"THX 1138" (1971)

Barely audible, an organ plays a haunting theme. The title credits appear.

They are simple green lettering on a black background.

Point of view from inside a small medicine cabinet. The door is opened creating a low hum, and throwing light on THX 1138, a man about thirty-five years old. He has a closely shaved head: which makes him appear bald. The image is distorted as seen over a TV monitor.

THX takes a bottle of blue pills out of the cabinet and talks directly into the camera.

He takes two of the pills and returns the bottle the cabinet.

Thank you.

THX closes the cabinet.

The door to the cabinet begins to open - hesitates - then closes.

The door opens revealing LUH 3417, a 20 year old woman, also with a closely shaved head. She is nervous and struggle to maintain her composure.

LUH takes the bottle of pills THX has just consumed and becomes frightened.

She slams the door closed.

BATHROOM LUH also dressed in white stands in the corner of a very small bathroom. It is very modern, with many fixtures not in an ordinary bathroom; outstanding of these is a small medicine cabinet with a small sign on the face which reads:

THX looks over to her, but does not respond. LUH reaches for the volume knob, and turns it down, one of the policemen disappears.

It's probably ready by now.

LUH becomes angry.

LUH turns back to watching the policemen. THX sits quietly, and after a few moments, he gets up and leaves the room. LUH immediately flips the switch on the arm of the chair.

An intense flash of light fills the room and gives way to a naked negro female mannequin, with no genitals, dancing exotically to driving, sensual afro-electronic music. She flips the switch again, and the flash fades into a newscaster comfortably seated in a chair directly across from her. He is dressed in white, and his head is closely shaven; as are all of the people in this society.

THX returns to his chair carrying his dinner on a tray. The food looks like multi-colored foam rubber.

LUH flips the switch revealing a drama involving two male negro mannequins standing next to a low, sleek car with a massive, complicated jet engine on the back.

Raucous canned laughter is inserted as the two mannequin get into the autojet.

The CAMERA PULLS BACK, to reveal several monitors which scan other operating rooms. In another row are sedation cabinets, mostly black, because the boxes are closed.

VOICE What's wrong?

The man is hysterical and screams at the monitor.

VOICE What's wrong?

The man takes the pills out of the cabinet and begins to eat them a hand full at a time.

VOICE Take four red capsules, in ten minutes take two more. Help is on the...

LUH reports the incident into the computer. The image on the monitor observing one of the operating rooms is shaken, and turns white as though there has been an explosion. THX continues his work and is oblivious to what has happened.

LUH awakens from her trance, and fumbles, to discover what has happened. She presses buttons that spread the accident among five monitors.

Policemen are seen carrying parts of bodies out of a destroyed operating room.

On the monitors, LUH watches a man bang on the door to his work cell. Slowly he fades, collapses, and dies. As she watches the disaster scene, tears come to her eyes.

She dries them quickly and glances at SEN to see if he has noticed her. He is busy typing a report. A voice brings her back to the monitors.

A man from an industrial section is on one of the TV monitors, screaming hysterically. There are flames and smoke in the background.

LUH quickly punches a button on the tape respond panel.

VOICE You are a true believer, blessings of State, blessings of the masses Thou art a subject of....

LUH is taken by surprise, and fumbles for the retract button.

There is a moment before the correct tape is heard, SEN looks up at LUH, who is unaware she is being watched.

VOICE (CONT'D) Stay calm, correct procedure is essential. Do not fail to remove auxiliary command circuit before evacuation. Vacuum detail and suppression units for your area have been notified and are on their Way.

LUH finishes typing her report and becomes aware that SEN is watching her. She looks up at him, and he quickly goes back to work.

VOICE My time is yours, go ahead.

THX mumbles a short prayer; which is cut short by the recorded voice.

VOICE (CONT'D) Very good, proceed.

THX is uneasy, and fumbles for the right words.

I wasn't concentrating enough. Things haven't been.....

VOICE Yes.

But you must already know about that....Why do I bother you with such.....

VOICE Yes

There is a pause as THX waits for an answer.

VOICE Yes.

VOICE Yes.

THX pauses, and trys to think of what he wants to say.

VOICE You are a true believer. Blessings of the state, blessings of the masses. Thou art a subject of the divine. Created in the image of man, by the masses, for the masses. Let us be thankful we have an occupation to fill. Work hard; increase production; prevent accidents, and be happy.

THX slumps, exhausted by the effort of communicating with

LUH stares at him without answering.

Why should he want to see you?

THX is becoming confused and exasperated.

LUH starts to move off.

LUH quickly disappears into the crowd. THX rests against the wall; the noise and the crowding people are almost too much for him.

A chrome robot and a man, both dressed in bright yellow, pass by engaged in conversation. A moment later, a man drops his computer card and is trampled trying to retrieve it.

THX is seen on a TV monitor. He is unable to withstand the crowd and moves off screen down the passageway.

HOLOGRAM ROOM, THX'S QUARTERS

The faint sound of a heartbeat grows louder as a pulsating, round, red blurr slowly appears in the center of the room. THX is sitting alone in the overstuffed chair.

The red ball descends from the ceiling and surrounds THX's abdomen as he takes two capsules out of a compartment in the arm of the chair and swallows them.

THX flips a switch on the arm of the chair; an intense flash of light fills the room and gives way to a naked negro female mannequin making erotic movements to the beat of a driving afro-electronic song.

THX undergoes the physical movements of a sexual experience.

After he reaches his climax, he relaxes, breathing deeply, resting for a moment as the mannequin continues to gyrate and the red ball fades away.

THX flips the switch several times. A series of images flashes through the room: a chrome policeman beating a man to death; a newscaster; a matronly woman discussing drugs; a male mannequin; and finally two men sitting behind a long table. Only one man speaks, the other listens attentively, occasionally looking from THX to the speaker.

The man disappears for a moment, then pops back.

personality are rapidly being overcome by the social processes of advancing technology. Component lowness, a sophisticated stimulation is the answer. The humanity of authority is proudly contemporary.

Control through companionship, combined with economic advantages of the mating structure far surpasses any disadvantages in increased perversions. A final...

THX hears something in the other part of the house. He jumps up, standing in the middle of the silent man.

THX flips off the hologram and the two men fade away, leaving the room dark and empty.

