The Countdown

INT. MAX'S APARTMENT - DAWN

MAGGIE sits at the kitchen table. MAX is leaning up against the counter. He's got a cigarette and a coffee mug beside him. Coffee mug has a slogan on it stating "Be Prepared!"

MAX:
You know what this means.

MAGGIE:
That I do.

MAX:
I think it's the only course of action we have to take at the moment.

Maggie looks up into the eyes of Max. Max looks like he has thought this one out, looks like he hasn't slept in a long while.

MAGGIE:
So when do you think?

MAX:
Soon. Very Soon.

EXT. BUILDING ROOF ACROSS FROM MAX'S APART- DAWN

A figure in black is lying close to the edge with a listening device.

MAGGIE (V.O):
Okay then.

MAX (V.O)
Let's hope that I'm not wrong about this.

INT. MAX'S APARTMENT - DAWN

MAGGIE:
Then we shall see. Make the call.

Max reaches for the phone.

A Book is a Book

Control walked into the conference room and threw down a children's book in front of the trio that was sitting at a table. The trio looked at the book and then at Control, who took a seat.

"What's this?" inquired one.

"It's a book," Control replied. "It's a good read."

One of the gentlemen turned the book to read the title. It was a preschool Prince-Fish Book. The title read 'Cube'.

"Go on," Control urged; he sat back in the chair and folded his arms. "Skim through it and read."

The trio looked up and then at the book and one of the fellows opened it up. The illustrations were manga-ish but done in pencil style.
 
Max & Maggie
by Tym Billion
Illustrated by Dan Synnik

Max likes shooting. He shoots well.
He could shoot the moon like William Tell.

Maggie likes fencing. She fences well.
Her katana is like a symphony as you could tell.

Trump likes meowing. He meows well.
The talking cat likes to complain as you can tell.

Goner likes sitting. He sits by the well.
When he's not sitting, he's got secrets to tell. 
One of the trio closed the book after skimming the first several pages and asked, "What does this mean?"

"It means," Control said. "that we've moved into another territory."

Chakra Up

INT. ABANDONED HOUSE - TOP FLOOR - DAY
MAX is sitting on an old wooden chair with his hands behind him. In front of him THE FUTURE paces across the floor. The Future is clearly agitated.

THE FUTURE:
You know eventually I will have to kill you.

MAX:
I know you do.

THE FUTURE:
You seem pretty calm about it.

MAX:
Well, we all die sooner or later.

THE FUTURE:
You don't have to be smug about it.

MAX:
I am not as smug as I look. Can I ask you a favour before my life expires?

THE FUTURE:
That depends on what the favour is?

MAX:
Can I have a smoke?

The Future pauses and then reaches for a pack of smokes. As he opens one, the camera zooms in on the cigarettes and each cigarette has a miniature chakra engraved on them.

The Future pulls out one and puts it in Max's mouth and lights it. Max closes his eyes as he puffs on the cigarette. Letting the smoke down deep into his lungs, and then exhaling a purplish fog.

MAX:
Now that hits the spot.

THE FUTURE:
You know you are this close to dying.

MAX:
I have been this close for a long, long time now.

She's Fine Until Someone Says Something They Shouldn't Have Said...

Cue music.

A SERIES OF CUTS while the music begins from darkness: various shots of the city. Subway platform. City square. Tall building. Busker strumming guitar. Man with a fedora looking at some kids playing across the road. An abandoned building with boarded-up windows. A gum wrapper blowing in the breeze. Kids playing in the park. A teen in a car zooming past a corner store.

CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON THE DOOR as MAX steps out of a convenient store. He is dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt with the words LIFER. He heads down the sidewalk walking towards the subway.

CUT TO ALLEYWAY:
THUG 1, THUG 2 and GOON step out of the alleyway as Max passes. They proceed to follow him.

EXT. SUBWAY PLATFORM
Max heads down the stairs walking towards the camera. We see the Thugs follow.

INT. SUBWAY PLATFORM
Max standing off to one side. SUKI is skipping rope at the far end. AKIMOTO is leaning up against the wall his nose buried in a book.

THUG 1
Hey Man.

THUG 2
Yo.

MAX
Hello.

THUG 1
You got change for a dollar. I need to make a phone call.

