SCENE SUMMARY
The Elders meet and face the grim reality that water reserves are half gone after just one week on quarter rations, and every one of the 111 known villages is suffering the same fate. With every solution exhausted, they vote to order a village-wide slumber putting the population into a deep dream state while search parties go out for water, buying months or even decades of survival time. The Head Nurse reluctantly nods her agreement. Back at the hospital, the slumber order rolls out: nurses administer dream drops to patients ward by ward while messengers carry the order through the village, and soon the streets fall completely silent. Lilix tenderly puts Felsik under last, apologizing for leaving him alone and promising she won't let him stay trapped forever, moved to tears when he manages to whisper a thank you. The cruel Nurse Rina, eager to escape, demands two drops against Lilix's warning and gets exactly what she asked for, earning a quiet moment of shared satisfaction between Lilix and the Head Nurse. Finally, mother puts daughter under with the words "beautiful dreams," then settles into her own chair and self-administers the drop, and the hospital goes still.
13. ELDER'S VOTE
In a large empty room of the hospital, the Head Nurse, who is also an Elder, is having a meeting with other Elders about the latest developments on their efforts to solve the water crisis.
VILLAGE ELDER 1
It's only the first week of distribution and the reserves are halfway empty.
HEAD NURSE
Halfway? Are you sure?
VILLAGE ELDER 1
And that's only giving out a quarter ration.
VILLAGE ELDER 2
I've done everything I know how to do in order to raise the water supply... I dont know how to explain the dry grey clouds, they just don't give any water. And I've tried everything else from sky evaporators, toxic water converters, produce milking, dry-net atmospheric capturing, and a dozen other things. We got so desperate, we even had to impound villagers' personal water reserves. I really just don't know what else to do. I feel so helpless.
HEAD NURSE
You're working so hard, don't give up. We will find something that works. What about the other towns and villages, can they spare anything?
VILLAGE ELDER 1
We have received replies from all 111 known villages and towns, even the villages we are in disputes with. This is happening to everyone, everywhere! I think the only real option we have left is a village-wide slumber.
VILLAGE ELDER 2
I have to agree. I just don't see any other way we will survive. We need to order a village-wide slumber and have search parties sent out until water can be found or the rivers and falls flow again.
HEAD NURSE
Will the search parties have enough water?
VILLAGE ELDER 1
No, not if they don't find new water sources soon. But we will all die a lot sooner if we don't initiate a slumber.
VILLAGE ELDER 2
How long can a Dreamer go without water while in slumber?
HEAD NURSE
It really depends on the person, but anywhere from a few months to a few decades.
VILLAGE ELDER 2
Then the choice seems clear. VILLAGE SLUMBER
The Head Nurse reflects for a moment. She nods yes knowing it's the only option.
...........................................................
INT. DREAMER VILLAGE HOSPITAL (VILLAGE SLUMBER)
Felsik is blabbering while Lilix adjusts his chair. Nurse Rina can hear him clearly while she prepares something at the mixture table.
Lilix secretly prepares a fresh mixture from the root, making sure Rina can't see her. Rina comes in. Lilix hides her mixture quickly and works on another.
RINA
Is that Mrs. Whitesaw's daily?
LILIX
Yes.
Lilix replies shortly. Nurse Rina notices that the medicine locker is open, making her angry.
RINA
The medicine locker is wide open again? Lilix! Why do I always have to remind you? If something goes missing, you will be to blame.
A service bell rings for the main doors.
RINA
Ugh, what now?!
Nurse Rina is annoyed as she shuts the medicine locker. She pauses at Lilix on her way to see who is calling.
RINA
Does he have to keep making the same sound over and over? It is very distracting.
Lilix says softly to Felsik, out of earshot of nurse Rina. Lilix retrieves some objects at the mixing table.
LILIX
Don't worry, thanks to the trade lock, he won't be making much sound when the mixture's benefits wear off.
RINA
Good.And let me make it clear to you: if I see any illegal mixtures, plants, or medicines, I will report it immediately to the Captain of the Guard. I will not tolerate any illegal activity or outlawed substances in this hospital of any kind, no matter how beneficial they are to the patients. I simply will not tolerate it by anyone.
The Head Nurse is standing at the door.
HEAD NURSE
Isn't it time for your rounds?
Rina walks by the Head Nurse and pauses at her looking coldly into her eyes.
RINA
By anyone.
RINA exits.
LILIX
Why is she like that?! Sometimes I want to push her out of the window but I fear her blood would melt the street and pull everything into a black hole.
The Head Nurse gets the dream drop machine from the medicine locker and fetches the patient registry.
HEAD NURSE
Well, you won't have to listen to her for a while: an order to slumber was voted on.
Lilix's attention focuses at the Head Nurse.
LILIX
Village slumber? Is there no other way? I didn't realize it was that bad.
The Head Nurse sees fear in Lilix.
HEAD NURSE
Don't be afraid. We fall asleep every night. This is no different.
LILIX
It's not the falling asleep part I am afraid of, it's the waking up part that has me worried. Have you ever had to slumber?
HEAD NURSE
Mmhmm, I was just a little girl.
LILIX
What was it like?
HEAD NURSE
The only thing I remember is the most peaceful feeling, when the drop hit my eye.
