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INT. CONTROL ROOM – DAY

Rosalie, Ernie, and Joe are in the control room, a room located above the main warehouse space. On one wall are windows looking down at the space, on the other three control panels and high-definition monitors.

Wheeled office chairs allow people to move around the room.

ERNIE

Okay, so let’s review. We have a number of safety features here. One is that while the creature can look at the actual Internet, anything it tries to upload will be stored in a virtual net disconnected from the net. That should keep it from uploading viruses, hacking into the Strategic Air Command, or whatever.

JOE

You can hack into the Strategic Air Command?

ERNIE

How badly do you want to find out?

(raises an eyebrow)

The second takes advantage of the fact that we live in the physical world. The junction between the Creature and the rest of the world is this.

Ernie holds up two ends of ethernet cable. One ends in a simple connector, the other in a junction box.

ERNIE

If the creature ever starts doing something we don’t like, we just pull the plug. A simple, elegant solution to a big, complex problem.

ROSALIE

Certainly one that everyone can understand.

ERNIE

So are we ready?

JOE

Yes.

ROSALIE

Yes.

ERNIE

Then here we go.

There is a moment of silence.

JOE

Is something supposed to happen?

ERNIE

Maybe it’s taking a nap.

More silence. Rosalie bites her lip.

JOE

Or maybe our creature friend isn’t as bright as some think.

More seconds tick by.

JOE

What a waste of effort.

ERNIE

I need to check the software. Let’s disconnect first…

Ernie reaches for the joined ethernet cables.

Rosalie looks through the windows at the creature.

ROSALIE

(under her breath)

C’mon, don’t disappoint us.

Ernie is about to break the connection when there is a PING!

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