The sun’s energy can no longer pass through the caustic barrier of chemical vapors as new curious looking stains are collectively synthesized into one time element.

[Act Three of Four Acts] The Friendly Apparition © 2012

By Joe Vojt
An original teleplay
One-hour television program
Registered WGAe No. R20139

The Friendly Apparition

While the sky symbolizes a contemporary presence of despair, energy of all forms, including oil, natural gas and plant life are outdated.

The sun’s energy can no longer pass through the caustic barrier of chemical vapors as new curious looking stains are collectively synthesized into one time element.

ACT THREE

INT. GENERAL STORE

At that instant, a GIGANTIC spike of light OPENED in front of the store. As the darkness PARTED an image FLASHED like an old neon sign.

OSCAR
(jumped up)
Did you girls see that?

NORMA & GINGER
(Both responded in unison)
You mean that enormous flash of
light?

OSCAR
No, not that.

He RACED toward the front door.

OSCAR
Look, a figure is in the light.

NORMA
You better start taking those pills,
because it is impacting your vision.

OSCAR
Very funny, come over here, look
into the darkness.

Both GOT UP, moved closer between Oscar.

OSCAR
Look at the parted cloud, there is a
figure standing.

NORMA
Your kidding, that’s no figure. Maybe
a huge tumble weed picked up loose
reminisce of cloth.

OSCAR
Why then is it moving like a human
not a robot or SPO?

NORMA
I don’t see anything. Do you Ginger?

GINGER
It is dark, I don’t see anything.

Both MOVED way.

NORMA
Come back dear, have a pill it will
make you feel better, it is good
for you.

WALKING back.

OSCAR
Na, that’s all right. I know what
I saw. No pill will make it go away.
We better leave before the next
patrol.

NORMA
You know they always come in for
their EMO supply.

OSCAR
So remember Ginger, this is
important, these vials must be kept
separated for them. If you don’t,
they will know something is wrong.

GINGER
I understand

NORMA
You know there are many poor souls
out there that would kill for our
jobs.

OSCAR
True, but we have survived because
of our generosity.

NORMA
I think covering for both of us will
be hard. We had split our labor into
two six hour segments. Sometimes we
worked together.

GINGER
Don’t worry about me. You better go
if you are going.

DISSOLVE TO:


EXT. DESERT VIEW

In these harsh modern days, a reflection of primitive days past could no longer be visualized.

Norma and Oscar could be seen RUSHING through the catacombs of their past life.

NORMA
(broke the silence)
Are you sure Ginger can handle our
operation?

OSCAR
Who else could we have gotten? We
had to get away and look for Corey.

NORMA
I know, but this is extremely risky.

OSCAR
Only if we get caught. Ginger’s life
is secure, but she must continue
handing out those EMO pills to the
SPO’s.

NORMA
That isn’t hard to do.

OSCAR
I think we better rest for a while.

NORMA
Are you all right dear? Cutting down
on your pills has changed your
stamina.

OSCAR
I am fine. Remember we weren’t
allowed outside for any walks for
over ten years.

NORMA
Yes, it was scenic when the setting
or rising sun would burn away the dew.

OSCAR
Now we have nothing but chemical
residue with foul smelling air that
is harsh on our skin and damaging
our lungs.

NORMA
Here we are outside in the elements
wandering around lost, looking for
our son. We have no clue where he is.

OSCAR
At least the protective cloth wrapped
around us helps reduce the heavy
contaminants floating around.

NORMA
True, but it is getting harder to walk.

OSCAR
The main reason is, the residue is
attaching itself to our fabric.

NORMA
I know the murky footing doesn’t help.

Slowly both struggle, sinking deeper into the muck and mire of decay. Accepting their life was hanging from a thread pushes them on.

NORMA
You know dear, I feel like we are
being watched.

OSCAR
We can be caught whenever ‘they’
want too.

NORMA
What do you mean? If that is so,
why aren’t we ...

OSCAR
(breaks in)
The SPO’s are close.

NORMA
We have to avoid them.

OSCAR
Not really, they are allowing us our
freedom of movement.

NORMA
For what possible reason would ‘they’
spare our lives? We have seen them
use their power stick, then carry the
poor human forms to the bio-pits.

OSCAR
You are right, it doesn’t make sense,
yet it is true .

NORMA
You don’t think they know about Corey?

OSCAR
Shh, it is quiet possible.

NORMA
What do you mean?

OSCAR
Maybe for some unknown reason he might
have gone un-detected, right under
their dominate control.

NORMA
You really think so?

OSCAR
That is the only reason ‘they’ would
allow us free travel.

NORMA
Then that means the Directorate wants
our son.

OSCAR
They must feel he is a treat to their
system?

NORMA
If you are right, we better be
careful. There is one thing I don’t
understand. How can one man, our
son be a treat to this massive
organization?

OSCAR
That my dear, is an excellent
question. I don’t think we will
ever find out. What time element
do you think we are under?

NORMA
My guess is the second twelve.
Why?

OSCAR
I feel tired.

