CHAPTER 3: "NEW WORLD"
FADE IN:
EXT. ACCIDENT SCENE - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) The car is a total wreck. Crumpled metal. A mound of earth.
INT. CAR - NIGHT Keise's face is slumped against the steering wheel. Covered in blood. Setsuko is sprawled in the passenger seat, motionless.
The CAMERA slowly zooms in on Keise's face. His eyes are closed.
SCENE FADES TO BLACK.
EXT. UNKNOWN PLACE - DAY Keise opens his eyes.
He is lying under a massive, emerald-green tree. The sky is a perfect blue. Birds chirp.
His head throbs. His body aches. He slowly turns his head. A girl is lying beside him.
KEISE (whispering to himself) Setsuko...
The girl's eyes slowly open.
Keise looks around. In the distance, enormous walls rise. A city? Where is this place? He turns his back.
GIRL (sitting up) Keise?
Keise spins around quickly. Looks at the girl. Stunned.
KEISE Who… who the hell are you?
GIRL (confused) Who are you? I'm Setsuko. Don't you recognize me?
Keise freezes. He rubs his eyes. Looks again.
In front of him… stands a girl. But this isn't Setsuko as he remembers her.
BRIGHT BLUE EYES shimmer. WHITE HAIR flows in the wind. FRECKLES dot her face, sweet yet sharp expression.
KEISE (stammering, shocked) H-how am I supposed to recognize you? You're not Setsuko! And… what happened to your face? Did the crash do this to you?
SETSUKO (frowning) What's wrong with my face? And how do you mean you don't recognize me?
She stands up and takes a step toward Keise. Points at his chest.
SETSUKO (smiling slightly) Your name is written on your shirt.
Keise looks down at himself. On his chest, a NAME TAG reads: KEISE.
KEISE (to himself) What… the hell is this?
He looks around again. Walls, greenery, this girl…
KEISE (whispering) Where… is this place?
SETSUKO (coming closer) I don't know. But… it feels like another world.
Both look up at the sky.
From the distance, a SYSTEM VOICE echoes.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: WELCOME, STRANGERS.]
KEISE (startled) What? What system?
[SYSTEM: TO SURVIVE IN THIS WORLD, YOU MUST SELECT A CLASS.]
SETSUKO (shocked) Class?
Keise looks at Setsuko. She looks back at him.
Both speak at the same time:
KEISE & SETSUKO (together) What the hell does that mean?
A glowing, semi-transparent SCREEN appears in front of them.
[CLASS SELECTION OPTIONS]
Keise swipes the screen.
BERSERK – Powerful but slow. Warning: Your body is not compatible.
KEISE (to himself) Berserk… strong but slow. Body not compatible, huh.
SETSUKO (excited, showing her screen) Keise, look! Mage! This one seems perfect for me.
Keise glances over. Setsuko's eyes are sparkling. The old shy girl is gone—replaced by a determined expression.
KEISE (distracted) Yeah… good, good. Choose it then.
SETSUKO (hesitating) But… where are we? What are we doing here?
Keise looks around again. Walls, forest, this strange system…
KEISE (inner voice) Where are we… what are we doing here…
No answer. Just wind and distant birds.
Keise turns back to the screen. Angrily presses AUTO SELECT.
The screen scans him head to toe. Red lights flash.
[SCREEN: NO SUITABLE CLASS FOUND FOR YOU. PLEASE TRY AGAIN.]
KEISE (furious) What? No way!
He presses again. Same warning.
SETSUKO (watching, stunned) Keise…
Keise slams the screen.
KEISE (angry) Damn it! How is there nothing?! Give me money already!
He reaches into his pocket.
Freezes.
His pocket… EMPTY.
For the first time, his pocket is empty. For the first time, he has nothing.
KEISE (shocked, to himself) Money… gone.
SETSUKO (slowly approaching, placing a hand on his shoulder) Keise… did you forget? This is a completely different place.
Keise lifts his head. Looks at Setsuko. Then around. Walls, forest, this strange world.
KEISE (whispering) A different place…
For the first time, he truly looks afraid. But he hides it.
KEISE (pulling himself together) Whatever… we'll figure something out. I'm Keise. I overcome everything.
SETSUKO (smiling faintly) Are you sure?
Keise doesn't answer. He just starts walking toward the walls.
KEISE (without looking back) Come on. We'll find something.
Setsuko watches him from behind. Then follows.
FADE TO BLACK.
[CHAPTER 3 END]