FADE IN:
INT. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. CONFERENCE ROOM. MORNING 1
The red-tinged and wacky scientist, PROFESSOR ZACHARY, 52, marches into the noisy conference room. His presence attracts the attention of everyone. He takes out a bell from his bag and starts ringing it.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
Today I want you to tell me a thesis. A thesis so ludicrous, that I’ll have to take you up on it.
A dashing blonde scientist, HENRIETTA STEEPLE, 32, stands up first and walks to the front of the room.
HENRIETTA
The seed of genetics is my thesis. A scientific prospect that allows us to manipulate and replicate chromosomes to our liking . . . even humans.
TITLE: “Z AMBIGUITY”
SUPERIMPOSE: “3 YEARS LATER”
INT. GUINEVERE’S BEDROOM. MORNING 2
GUINEVERE KENGSLEY, 26, wakes abruptly to her 9.30AM alarm clock. She reaches for her glasses on the bedside table, puts them on and hits the snooze button. Guinevere leans back into the pillow and notices a yellow sticky note beside her.
GUINEVERE
[reading]
“Didn’t want to wake you, I’m holding a conference today at 11AM for the anniversary at work. Wish I could stay warm in bed with you. See you when I get home, love Henri”.
Guinevere rolls out of bed and throws her lab coat over her wrinkled white buttoned shirt and black pants. She runs downstairs and picks up her handbag before heading out the front door.
INT. LABORATORY OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, CAMBRIDGE. MORNING 3
Henrietta is pacing back and forth in her black dress and heels, fumbling over her prepared speech. She extends her jawline and starts humming to herself. As the door clicks open, she freezes mid-pace and shuts her mouth. Guinevere strides into the dimly lit laboratory, with rustled brown hair and her purple-framed glasses.
HENRIETTA
(surprised)
What are you doing here?
GUINEVERE
(smug)
Admit it. You’re happy to
see me.
HENRIETTA
I was going to come back
to your place later tonight, with the rest of the Chardonnay and a special gift for you.
GUINEVERE
I know, but you need me here for good luck.
Henrietta wraps her arms around Guinevere and rests her head on her shoulder.
HENRIETTA
(whispering)
I love you too.
GUINEVERE
(smiling)
I’ll be here when you get
back.
Henrietta kisses Guinevere on the cheek and takes the bottle of Chardonnay from her desk on exit. Guinevere falls back into Henrietta’s desk chair and accidentally knocks over a report, which is marked confidential.
Guinevere opens the report.
DISSOLVE:
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM. MORNING 4
Thirty-odd members of the Medical Research Council (MRC) enter the conference room. The black suits and blue ties shake hands, indulge in the light refreshments and engage in small talk. Henrietta steps up to the podium and loudly taps the microphone.
HENRIETTA
Welcome friends and colleagues to our 52nd Anniversary at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
The room quietens and the gentlemen take their seats.
HENRIETTA
As you know we’ve got much to get through this meeting. But first, I would like to give a special thanks to Dave for administering MRC’s generous funds this year.
DAVID GREEN, 51, short and stocky, joins Henrietta on stage and accepts the bottle of Haute Cabrière Chardonnay.
DAVID
(laughing)
You’re far too nice, Henri. I’ll just keep this for myself.
HENRIETTA
Honestly Dave, I don’t
blame you.
A loud buzzing interferes with the microphone. Henrietta excuses herself and turns around to answer her mobile.
INTERCUT – MOBILE CONVERSATION
HENRIETTA
(whispering)
You know I’m in a meeting.
GUINEVERE
(cold)
I couldn’t care less, you manipulative bitch.
HENRIETTA
(confused)
Guinevere . . . what’s
wrong?
GUINEVERE
I actually thought you gave a shit about me.
HENRIETTA
What the hell are you talking about?
GUINEVERE
Chromosome Z.
END INTERCUT.
Henrietta stumbles down from the podium and runs out the door.
INT. HENRIETTA’S OFFICE. DAY 5
Henrietta bursts into her office, out of breath, and begins frantically searching through the files on her desk. She knocks over a lamp and spirals herself into a semi-tornado of paper.