THX walks into the main room, then into the bedroom

He stands alone, disappointed and puzzled. He ponders the events of the day, makes a decision, and leaves.

The room is in a state of confusion as the effects are checked against a master list by an extremely mannish woman. THX finally moves past them and into the residence, looking for SEN.

SEN is in his section of the bedroom, noticeably annoyed at the intrusion. THX enters and stands just inside the entry, staring at SEN. SEN becomes aware of THX and begins to stare back. THX becomes more and more uncomfortable.

THX says nothing. SEN suddenly recognizes him and stands up.

THX does not answer. SEN studies him for a moment.

SEN sits down. THX remains standing, staring expressionless at SEN. There is another pause.

SEN looks at THX, but sees no reaction.

SEN goes into the bathroom alcove and takes a pill. THX sits on the edge of the bed.

SEN returns to the bed and sits down on the other end from

SEN backs off a bit.

The woman taking the inventory interrupts their conversation.

SEN hands her the plastic badge on his lapel. She slips it into a small box and returns it, with a slip of paper.

The woman leaves.

THX glares silently at SEN.

THX is having difficulty dealing with this turn of events.

Living....selection is computed. You can't... What have you done to LUH? She was here..

THX is confused and preoccupied.

THX stands up and starts for the door.

THX leaves.

VOICE Yes...

VOICE Yes...

THX is experiencing extreme stomach cramps.

VOICE You are a true believer. Blessings of the state. Blessings of the masses. Thou art a subject of the divine. Created in the image of man, by man, for man. Let us be thankful we have commerce. Buy more. Buy more now. Buy more and be happy.

THX throws up on the floor of the booth and seems to feel better for it. The Mercicontrol card appears, and the concluding voice is heard as THX feebly gets up and leaves the booth, allowing another man to enter.

In the next stall man is banging on the credit card machine.

THX pays no attention.

A chrome policemen comes and takes the man away. THX is suddenly hit by another wave of nausea, and leaves the plaza quickly.

He turns on the lights and pauses, waiting for an answer, then continues in and places the box on the kitchen table.

THX enters the bathroom and closes himself inside a rectangular glass box. Air rushes in through a series of nozzles, and he is dry-cleaned, clothing and all.

He stumbles out of his chair and feebly makes his way into the bathroom alcove. As he passes the hologram room, we see a figure standing in the shadows.

THX is extremely ill and on the verge of losing consciousness.

He reaches for the sedation cabinet, but collapses just as he opens it.

VOICE What's wrong?

VOICE If you have a problem....

She sits, quietly, looking at him. Cautiously, she brings his hand to her cheek. A slight smile crosses her face.

MAIN ROOM, THX'S QUARTERS

THX is laughing hysterically. As soon as he starts to gain control of himself, he breaks out laughing again.

LUH has taken a spherical piece of food from her tray and is bouncing it on the table. She is laughing, herself, but still trying to keep control of the ball.

This makes them laugh even harder and LUH loses the ball. They both dive for it and wind up face to face under the table.

Eventually, they stop laughing.

THX picks up the red food ball and holds it up at LUH.

THX takes a bite out of it and grimaces.

He scrambles out from underneath the table and tosses it in the product consumer. It disappears instantly.

LUH goes over to the table and scoops up the rest of the food.

She begins tossing it into the product consumer.

She begins to break out laughing, throwing the food into the consumer as fast as she can. THX starts for her and she begins throwing the food at him.

THX catches her by the foot and pulls her to the floor. They roll around playfully, laughing hysterically all the time.

Slowly and subtly, their play becomes more violent and sadistic, although they keep on laughing.

LUH turns on THX, pinning him to the floor. She sits astride him, holding his arms.

They are both out of breath and panting heavily, confused by a slowly increasing awareness of each others sexuality.

LUH slowly releases THX's arms and sits up. She gives a last, embarrassed giggle and then falls silent. They stare at each other.

LUH sits silently, showing no response.

You know it can't last very long; they will discover us, and they will destroy us.

LUH is hurt and begins to cry.

THX attempts to comfort her. He is awkward and uncomfortable.

LUH smiles and sniffles. They kiss: an awkward first kiss.

A group of men, carrying little white boxes, are leaving the operating room. THX is in the group. He sees LUH and goes over to her.

THX motions her down the hallway, and he falls in step a few paces behind her. LUH speaks to her without turning around.

Some men in colored uniforms pass them walking in the other direction. THX is silent until they are gone. THX and LUH pass through a series of doors and into another precinct. THX is angry.

She falls silent as they walk through the empty cold hallways.

LUH struggles to remain calm.

A yellow eight burns through the blackness. A low voice is heard performing a ritual.

VOICE ....and it all happened so slowly that most men failed to realize that anything had happened at all.

The interior of a cathedral is slowly revealed. Many people are kneeling before the eight, and a monk in white robes is performing a rite.

VOICE (CONT'D) They had never known what all know within, that to know is not to know, not to know is to be known.

To change is to circle without end.

THX and LUH are kneeling, solemnly involved in the service.

VOICE (CONT'D) To remain still is to flow with the will of OMM. The breath of OMM is infinitely slow, yet he breathes.

Avail thyselves! OMM moves! OMM flows!....Let us pray.

THX watches LUH as she repeats the chant. He is moved.

VOICE/CONGREGATION Before OMM was OMM, after OMM will be OMM, within OMM is OMM, without OMM is OMM. OMM is one. We are one, Mass is one, All are one....

THX leans over and whispers in LUH'S ear.

LUH turns and smiles, taking his hand. There are tears in her eyes. He smiles back, and she cannot stifle a rather loud giggle. They are both embarrassed.

VOICE Unity of minds, unity of thought, unity of occupations, unity of OMM A man. Blessings of the state. Blessings of the masses, Thou art subjects of the divine.

When the ceremony is over, THX goes over to a chair in the corner and flips a switch on it's arm. The cathedral, monks, and congregation all fade away, leaving LUH kneeling in the empty HOLOGRAM ROOM.

She rises, walks over and sits in the second hologram chair.

They are both strangely contemplative, and sit quietly in the darkened room for a long while.

There is a long pause.

There have been three explosions already this....

His argument is more to himself then to LUH. He looks to LUH, who is on the verge of tears. He realizes his logic is of no help, and he goes over to her.