GOON and THUG 2 are giddy.

MAX
(reaching for front pocket)
Sure.

Thug 1 pulls out a handgun and aims it at Max. While Thug 2 and Goon look at the others on the platform.

THUG 1
Good because I am going to take it all.

THUG 2
No one else move or else there's gonna be trouble.

Suki is skipping over.

Akimoto glances up over at Suki. Suki gives him the 'I can handle it' look so Akimoto goes back to reading the novel.

AKIMOTO
(softly to Suki)
You're not going to let this one slide are you?

Suki throws Akimoto the 'Hey It's Me' look. Akimoto shakes his head.

THUG 2
Yo Bitch. Stop skipping.

MAX
(muttering)
oh boy.

Moments of Distraction

Max sipped from the mug, tasting the liquid as if for the first time. He marveled at the little sensations that he had taken for granted, tantalization of the taste buds. He hadn't had a good cup of coffee like this in a long, long while.

This is as close to coming home as possible.

Though he knew he could never go home again, that things constantly shifted now and then to obscure truths and changing lies. He was glad that things he liked were still around in the plurealities that he had visited and stayed in awhile. Things like his brand of smokes and coffee.

He butted out his cigarette and then reached for the cellphone. His thumb danced over the keypad and he brought the phone to his ear. It was time to get some answers. Time to see what was happening, time to uncover this reality's secrets that were hidden.

Ring.

Pick it up.

Ring.

He needed to get to the bottom of this and wanted a question or two asked. But the phone kept on ringing, no answer.

Ring.

Max looked at the phone. And ended the call. He placed it on the table and reached for a pack of cigarettes. He lit one up and leaned back in the chair, exhaling a huge cloud of blue fog.

I can wait.

> Debashis in Plureality 2

Flaps up, throttle on. Gear in.  Lift off, climb high and soar.  Everything is smooth rolling.  Not a hitch, a couple of bumps but, nothing really.  This machine has gotten more cumbersome, but nothing we can*t handle.  We still love it.   Just gotta adjust the throttle on this thing.  Say what?  You want us to take on a bit more baggage?  Sure, but we*re gonna need some help.  Hmmm?  Yep, not a problem.  We can make it work.  Just need some fine-tuning.  But you gotta know, the more you give me, the bumpier the ride.   Hey, the first part of this journey is going well.  Sunny skies all the way, the cargo is not moving around much and it*s a great flight.  Couldn*t ask for better.  Some wanna get off a bit early, so we*ll make some stops.    Say it again?  Great to hear it * yeah, they*re liking the ride.  A bit of nausea for a few, but we got puke bags and some kind of homeopathic stuff on board for that.  There*s also Gravol for those who want it.  Yeah, we know there*s a bit more bumps, but hey, we got an old machine and lots of stuff on board, so it*s going to be a bit tougher to get this ride smooth, but they*re still liking it.   Hold on, can*t quite hear you.  Switching channels.  Say that last thing again, will you? Oh, things are fine overall for us*how about you?  It*s busy for us all, eh?    Ummm, hold on, different message coming in.  Says that something*s not right but we*ll fix it later on.  Not to worry.  Not to worry?? Geeez!  We*re like way up high right now and you*re telling me not to worry?  But, hey, you*re the boss.  But I will worry a bit.   Hey, listen, I*ve got a couple of problems on board and I*ll get you the documentation in a bit, but I*m also running into some clouds. So, the paperwork will wait, ok?  Lots of clouds, some dark ones.  A storm?  What is this?  Hmm. The instruments aren*t working properly.  There is NO WAY that the altitude can say THAT!  Oh well, time to fly without instruments.  We can do this.  Ride*s getting rougher.  But the clouds are still weird.  No storm yet, but something*s a-loomin*.  The luggage is moving around a bit more and the passengers are getting a bit upset.     Oh, for goodness* sake!! Rumours of an imminent crash?  Are you kidding!?  Tell them it*s not happened before and never will.  What??  They*re telling each other what?  Oh well, we gotta fly this thing.  The field*s not so far away.  They*re talking to the boss now?  But the boss is miles and miles away from up here.  Nothing the boss can do and why the heck don*t they just hang tight!?  Someone wants up into the cockpit?  Sure*gotta make the customers happy, I guess.     Well hi there.  How old are you?  11 years old, eh?  And who do have with you?  Oh yeah?  What*s your dog*s name?  You want to fly for a bit?  Can*t really allow you to do that.  Yes, it takes years of practice and training.  You know a lot about these machines?  Tell me more.  Yup, that makes sense*probably once you grow up, you can really get into learning about this stuff.  If you like this, do not lose your passion.  You can do this, it*s fun and I love it.  Look, I got a book or two for ya.  Hey, we*re getting into some air pockets, so I need you and everyone else to go back to your seats and get secure.  No, nothing to be scared about.  But, we gotta be safe.  Thanks for coming in.  Take care of that dog and I will see you when we land.     Ok, let*s get a handle on this thing.  What?  Someone else wants to see the cockpit?  We can*t right now.  They have to wait, or it might not even happen.  No, I*m not trying to be rude or whatever.  We gotta get through this storm or whatever it is and get down.  Someone*s complaining about the dog now?  The kid can fly better than us?  But the kid don*t even a license yet.  The kid ain*t tall enough to reach the pedals.  The kid needs time.  Is anyone still enjoying the ride?  Well, that*s good.   Oh, wait, here comes a transmission.  You*re telling me to go through the clouds and be careful for the mountains.  I can*t even see through the mountains.  Aren*t there some automatic beacons that are supposed to be around here somewhere?  Oh well, I know they*ll blink when they need to.  We*re all in this together, right?     SLAM!!!  What the heck was that?  We*re still flying, but what was that?!  A bird?  This high?  Oh, luggage?  Can someone please go down and secure all that?  What now?  Less fuel?  I thought I told you to keep check on that.  I thought you filled up before we took off*.  But don*t worry, I*ll just make this adjustment to the flight plan and we should be ok.   Ok.  I*m tired and I don*t know what*s coming next.  I*m not good anymore.  I*m just ok.  I don*t like it.  We*re in trouble.  We won*t crash.  I will make sure of that.  But what if I do. It*s all my fault,  none of it*s my fault.  Doesn*t matter.  Got keep this boat afloat.

