow it always followed him. Fifteen years later, the only thing that mattered was the job. The year 2014 had enough responsibilities to worry about. For Jack, keeping busy was the only way to survive. “If I just keep busy I’ll be fine” he told himself. If only he had known of the cruel fate that waited for him.
“JACK! WACK UP!” The words went through Jack’s subconscious mind like a shot. Wait a minute… this was real. Jack rose from his bed like a spring. He turned to the wall monitor and tired his best to shrug off the morning drowsiness.
“Mr. Slogan” Jack snapped to attention. “Can I help you sire?” Sloan Tanners face was a mask of concern. The billionaire media-mogul and owner of IO TECH usually displayed a tough poker face, but something was definitely wrong now. Sloan looked away for a moment, then turned back to face Jack. “It’s the Mystic, Jack, she’s stirring up trouble again.” “How so?” Jack asked. “The usual rumors of the datalypse, death, cold, dark, soulless voids; that sort of thing. People are starting to listen to her. That’s not good for business and it’s definitely not good for the world order. We can’t afford any divisions Jack. My bottom line isn't the only one we have to worry about. “The Mystics a harmless old lady,” Jack shrugged off his bed sheets. “It’ll settle down. Don’t worry.” Jacks service robot rolled into the room, and extended a cup of coffee to Jack. “Good morning Jack” the synthetic female voice greeted him. Jack inhaled the warm coffee and took a sip. “The Mystic thinks she’s saving the world. She’s not trying to cause some great division.”
“Well she’s doing a fine job of it” Sloan grumbled. There’s more. She’s giving specifics, even put a time line on her insanity. I’m not scared of the old woman. I’m scared that some nut case is going to act out her delusions. That is why I called you. I want you to tighten the ship. We can’t afford any mistakes. When this thing blows over I’ll take a breath. If you’re worried about it I’ll be right in,” Jack said. Just give me twenty minutes. “Take your time” Sloan responded, “ I know this was your vacation time. The young guys will keep an eye on things until you get here. “Ok” Jack took another sip of coffee; “I’ll see you in a few hours then.”
Sloan’s image dissolved from the screen and the windows 14 icon reappeared on the screen. Jack pointed at the icon. The menu screen came up, displaying a list of mail.
“Hum let’s see…junk…junk…” Jack said as he finger scrolled through the mail. “Now that looks interesting…”open” he commanded.
Suddenly the Mystic appeared on his monitor. Jack jumped back in shock. “ I have known of you” she spoke in a dry monotone. I have seen your history unfold…I have seen such tears and such sorrow…I have seen a man who hides and never faces his fears…I have seen a man who could be much more than he believes. It is his destiny to see me, but he will not look for fear, I will find him. I will wait and I will find him. I will give him the way but he must give them life. The world will lie in gentle sleep…never knowing what always was.
Mystic’s image disappeared and Jack shivered in her absence. “What is she talking about?” he asked himself. “What is the way?” Jack walked over to his closet and pulled out his clothes. “I guess I don’t have time to worry about it” He placed the clothes in the bed and turned to the service robot “iron these” he commanded. “Yes sir” the robot replied, gathering the clothes into its arms. “So much for my vacation” Jack shook his head. “I guess a warm shower will have to do.”
(Time Lapse)
“I want everything by the books. No short cuts, and no one sleeps on the job. If anyone messes up, I’ll fire you myself.” “And I’ll give him the authority to do it” Sloan patted Jack on the shoulder. “I don’t want anyone taking this lightly. I want everyone looking sharp. When we pull through this thing we’ll talk about some big raises…across the board.” The employees let out a few retrained jeers of joy as Jack turned to Sloan. “I’ll see you first thing in the morning. I’ve been working on a big upgrade for the security protocol. I want to have it up and running in three days, maybe two. I’ll keep a channel open. If anything happens here, I’ll be on it. “Thanks Jack” Sloan said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Goodnight Mr. Tanner” Jack turned and walked away.