Henrietta dials Guinevere’s number and meets a dead line.
PHONE OPERATOR
Your call could not be connected. Please check the number, and try your call again.
She collapses into her computer chair and buries her head in her hands.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Henrietta snaps up from her desk to see the security guard, grimacing at her tantrum.
HENRIETTA
I’m terribly sorry about the mess, got into an argument with myself.
SECURITY GUARD
(amused)
We get that a lot in the science department. You’re going to
have to clean this up yourself.
HENRIETTA
I’ll get right on it.
SECURITY GUARD
The dustpan and broom will
be outside your office.
HENRIETTA
Thanks.
As the security guard leaves, Henrietta quickly logs onto her computer and signs into instant messenger.
ON THE SCREEN:
Professor Zachary,
We have a problem with Test Subject A. I believe she’s seen the report. I need you to handle this for me.
BEEP. BEEP.
Henrietta checks her phone.
DAVID
(TEXT)
What’s going on? You can’t just leave without an explanation.
HENRIETTA
(TEXT)
Just take over for me, Dave. I’ll be back soon.
Henrietta opens the GPS tracking program, ’TrackStick Mini’ on her computer and transfers the data to Professor Zachary before logging off. She gets the broom and dustpan from outside and begins sweeping the mess on the floor.
EXT. CAR PARK. DAY 6
Guinevere trudges through the wet car park, with tears streaming down her pale face. She is carrying a heavy box of lab equipment and the report. Once at the car, she places the box down and reaches into her lab coat for the car keys. She unlocks the car and drops the keys into a puddle. Guinevere curses to herself and yanks the keys from the ground. Before getting up, she notices a flashing red light in the reflection of the puddle.
GUINEVERE (V/O)
All this time . . . I’m such a freaking idiot. Why would she do this to me?
Guinevere pulls out the tracking device from underneath her car and crushes it with her boot. She scrapes her shoe on the ground and steps inside the vehicle.
INT. CAR. DAY – TRAVELING 7
The rain hammers down onto the car. Guinevere stops at the set of traffic lights and takes out the report from her handbag. Attached to the front page is an identical photo of herself, with a red stamp labelled ’test subject A’. On the back of the photograph is a small note.
GUINEVERE
(reading)
“Property of Dr. Henrietta Steeple for Project SoG: Seed of Genetics.”
A car BEEPS behind her and Guinevere slams her foot on the accelerator. She continues driving straight ahead, turns left at the next intersection and parks outside her apartment complex.
INT. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. HEADQUARTERS. DAY 8
Professor Zachary is swivelling around on his computer chair. The lanky man is far from the usual build of a top notch scientist. He has bright red hair, fair skin, a plethora of freckles and hazelnut eyes. On his desk is a hand-made DNA chain, titled “The Seed of Genetics”.
An instant message pops up in his browser from Henrietta. He skims through the messages and opens the tracking program to pinpoint the location of Guinevere. He notices that one of the two installed devices is still active. The destination on the map shows Guinevere’s car outside her apartment in Cambridge.
Professor Zachary opens his drawer and takes out a tiny tube of white powder. The tube is marked with a Z+.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY (V/O)
I think it’s time we introduce you to test subject A.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM. DAY 9
Henrietta returns to a busy conference room, with David standing on the podium, preaching to his colleagues about the importance of MRC.
HENRIETTA
(flustered)
I’m sorry about the
disruption.
DAVID
It’s all good, Henri. I was just taking advantage of having the stage to myself.
MRC MEMBER #1
What kept you from the meeting?
HENRIETTA
It’s a private matter, which I’d rather not discuss.
MRC MEMBER #2
Are you good to continue
now?
HENRIETTA
(blushing)
I think its best we
reschedule this for next week.
DAVID
We’ll resume the celebration back at our office. Let’s get moving men.
The guests shuffle out of the room, each one gazing at a very distraught, Henrietta. David places his hand on her shoulder and leans in for a hug.
DAVID
(concerned)
Is everything OK?
