MAGDEBURG
FADE IN:
INT. DINING ROOM
SULLIVAN, 64, sits at the table of the Magdeburg’s dining room. Sullivan is gaunt but fit, haircut and one-piece uniform well maintained. The dining area is compact to the point of being cramped, with most of the wall space being used for storage.
There is an artificial feel to the room: unnatural lighting, and blocky technology and architecture surround Sullivan.
Sullivan holds a smoldering cigarette over a bowl of something that looks barely edible: beige and wet. A spoon rests on the table next to it.
Sullivan’s fingers find his throat and tenderly press at his skin. He rubs his temples, then drops his cigarette into the bowl of colourless mush.
CUT TO:
INT. GYM
An empty gymnasium littered with unused exercise equipment.
In the center of the room Sullivan — top half of uniform now peeled down to waist to reveal undershirt — strides on a moving treadmill at an even pace.
An oxygen mask clasped over his mouth, there are several dimly-coloured tubes attached across Sullivan’s arms and shoulders.
The room is silent except for his HEAVY BREATHS and the sound of BOOTS ON RUBBERY AND MACHINERY.
CUT TO:
INT. EDUCATION CENTRE
In a closet-sized room, Sullivan — uniform back in order — lies in a relaxed chaise, a chrome cap spouting wire and spindles over the top half of his head and face.
An artificial, female VOICE speaks from the machine he wears. With each word, a cartoon image appears on the screen behind Sullivan.
VOICE (V.O.)
Hund.
A dog appears on screen.
SULLIVAN
Hund.
VOICE (V.O.)
Frühstück.
A bowl appears on screen.
SULLIVAN
Frühstück.
VOICE (V.O.)
Raumschiff.
A spaceship appears on screen.
SULLIVAN
Raumschiff.
CUT TO:
INT. BATHROOM
Sullivan stands hunched over a sink, a polished mirror reflecting the staring match he seems to be having with himself.
After a moment’s silence, he breaks eye contact and bends over the sink, COUGHING until the white basin turns RED WITH BLOOD.
CUT TO:
INT. STASIS HALL
Sullivan sits, perfectly quiet. Pulled out in front of him is what appears to be a large, metal drawer. There is a long, drawn out silence, then Sullivan looks down and places a hand on the object in front of him.
A pane of glass, frosty at the edges like a window during the winter, covers the top of the metal slab. Behind it a BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, 27, lies on her back within the drawer-like pod. She is still, her eyes closed, dressed in the same uniform as Sullivan. A series of thin wires attach to her neck and arms like leeches.
Sullivan’s fingers find a peeling label on the glass — reading 1102 — and smooth it out.
SULLIVAN
Hello. It’s been a while, I suppose. I, uh, I may have some bad news. I don’t know if I’m going to see you out of this sleep. But I can’t… I won’t leave you alone. I need to know you’ll be safe.
(beat)
I love you.
Sullivan holds his hand over her body for another beat, then lifts it, leaving a smudged hand print behind.
He stands and grabs the handle of the slab with the Woman inside. He slides the container into the wall and it effortlessly glides over the ground until it locks into its designated place with a ‘click’.
Sullivan picks up the simple, plastic chair he has been sitting on, turns, and walks down the stasis hall.
Around him the walls making up the pentagon-shaped hallway are lined with rows and columns of handles and the outlines of pods. Each have a dim, green light that signifies another frozen body, each a star that surround and frame Sullivan’s shrinking body.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE
There is only a sea of inky black, broken by the occasional pinprick of a star. In the center, a mere smudge in the dark soup, is THE MAGDEBURG: a grey, daunting spacecraft, floating through the cosmos.
Utter SILENCE.
TITLE OVER: Magdeburg
CUT TO:
INT. MEDICAL WARD
Sullivan sits in a chaise with a needle and tube stuck into his exposed forearm. The machine next to him whirs and clicks. Finally, the same artificial Voice as before speaks in a stutter, unfamiliar with non-prerecorded words, clicking occasionally.
VOICE (V.O.)
Caretaker — 2-0-3-3, Sullivan Koch.
SULLIVAN
(muttering to self)
Give it to me straight, ship.
VOICE (V.O.)
It is recommended that a new Caretaker be selected.
