Scene 2.02 - Utopia
EST: INT. Detention Facility, Planet New Trinity - Day.
MLS: EXT. Prison Complex
(When the women enter, they look young, but seem -- older. Much older.)
VERNE V.O.
Captain's Personal Log, I-D key, Bova One. For the past two weeks, we have been held prisoner on New Trinity by a replicated crew, identical in us in most ways, although, now, after closer examination and a strong case presented by my counsel, now I even have my doubts whether they are truly replicants at all. Whether they are aliens or a product of some other phenomenon, I am not certain. We have been well cared for and for the first two days we were kept abreast of planetary developments by the revived concubines from their ship, and we were glad to receive such information. Strangely, Ms. Azalea has been absent since her midnight visit at the onset of our incarceration. The women appeared jovial, happy and quite unconcerned with our present dilemma, and seemed willing to share an abundance of information with us, even if some of their talk contradicts what I know to be factual. We haven't seen anyone in several days, and though my men are fed and rested, I can't contain my suspicions that there is much more to this other crew than meets the eye.
DAHLIA 1
Gentlemen, we are here to inform you of some new developments.
HEINLEIN
It’s been weeks. What happened? Where have you been? Why didn't you come see me?
DAHLIA 1
(Whispers:) Be clever. Be quiet.
(The other concubines enter.)
ROSE 1
Ms. Dahlia, are we to understand the Zero quarantine has been amended?
DAHLIA 1
Yes, my liege. We have full cooperation with Washington in this matter.
IRIS 1
Behold, the dawn of the New Trinity Alliance!
WELLS
(Looks to VERNE, having remembered where he heard it before:) New Trinity Alliance?
DAHLIA 1
Shhh!
DAISY 1
The name of our new, sovereign empire.
ROSE 1
Have the men done all they have been asked to do?
DAHLIA 1
Yes, my lady. They have been well cared for, and have had plenty of sleep and exercise.
ROSE 1
Have they veiwed the indoctrination films?
WELLS
Repeatedly. You call that acting?
ROSE 1
(Ignoring his comment:) Are they mentally competent to stand trial?
(Outrage by the men; VERNE easily holds them back; what were they gonna do? They almost stop themselves but none other than VERNE, who has been trying his hand at anger management, are able to contain the need to physically react to the thought that replicated concubines are going to judge warship crewmen in any fashion whatsoever. They all walk with ROSE’S procession upon a slight gesture with her forefinger. Use this opportunity to showcase the immensity of the cell and pose the question: Why, despite the luxurious accommodations, do the men frequently loiter at the cell’s entrance? NOTE: The women did all of the interior decorating of the entire cell, based from the men’s latent tastes. Overall, it is of Art Deco design and architecture, and it should be light-years beyond the country-kitchen tastes of the women who decorate [desecrate] the bridge of The Eliza later. The ladies take note of the men’s appreciation of the cell’s comfortable attributes and are pleased. The women exit through yet another secret wall-door that the other men never knew existed. Ensure the male actors don’t even try to run through the door. Their characters know it would be a futile effort. They already have an escape plan, and merely await the captain's word.)
LILY 1
You all have been officially retired from active duty for convenience of the government. We’ve temporarily given you diplomatic positions in our ambassadorial cabinet. You may work for us here and face an administrative hearing, or you may take this one-time offer I have been authorized by our sovereign queen, Lady Rose, The First, to put on the table: As part of our agreement with Washington, we’ve been granted full independence and have signed a permanent defensive pact with the United States. This is no longer U-S territory.
POPPY 1
(She takes ASIMOV’S hand in hers.) Our borders are to be closed to everyone except citizens, and believe me, it won’t be hard to spot an outsider.
ROSE 1
Each of you have the option to stay and become citizens of our country, or to board our ambassadorial shuttle to Zeta with Mr. Clarke, our Mr. Clarke, which leaves tomorrow afternoon. We are sending our representatives and embassy guards to the Third Orbit, and if you wish to return to Earth, you may do so from there.
LOTUS 1
What you may face there is beyond our influence. You are not our prisoners, but if you remain, your quarantine still remains in effect. You will not contaminate our colony or influence our social experiment in any way, until we are sure you will integrate harmoniously, without discord.
PIXIE 1
You will not see or speak to anyone unless spoken to, and you will not leave the contonement area, if you choose to stay.
ASIMOV
I feind it stwange that the U-S wudn’t at least twee to kip coleenial wights over the plinet. Fiftin billion pipple or not, the wesources of Noo Twinitee are twimindis. Why don’t they show up with a kipple of blue wombs and shuyt yo whole opewayshun dowin?
CLARKE
I doubt, Mr. Asimov, that Ms. Dahlia has mentioned to the government that only one blue-room is operable in this quantum sphere.