Henrietta shakes her head, with tear-filled eyes.
DAVID
I’m here, when you’re ready to talk.
HENRIETTA
I appreciate that Dave.
Henrietta watches David walk down the hallway, until he is out of sight.
BEEP. BEEP.
Henrietta checks her phone.
PROFESSOR Z (TEXT)
She is at her apartment. You know the place better than I do, so you can go and get her.
DISSOLVE:
INT. GUINEVERE’S APARTMENT. AFTERNOON – MONTAGE 10
MUSIC —303 vs 909, Canton Becker — plays through the scene.
-Guinevere bursts through the front door and runs upstairs.
-Guinevere hauls a suitcase from underneath her bed.
-Guinevere ransacks her wardrobe for clothes, tossing everything she can fit into the suitcase.
-Guinevere heads downstairs with her luggage.
-Guinevere raids the kitchen pantry.
-Guinevere packs all of her food cans into the suitcase.
-Guinevere leaps out the front door and slams it shut.
END MUSIC.
END MONTAGE.
CUT TO:
EXT/INT. GUINEVERE’S APARTMENT. EVENING 11
Henrietta bangs her fist on Guinevere’s door repeatedly.
HENRIETTA
(shouting)
Let me in right now!
No answer. Henrietta uses the key from her purse to unlock the apartment. She kicks the door behind her and heads upstairs. Henrietta wanders into the bedroom, tracing her hand along the bed before laying down.
RING. RING.
Henrietta answers her phone.
INTERCUT – MOBILE CONVERSATION
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
What’s your progress?
HENRIETTA
Well, she wasn’t here when I arrived. You should’ve picked up on that.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
Give me a break, she’s your problem. I thought you had everything under control.
HENRIETTA
(angrily)
Don’t lay the blame on me, she was bound to find out sooner or later.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
My gut tells me, she knows more than she’s leading on.
HENRIETTA
I should never have initiated any involvement with her outside of the classroom . . .
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY CLASSROOM. AFTERNOON 12
The students pack away their notes and disperse in groups from the classroom. Guinevere remains seated, watching Henrietta extend her arm across the white board, wiping away any trace of the lesson from the day.
Henrietta turns around and smiles at Guinevere.
HENRIETTA
Anything I can help you
with?
GUINEVERE
(walks over to Henri)
I want you to have this.
HENRIETTA
And what did I do to
deserve this?
GUINEVERE
I think you know, Dr
Steeple.
Henrietta opens the sealed envelope and takes out a laminated award for ‘teacher of the year’.
HENRIETTA
Thank you Guinevere, although I think you’re more deserving of an award. How can I ever repay you?
GUINEVERE
Dinner at my place tonight.
HENRIETTA
Sounds wonderful.
END FLASHBACK:
INT. GUINEVERE’S BEDROOM. EVENING 13
Henrietta reaches for the photo frame on the bedside table, of herself and Guinevere laughing together outside Cambridge University. She traces her finger over the two people and begins to cry.
INTERCUT – MOBILE CONVERSATION (CONT’D)
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
Don’t put this on yourself, Henri. She trusts you to take care of her, and that’s what you’re doing.
HENRIETTA
(sobbing)
OK. Just help me get her back.
END INTERCUT.
Henrietta wraps herself under the bed sheets and closes her eyes.
JUMP CUT TO:
EXT. CITY. NIGHT – TRAVELING 14
Guinevere is driving in slow motion through the city, constantly stop-starting the car, because of gridlock traffic and numerous drunks wandering aimlessly on the street. Further down the main road, she spots a small cottage hotel and parks on a side alley nearby. When she steps out of the car, she twists her ankle and stumbles to the ground. She tries getting up, but cannot balance herself.
At the end of the alley, a tall figure appears and moves closer to Guinevere. She remains fixated on the shadow, with her right hand at the ready for dialling 000 on her phone.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
Are you alright?
GUINEVERE
(sarcastic)
Sure looks that way, doesn’t it.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
(uncertain)
Did you need any help . . . ?
GUINEVERE
What’s in it for you?