There is a pause as THX ponders this.

THX is sitting on the floor, holding his head in his hands.

LUH goes over to him, and begins to caress his neck. She is crying.

Their love-play slowly becomes more and more passionate. They are awkward and unsure as they begin to disrobe one another.

LUH is embarrassed, and she begins to giggle, then laugh uncontrollably.

She smiles at him and they embrace, and rest. THX is asleep when LUH wakes him with a start.

THX momentary glances into the camera, seemingly at the theatre audience.

VOICE .....This is a reminder of the precision which must be taken at this stage. Three operating cells have already been destroyed in this shift. Mercicontrol is supervising all operations during this phase. Prevent accidents, and be happy.....This is a reminder of.....

A door to the chamber opens, and SEN enters. THX is somewhat shaken by this.

THX starts for the operating room.

THX stops short in fear.

A buzzer sounds. THX is forced to leave the preoperating chamber. SEN stands alone.

As THX walks to his operating cell, He stops at a small red box on the wall. Over the box is a sign which reads:

He runs down a list of violations and finally punches:

íIllegal programming. !

Buttons are clicking, lights flashing, and gages near their warning marks as THX struggles to manipulate the mechanical hands.

Sweat forms on his forehead. THX moves the hands back and makes another attempt at placing the component.

Instantly, information on THX is flashed on a large screen in front of the control officer. Photos flash on and off the screen.

They are taken from all possible angles, including various types of X-rays, etc.

One of the observers releases a special safety lock on his control panel. The switch under the lock reads: MINDLOCK, danger: PRIORITY 3AA.

The supervisor is greatly alarmed by this information.

A high whining Anthem-like piece of music is heard in THX's operating cell. The sound staggers him , and he freezes at the controls of his panel. The component THX was guiding, continues to creep slowly closer to the chrome man.

He reaches for more sedatives in a bottle near his panel.

The intercom voice is alive with panicked dialogue.

VOICE Clear....Clear....4444,4445,

All of the men in the operating room evacuate; leaving THX alone, frozen at the controls. THX is aware of the situation, and struggles to break the power of the mindlock and stop the component.

VOICE Near destruct....Near destruct.

responsibility.....

The MINDLOCK Anthem is replaced by the voice of OMM.

THX carefully operates the controls, and returns the critical mass to it's container.

The voice of OMM and controller blend in an hypnotic double talk. THX sits quietly in shock as the voices on the intercom die off.

He looks wildly around the tram, and at the policeman. No one is paying any attention to him. He jumps up and runs for the emergency door at the end of the aisle. The policeman slowly get ups and walks down the aisle to THX trapping him against the door.

The policeman reports the situation, which is typed by a computer. More information appears on the readout, and is relayed by the observer.

He switches over to heat transmission.

They fight rolling through the debris.

The TV light monitor goes on.

He reaches a door, opens it, revealing an individual modual express tube. Low, sleek, auto-jets whiz by at incredible speeds. They appear out of the blackness, shoot past THX and disappear.

The observer continues to scan he area with no results.

KITCHEN - THX'S QUARTERS

The kitchen table is covered with a large pile of food. LUH is operating several of the food cabinets, pushing buttons in some, taking food out of the others. Some of the colored food spheres fall off the table, and bounce across the floor. She picks them up, humming tunelessly to herself.

There is no answer, and after a moment, she stops and listens.

She steps into the MAINROOM and sees that the front door is open.

She is immediately frightened.

Very timidly, she steps over to the bedroom and looks in.

A figure steps out of the shadow in the foreground. LUH turns around and sees him. She screams and becomes hysterical. It is THX, clothes torn, bleeding, and so distorted he resembles a wild beast.

LUH faints. THX is barely able to stand, but he goes to her.

He pulls her into his arms and rocks her. He is crying.

The policeman pull them apart. THX's hands are taped behind his back. (Fade out)

They slowly close in on him, occasionally prodding him with the long poles; which make an electronic sound, causing THX extreme pain.

The screen is filled with a TV monitors long shot of THX in the white limbo prison. He is sitting with his feet spread out in front of him. We hear an off screen voice speaking quietly with clinical authority and disinterest.

The image changes instantly to an extreme long shot. THX is merely a dot in the center of the screen.

The image changes instantly to a close shot of THX. He is in shock staring into the white limbo. He is talking quietly to himself. We cannot hear what he is saying.

Audio...

Audio is already on.

THX continues to speak soundlessly.

I can't hear him.

Cortex bonding....possible temporary. Before you report a possible equipment malfunction, you check the subjects....?

Stress category.

Correct. (pause) Origin?

Birth born....UMMM...Sexact.

Violation?

The numbers 3278-927 still appear on the bottom of the screen.

Drug evasion with....

triple three, triple three! easy.....

Drug evasion with assorted perversions

Correct. Now secure a sinex drop reading.

We hear a low throbbing sound, but THX shows no reaction. The word psynix -4675 appears on the bottom of the screen.

A sinex drop reading of less then degrees with an accompanying loss of greater then 350 degrees since admission may indicate....?

Permant cortex bond.

Correct.

THX is still talking silently to himself.

This really isn't a very good subject because with a cortex bond, we're restricted to about a quarter of the boards potential. .....All this over here is wasted on him. See, we could run a system H.....Watch.

A pause, and then a high frequency sound is heard. THX begins to twitch uncontrollably, becoming more and more violent, slamming up and down against the floor. He looks terrified, but there is nothing he can do about it.

Normally, there would be no visual evidence of a system H. We're not even getting a reading.

The numbers on the bottom of the screen read 0000. The sound changes pitch, and THX immediately huddles up in a ball.

What happened?

See if you can get a reading on tactal retention. Try to estimate it without a meter reading.

The numbers disappear from the screen, and we switch to a closer shot of THX. There is a pause.

Be careful, now.....

THX immediately slams to the floor, paralyzed. His face turns bright red, and he appears to be in extreme pain.

UMMM..Let me see.....

THX opens his mouth to scream, but makes no sound.

Hurry up.

Too low.

The number 6949 appears on the screen.

Control ON.

No, evidently you reversed the polarity on his lobal travel. Secure another sinex drop.

