Chapter 3: The Ministry of Design
Zin's dissatisfaction at work, her daydreams about VJ Gabriel and dolphins, and her escape through the cleaning cabinet.
INT — MORNING — IN THE OFFICE
ZIN AND ZOO ARE HACKING AWAY ON THEIR WORKSTATIONS. THE VIRTUAL DISPLAYS ALLOW THEM TO MODEL IN 3D. THEIR ARMS SEEM TO TOUCH OBJECTS INSIDE THEIR SCREENS, LIKE OBJECTS INSIDE A BOX.
THE ROOM IS FILLED WITH THE NOISES OF THE KEYBOARDS AND YOU CAN HEAR THE RATTLE AND HUM OF TWIN CITY.
ZOO IS WORKING ON HIS TEA-POT DESIGN. HE HOLDS UP A FINISHED MODEL — WHITE CRYSTAL, PERFECTLY FORMED. HE SMILES AT IT. HE IS PROUD.
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EXT. MINISTRY WAREHOUSE — CONTINUOUS
WE SEE THE WAREHOUSE. ROWS AND ROWS OF IDENTICAL TEAPOTS. THOUSANDS. STACKED ON SHELVES THAT STRETCH INTO DARKNESS. NOBODY USES THEM. THEY ARE STORED AND FORGOTTEN. ZOO DOESN'T KNOW THIS.
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INT. OFFICE — CONTINUOUS
Ups, careful, Berg is coming.
I've seen him.
BERG COMES CLOSE, STANDS BESIDE ZIN.
Zin, I have to inform you we have again complains from your clients. You delivered model 1437 to the wrong address.
In fact you are a risk to the career of your twin brother, who always makes an excellent job. You need to concentrate more, Zin. Please find a way to concentrate. We need you to concentrate.
BERG (CONT'D)
We expect you to work flawless from now on. Thank you and you know why.
BERG WALKS AWAY.
_(under her breath, almost inaudible)_
But I don't know why.
A BEAT. ZOO DOESN'T HEAR. NOBODY HEARS.
_(louder, mocking)_
And you know why, and you know why, blah and you know why, blah I know nothing.
Zin, be quiet
One day I leave you, this office, the you know twin world and hide in the swamps
You can't do that, all Tea model Twins live and work together in uptown, it has always been like that and you know why.
SILENCE, BOTH TWINS ARE WORKING AGAIN.
_(tapping her workstation absently)_
Moogle, what did people do before the Ministry of Design?
MOOGLE (V.O.)
_(same bright tone, no hesitation)_
That information is not available. Would you like to know today's production targets instead?
ZIN STARES AT HER SCREEN. SHE EXPECTED AN ANSWER. MOOGLE ALWAYS HAS AN ANSWER.
No. Never mind.
SHE GOES BACK TO WORK. BUT SOMETHING LINGERS.
MIDDAY BREAK START SOUND, EVERYBODY STOPS WORKING AND TAKES A PILL FOR LUNCH
MIDDAY BREAK END SOUND, EVERYBODY IS BACK ON THE SCREEN.
ZIN STARTS WORKING AWAY FASTER AND FASTER, CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON HER SCREEN
INT- MORNING — ZIN'S DREAM
ZIN IS FLYING IN A TEAPOT CARRIAGE THROUGH THE HEAVENS AND CLOUDS.
THE CARRIAGE IS PULLED BY DOLPHINS, SHE FLIES HIGHER AND HIGHER.
TWIN CITY LAYS UNDER HER, THE TWO SUNS (RED AND WHITE) ARE IN THE SKY.
PICTURES OF HER TWIN FLY BY, CHILDHOOD OF THE TWO SMALL TWINS.
VJ GABRIEL STARTS TO APPEAR IN THE CLOUDS.
ZIN'S HEART STARTING TO TURN RED. THE CLOUDS ARE FORMING HEARTS, SHE FLIES CLOSER AND CLOSER TO VJ GABRIEL
VJ GABRIEL OPENS HIS ARMS TO EMBRACE HER, THE DOLPHINS ARE SMILING.
A CLASH SOUND OF BREAKING PORCELAIN, THE DOLPHINS LOOK ANGRY, VJ GABRIEL DISAPPEARS.
THE CARRIAGE IS FALLING TOWARDS A DARK TWIN CITY, THE IMAGE GETS DARKER AND DARKER.
Zin, can you please follow me to the office?
ZOO LOOKS FRIGHTENED, MR. BERG AND ZIN DISAPPEAR AT THE END OF THE LONG CORRIDOR.
BEHIND A GLASS DOOR BERG IS TALKING TO ZIN, SOUND CAN'T BE HEARD, THE WORKING T MODELS ARE STARRING AT THE OFFICE, NO ONE CARRIES ON WORKING.
EVERY BODY IS BACK TO WORK
INT - MORNING — ZIN'S ESCAPE
ZIN IS AT BERG'S OFFICE, SHE WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE
OK, we will have to give you another chance. What else could we do?
BERG (CONT'D)
Don't disappoint us, you are a Type T, your very talented twin brother is a Type T, I'm a type T and you have to work for the community like everybody does in Twin City. No dreaming about this. Go now. and you know why.
ZIN WALKS DOWN CORRIDOR, LOOKS ANGRY. SHE SEES A LOW OPEN DOOR TO A CLEANING CABINET.
AN ALIEN TYPE W DRIVES A BIG TROLLEY WITH TOWELS, STOPS AND DISAPPEARS.
ZIN HIDES IN THE RUBBISH BASKET, THE TYPE W ALIEN COMES BACK AND MOVES THE TROLLEY THROUGH THE GATE.
EXT. OFFICE — MORNING — ZOO IS WAITING
ZOO IS VERY AFRAID, WORKING SLOWLY. ZIN'S CHAIR IS EMPTY. HE GETS UP, BUT SITS DOWN AGAIN. CARRIES ON WORKING.
WORK END SIGN, EVERYBODY LEAVES THE OFFICE. ZIN DOESN'T GET UP, ZOO IS HELPLESS AS PEOPLE LEAVE THE OFFICE, TYPE M ALIEN STARTS CLEANING.