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
(sincere)
I suppose you’ve never felt an obligation . . . to help a stranger.
GUINEVERE
What’s your name?
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
Zach.
GUINEVERE
Bring me and my luggage to the hotel please, Zach. I have a reservation to make.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
Did you need to go to the hospital, perhaps get yourself checked out?
GUINEVERE
Just a sprained ankle, nothing to cry over.
The professor lifts Guinevere over his left shoulder, picks up her luggage and makes his way across the road to the hotel. Before he plants her on the ground, Professor Zachary sneakily injects the substance Z+ into her lower backside.
EXT/INT. CAMBRIDGE CITY TENISON TOWERS. NIGHT 15
The duo stand outside the hotel, neither wanting to step inside. The cosy and extravagant hotel is swarming with tourists, holding pamphlets about the available bed and breakfast deals.
GUINEVERE
Thanks Zach for helping me
out, haven’t exactly had the best day.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
Someone needs to look out
for you, especially on days like this.
GUINEVERE
(laughing)
That’s nice of you to say. Although, I can’t really count on anyone at the moment.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
You’d be surprised. Take it from me.
A beat.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY (CONT’D)
I better get going.
GUINEVERE
Thanks again.
Guinevere limps inside to join the lobby queue. She leans her head out of the long line and sneers at the couples and children standing in front of her.
GUINEVERE (V/O)
(annoyed)
Beginning to feel the tension.
RECEPTIONIST
Good evening, how can I
help you?
GUINEVERE
I’d like to book a room for three nights stay.
RECEPTIONIST
What room are you after?
GUINEVERE
(sarcastic)
The single and affordable
type.
RECEPTIONIST
Single room is fifty euros per night. How would you like to make your payment?
GUINEVERE
(hands credit card to receptionist)
On credit, thanks.
RECEPTIONIST
You’ll be in room thirty-five. Here is your key, Ms Kengsley. You can head upstairs now. We hope you enjoy your stay with us.
GUINEVERE
Is there a lift nearby? Kind of sprained my ankle on the way here . .
RECEPTIONIST
Take a left at the end of the lobby, the lift is on your right.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM. MORNING 16
Guinevere wakes up to a burning fever, shaking in layers of sweat. She wipes her forehead and scrapes off her face a new batch of skin, which sticks to her fingertips. She rushes into the bathroom and screams at her reflection. The mirror shows patches of skin missing from her face. She runs her fingers along the gaps and begins grafting away at the dead skin, only to reveal a fresh layer of new skin.
Guinevere strips down. She finds pieces of her loose skin still sticking to her pyjamas. In a fit of panic, Guinevere takes a pair of scissors from the bathroom drawer and begins peeling off the old bits of skin hanging on her bare body.
She stares into the mirror, eyes wide open and on the verge of shattering. Guinevere wraps a towel around herself and picks up the hotel phone.
INT. GUINEVERE’S BEDROOM. MORNING 17
Henrietta, dreary-eyed and tired, rolls out of bed and into the bathroom. As she turns on the hot water for the shower, her phone buzzes. After a few minutes of cleansing, she steps out of the steamy hot shower wearing a white towel. Henrietta clears the foggy mirror with her right hand, and stares intently at her reflection.
Henrietta checks her phone and redials the unknown number from the missed call.
HENRIETTA
Hello?
GUINEVERE (O/S)
(scared)
What the fuck have you done to me?
HENRIETTA
Guin calm down. Where are you?
GUINEVERE (O/S)
(panicked)
I’m literally all over the place. I just fucking peeled my skin off like a snake, and am somehow still standing in my own flesh!
HENRIETTA
(shocked)
The reaction has begun . . .Listen to me Guin, I need you to stay put for me. Just tell me where you are and it’ll be alright.
GUINEVERE (O/S)
Cambridge City Tenison Towers.
Room thirty-five.
INT. HOTEL ROOM. DAY 18
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Guinevere stares at the door.
HENRIETTA (O/S)
It’s me.
She approaches the door and looks through the peephole.
GUINEVERE
I know. I just can’t see the same person.