THX collapses into a heap, and starts to quiver. The word psynix appears, but the degree rating is rapidly climbing upward, approaching 4000.

degrees is usually the point of....?

Vocasity

No, Tetanty.

THX begins to scream soon after the numbers pass 4000. The numbers keep moving steadily until they stop; oscillating between 7980 and 8040.

It's very rare to see a nurl bond dissolve like that.

The numbers stabilize at 8020. THX is contorted into a very odd position on the floor. He is released, and he crumples into a heap..(trembling, and screaming.)

He's back to normal now.

What we can see of the room around him is full of mechanical and medical apparatus - chrome and white enamel. We are in the midst of an examination, although no other people are seen.

All these movements are accompanied by the small, whirring, mosquito-like sound of tiny torque motors.

The pump stops, and THX's other nostril is sealed. We hear the pump again, only this time air is sent through the tube. ìs chest begins to distend, and keeps distending until it seems his lungs can hold no more. THX

The pump stops, and THX exhales with one huge sigh. The cups on his eyes also stop vibrating, and retract into the ceiling. The pump starts up again filling his lungs with air. This time the pump passes the where it stopped before, and begins to strain.

Finally it stops and lets THX exhale. The tube is retracted and his mouth is unclamped. His lips are quivering.

Two wires are placed deep into THX's chest, and his heart begins to beat very fast. An arm with an extremely sharp stylus starts to scrape a strange pattern on the inside of THX's forearm. Little beads of blood appear where the line was traced. A long flat needle descends and penetrates THX's solar plexus. When fully in, it rotates in eccentric circles for a few moments, and then retracts, leaving only a small drop of blood where it has been.

The scalpel moves beneath the skin and frees the almond shaped section, lifting it into a small vile, and lifting it ìs chest retract and his heartbeat returns to normal. away. The two wires in THX

At this point, a read out activates; which reads: 1138thx Diognosis-compatable. Rate: Excellent. Exceptions: Left kidney. (See detailed index 24-921)

As THX stares, a figure slowly appears out of the whiteness. It is LUH. When she sees THX, she stops walking and stares at him.

They watch one another for a long while; finally THX stands.

LUH?...LUH?

She rushes into his arms and they spin in an embrace. They kiss.

LUH looks at him, frightened and unable to answer.

There is a long pause.

THX is alarmed.

He drops to the floor, clinging to her legs. He is crying.

She goes down to him, embracing and comforting him.

They both sit silently. She is rocking him in her arms.

They lie huddled together in the vastness of the white limbo.

The same image appears over a TV monitor.

VOICE Neron activity has risen to +942 Carbon rating +22.3. Tri-base off .732. Contrast.....

The image returns to the white limbo.

THX and LUH are sleeping, cuddled next to one another. Faint footsteps are heard, slowly getting louder. LUH wakes with a start. Muffled voices are heard. LUH shakes THX awake.

A man dressed in yellow appears with two chrome policemen. THX and LUH freeze in terror, still half asleep. The robot grab them and pull them to their feet.

LUH is held as THX is taken away.

THX!

He is struggling as he disappears into the whiteness.

THX is seated in a large, highbacked chair. The Proctor reads the charge in a ritualistic, sing-song voice which is only occasionally understandable.

The Pontifex is sitting behind a high dais, with a large portrait of OMM in the background. He makes a ritualistic gesture.

He places four rolls of computer tape before the Pontifex.

The Defense, sitting in front of THX, jumps up and blurts out a quick sentence of partially inaudible phrases.

THX sits quietly, with his head hung low.

There is slight pause as a murmur goes through the courtroom.

nonresponsible act...simple case. Birthborn citizens are physically compatible with clinic types and must be consumed, not destroyed. Econ equilibrium status 542 through apply to case. Defendant used, not destroyed. Case rest.

He takes three computer cards and places them before the Pontifex.

We must exterminate the source of sin.

Economics must not dictate situations which are obviously religious.

The defense says nothing, only shakes his head in dissent. The Pontifex scans the room, then gives the Proctor a nod.

The Proctor types the last bit of information into the computer.

Moments later, the computer readout activates. The Proctor tears off the sheet and hands it to the Pontifex. The Pontifex silently reads the verdict and then stands.

The Pontifex hands the verdict to the Proctor as two chrome policemen drag THX before the Pontifex. He makes a sign over THX and mumbles a prayer, then looks at the Proctor, who reads the verdict.

Everyone in the courtroom is unmoved and unconcerned. THX sits in a trance-like shock.

The subject shall be consumed as economics dictate.

The defense gives the prosecutor a triumphant glance. Two chrome policemen take THX out of the courtroom.. As he leaves, LUH is escorted into the room by another door. They do not see one another.

The policeman take THX to an empty bed module and pounds his long pole on the floor three times. A few of the prisoners turn and look.

The policeman turns and walks into the whiteness, leaving THX sitting on his bed. The other nine men are: SEN 5241,

PTO 0340; NIN 1969; TWA 7070; DWY 1519; NCH 0066; IMM 9472;

JOT 1288; and TRG 3442.

PTO - a withered old man - walks over to THX and puts his hand on THX's shoulder.

THX is totally depressed and completely ignores PTO, who goes back to his bed after a moment. THX watches the other felons.

NCH is doing exercises on his bed module. IMM, a retarded woman, sits huddled in a trance, mumbling incoherent phrases. Her clothes are torn to shreds and she is almost naked. A thin, delicate-looking man is slightly removed from the group, painting large, red designs on the floor; he is JOT. TRG, an imbecile, sits on his bed module and every few moments breaks out with a hysterical, ear-piercing laugh.

As THX scans the group, he notices SEN asleep on one of the modules. THX turns in disgust and tries to sleep.

PTO is involved in a discussion with two of the other prisoners.

One is NIN, a middle-aged man who is trying to organize the rest of the felons in an escape. The other man in DWY - sad, nervous, and about the same age as NIN.

Suddenly, a scream is heard, and the group turns to see NCH huddled over IMM. TRG and DWY both start over to rescue IMM, but\ TRG reaches her first. NCH backs off a short distance, making huffing noises. TRG is laughing triumphantly at DWY, who goes back to his bed and sits down. TRG takes IMM in his arms and tries to calm her.