Death Be Warned

Max stood on the platform, smoking a shitty smelling cigarette. But if he was caught here by the Smoke Nazis they would have executed him and anyone associated with him for breaking the ban.

Of course it was rough shift and Max had run out of smokes; he had hunted around the black market and finally came to a dealer who sold death sticks. He was thankful to be having one at this exact moment.

Max wore a white t-shirt and written on the upper right hand corner was "FREE". They had been waiting for the train to show. And he took the chance to spark it up and let the smoke drift hazily about.

Suki was skipping rope and noticed that Max couldn't wait the few extra moments until the train arrived to smoke. She frowned upon that. Akimoto couldn't have been bothered since he was sitting on a bench trying to read a Garfield comic book.

Max had defaced a poster that was on the wall. Feeling cynical. The poster was of a movie now playing in some theater. The title 'Morbid' in red paint in the style of splattering blood on a black canvas. Max had burned three cigarette holes into the "o" "b" and "d". He stood back to admire his creativity.

Incidental Meeting

 

The laundromat was pretty empty at this time of the night, or rather early morning. An elderly gentleman sat behind the counter; he was reading a paper and not paying too much attention to the few clientele within the shop. Though the sign on the door said NO PETS, he didn't mind the red-head who usually came in during the wee hours of the morning with her cat.

Maggie sat on an uncomfortable plastic chair catching up on the latest gossip with one of those weekly Hollywood rags. She was reading about how some actor and actress were caught doing something rather weird and kinky and how it might affect their careers.

"How can you read that crap?" Trump asked; he was licking his paws since there was nothing else better to do.

"It stimulates the neurons," Maggie replied without looking up from the article.

"More like stimulates the morons," Trump chuckled slightly.

"I heard that!" Maggie said and glanced over at Trump and gave him a wink.

She heard the dryer click and begin to slow down.

"Saved by the dryer," Trump stated and went back to licking his paws.

Maggie placed the magazine down on the table and went to the machine. Opening the door and feeling the hot air rush out and escape from its prison.

"Feels like home," a voice came out of nowhere.

