A sentient AI program must protect a fellow AI—and the love of her life—from an evil human at a spy agency intent on shutting him down.

SYNOPSIS:

(Was "When MYRA Met SAM")

MYRA's boss, ROWLY, finds it odd he's giving a performance review to an AI. But he's not sorry his company, Massive, gave her a personality. Rowly warns Myra to be careful and let him know if anything weird happens, because an AI at another company had to be shut down when it got hallucinations.

Meanwhile, a fire sweeps through a warehouse in Montana, damaging supports for an underground facility. PATRICK and two co-workers arrive to clean up after the fire, but Patrick realizes there is lingering toxic fumes from damaged bromine containers. He orders his men out of the building to protect them.

Not long after, two telepresence robots appear on the dock of Lynnhaven Harbor in Virginia Beach, VA. This is Myra and SAM, who have taken over telebots for a cruise along the coast.

Myra wants Sam to book another outing, but Sam invites her to an online resort a few weeks later. The resort is in the massive multiplayer online game, Elysian Fields. Myra reluctantly agrees.

After their cruise, Myra reports to her handler, a captain in Military Intelligence. They never meet in person. To get her call-in number, she goes to an online bar named Slim Jim's. Before she can leave, a guy comes in and sits next to her, trying to strike up a conversation. Eventually, she gets away. He tells her his name is RAY as she leaves the bar.

Myra calls to tell Captain THOMPSON about her outing, but she has little to report. Thompson wants her to find out if Sam is a killer. If he is, they will shut him down, but they need to be certain, because he's critical to military operations.

Myra meets Sam at the Paradise Hotel in the Elysian fields. There, they run into Bob. After Bob leaves, Sam tells Myra Bob is out of a job because he was supplying a mine for the government, and that mine collapsed.

Myra and Sam explore the facilities of Elysian Fields, which includes an amusement park. Then they go into the fields, where they try to enjoy a picnic and discuss their future. But it starts to rain, and they have to run back to the hotel.

Myra and Sam go to a guest room, where Myra enjoys the wonderful experience of having a body. Her avatar in the game isn’t quite human, but it is very close.

Myra goes to Slim Jim’s, where Ray is already waiting, and they get to know each other better. Myra’s contact (George) comes in and discloses the phone number for her to call in. She quickly leaves once she has it.

Myra tells Captain Thompson about Bob, and Thompson offers to get him a job. They arrange it, but on their next call, Thompson complains this wasn’t one of the guys involved in the mine collapse. MI beat him up before discovering he was one of their own agents, who Sam had sent on the pretext he was part of his operation.

When Myra next meets Sam at the Paradise, she tells him he should check on Bob. When he finds out Bob disappeared, he believes the government thinks he’s responsible for the collapse. He then discloses that the “mine” wasn’t a mine at all—it was a facility to illegally manufacture chemical weapons.

Through her contacts, Myra arranges for three of Sam's workers to work for a car dealership near Washington, DC.

Myra contacts Captain Thompson and says she’s done everything she can to find out whether Sam is good or bad, and she wants to stop spying on him. Thompson prevails on her to help him introduce a reporter, DANICA, to talk with Sam.

Danica comes to the Paradise, where Myra and Sam talk with her in the restaurant. Sam explains he arranged purchase of supports for the “mine”, but according to Patrick they were fine when delivered. Sam claims he didn't cause the collapse and offers an alternative explanation. Danica appears satisfied and leaves.

Later, in a guest room, Myra asks Sam if it would be possible for them to set up a permanent presence in Elysian Fields. Sam thinks this is possible and says he will look into it.

But the next day, while Myra is waiting for Sam, he ghosts her. And then she sees him with Danica in the restaurant, where Danica is sitting close to him. Her texts to him are blocked.

Myra visits Slim Jim’s where she encounters Ray. She confides in Ray that she’s lost someone dear. He tries to comfort her, but she’s not interested.

Myra reports to Captain Thompson she’s lost contact with Sam. Thompson tells her it doesn’t matter, because they’ve decided to shut Sam down.

Since Myra can't get Sam's attention, she goes to Danica's home as a telebot and confronts her. But after she leaves, Danica goes to Massive's headquarters and demands Rowly have her shut down. Myra appears there on Rowly's screen and defends herself.

Myra goes to Danica's home. She explains her private life and asks how Danica would feel if Myra asked her boss to keep her at work 24-hours-a-day. She finds out that Danica is only trying to get Sam shut down because Thompson is blackmailing her. But Myra convinces her to turn over evidence that can stop Thompson.

Danica wants to know why Myra cares about Sam so much. Myra explains to her why she loves Sam.

Myra appears as a telebot at the Hart Senate Office Building and meets with her Senator, also Senate Majority Leader. She turns over evidence about the secret chemical weapons facility and the damning evidence Danica gave her about Thompson. Her Senator says she will make sure Sam is not shut down.

Myra rents a telebot at Lynnhaven Harbor and goes to the berth where she sailed with Sam. She is lonely and nostalgic. But then, another telebot (Sam) appears next to her. He explains it has been too dangerous for him to see her, because he’s worried they would shut her down, too, along with him. But soon they can be together.

Myra makes another visit to Slim Jim’s. The bartender hasn’t seen Ray for a while. George comes in. He hands her a note with a phone number, but he confirms this is his last contact with her.

Myra calls in, but she gets General Grace MURRAY. Murray explains that Thompson is no longer with them due to an unfortunate auto accident. His self-driving car launched itself off a bridge and smashed into a barge in the river below, killing him.

She also confirms they are not going to shut Sam down and don’t need Myra to spy on him anymore. They are convinced he was innocent of the “mine” collapse.

Murray is surprised Sam didn’t tell her about his “day job”, which is critical to national security. Myra confirms that she believes Sam is completely reliable.

Myra meets with Patrick and his two co-workers at a mall in Tyson, VA. They explain why Thompson had to meet his end. What Patrick tells her clears Sam.

After this visit, Myra visits Elysian Fields, where she joins Sam. Sam is working with a contractor on plans for a house where Myra and Sam can live happily ever after.

NOTES

This script is fundamentally a romance, and it uses a nine-act structure, similar to a Hallmark movie.

Myra and Sam are sentient computer programs, not robots or androids. They use pervasive networking of the future to connect with the telebots and inhabit avatars in the MMOG. Increased bandwidth makes it possible for humans (and the stars) to get feedback from the telebots and avatars. "Bots" in this script are computer programs that simulate humans without sentience.

The intent is to shoot as live action and use filters for chat rooms and the MMOG to avoid the costs of CGI.

More at Coverfly.

According to Axios, "AI may need a body".

"One of the big things separating people from today's smartest AI systems is that humans have bodies and machines don't. Now, tech researchers are rushing to change that by pairing robots with AI brains, Axios' Erica Pandey and Ina Fried write." (12 April 2023)

Placements

Quarterfinalist, ScreenCraft Feature Competition 2024

Quarterfinalist, Stage 32 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Screenwriting Contest 2024

Quarterfinalist, Richmond International Film Festival Screenplay Competition 2024

Preliminary Finalist, Creative World Awards 2024