TWA, a rather fat man in his thirties, is pacing around the area, measuring the distance between the bed modules. With no warning noise a policeman appears out of the whiteness, walks over to TRG, picks him up by the scruff of the neck and takes him away.

TRG is laughing as he disappears into the distant white.

THX has fallen asleep; DWY goes over and attempts to comfort IMM. NIN and PTO are still engaged in their argument.

JOT is on his hands and knees, pushing a red, doughy lump around the floor. It leaves a smeary trail behind it, and JOT has worked theses red smears into a baroque design. The ball occasionally sticks to the floor, and JOT is having a difficult time with all the effort involved.

Suddenly, someone walks into frame and stands on the design, close enough to JOT so that he has to stop working. All we can see are this person's feet and legs. JOT is exasperated and angry.

There is a pause.

VOICE Hi, buddy.

You're standing on my work.

Another pause. The person nudges JOT with his knees.

VOICE Hi, buddy.

JOT sighs, resigned and disgruntled.

VOICE ......buddy?

The person gets down on one knee and puts his arm around JOT. squeezing him hard. It is NCH.

JOT winces and struggles, but is caught even tighter in NCH's grasp.

He begins to be afraid.

The thing about you perverts is, you're always running around doing things. I want to hear something really nice.

NCH bends JOT's arm behind him and gives it a twist.

He slams JOT against the floor and falls on top of him, whispering harshly in his ear.

JOT is terrified now, and he is finding it difficult to breath.

He pronounces this sweetly, with a great deal of pleasure, but also a certain amount of menace. He becomes increasingly excited.

NCH starts tearing off JOT's clothes.

DWY is sharpening a small spoon with loving and tender care.

He is trying to conceal it from everyone else. NCH and JOT can be seen struggling in the background and we can still hear NCH mumbling.

Suddenly JOT screams, and DWY looks up. A chrome policeman appears, leading a well-built, intelligent-looking youth of 14. He stops, strikes his pole on the ground three times and announces:

He turns and leaves. CAM looks around. Everyone is silent except for JOT and NCH who are still fighting.

THX is awakened by a figure standing over him; it is SEN.

There is a pause and THX doesn't answer.

THX is sitting, expressionless.

THX is sullen and annoyed at SEN's presence. They sit silently for a long while. Finally, SEN returns to his bed module.

NIN and the new arrival, CAM are engaged in conversation. NIN is trying to get CAM to sign a petition. IMM is sitting slapping her hands on the floor. NCH is asleep and snoring very loudly.

DWY has been watching JOT paint chases away. DWY goes over to comfort IMM.

TWA has constructed a crude sextant, and is looking with it into the vast whiteness. SEN sits on his bed counting stacks of foam rubber food and multi-colored capsules. THX goes back to sleep.

PTO, TWA, and CAM are engaged in discussion. PTO and TWA look the same as before, but CAM has begun to grow a stubble of hair.

THX is sitting on his bed module not far away, listening. He is

ALSO STILL COMPLETELY BALD. JOT IS WORKING OFF IN ONE

his design has begun to encircle the group of bed modules, and he quickly works his way off screen.

CAM is speaking excitedly, as if he were making a series of demands.

There is a pause, and TWA shrugs his shoulders and looks away.

PTO rubs his head.

He lies on his bed, as if to conclude the discussion.

Suddenly, TWA notices something off screen and whips up the sextant that had been lying beside him. He holds it out and tries to get a fix. Everyone turns to see except

He puts the sextant down and exchanges a disgruntled glance with PTO.

A chrome policeman walks into the area and goes off screen.

There is a pause and then the policeman returns, leading JOT away.

JOT is silent, but turns a number of times and looks back as he is taken into the distance. TWA has taken up the sextant again and is following them as they disappear. NCH has woken up.

He waves, trying to catch CAM's attention.

CAM is still looking out after JOT and PTO finally leans forward and tugs his sleeve. He turns to PTO.

TWA puts down his sextant and listens, although it seems he has heard this speech many times before. CAM is gradually fascinated by the old man - more by his air if calm assurance and the rhythm of his language than by anything he is actually saying.

In the background, THX has begun to shave his head. DWY goes over and tries to help but THX turns him away.

NCH has moved over to the sleeping IMM and, without waking her, removes her last piece of clothing and lays her down on the floor.

He quietly lies down beside her and starts moving rhythmically.

He has addressed this last bit of advice to NIN as well as

NIN suddenly breaks in.

He turns to CAM.

He jumps up, excited and at a loss for words.

PTO smiles and shakes his head. NIN stomps off in a rage, turning and yelling at PTO.

He sits down on his bed and sulks. PTO continues with his speech, completely ignoring NIN's interruption.

PTO emphasizes his point by placing his hand on CAM's knee..

There is a loud screech, and everybody turns to see IMM sitting on the floor howling like a two-year old. NCH, who had been lying beside her, is slightly embarrassed and tries to cover this up with bluster. He gives IMM a shove and struts over to his bed; he begins his exercises. DWY gets up from his bed and goes over to comfort IMM\>

IMM, still completely naked, walks out into the whiteness accompanied by a chrome policeman.

The prison chamber momentarily goes blue, and food trays appear at the base of the bed modules. The men go to their food and begin to eat. SEN goes over to TWA, and DWY goes over and sits next to THX. THX is not eating his food.

I've been thinking about you.

DWY waits for a reaction, but THX continues to pick at his food, paying no attention to him.

Yes, a tram pilot. What do you think? Between level 3472 and level 3500, module center 55 - the big one. A toilet: it's a toilet. Still, bad air is better than no air. And the time- tables. Shall I tell you?

TWA has given SEN part of his meal, and SEN returns to his bed with it. DWY watches him as he passes them, then turns back to THX.

A chrome policeman arrives with another felon and DWY hastily hides the spoon in his pants. He seems to feel that THX had something to do with the appearance of the policeman and he watches THX suspiciously.

The policeman leaves OUE standing with a totally blank expression on his face, saliva dribbing from his mouth. He is in a deep catatonic trance. THX lies on his bed and turns his back to DWY.

DWY gets up and goes over to OUE, who is still standing where the policeman left him. He sits him on a bed and begins to talk to him. Most of the other felons are asleep.