LILIX
How long was the order?
HEAD NURSE
It was a week, but really just a blink of an eye. You're a deep dreamer, but a light sleeper. Don't worry, everything will be okay."
They look at the hospital registry.
HEAD NURSE
I want you to administer drops to wards 1 through 4. Make sure all patients are safe from falling out of bed.
the Head Nurse makes sure the special dream drop machine works. She carefully looks at a drop as it fills a glass chamber and sees that it measures the correct amount. She then gives the drop machine to Lilix.
HEAD NURSE
Make sure to only give one drop.
LILIX
What happens if more than one is given?
HEAD NURSE
Nightmares happen, the worst you'll ever know. So be very careful.
Head Nurse exits the room. Lilix packs some items into a box at the mixture table.
LILIX
(to herself) I really need to learn not to ask so many questions. My fault for asking.
MONTAGE
For the next few hours all the nurses administer drops to the patients in the hospital while messengers are sent to deliver the order of slumber to the village. A large village bell chimed the order alarm and every family administered the drops to their own. Soon the village was silent and motionless as dust. The Captain of the Guard locked the main gates and posted guards every two blocks. The village was mostly made of stone buildings but had the occasional old wood house or stucco-walled shop. The predominant architecture was a mixture of Victorian and "dream gothic." The village was decorative in spots and very plain in others but always had a sweet inviting perfume in the air.
INT. DREAMER VILLAGE HOSPITAL (VILLAGE SLUMBER)
Felsik is blabbering while Lilix adjusts his chair. Nurse Rina can hear him clearly while she prepares something at the mixture table.
Lilix secretly prepares a fresh mixture from the root, making sure Rina can't see her. Rina comes in. Lilix hides her mixture quickly and works on another.
RINA
Is that Mrs. Whitesaw's daily?
LILIX
Yes.
Lilix replies shortly. Nurse Rina notices that the medicine locker is open, making her angry.
RINA
The medicine locker is wide open again? Lilix! Why do I always have to remind you? If something goes missing, you will be to blame.
A service bell rings for the main doors.
RINA
Ugh, what now?!
Nurse Rina is annoyed as she shuts the medicine locker. She pauses at Lilix on her way to see who is calling.
RINA
Does he have to keep making the same sound over and over? It is very distracting.
Lilix says softly to Felsik, out of earshot of nurse Rina. Lilix retrieves some objects at the mixing table.
LILIX
Don't worry, thanks to the trade lock, he won't be making much sound when the mixture's benefits wear off.
RINA
Good.And let me make it clear to you: if I see any illegal mixtures, plants, or medicines, I will report it immediately to the Captain of the Guard. I will not tolerate any illegal activity or outlawed substances in this hospital of any kind, no matter how beneficial they are to the patients. I simply will not tolerate it by anyone.
The Head Nurse is standing at the door.
HEAD NURSE
Isn't it time for your rounds?
Rina walks by the Head Nurse and pauses at her looking coldly into her eyes.
RINA
By anyone.
RINA exits.
LILIX
Why is she like that?! Sometimes I want to push her out of the window but I fear her blood would melt the street and pull everything into a black hole.
The Head Nurse gets the dream drop machine from the medicine locker and fetches the patient registry.
HEAD NURSE
Well, you won't have to listen to her for a while: an order to slumber was voted on.
Lilix's attention focuses at the Head Nurse.
LILIX
Village slumber? Is there no other way? I didn't realize it was that bad.
The Head Nurse sees fear in Lilix.
HEAD NURSE
Don't be afraid. We fall asleep every night. This is no different.
LILIX
It's not the falling asleep part I am afraid of, it's the waking up part that has me worried. Have you ever had to slumber?
HEAD NURSE
Mmhmm, I was just a little girl.
LILIX
What was it like?
HEAD NURSE
The only thing I remember is the most peaceful feeling, when the drop hit my eye.
LILIX
How long was the order?
HEAD NURSE
It was a week, but really just a blink of an eye. You're a deep dreamer, but a light sleeper. Don't worry, everything will be okay."
They look at the hospital registry.
HEAD NURSE
I want you to administer drops to wards 1 through 4. Make sure all patients are safe from falling out of bed.
the Head Nurse makes sure the special dream drop machine works. She carefully looks at a drop as it fills a glass chamber and sees that it measures the correct amount. She then gives the drop machine to Lilix.
HEAD NURSE
Make sure to only give one drop.
LILIX
What happens if more than one is given?
HEAD NURSE
Nightmares happen, the worst you'll ever know. So be very careful.
Head Nurse exits the room. Lilix packs some items into a box at the mixture table.
LILIX
(to herself) I really need to learn not to ask so many questions. My fault for asking.
MONTAGE
For the next few hours all the nurses administer drops to the patients in the hospital while messengers are sent to deliver the order of slumber to the village. A large village bell chimed the order alarm and every family administered the drops to their own. Soon the village was silent and motionless as dust. The Captain of the Guard locked the main gates and posted guards every two blocks. The village was mostly made of stone buildings but had the occasional old wood house or stucco-walled shop. The predominant architecture was a mixture of Victorian and "dream gothic." The village was decorative in spots and very plain in others but always had a sweet inviting perfume in the air.