LOTUS 1
(She adjusts her collar.) Would any of you have done differently? I’m sure you are quite aware, Mr. Clarke, that were it not for this billion-blue-room bluff, the State Department would have swept us under the rug, if not killed us all outright. We’re in a paradox; we need to use what we have to ensure our survival.
ROSE 1
We would have been an abomination, an embarrassment. Now, we are one of the most powerful allies the nation has. Best friends, as they say.
CLARKE
And may I ask, Ms. Rose, what you will do if you are called upon to assist in the war effort?
PIXIE 1
Outside of diplomatic representatives, our defensive pact does not allow emigration from this area of space for twenty-five years. In that time, we hope the war will have been ended. If not, our children will have to fulfill our promise.
WELLS
Children?
DAHLIA 1
(She pets WELLS:) Why, yes, Doctor. Did you think the world was going to stop on account of you and your friends here?
DAISY 1
It’s the renewal of the Lysystrata Doctrine that makes that one possible.
VERNE
Lysy- the what? The what?
POPPY 1
We don’t expect you men to know anything about the Lysystrada Doctrine. It's-
CLARKE
The Lysystrada Doctrine is a law, Captain, where colonial concubines have the open perogative to negotiate propogation rights in exchange for duties in foreign affairs and say over matters concerning human intergalactic sovereignty. Historically, it funded and gave legislative teeth toward true women's suffrage.
SIMAK
Aye, the golden rule --the one with the gold makes the rules, and you can't putta price on the smile of them lassies now.
VERNE
It's a guideline, then.
WELLS
A law, Julie.
ASIMOV
Yiss, it was written in me home tune. Zair's an anniwill Leece-E-Strada-Dee Peereedzair.
VERNE
(To no one:) Does everybody know about this law but me?
ROSE 1
The other men have agreed to allow women to rule for a change. A matriarchy, if you will. So far, your male-dominated guidance of the specie has only led to slavery, ignorance and struggle between genders. Our way is different. We encourage childbirth and growth of a nation. Children, not blue-rooms. We can't be preoccupied with war if we are to focus on life.
VERNE
(A la Derek Flint in In Like Flint:) Forget it!
PIXIE 1
Modern industry is eighty-percent automated, and employment is at ninety-nine percent. Hospitals are few and far between. Polygamy is encouraged.
WELLS
You ladies move fast.
POPPY 1
It's out of necessity. We’ve come to realize that most men consider survival to only mean the last one standing.
LILY 1
I marvel at your imagination, Mr. Verne. The sunsets here are the most beautiful any of us have ever seen. The terraformation is more wondrous than a story-book.
DAISY 1
The economy is sound, we’re in a peaceful regime, there is no death rate. New Trinity is a prosperous, advanced nation. Nature and technology abound and we cannot wait to have children to educate.
LOTUS 1
Please stay. (She slides up to VERNE.) It is a true Utopia.
VERNE
(He gently takes her hands in his and lowers them, forcing space between them.) I fear your optimism will carry a heavy price, Ms. Lotus. (He gently releases her hands.) In my experience, I’ve learned there’s no such thing as Utopia. Humans are not perfect, nor can their societies ever be. (He looks afar, distant, upward; sticks out his chest and does a 1/4 turn without lifting his feet.) It's what keeps us trying, what gives us a reason to live, an undiscovered edge over the curs that plague our home planet.
ROSE 1
Whether it fits your definition of Utopia or not, it suits us, Captain Verne Zero.
POPPY 1
Tomorrow you will all decide whether to stay or go with us to Zeta, so get some rest and think about it. Once you’ve decided, it's final. Life is very much different here. No one will blame you if you choose to leave us, but once you go, you can never come back. This is our home-planet, men. We hope soon that you will feel the same as we do.
(The women exit.)
WELLS
Well, gentlemen, we could stand to have done a lot worse. You all decide what you will, but I’ve made up my mind. I’d be crazy to pass up a chance to stay on this planet.
CLARKE
I must admit, the scientific possibilities are endless. Even beyond the sociological and anthropological studies, there is also the satellite Tellusia, which has yet to be explored. If this quarantine is in effect for twenty-five years like she says, I believe I would rank high among those qualified to be selected for the dwarf-planet’s initial study.
HEINLEIN
The romantic getaway certainly sounds appealing. I wonder, who marries who more?
SIMAK
Surely among all the ones who might want to kill us, there are some phans who would love just to meet us-
VERNE
There will be no furthur discussion about this. Each of you weigh your options and make your own decision on your own time. I’ve decided, and I am choosing to stay.
ASIMOV
Eats weeninimous, thin.
DISSOLVE TO: