He wakes up; feeling the after affects of a drug, he was very certain. He speaks, "Where am I"
"In the Village," comes a reply.
"What do you want?" he walks across an area.
"Information"
"Whose side are you on"
Laughs, "My dear chap - that would be telling. We want, information ... information ... information"
He looks up at the sky as he runs across a beach, "You won't get it"
"By hook or by crook - we will," the mans face becomes visable when leaning out of a half-circle chair that has come from a hole in the ground.
"Who are you"
"The new Number 2"
"Who is Number 1"
"You are Number 6"
"I AM NOT A NUBMER, I AM A FREE MAN!" he shouts at the sky and hits at it with a fist.
"Good morning! It's another beautiful day in The Village"
Number 6 opens his eyes and in floods the sound of nausea for his ears.
"Yes, another splendid day in the zoo"
His television turns on. Number 2 is on it.
"Or the laboratory," 6 comments.
"Good morning Number 6. Sleep well?" asks the new Number 2. A British gentlemen in his mid 40s with yellow brown hair. He is in a suit and clean cut. (Actor who played "Devon" on Knight Rider)
"Like a prisoner of war"
"War? Whose war?" a confused Number 2 asks.
"Your war"
"We're not at war"
"Aren't you?" a now bordering on obsessive coyness Number 6 says.
"Of course not. Who would even want to do such a thing"
Number 6 smirks and begins to change his clothing.
"That's what I would like to know"
He pulls down his pants.
"Mercy! Mercy Number 6. I want to see into your mind, not your body"
Two spins his half circle chair around.
"When you got me," Number 6 begins to comment, "you got the whole package. You can't have the milk without the cow. And if you don't like it you can return to sender," he smiles.
"Not for me. I'm a vegetarian. Soy milk is my fancy"
"And soylent green is people. Is he here to"
Number 2 laughs and claps his hands together.
"Marvelous. You are quite amusing, you know? Is it safe now"
"As it will get"
Two spins back around.
"It's going to be a beautiful day out Number 6"
"How would you know"
"Let's just say I know. Come join me Number 6. We'll have lunch. Are you free"
"Not yet ... I find your offer absolutely captivating"
"Splendid, absolutely splendid. Green dome. At your convenience. Ta ta Number 6"
The television goes blank. The usual annoying banter of the female voice on The Village's activities for the day noticeably gone. Number 6 goes to his kitchen and pours coffee into his cup. He then proceeds to pace back and forth. Wondering, who made his coffee and if it were drugged. But this morning he didn't care. Her puts the cup down and exits his apartment.
Inside the main control center the chairs on a pivoting fulcrum go around and up and down. Number 42 hovers over a man sitting in Number 2's chair. He is watching the screen. His view is of Number 6 heading for the green dome.
"Number 04, what is it"
"Yes," 04 replies and then continues and stumbles apon his words slowly, "I checked my calendar and was open today"
42 looks up at the screen. Number 6 is approaching the dome's main doors. 6 knocks. The two doors open to reveal the short suited butler. He stands aside to let 6 in.
"Thank you"
He looks at the butler. The butler doesn't look back.
"I don't suppose you would know who Number One is"
The servant shifts his eyes and looks at 6. A door opens and Number 2 comes in.
"Ah, Number 6, so glad you could make it"
"Yes, I checked my calendar and I was open today"
Number 42 looks at 04. It had worked.
"Well, how lucky for me. Come"
"Indeed," an apathetic Number 6 replies.
They walk out. 6 turns around and watches the butler shut the doors behind them. He turns back around. 2 walks passed the electric cart.
"You're not going to ride? Or are your legs so important as to be 3 and 4"
"No. It's nice outside Number 6. A breeze, sunny. It's just a brisk walk. It'll do you good"
"So would freedom"
"You couldn't walk far, or fast enough," a complacent Number 2 says.
"Who said anything about walking? I intend to run. Like the dickens," emphasizing his last word. Number 2 turns around as he walks and puts his arms half way up.
"That's the spirit. Keep in shape. It does the body and mind well"
"A 2 who cares about my health rather than my mind? What a surprise"
"Yes," 2 says as they walk down some steps, "I am full of surprises."
2 pulls out a chair for 6 at a small table in The Village Cafe. 6 reluctantly sits down.
"Thank you"
"Oh, you're quite welcome. Some of us do have manners"
"Hmmmmm"
"Don't look so glum. You have an entire day ahead of you"
"Joy. What is this? The passive aggressive approach"
2 smiles. A waiter approaches.
"Passive in a manner of speaking ... ah yes. Same as yesterday please"
"And I'll have"
2 cuts him off.
"He'll have the usual"
6 jerks his head around toward 2. Clearly unpleased with 2's action just now.
"Well, unless of course you are not going to have what you have every day"
6 looks to the side and frowns slightly. He had become predictable. A personal trait that in his past life meant nothing more than normalcy, but in here meant life or death potentially.
"Thank you," 2 tells the waiter, "I may be a swell guy Number 6, but yours is the type that needs the periodic reminders of authority"
"Why am I here?" he asks with a doubled sided sarcastic and questionable tone.
"As an Indian sharpening his arrow head, I was wondering when we would get to a point. And here comes our food. Drug free this once"
The waiter comes back with two meals on trays and places them down on the table.
"That was quick"
2 looks at his bowl of lettuce to make sure it is fresh and his glass of water. He lifts it to his mouth and takes a sip to wet his throat.
"I don't have to tell you this. This is completely, utterly of my own choosing. You have been selected"
"For"
"A scientific experiment tomorrow"
"And if I chose not to"
"Your appearance is strictly mandatory"
"What kind of test"
"I can't say. Need to know basis. Stuff like that," he waves his hand in a gesture of carelessness. He takes a drink of his water.
"I need to know. If I am to be a rat in the maze, then you had better give me directions. Other wise I'll just eat your cheese and chew through the wall"
2 puts down his glass almost spitting out the liquid with a small bit of laughter. He wipes his mouth with a clean rag.
"I can only promise so much. I have the map, but not every building is on it"
"Where is Number One"
2 taps his left second finger on the table top with a bit of impatience.
"You're expected to be there twelve noon"
6 picks up his tray of food.
"I will not do it. You may force me there and bound me to a chair, but you will not have me. I am leaving"
"You cannot take those. You are provided with food and utensils at your Inn"
The waiter stands in front of 6.
"Unless you want these in pieces apon the floor, I suggest you make a hasty sidestep," he says to the waiter.
"Number 68 please move"
The prisoner looks the waiter down as he moves aside.
"Be seeing you." 6 salutes and turns around.
"No," says Number 2. 6 turns around and 2 continues, "be seeing YOU"
6 eyes him strangely and walks off. 2 takes a deep breath and exhales.
"It really is a beautiful day."