NORMA
I told you, cutting out all those
pills would come back to haunt you.

OSCAR
True, but when was the last time
you felt tired?

NORMA
Good point. You know it is sad to
see all this destruction and decay.

OSCAR
You know what dear? I do feel we
are tracked. Don’t look around.

NORMA
I don’t sense or see anything.

OSCAR
Believe me, I do.

NORMA
Now what?

OSCAR
See that old structure with the
large ‘B’ on it? Once we get
around the corner, we can duck
inside.

NORMA
You know if we get caught, we are
both goners.

OSCAR
If ‘they’ wanted to catch us, we
would have been caught long ago.

NORMA
Right, let’s move.

Once around the corner they RUSHED inside through a small door.

DISSOLVE TO:


INT. ‘B’ BUILDING

Getting accustomed to the bleakness.

NORMA
We haven’t had this much excitement
in eons.

OSCAR
It feels good to be at the peak of
our final hour.

Once inside both were astonished how much it reminded them of their past. Particles of sand were layered on the floor.

NORMA
What is this building anyway?

OSCAR
It looks like what was once called
a bank, later the money exchanger.
Look at that old vault.

NORMA
It sure looks familiar.

OSCAR
Are you sure it is the second twelve
element of time?

NORMA
Why?

OSCAR
I feel unusually drained.

NORMA
You better consume one of these pills.
Your skin looks drawn out and flushed.

Oscar STOPPED to rest, leaning against the old vault door.

OSCAR
I’ll be all right.

NORMA
Do you think the vault is open?

OSCAR
One way to find out.

Oscar stood, TWISTED the large handle in front of him. It SPUN like an old wagon wheel of the past. Oscar played with the dial.

OSCAR
Whala, it’s open. Do you want to
enter?

NORMA
Why not?

After he pulled the giant steel door enough for them to squeeze in, Oscar DROPPED to the floor. The door began to SLOWLY CLOSE behind them.

NORMA
Wow! What a set up.

A small battery light GLOWED inside.

OSCAR
Dear, you should be able to stand,
their tracking system cannot spot
us in here.

NORMA
Why is that?

OSCAR
As I remember these old vaults are
steel and cement lined for protection.
Look around it has survived most of
the self destruction of our planet.

NORMA
I see the compartments and drawers
were damaged while being pried open.

OSCAR
I am sure someone raided this vault.

NORMA
I seemed to recall the wealth of
each town was secured inside these
types of buildings.

OSCAR
Right when the BGEG hit, they knew
where the valuables were.

NORMA
That makes sense.

OSCAR
It looks like this ‘B’ might have
been one of the first.

NORMA
Why do you say that?

OSCAR
It has signs that whoever entered,
was in a hurry. The inside area
looks destroyed, yet little was
taken.

NORMA
I hear later in the campaign of
terror, all buildings had to be
stripped clean.

While resting, Oscar admired the peacefulness of this vault.

NORMA
Do you really think the SPO’s will
not find us in here?

OSCAR
No way, their sensors will never
penetrate these walls of concrete
and steel.

NORMA
You look tired dear, please take
one of my pills.

OSCAR
No thank you. I know you are trying
to help, but I can’t.

NORMA
I don’t want you to get ill or worse.

OSCAR
Sooner or later we all ... but until
then I want to feel the pain in my old
bones. Nothing else really matters.

NORMA
You might have a good point.

Norma WALKED around admiring what was once so elegant. Green paper money was SCATTERED all over the floor.

NORMA
With all these dollar bills laying
around resembling confetti, you
might be right dear. No metal coins
survived.

OSCAR
The BGEG needed all the precious metal
they could find for their Repro Patrol.
I feel tired, the first twelve hour
must be coming.

Oscar SLID on his side. Norma continued exploring the inner most chambers. After a half hour, she began PACING, waiting for Oscar to wake.

She felt ready to continue their journey into the desert in search of their son. Walking by his relaxed features, Norma became concerned.

NORMA
(thought to herself)
He has not moved much in the last
few minutes. A good rest will help
him for the long trip ahead. He
hasn’t been feeling that good, but
his spirits remain high.

Sitting next to him, she realized he didn’t look right. TOUCHING his head, it was cold.

NORMA
(began talking loud)
Oh, my God! Oscar, Oscar my love!
Why? Why?

She EMBRACED his cold body and whimpered.

NORMA
(speaking to herself)
All his life he worked hard to find
comfort. At least he died in a
building of old. It is only fitting
that he finally reached his peace
of mind.

Norma needed to leave the building. Looking outside she saw a moving sand storm had blanketed the area.

NORMA
This will help me escape their
tracking system.

Walking back, she CLOSED the giant vault, headed toward the front door. Using her frail body, she tried to open the front door it would not budge.

NORMA
(talking to herself)
Maybe the side entrance didn’t get
the same pounding from the winds?

Taking one last look at the vault door.

NORMA
(whispered)
Peace be with you my love,
I will soon join you.

The side door opened into a calm void.

END OF ACT THREE