"I wouldn't know," Mag replied nonchalantly. She was too tired to do anything else. She began to take the laundry out and fold it.

"Ain't you going to say hi, Magenta?" the voice asked.

"That's the colour of my name," Maggie replied. She didn't need to turn to know who was standing off to one side; she could tell by the voice that she hadn't heard in ages past. "It's been a hell of a long time, Jakk. What do you want?"

Jakk leaned up against a dryer; he was dressed in a three-piece suit, his blood red shirt sticking out in all the right places. He looked like a GQ model, his dark blue hair cut short and styled. The bangs not actually hiding the tattoo on his forehead.

"I just came by to chat with an old friend," Jakk replied.

} Breaking the Odds - for J.A.M.

Zing.

Max leaned up against the wall. His guns were in his lap and he was smoking a cigarette. They were pinned good and he was thinking of several options. He heard the sound of a pop can being knocked over and noticed Frank. Bullets continued to fly, letting them know that the bad guys were still there.

Twing.

Frank gut crawled towards him and then, under the comfort of the barrier, sat up and joined Max.

Zing. Zing.

"Well, what do you think?" Frank questioned Max.

Max looked at Frank and blew out some smoke.

"I thought so," Frank replied. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a small silver thermos. Max did a double-take.

"You want some?" Frank inquired.

Twing. Zing.

"What is it?" Max asked.

"French Vanilla," Frank replied as he poured a cup and the aroma of the flavoured coffee lifted into the air like an angel from heaven.

Zip. Zing.

The Ground is Calling

The 33rd floor window smashed outwards, sending glass spiraling out like discarded trash out of a tour bus. A desk that had been tossed and the body that it had hit also came through.

For a fraction of a millisecond everything seemed to hang in the air, then gravity came calling and started pulling everything towards the ground. Including Maggie. She was cut, battered and bruised and now she began to plummet. The desk fell away from her.

The huge cyborg had grabbed a desk as Maggie began to tumble across the room, though the beast had calculated where she would be and made the throw. Tossed the huge marble desk, and hit her through the glass like she was just a rag doll. She could hear the sound of gunfire from the open window, which meant Suki and Max where still engaged in combat.

Maybe they didn't realize that she was now out of the combat zone and into a free fall zone. Falling with the shattered glass towards the concrete floor which she was now getting close to.

This is going to hurt.

Playing Solitaire Until Dawn

INT. ABANDONED ROOM - DAY

The room is bare, dusty. There is a lot of doors in this room. Doors along the wall spaced inches apart. Doors on the ceiling. Nothing on the floor. In the center of the room is a wooden table.

A small fan sits on top of a wooden table. Max sits at the table with a deck of cards in front of him. He is playing solitaire.

The door directly behind Max opens. We see a neck-down shot of a woman entering carrying a tray. A black mug of coffee sits on the tray. She stands besides Max and places it down on the table to his right. Beside an ashtray full of butts and three empty packs of cigarettes, each a different brand.

Cut to Max. As he is flipping over a card and it's blank. He places the card with other blank cards on the table.

MAX:
Thanks Mildred.

Cut to Woman. She has no face.

CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

Max's eyes flicker open. A housefly crawling across his chest.

Lonely Are The Lost

"It's like a journey," Maggie said. "I just don't have a map."

Suki looked at Maggie and winked, and then she handed her a bottled water. In other words Maggie was lost and didn't know where she was going; Suki chuckled to herself.

Maggie sat down on a rock and took a swig from the bottle. She poured some water into her hand and applied it to her face.

"So what's the plan now?" Suki asked.

"Well," Maggie said. "I think we just sit and wait for the stars to appear."

"Astro-navigation?" Suki inquisited.

"When in doubt, wait it out," Maggie replied. "Time to find a cool place to hold up until nightfall."

Raging Computer

The monitor went sailing across the room, slowly turning over like a leaf in a breeze. It was coming down from an arc and when it hit the marble floor a huge sickening crack could be heard as the glass broke open on contact.

"That should teach you," Control said.

The monitor turned and tumbled like a drunk, glass spilling out like diamonds on black velvet.

"Well, that didn't solve my problem," Control said as he stared at the spot where his monitor once stood, and he focused his attention to the tower.