THX is sitting on his bed, looking as if he just awoke from a deep sleep. PTO and CAM are in the middle of a history lesson and CAM is reciting from memory with a certain amount of difficulty.

His hair is now moderately long.

CAM is perplexed by what PTO has just said.

PTO repeats, emphasizing each word carefully and separately.

He looks delightedly at CAM, who repeats the sentence to himself.

THX looks up and watches NIN, who has begun to stride around.

NIN suddenly bursts in.

What do you think happened to MRK and CRK and TRK? Where are they now? I'll tell you where....no where.

NCH wakes up.

One idea, One idea could get us out of here if it was the right idea. You know what I mean?

Not a bunch of facts. Who even knows if they're facts? He probably makes them up in his sleep. The time has come to act.

THX gets up and starts to wander aimlessly about. No one notices him.

NCH walks over and punches NIN in the face. NIN falls down, holding his nose in pain. NCH returns to his bed module and uses the toilet.

THX is slowly moving further away from the group.

LOO 3122, who has taken away not long before you arrived, believed that he was going to a wonderful place where he would be happy, and in so believing he created a veritable paradise for himself right here. Unfortunately, not all of us can have the positive conviction of LOO, but thankfully not all of us are burdened with the ominous forebodings of NIN. I myself have found that concentrating...

PTO stops speaking as a chrome policeman appears out of the white.

The policeman walks past THX, who has wandered quite a distance away, and heads for the group. He stops at NCH's bed module and takes NCH by the arm.

NCH suddenly gives the policeman a crumpling blow and knocks him to the floor. He then jumps gleefully on his head, partially caving it in. When he finishes, he returns to his bed and watches the immobile body. Another policeman appears almost instantly and takes NCH by the arm, leading him quietly away. NCH grins triumphantly as he passes

PTO and CAM resume the discussion, unconcerned by the presence of the policeman's body. THX listens for a while.

He pauses and points at CAM's long head of hair.

CAM is a little embarrassed and runs his hand through his hair.

SEN, with great effort, has dragged the body of the policeman out to the edge of the beds and left it there.

THX has ventured further and further away from the group. The voices have been becoming less and less audible until we hear only fragments:

And then we hear nothing at all.

A chrome policeman enters the group of beds from the opposite side and takes the body of the first policeman away.

THX is puzzled that there is no device stopping him from going further. He becomes increasingly frightened but decides to continue.

The group of beds is only a small dot in the distance.

NIN and TWA are standing looking off into the distance.

PTO comes over and peers into the whiteness.

DWY and CAM join the gathering at the edge of the group of beds.

Now what are we going to do?

THX approaches the group.

THX walks past the group, ignoring them, and lies down on his bed.

They all start for him.

NIN goes over and sits on the edge of THX's bed. THX does not acknowledge his presence. The other felons return to their beds.

THX lies quietly, trying to sleep.

THX gives him an annoyed look.

DWY comes up to the bed.

Loud yelling is heard and DWY and NIN turn to see SEN and CAM struggling on the floor. They roll against OUE's bed, knocking him on the floor, where he lies motionless. TWA pulls CAM away and SEN scrambles back to his bed.

DWY goes over and lifts OUE back onto his bed. NIN turns back to THX.

THX winces at the question.

He takes a piece of paper out of his shirt. THX lies silently, apparently asleep.

NIN leaves. THX opens his eyes and ponders the incident.

SEN is busy cleaning his bed area. CAM is helping TWA build a crude telescope on the edge of the bed area. DWY is sharpening his spoon. THX is sitting on his bed with his head in his hands..

NIN and PTO are involved in discussion. PTO's mind is wandering as he trys to follow NIN's train of thought.

He touches PTO to emphasize the point. There is a pause.

A policeman appears out of the white with a three foot high, hunch backed, long-haired freak. The policeman pounds his staff three times. All the felons are dumb-founded at the sight of the freak.

TWA cautiously goes over to it to get a closer look. When he gets close enough he pokes it. The freak lets out a shrill screech and hobbles as fast as it can away from TWA. It jumps up and lands on DWY's lap. DWY is paralyzed with fear as the freak clutches to him with all his strength.

The freak looks at DWY with sad, helpless eyes. DWY comes out of his shock and throws the freak onto the floor.

The freak hobbles off to an empty bed and huddles in a ball at its base, quaking with fear. TWA starts for it again.

CAM and TWA go back to the telescope. NIN and PTO return to their conversation. THX lies quietly on his bed. SEN continues to clean his area. DWY sits on his bed. He is crying.

CAM is at the telescope, aiming it into the whiteness, in an apparently futile search for some concrete object. TWA is at his side.

TWA points and CAM moves the telescope in that direction.

TWA points again.

THX is also standing at the edge of the limbo, not far sway, staring out at nothing. TWA and CAM conclude their search after a few more fruitless attempts at sighting something.

NIN and PTO are having another discussion.

TWA and CAM come over and sit down.

THX has noticed a policeman approaching the group. He turns and goes back to his bed module.

The policeman enters the area and walks over to DWY, who has been sitting quietly on his bed. TWA leans over and whispers to CAM, and as the policeman leads DWY quietly away, they return to the telescope.

He addresses himself to the whole group.

No one is really listening to him.

NIN looks around, trying to elicit a response.

NIN's speech has been increasingly passionate, and ends on a note of triumphant exhortation. The freak begins to cry; everyone else is silent.

TWA, who has not been listening to the speech, is still sighting through the telescope.

CAM is shaving his head while PTO is giving him a history lesson.

The Freak is crouched in the background.

TWA, who has been busy making calculations, suddenly bursts in:

A policeman approaches the group.

Why is this world as it is and not something else. Why is this world here at all. It is true that at present I have no clue to the answers to questions such as these, but....

The policeman enters the group and walks over to CAM, leads him away without a word.

PTO watches CAM being led off by the policeman.

THX looks into the void. There are tears in his eyes.

The blue meal buzzer goes off and the men eat. DWY tries without any results to get OUE to eat something. The Freak is very protective of his food, and is very sloppy when he eats. SEN eats only a small portion of his food, and puts the rest in his bed module. He then goes over and sits with THX.

THX is eating, unconcerned with SEN's problems.

SEN is stopped by the banging of a policeman's staff.

THX is startled by the felon's prefix.

LUH! .......