Sullivan drops his head into his hands and runs his fingers through his hair.
SULLIVAN
Christ.
Sullivan pulls the needle from his arm, then reaches into his front pocket and produces a RED KEY CARD, pushing it into the machine. He taps a few keys on the mechanical keyboard, and it whirs to life.
VOICE (V.O.)
Caretaker training has been initiated. Scrambling residents for random selection.
SULLIVAN
Please don’t be her… please don’t let it be her…
The machine hums as it processes for what seems like an eternity. Finally, it speaks again.
VOICE (V.O.)
Please retrieve resident 5-9-0-0.
Sullivan breathes a sigh of relief.
CUT TO:
INT. STASIS HALL
Sullivan walks down the hall, heels clicking with each step. His fingers run along the line of sleeping pods, tracing the labels of four-digit numbers. 5897, 5898, 5899, until…
5900. The light, normally green, is lit with a glaring blue. Sullivan grasps the handle, and PULLS out the hovering drawer. Behind the frosty glass pane, a YOUNG GIRL of 23 lies still, dressed in uniform. She is lanky, with matted hair, her expression peaceful. Like the Woman, she too is pricked by needles and thin tubes.
Sullivan finds a slot on the side of the steel container, and slides the red key card into it. His fingers tap a few dimly glowing buttons.
There is a dull CLICK, and the top of the pod opens slightly. A cloud of steam curls to the floor as Sullivan lifts the lid all the way up.
Sullivan begins to PULL the Girl from the pod, as she fumbles at his arms.
GIRL
Already…
The Girl doubles over the lip of the drawer and VOMITS at Sullivan’s boots. Sullivan grabs her shoulders and steadies her as she tries to stumble out from her pod.
SULLIVAN
Easy… Let’s get you to med.
GIRL
Wait… the others…
The Girl struggles to wipe her mouth as Sullivan plucks the needles and tubes from her skin.
GIRL
Wait! Wait, no!
Sullivan HEAVES the Girl from her pod as she begins to kick and wriggle feebly in his grip.
GIRL
Not me! Someone else! Not me, you fucking bastard, pick someone else!
CUT TO:
INT. MEDICAL WARD
The Girl lies in the same chaise as before, needles and tubes sticking out from her skin as Sullivan fiddles with the machine next to her. The Girl’s eyes close and open slowly, her head nodding groggily.
SULLIVAN
You seem fine. Healthy, no screw ups in slumber.
GIRL
Someone else…
SULLIVAN
Let’s get some solid food in you, work off the stasis-sleep.
GIRL
I want to wake up…
SULLIVAN
You are awake.
GIRL
Not here… wake me up on land… On the new world. Please.
SULLIVAN
(looks up)
I’m sorry. If there was another-
GIRL
Please. You can pick someone else…
SULLIVAN
That’s not how it works.
CUT TO:
INT. dining room
Sullivan and the Girl sit opposite each other at the center table. The Girl has her uniform peeled down at the top, sleeves tied at her waist, exposing her undershirt. A bowl of half-eaten mush sits in front of her. She stares into it for a beat.
SULLIVAN
What’s your name?
GIRL
Do you have a cigarette?
SULLIVAN
Do you have a name?
GIRL/VERA
Vera.
Sullivan holds out an unlabeled pack of cigarettes.
SULLIVAN
Sullivan.
Vera takes a cigarette and Sullivan produces a lighter, flicking it on. She lights and exhales, the cloud of smoke catching on the harsh, artificial lighting.
SULLIVAN
It’s nice to see someone. Someone awake. Even under the circumstances. You probably have questions.
VERA
Maybe.
Vera draws from her cigarette.
VERA
I’m going to be a Caretaker?
SULLIVAN
Right.
VERA
‘Til death contract?
Sullivan nods. A beat.
VERA
How far are we from the new colony?
SULLIVAN
Years, days, I couldn’t tell you. You could see it, there’s a chance.
VERA
Well… how many were before you?
SULLIVAN
A good amount. About eight is my guess.
VERA
And you? What’s going to happen to you?
SULLIVAN
I… I won’t be here forever. You’re going to have to take over soon. Keep the ship running. Keep the sleepers alive.