HENRIETTA (O/S)
Guin, you’ve got this all wrong.
Nothing’s changed between us.
GUINEVERE
I’m the seed in your experiment, a mutation in the process of unravelling, and you think nothing has changed?
HENRIETTA (O/S)
Please Guin, open the door for me and I’ll explain everything to you.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT/INT. GUINEVERE’S APARTMENT. EVENING 19
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Guinevere opens the door in a sexy red dress and welcomes Henrietta inside.
HENRIETTA
(blushing)
I’m sorry, I didn’t think to bring a change of clothes to work with me.
GUINEVERE
Don’t be ridiculous. Can I get you a glass of wine?
HENRIETTA
Oh, yes please. You wouldn’t happen to have white wine?
GUINEVERE
Did you know I was making a pumpkin, chardonnay and mushroom risotto?
HENRIETTA
(laughing)
How did I get so lucky? You’re going to have to teach me how to make that someday soon.
GUINEVERE
It’s the least I can do for you,
Dr. Steeple.
HENRIETTA
(smiling)
Please Guinevere, call me Henrietta.
Guinevere retreats to the kitchen and comes back to the dining table to serve up the steaming dish, with sparkling white wine.
HENRIETTA
I have a proposition for
you.
GUINEVERE
(intrigued)
I’m listening.
HENRIETTA
Next year I’m running a small side project with Professor Zachary, at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
GUINEVERE
Are you talking about the seed of genetics?
HENRIETTA
(surprised)
Yes . . . how did you know?
GUINEVERE
About a month ago, Professor Zachary sent an email to me, expressing interest in sampling my DNA for the experiment.
END FLASHBACK:
INT. HOTEL ROOM. DAY 20
Guinevere unlocks the door and pulls Henrietta inside. Henrietta places her hand on Guinevere’s face, tracing her fingers in a circular motion around the raw skin.
HENRIETTA
I’m so sorry, Guinevere.
GUINEVERE
What’s going to happen to
me?
HENRIETTA
I don’t know yet, but I’m not going to let this tear us apart.
GUINEVERE
You did that yourself, and I can’t forgive you.
Henrietta takes off her black jacket and wraps it around Guinevere. Guinevere pushes Henrietta onto the bed and attempts to strangle her. Henrietta grabs a pillow and forces it on top of Guinevere’s face. After a few seconds, Guinevere falls unconscious.
Henrietta cleans up the room; picking up dead skin off the floor, packing the luggage into her bag and taking back the report. She dresses Guinevere in her work attire and throws her over her shoulder, then carries her to the car outside.
INT. CAR. DAY – TRAVELING 21
Guinevere awakes to find herself strapped to the passenger seat of the car, unable to move and sitting next to Henrietta.
HENRIETTA
You need to trust me, Guin.
GUINEVERE
(angrily)
That’s fucking rich, coming from you!
HENRIETTA
Let me explain myself, for a second time.
GUINEVERE
Go ahead.
HENRIETTA
I didn’t plan on falling for you.
GUINEVERE
Now that there will be multiple versions of me, you can take your pick.
HENRIETTA
I don’t think you understand.
GUINEVERE
Just drive.
INT. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY HEADQUARTERS LAB. DAY 22
In the lab is Professor Zachary, sitting at his desk. Henrietta enters the room with Guinevere, who is still tied up, and locks the door behind her.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
Damn Henri, I didn’t expect you to find her so soon.
GUINEVERE
(confused)
I know you, you’re the man who helped me get to the hotel. Zach, right?
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
Yes, I am. I’m also known as Professor Zachary, who you may know from the project we’ve been working on.
GUINEVERE
Mind explaining what the fuck is happening to me? This morning my skin felt like dirty clothes, waiting for me to rip off my body.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
You are a pivotal role in the seed of genetics. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to go through with the cloning experimentation.
GUINEVERE
Why me? What is so special about my DNA?
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
I think it’s best for your monitor to tell you.
Guinevere turns to Henrietta, tears jerking out of both their eyes. Neither speak for a few moments.