He turns to see an older, quiet-looking man. The policeman leaves and THX slumps in depression.

THX is obviously thinking about something important. He seems to have made a decision.

NIN is sitting with OUE, trying o get him to sign his petition.

THX turns to SEN with a very determined look.

THX starts to walk out of the area and into the whiteness.

SEN runs over to his bed and starts stuffing surplus food into his shirt. NIN comes over to him, pointing out at

The new alignment. The plan.

The organization.

SEN's shirt is bulging with food. He has wrapped more food up in a piece of cloth. As he starts to go after THX, NIN grabs his arm and tries to restrain him.

SEN breaks away from him, and some of the food spills out of his shirt, bouncing across the floor. He runs after

PTO, TWA, and LUH join NIN on the edge of the white limbo. They watch SEN and THX walking off.

NIN's yelling fades as SEN and THX venture further from the group of modules. Eventually, the beds disappear completely. THX and SEN are alone in the white.

THX walks briskly through the white. SEN follows a short distance behind, occasionally dropping a cube of food.

How do you feel?

THX is not listening to SEN

They walk until SEN drops on the floor, out of breath.

I can't stand it any longer. There's no room. No air.

THX goes over to him.

THX starts off into the white.

SEN gets up and follows after THX.

They walk on. Suddenly THX stops short.

He points to a black dot in the distance.

They stand for a moment, watching the dot.

They start walking in the direction of the dot.

Soon, they are close enough to see the man is a negro mannequin, SRT 5555. He begins to walk toward THX and SEN. They are frightened, and stop walking. SRT approaches them.

Both THX and SEN are speechless.

He notices SEN's food.

He takes a piece of food from SEN's shirt. SEN is frozen with fear. SRT begins to eat.

He points in the direction from which THX and SRT have just come.

Out of the whiteness a row of faint beacons flash. The men start off in that direction.

As the beacons become more distinct, the men break into a trot, then into a run. SEN trips and falls, sending food bouncing in all directions.

SRT stops to help him up. THX waits until they catch up. The three of them run out of the white limbo into a dark side area.

They stop to catch their breath.

SRT looks at THX and smiles. They walk along the edge of the white until they reach a door.

THX puts his ear to the door. He hears nothing.

SRT opens the door, revealing an extremely crowded hallway. The roar is deafening.

The three men are engulfed by the moving people. Fearful of being noticed, they are tense as TV cameras scan the crowd.

They struggle to fight the swift current. SEN begins to panic as he becomes separated from THX and SRT. The shuffle of feet is so loud that SEN's crys are not heard.

THX sees SEN drifting further and further away, but he is helpless to do anything. THX yells at SRT who is directly ahead of him in the stream of people.

THX and SRT make it to the opposite side of the hallway. They move along the wall until they reach the door which reads: "Reproduction Center 35 No Entrance" SEN helplessly disappears in the distance.

He screams, but cannot be heard as he floats through the hallways.

THX and SRT enter the reproduction center.

SRT gets up and looks around the embryo room. He takes one of the jars and removes it from the shelf.

SRT looks at THX and puts the jar back in its niche.

SRT goes over to a control panel and begins to inspect it. He discovers a maintenance entrance to the computer. A small sign on the door reads:

"REPRODUCTION CONTROL COMPUTER MAINTENANCE."

No entrance. Use no electrodevices beyond this point."

THX goes over to the computer. SRT pulls the door open.

An alarm goes off, and a recorded voice is heard.

VOICE You are engaged in an unauthorized procedure. Check cybernetic manual F-45. If you do no have an F-45, you are in violation. This is a double A restricted precinct. Remain where you are. Authorities will arrive shortly.

THX looks up at a TV camera. The two felons are seen on a TV monitor.

A door open slowly at the far end of the hall and lets in a shaft of light. The air is filled with dust.

SEN enters through the door, marked "SAG - 68Y Personnel only."

His bag of food hangs limply and he is exhausted. Slowly and cautiously he moves down the rows of strange shadowy devices.

From the dark background there is occasionally a glint of polished metal or glass. Amber safety lights are spaced evenly along the unseen walls. Every sound he makes echoes throughout the empty space.

He stands for a long while in front of the portrait of OMM. In the background, only dimly seen, are huge cards reading: "Before OMM was OMM, After OMM will be OMM, Within OMM" etc.. He tosses the bag of food on the floor; one red sphere rolls out and comes to a stop. He looks at it and smiles wryly.

He says this as a matter of fact, not trying to excuse anything.

The portrait of OMM looks down silently.

The sound of footsteps is heard, and SEN turns in panic to see who it is.

THX runs to catch up, but when he reaches the corner, he discovers SRT has disappeared. He goes alone.

VOICE .....and two inmates have fled detention block R, habot 92. They have been missing for approximately 3:32.16 hours.

The report is simultaneously typed into a computer.

VOICE (CONT'D) THX and 5241 SEN. Relay current position.

ELC appears calm and unconcerned as he speaks over the intercom.

Instantly, the computer readout activates. ELC reports into an intercom.

Felons have entered maintance area of reproduction control computer Transfer.

ELC turns to watch an assembly accident on one of the monitors.

VOICE (echoing through the hall) This is not the place for prayer.

SEN shows no surprise and says nothing.

VOICE (CONT'D) If you want to speak with OMM you must go to a UNICHURCH, you know that.

VOICE What?....Are you in any trouble?

SEN picks up his bag and starts for the door. The white robed figure, which we can now see is a monk, stops him.

The monk turns to leave, and SEN grabs him, knocking him to the floor.

SEN begins to beat the unconscious body of the monk. Slowly, he stops and then slumps, holding his face in his hands.

He takes the body in his arms, and then goes through the monks pockets. He finds some pills and takes them.

Another policeman joins him.

The policeman move off down the hallway. When their footsteps fade, THX pokes his head out of his cubbyhole.

He breaks off his dictating as a report comes through on his headset.

VOICE Priority shift granted. Officers 9696 and 1970 dispatched to Con G.

Three additional officers enroute to assist in operation. Advise at time of apprehension.

There is a soft hiss and then silence. The man in back of SEN wakes up, looks around, then falls asleep again. SEN gets up and cautiously leaves the tram.

There are corridors leading from the station, but these too, are unfinished. The station is lit only by dim work lights. The sound of running water is heard.

