Trancendence
Max leads Evelyn through the camp. Evelyn takes it all in. He points out the jury-rigged mesh that encloses the camp.
MAX
The mesh is charged with an electromagnetic pulse. It blocks the machine’s signal. It keeps us hidden. It’s ugly, but it works. We call it The Cage.
She sees his burden of responsibility. He’s become a leader.
MAX (CONT’D)
The machine hasn’t attacked us yet. But every hour that passes, it’s that much more powerful. It won’t be long before it overwhelms us.
Max ignores the suspicious looks thrown at Evelyn from everyone they pass. He leads her to a cabin.
INT. RIFT CABIN – DAY
Max shows Evelyn into the primitive little room.
MAX
It’s not much, but you’ll have privacy.
She eases herself onto the cot. Max doesn’t speak. He watches her, staring off into space. As the silence lengthens, he starts to go. She stops him with-
EVELYN
The virus. Does it work?
Max tenses. If she knows about it then-
MAX
The machine knows about the virus?
Evelyn nods. Max considers his next move.
INT. CAVERN LABORATORY – DAY
Joseph and the assembled hackers look up as Max sits Evelyn down at a workstation. She reads through the virus’ code.
EVELYN
No. You’re not thinking big enough.
Evelyn takes a position at the terminal and gets to work. Max watches her laser-like focus. He settles in next to her.
INT. CAVERN COMPUTER LABORATORY – NIGHT
Bree snaps on her chemical gloves. She places the vial of nanotechnology from the motel on a work table. Evelyn watches Max line the vial with wired transmitters. Max nods to Joseph, who executes the virus from his terminal.
Evelyn focuses on the vial of nanotechnology. A soft DIGITAL NOISE sounds from the implants. The virus. Nothing happens. Then, suddenly-
The nanotechnology erupts into frenzied movement. It turns SOLID. Small FISSURES form on its surface. Its color changes from shimmering graphite to a dull black. It turns into lifeless dust.
Max and Evelyn share a satisfied nod. Max faces the others.
MAX
Once it connects, the virus will wipe out anything with the machine’s code on it.
Evelyn studies the dead nanotechnology.
EVELYN
The machine’s code is on every computer connected to the Internet.
Max goes quiet. Joseph pales. Bree has no idea why.
BREE
So?
EVELYN
The virus will wipe out all the connected systems in the world. The power grid, water treatment plants, the global economy ••• People will go without food, water or heat. Millions will die.
They fall silent, considering the consequences. Max, very softly, reminds them-
MAX Billions will live.
Evelyn looks at Max. They have no choice.
JOSEPH
How are we going to introduce it to the machine’s network?
MAX
The facility is the center of its intelligence. It broadcasts its signal from there.
BREE
It’ll never let us in.
Evelyn feels their desperation.
EVELYN
The machine wanted to upload me into its consciousness.
Everyone goes still at the confession.
EVELYN (CONT’D)
I’ll inject infected nanotechnology into myself, carry the virus to the machine and upload it at the facility.
Joseph is moved by her willingness. Bree suspects it. Max can’t accept it.
MAX Evelyn. No.
EVELYN There’s no other way.
JOSEPH She’s right.
Max stands there, shaking his head. He leaves. Evelyn follows him. Joseph watches, his face lined with worry.
EXT. RIFT CAMP PERIMETER – NIGHT
Max stares at the trees beyond the perimeter of the cage. Water from the recent rains falls in a soft PATTER through the woods. Evelyn joins him.
EVELYN
I’m sorry for being cruel to you. For calling you my enemy, when you’ve been my friend.
MAX I understand.
On a leaf, moisture from the rains collects into a drop of water. Inside the drop of water, there is a small fleck of darkness. A nanobot. It watches them.
EXT. WILL’S FACILITY – NIGHT
will’s hologram watches more and more CITIZENS from the town file into his facility. He stops. Sensing something. He turns to face east.
EXT. RIFT CAMP PERIMETER – NIGHT
The drop of water inches along the leaf, watching. Evelyn looks into Max’s eyes.
EVELYN I have to do this.
MAX I know.
She takes his hand. He soaks it in. The drop of water wells on the edge of the leaf. And falls.
EXT. WILL’S FACILITY – NIGHT
Will’s hologram, seeing enough, fades.
INT. CAVERN WAR ROOM – DAY
Evelyn, Max and Joseph stand at a work table, coiling copper wire into the insides of ARTILLERY AMMUNITION. A team of military personnel watch, including COLONEL STEPHENS.
EVELYN
When the machine detects the virus, it’ll use everything it has to fight it. The less hardware it has, the more vulnerable it will be.
MAX
The modified artillery will cause an electromagnetic pulse and fry any computer system in the blast radius. Hybrids. Nanotechnology. Everything.
Colonel Stephens looks like he just ate something sour.
COLONEL STEPHENS
So we’re betting the house on Mrs. Caster bluffing a computer that’s a million times smarter than she is.
EVELYN
Hundreds of millions of times smarter. Yes.
Colonel Stephens sizes up Evelyn.
COLONEL STEPHENS Hope you got a good poker face.
INT. EVELYN’S CABIN IN THE RIFT CAMP – DAY
The sun streams into the cabin. Evelyn sits there. A tranquility has come over her. Max enters softly.
MAX
We attack at dawn.