HENRIETTA
(guilty)
You’re the first student whose body has accepted the mutation we implanted. Chromosome Z transforms the body for cloning, which is what is happening to you.
A beat
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
With your consent last year, your body is ours to replicate, you will have no singular identity, and you belong to us here, as a product of science.
Guinevere faints.
SUPERIMPOSE: “3 HOURS LATER”
INT. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY HEADQUARTERS LAB. AFTERNOON 23
Guinevere is laying down in a white gown, tied to the medical table. On the side of the operating table is a pair of surgical scissors, decorated in flesh.
Professor Zachary tends to test subject B. The skin transferred from Guinevere’s body is covering every inch of Henrietta’s naked body. Every limb, bump and wrinkle is aligned with the new layer, all but the pubic hair.
The professor injects Henrietta with a relaxant to soothe her muscles. In that instance, Henrietta lifts herself up off the table and stretches out. Professor Zachary holds a mirror in front of Henrietta, to reveal the transformation.
Henrietta puts on the clothes she took from Guinevere’s luggage and approaches test subject A.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
We’ll have to work on your voice and dye your hair, if you’re going to be Guinevere.
HENRIETTA
You have my full cooperation.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
I don’t think you’ll benefit from a prolonged goodbye. Make it quick.
Professor Zachary injects Guinevere with the same muscle relaxant and she awakes momentarily.
GUINEVERE
(disoriented)
What happened?
HENRIETTA
(smiling)
You did it Guin. I’ve never felt closer to you than I do right now.
GUINEVERE
(shocked)
Guinevere?
Henrietta kisses her on the cheek and then heads for the door, wearing Guinevere’s white buttoned shirt, black pants and lab coat. Professor Zachary pats the test subject on the head and places duct tape over her freshly peeled mouth.
PROFESSOR ZACHARY
Guinevere did this for you, so you’ll always be a part of her.
Guinevere violently shakes her arms and legs in chains, and tries screaming, but no more than a whisper escaping the duct tape.
The professor laughs, while turning the operating table around. Guinevere sees a wardrobe of coat hangers, each one holding the skin taken from her fragile body.
FADE OUT:
Synopsis
Z Ambiguity is a short sci-fi thriller (17 minutes) about a ‘ludicrous thesis’ that joins together Professor Zachary and Dr. Henrietta Steeple, in a secret project to explore the Seed of Genetics (SoG). Over the course of three years of research and experimentation, the team find success with test subject A: Guinevere Kengsley.
Guinevere is a quick witted lab assistant and lesbian, who becomes sexually involved with her supervisor, Henrietta, during her studies at Cambridge University. On the morning of the 52nd Anniversary at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Guinevere discovers a confidential report, which reveals that she is test subject A, the carrier of chromosome Z for cloning and property of Dr. Steeple.
Outraged by the betrayal of her lover, Guinevere runs away from the laboratory and her apartment to a small cottage hotel, Tenison Towers in Cambridge City. Henrietta seeks the help of Professor Zachary to track down the test subject, while struggling to deal with her obligations at work and the downfall of her relationship.
Professor Zachary takes the opportunity, during a ‘chance’ encounter with Guinevere, to accelerate the reaction of chromosome Z with the stimulant, Z+.
The next morning, Guinevere wakes up at the hotel with a burning fever and new batch of skin. She calls Henrietta, hoping to get answers and come to terms with the experiment she’s become a part of.
In the final act, Henrietta introduces Guinevere to Professor Zachary and reveals to her the reason why her DNA was chosen, to provide genetic material for cloning.
The short, Z Ambiguity, concludes with an ambiguous ending; Guinevere is no longer Guinevere, but a physical duplicate possessed by test subject B, Henrietta.
Vicky Martin
Vicky Martin is an experimental writer and video games enthusiast, with over a year of experience in games journalism and film reviews for Capsule Computers. She focuses on screenwriting, short stories and poetry with consistent themes of absurdity, chaos and dark humour. She blogs irregularly on Tumblr, and is currently finishing her Writing and Marketing majors at Macquarie University.
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