Vera stubs out her cigarette.
VERA
And if I refuse?
SULLIVAN
You signed a contract. We all did.
VERA
Money’s no good if I’m stuck here.
SULLIVAN
You don’t know what you’re saying. Lives depend on this-
(beat)
There’s always that chance that you see land again.
VERA
Slim fuckin’ chance.
CUT TO:
INT. HALLWAY
Sullivan leads Vera down a cramped hallway. Vera runs her hand along the guide rail as Sullivan talks.
SULLIVAN
There are really only two things you have to worry about as a Caretaker: the ship, and the cargo.
VERA
Cargo?
SULLIVAN (CONT’D)
The Magdeburg is pretty top of the line: nothing serious is going to break, just a few odds and ends will need tuning up. You just have to be creative. How good are you with power tools?
VERA
I guess I’ve done a few jobs in garages back on land.
SULLIVAN
That’s good. I just need to show you basics, give you a general feel for how she runs. You know, it’s really nice to hear a voice that isn’t mine or the prerecorded computer’s. I don’t know if I said that already. But it’s good to have you here, Vera. You’ll do fine.
A section of guide rail shifts and BENDS underneath Vera’s hand, loose in its place, and Vera STUMBLES.
VERA
Shit…
Sullivan stops and turns to Vera.
SULLIVAN
You okay?
VERA
Yeah. Fine.
SULLIVAN
Rail’s loose. This is what I’m talking about: odds and ends.
Sullivan grabs the broken rail and BENDS it back in place.
SULLIVAN
We can weld that, it’ll be good practice.
CUT TO:
INT. MAIN CONSOLE ROOM – CONTINUOUS
The console room is small, with a worn swivel chair sitting in front of a blocky computer console that stretches in front of the wall opposite the doorway.
Sullivan and Vera enter, and Sullivan sits in the chair.
SULLIVAN
Everything basically runs from here. These–
He points to several dim lights, each with their own peeling label.
SULLIVAN (CONT’D)
–will light up for whatever the computer wants to let you know about. Er, hold on…
Sullivan absentmindedly taps on the keyboard.
SULLIVAN
How’d you end up on the Magdeburg?
VERA
Kind of personal.
SULLIVAN
Then don’t answer.
VERA
(sighs)
I don’t know. I got into some trouble. Did a few stints in a cell here and there. Might have lost my temper a few too many times.
SULLIVAN
I understand. Lot of people here are looking for that second chance, you know?
Sullivan pauses and clasps his chest for a beat, then begins to COUGH violently into the crook of his arm for a moment.
SULLIVAN
Sorry about that…
Vera leans onto the console and faces Sullivan.
VERA
I have another question.
SULLIVAN
I’m all ears.
VERA
When you got selected… for Caretaking.
SULLIVAN
Hm.
VERA
Did you want to do it?
SULLIVAN
Well… no. No one wants be a Caretaker at first.
VERA
So what did you do?
SULLIVAN
(sighs)
What could I do? I couldn’t go anywhere, Vera. There’s nothing else out there for billions of miles. I did my job.
VERA
How many years ago was that?
SULLIVAN
Must have been… must have been about forty-some years back.
A long silence as Sullivan taps at the keyboard.
VERA
Sullivan… I’m not going to do this.
SULLIVAN
What do you mean?
VERA
Caretaking. I can’t. I… I refuse.
SULLIVAN
(turning sharply to Vera)
You refuse.
VERA
Yes-
SULLIVAN
You don’t refuse. This isn’t a choice, Vera, this is an obligation.
Sullivan stands, looming over Vera, who shrinks under his gaze.
SULLIVAN (CONT’D)
You don’t refuse a necessary. You get a job, something absolute like this, you carry through with it.
Sullivan steps forward, Vera steps back.
SULLIVAN (CONT’D)
If you were woken and given poison and told to drink, you would drink. If you were told to throw yourself onto a sword, you would.
Sullivan steps forward again, GRASPING Vera’s arm.
SULLIVAN (CONT’D)
If you were ordered to open the airlock and toss yourself into cold and empty space, you would. This is the job, Vera.
Vera averts her gaze and Sullivan steps back, dropping his grip on her arm.
SULLIVAN (CONT’D)
I’m- Let me… let me show you something.