Occasionally there is a strange-looking tool dropped against the wall.

CON F?

He thinks to himself for a minute.

The computer readout activates.

The computer readout activates.

THX begins to regain consciousness.

THX looks around and realizes he has been moved out of the computer.

It is very hot and sweat forms on THX's forehead. There is a large rumble and the entire passageway vibrates.

The child holds out his arm to SEN. A small blue plastic pouch has detached from the underside of his arm. He points at the other child standing in the background.

SEN takes the pouch. Printed on it are the words "Advanced primary economics 5867H" It is filled with a creamy fluid which is dripping slowly out of the plastic tube.

He grabs the pouch from SEN and pinches the tube shut.

The other child has come over and is watching.

The child reluctantly gives him the pouch and SEN is careful to keep it upright. Sticking out of the child's arm is a small plastic receptor tube. SEN fits the pouch's tube into it. The child looks at SEN.

The two children look at each other wide-eyed. The second backs off a little.

SEN looks up and smiles and motions the other child closer again.

Here, hold this...

He hands the second child the first's pouch and tears a strip of cloth from his shirt. He ties it around the arm holding the pouch secure.

The two children are fascinated, knowing whether to believe SEN or not.

The eyes and torsos of many of the bodies are covered with a blue plastic film.

THX Begins to eat.

THX continues to eat, not responding to SRT.

SRT inspects the head.

He moves along to another body which we recognize as DWY. He has no cloth over his eyes.

THX goes over to DWY.

SRT goes over and lies down on one of the slabs. THX remains with DWY's body, pondering his fate.

THX wearly climbs onto a slab, just as a door opens and a figure enters. Both THX and SRT freeze in terror.

An unidentified felon is traveling with him. Will transfer further information when available.

ELC switches to another intercom.

H.

(correcting) No...impresses on each of us.

That's not how it goes.

Yes it is....

.....There are no other rational alternatives in this way. We eliminate the economic function generated by the contrast of separate but compatible energies.

Elements! Compatible elements.

Energies.

As the children argue, SEN notices a policeman approaching them.

He stands up, and the children stop arguing and look on in wonderment.

(to second child) See!

He doesn't know.

The policeman tapes SEN's mouth and eyes and leads him off. The children continue to argue about the word.

The figure with the staple gun approaches the slab on which SRT is lying.

A death tag is stapled to his ear. He doesn't even flinch.

The figure continues along the row of bodies, nearing THX.

THX and SRT jump up and run to a side door making a quick exit...

The figures stand in shock..

SRT takes a tool from one of the control panels and smashes a TV monitoring eye which has been observing them.

A series of images flash rapidly across the TV screen: trams in transit, people eating, factories, hallways.

THX continues pushing buttons, and a medical operation appears on the screen.

THX adjusts some dials and more images appear on screen.

He locks in a wide angle view of a maternity ward and starts switching close shots to close shot, searching.

SRT is unscrewing one of the small panels. He manages to get it off and looks inside, (a mass of wires and circuit boards.) obviously not an escape route. Staring back from the circuiting is a pair of small red eyes. A hiss and scuffling sound is heard as the eyes disappear. SRT turns to THX, but THX is completely absorbed in the monitors.

SRT gets up and continues to prowl about the small room, examining things, pushing an occasional button, unscrewing various controls.

SRT pushes another button and the voice of OMM is heard.

SRT manages half a smile and shakes his head. THX finishes his examination and slumps back in his chair, dazed.

She's dead THX........

SRT goes over to panel and looks at the controls.

THX gets up, not knowing what SRT is up to. SRT pushes some buttons and dials in an image.

The image on the screen is a bottled human embryo about three months old. It is alive moving slightly. THX is speechless.

On the bottle we can see printed: 8888 Sexact. Maternal: LUH 3417. Paternal: (surmised) THX 1138.

There's a long pause. The embryo turns its head..

THX jumps up, pushing SRT across the room and into a panel of monitors. There are tears in THX's eyes....

THX slumps into his chair. SRT get sup and goes over to him.

The embryo is still on the monitor.

SRT retracts the monitor to a full wide angle view of the reproduction center. THX's son is lost among thousands of embryo bottles.

VOICE Observation booth 649, Division of plastic, CON H He flips to another channel.

On one of the screens, and operation is in process.

VOICE Heart 6G, lungs 35OR, liver defective, kidney-right-641A...

On another monitor we see a small crowd of people standing in the morgue.

They are interrupted by an intercom voice.

The policemen try the door again, but it does not open. One policeman takes a pen-sized tool and begins to burn a hole around the latch.

He turns to SRT; they smile at each other.

SRT goes over to the door and grabs the lock. Over the intercom a recorded voice is heard.

VOICE Discontinue all operations....

The robots stops and look at one another puzzled.

VOICE (CONT'D) Repeat..discontinue all operations. Correct procedure is essential...

Stay clam..evacuate this complex...

The onlookers begin to panic. SRT yanks the door open and one of the policemen tumbles into the booth SRT and THX run head-long into the other policeman, pinning him against the wall; he falls to the floor, dazed from the jolt.

The high whinning score is heard and suddenly everyone freezes in motion, THX and SRT continue running, slowing slightly, but they are not affected by the mindlock.

We have been informed to discontinue operations, is this correct..confirm..

ELC flips to another channel.

The computer readout activates.

THX and SRT make their way into a large, cavernous room. It is a transport center at peak hour, and many people are pouring into the area.

They fight their way through the crowd, away from the tram and toward the individual autojets. TV monitors scan the center.

The policemen momentarily drop back. The loud noise in his car begins to get worse, and he checks his gauges. The policemen slowly begin to gain on THX.

The struggle for THX to maintain control of the machine almost becomes more terrifying and important then the pursuing policeman.

VOICE Stop your vehicle. Officers are approaching from both directions. Stop your vehicle. You have nothing to fear.

THX continues ahead, as the dots on the radar scope begin to close.

Abort....Abort....Abort...

THX is exhausted, and lies on the pavement trying to catch his breath.

One of the monitors shows an industrial accident.

ELC becomes involved in another case.

He watches them disappear, their footsteps echoing in the distance.

THX climbs out of the hatchway and stands shielding his eyes from the sun.