(Time Lapse)
Overview of the rest of the play:
Jack meets the mystic in the darkened parking lot. She gives him three small glass balls. The balls are “The Way”. At night while he is in bed, they enter his mind and cause him to dream about the fiber-optic cable that goes into the heavens. The giant is a physical representation of all the pain that he can’t let go of. The Mystics voice guides him and he defeats the giant.
He follows the fiber optic cable to a computer of dazzling beauty and complexity. It looks like the life that he dreamed for becomes real. He has his family again and is happy. The Mystic comments on the galactic importance of things and the story ends with us finding out that Jacks mind is actually sustaining our whole world. Our world is just a glorious computer program and Jack is the caretaker of that program
Clothing:
Simple in appearance and variety is the style. There are few colors: silver type suits made of Mylar material; they monitor body temperature and make environmental adjustments for the wearer’s comfort.
Set:
Architecture is streamlined and glistening; the streets are very uncrowded due to the high efficiency of mass transit. It’s the clean and peaceful world everyone wanted, but the emotional content of art, architecture and human presence isn’t there.
Period:
The near future
Theatre space:
Arena
Characters
Jack Styles (Systems-analyst for IO TECH)-
The Mystic-
Sloan Tanner (IO TECH Owner)-
Dava Styles (daughter)-
Brianna Styles (wife)-
Stage Manager-
Rehearsal Dates:
Febuarary 20,1998 3-4pm- first Rehearsal
February: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday; 3-4pm
Tuesday & Thursday; 8-9pm
March: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday; 3-4pm
Tuesday & Thursday; 8-9pm
Saturday & Sunday; 1-2pm
March 18,1998 3-4pm technical rehearsal
March 19,1998 8-9pm dress rehearsal
March 20,1998 Play Opens 8pm
This is the first time i have ever posted any of my screenplays, stories, poems, etc online! Please note it is copyrighted by law.
Jack Styles was the best. As a system analyst for IO TECH, he had saved countless corporations from immense financial loss, information piracy, and system crashes. Life in the new millennium was called the “ Wired Age.” All of mankind had finally embraced technology with open arms. The computer had become an extension of oneself. Existence was precise and orderly.
Jack absorbed himself in his job. That obsessive dedication is what made him so good. It was all he had left. He had lost his wife Brianna and their daughter Dava during the Great Systems Crash of 1999. During that horrific time, a simple oversight by the world’s computer programmers led to a massive shutdown of worldwide systems. The style women were killed when a malfunction in radar tracking caused the airplane to crash into the Atlantic Ocean. It was ten years ago. Jack could never bring himself to let go. He ran from the pain but somehow it always followed him. Fifteen years later, the only thing that mattered was the job. The year 2014 had enough responsibilities to worry about. For Jack, keeping busy was the only way to survive. “If I just keep busy I’ll be fine” he told himself. If only he had known of the cruel fate that waited for him.
“JACK! WACK UP!” The words went through Jack’s subconscious mind like a shot. Wait a minute… this was real. Jack rose from his bed like a spring. He turned to the wall monitor and tired his best to shrug off the morning drowsiness.
“Mr. Slogan” Jack snapped to attention. “Can I help you sire?” Sloan Tanners face was a mask of concern. The billionaire media-mogul and owner of IO TECH usually displayed a tough poker face, but something was definitely wrong now. Sloan looked away for a moment, then turned back to face Jack. “It’s the Mystic, Jack, she’s stirring up trouble again.” “How so?” Jack asked. “The usual rumors of the datalypse, death, cold, dark, soulless voids; that sort of thing. People are starting to listen to her. That’s not good for business and it’s definitely not good for the world order. We can’t afford any divisions Jack. My bottom line isn't the only one we have to worry about. “The Mystics a harmless old lady,” Jack shrugged off his bed sheets. “It’ll settle down. Don’t worry.” Jacks service robot rolled into the room, and extended a cup of coffee to Jack. “Good morning Jack” the synthetic female voice greeted him. Jack inhaled the warm coffee and took a sip. “The Mystic thinks she’s saving the world. She’s not trying to cause some great division.”