Sullivan exits the room. Vera hesitates, then follows.
CUT TO:
INT. STASIS HALL
Sullivan and Vera stand in front of the pod labeled 1102.
SULLIVAN
This is it.
Sullivan pulls the drawer out of the wall. The Woman inside is still as ever.
VERA
Who is she?
SULLIVAN
She’s… Well…
Vera looks down at Sullivan’s hand gingerly placed on the icy glass.
VERA
Oh.
(beat)
Name?
SULLIVAN
(sighs)
I don’t know.
(beat)
I was just… I was hoping I’d see her come out of stasis. But I know… I know that we… share something, Vera. A bond. I know that if I’d gotten to meet her…
Sullivan stands in silence. Vera stares intensely at him with a perturbed expression .
SULLIVAN (CONT’D)
This is why. Why you need to do this job. For her, Vera. I need someone to watch the ship for her. To make sure she’s safe.
After a moment, Sullivan slides the Woman’s container back into the wall and straightens up, turning to Vera.
SULLIVAN
I’m sorry… about what I said back there. Are you mad at me?
Vera looks down at her feet, avoiding Sullivan’s eyes.
VERA
No. It’s the job.
SULLIVAN
I want this to work, Vera. I want you to do this job. Do you understand?
VERA
Yeah. Yeah, I understand.
Vera turns and begins to walk away. Sullivan follows her into–
INT. HALLWAY
Vera looks down absentmindedly as she walks through the cramped hallway, her hands glide along the handrail. Sullivan is a few steps behind her.
SULLIVAN
Watching the ship isn’t so rough, you know. Quiet, lots of time to yourself, sure. But there are things to stay busy with. How good is your German?
VERA
It’s… well, gut genug.
Vera’s hand find the loose rail, a tooth about to fall out.
SULLIVAN (CONT’D)
That’s nice to hear, I’ve finally been learning it. You could help me out. I also have some old books in my bunk, they’ve been passed down from the first Caretaker who smuggled them aboard. They’re interesting, I’m sure you’ll–
Vera grips the loose rail, and in one swift motion, twists it free and
CRACKS
it over Sullivan’s head. He COLLAPSES to the floor, and Vera brings the steel rail down one last time with a
CRUNCH.
Panting heavily, Vera stares down at Sullivan’s still body before bending down, letting the rail clatter to the floor, patting his uniform until she produces the red key card. She turns away from him and dashes into–
INT. MAIN CONSOLE ROOM
Sitting in the swivel chair, Vera pushes the key card into the computer and begins to type frantically.
VERA
C’mon, c’mon…
VOICE (V.O.)
Command not recognized.
VERA
I want them out! Wake them up!
Vera pushes a few more keys.
VOICE (V.O.)
Authority is not given to personnel for this action.
VERA
I don’t… I don’t want to be alone for this…
Vera curls up in the chair, cradling her face in her hands.
VERA
Fuck…
CUT TO:
INT. HALLWAY
Vera calmly paces through down the hallway towards the stasis hall with. Her heels click on the steel floor, her expression utterly blank.
She approaches Sullivan, crumpled against the wall. She begins to step past him, but his hand raises slowly, stopping her.
SULLIVAN
Wait…
Vera stares down at his bloodied face.
SULLIVAN (CONT’D)
Please… watch her for me. That’s all I want… Make sure she’ll be alright.
VERA
You don’t know her. She’s just some poor girl in a coffin.
SULLIVAN
Please. I know I love her.
Vera turns away from him sharply and enters–
INT. STASIS HALL – Continuous
Vera walks through the hall, tracing the pods with her hand. Finally, she finds the empty drawer that she woke up in, marked 5900, and pulls it out of the wall.
She pushes the key card into its slot, tapping buttons. The lid opens with a CLICK that seems to echo.
Vera lifts the top all the way open, lowers herself inside, closing the lid as she does. Lying down flat, she pushes the appropriate needles and tubes — already dribbling unknown fluids — into her skin. Vera’s chest rises and falls, eyes wide open within the tiny coffin.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE
The inky stretch of space, sparse with stars is broken only by the still-floating Magdeburg.
The cold blackness is still and silent as ever.
FADE OUT