“Well she’s doing a fine job of it” Sloan grumbled. There’s more. She’s giving specifics, even put a time line on her insanity. I’m not scared of the old woman. I’m scared that some nut case is going to act out her delusions. That is why I called you. I want you to tighten the ship. We can’t afford any mistakes. When this thing blows over I’ll take a breath. If you’re worried about it I’ll be right in,” Jack said. Just give me twenty minutes. “Take your time” Sloan responded, “ I know this was your vacation time. The young guys will keep an eye on things until you get here. “Ok” Jack took another sip of coffee; “I’ll see you in a few hours then.”
Sloan’s image dissolved from the screen and the windows 14 icon reappeared on the screen. Jack pointed at the icon. The menu screen came up, displaying a list of mail.
“Hum let’s see…junk…junk…” Jack said as he finger scrolled through the mail. “Now that looks interesting…”open” he commanded.
Suddenly the Mystic appeared on his monitor. Jack jumped back in shock. “ I have known of you” she spoke in a dry monotone. I have seen your history unfold…I have seen such tears and such sorrow…I have seen a man who hides and never faces his fears…I have seen a man who could be much more than he believes. It is his destiny to see me, but he will not look for fear, I will find him. I will wait and I will find him. I will give him the way but he must give them life. The world will lie in gentle sleep…never knowing what always was.
Mystic’s image disappeared and Jack shivered in her absence. “What is she talking about?” he asked himself. “What is the way?” Jack walked over to his closet and pulled out his clothes. “I guess I don’t have time to worry about it” He placed the clothes in the bed and turned to the service robot “iron these” he commanded. “Yes sir” the robot replied, gathering the clothes into its arms. “So much for my vacation” Jack shook his head. “I guess a warm shower will have to do.”
(Time Lapse)
“I want everything by the books. No short cuts, and no one sleeps on the job. If anyone messes up, I’ll fire you myself.” “And I’ll give him the authority to do it” Sloan patted Jack on the shoulder. “I don’t want anyone taking this lightly. I want everyone looking sharp. When we pull through this thing we’ll talk about some big raises…across the board.” The employees let out a few retrained jeers of joy as Jack turned to Sloan. “I’ll see you first thing in the morning. I’ve been working on a big upgrade for the security protocol. I want to have it up and running in three days, maybe two. I’ll keep a channel open. If anything happens here, I’ll be on it. “Thanks Jack” Sloan said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Goodnight Mr. Tanner” Jack turned and walked away.
(Time Lapse)
Overview of the rest of the play:
Jack meets the mystic in the darkened parking lot. She gives him three small glass balls. The balls are “The Way”. At night while he is in bed, they enter his mind and cause him to dream about the fiber-optic cable that goes into the heavens. The giant is a physical representation of all the pain that he can’t let go of. The Mystics voice guides him and he defeats the giant.
He follows the fiber optic cable to a computer of dazzling beauty and complexity. It looks like the life that he dreamed for becomes real. He has his family again and is happy. The Mystic comments on the galactic importance of things and the story ends with us finding out that Jacks mind is actually sustaining our whole world. Our world is just a glorious computer program and Jack is the caretaker of that program
Clothing:
Simple in appearance and variety is the style. There are few colors: silver type suits made of Mylar material; they monitor body temperature and make environmental adjustments for the wearer’s comfort.
Set:
Architecture is streamlined and glistening; the streets are very uncrowded due to the high efficiency of mass transit. It’s the clean and peaceful world everyone wanted, but the emotional content of art, architecture and human presence isn’t there.
Period:
The near future
Theatre space:
Arena
Characters
Jack Styles (Systems-analyst for IO TECH)-
The Mystic-
Sloan Tanner (IO TECH Owner)-
Dava Styles (daughter)-
Brianna Styles (wife)-
Stage Manager-
Rehearsal Dates:
Febuarary 20,1998 3-4pm- first Rehearsal
February: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday; 3-4pm
Tuesday & Thursday; 8-9pm
March: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday; 3-4pm
Tuesday & Thursday; 8-9pm
Saturday & Sunday; 1-2pm
March 18,1998 3-4pm technical rehearsal
March 19,1998 8-9pm dress rehearsal
March 20,1998 Play Opens 8pm