Michael Tippett

EXT. FACTORY – DUSK
Rusted sunlight beats down on a broken world.
A derelict factory decays amongst the bones of crumbled buildings, its steel smokestack buckled at an angle.
POLLY (9), welding goggles, sooty face, patched overalls, navigates the rubble for a hole in the factory wall.
Lumbering close behind her is MAX, a robot. Corroded and clunky, he lugs a net full of SALVAGED PARTS on his back.
A distant PLASMA BLAST rings out across the desolate sky.
Max rotates his head to gaze over his back, sensors churning as they scrutinize the surroundings.

INT. FACTORY – CONTINUOUS
Polly and Max move along a dusty corridor. Slivers of red light slice through cracks in the ceiling.
Max sneaks another look behind.

POLLY

Why so jittery? You think they saw?

MAX
Some of my array is faulty, but I detect
nothing to indicate we were spotted.

They approach a VENDING MACHINE against a wall, its glass shattered and contents long-since plundered.
Polly removes a glove and pushes a sequence of buttons on the seemingly unpowered machine. A moment passes. Then–
The GROAN of tired hydraulics. The vending machine and section of wall behind it slide to reveal a STEEL PLATE DOOR.

MAX (CONT’D)
Go on. They’ll be glad to see you.

INT. WORKSHOP – CONTINUOUS
Polly and Max step through the door and into a stark clash of machine workshop and child’s playroom.
A multitude of MECHANIZED TOYS whir to life.
TOPBOTS, colorful spinning top robots, bounce and twirl in delight.
WINDERS, tiny droids resembling an assortment of wind-up toys — ANIMALS, CLOWNS, DOLLS — circle Polly’s feet.
SCRAPS, a mechanical dog with centipedal body, jumps and paws for attention.
Polly laughs. She lifts her goggles, revealing circles of unblemished skin around her eyes.

POLLY
You’re all too much. We were gone a day!
It was a good haul this time. Something
for everyone.

Polly spots MEECES, a tin plate clockwork mouse, hanging
back from the rest of the toys.

POLLY (CONT’D)
Don’t be shy, Meeces.

The mouse hesitates before gingerly joining the others in circling Polly. Scraps gives an excited electronic BARK.

MAX
Keep it down, Scraps. Same goes for all
of you. We spotted three Drudges on the
southern boundary. Looking for Polly.
Scraps whimpers. The other toys ease down.

POLLY
What makes you think they’re after me?

MAX
Because you’re special. One of a kind.

Polly frowns, moves to a bench draped in a CANVAS SHEET.
She runs a hand over the contours of the object beneath.

MAX (CONT’D)
It’s for your birthday. No peeking.

POLLY
What about your birthday? When do I get
to give you something? You scrounge parts
to build me all these wonderful things,
but leave yourself incomplete…

The cogs in Max’s head tick over as he watches Polly.

MAX
What makes you think I’m not complete?

POLLY
(blushing)
Oh, Max. I’m sorry. That was rude.

MAX
Not rude. Just…human. You think —

A CRASH from right outside the room.
SPARKS fly from the door as laser torches burn through.
The toys scurry for cover — all except Scraps, who holds his ground and barks madly at the intrusion.
Max steps in front of Polly, pointing a fist at the door.
His forearm grinds and shifts to form a PLASMA CANNON.

MAX (CONT’D)
(to Polly)
Keep behind me. No matter what.

The door falls inward with a THUD that shakes the floor.
Scraps yelps and scurries to join Polly.
Three robotic DRUDGES enter. Similar in design to Max, but sleeker, shinier, far more advanced. They sweep their
plasma cannons across the room.

DRUDGE ONE
Directive: Surrender the girl immediately
and present for integration.
MAX
Retort: Surrender yourselves immediately
or prepare for dis-integration.

Drudge Two emits a SCANNER BEAM, fanning it across Max.

DRUDGE TWO
Sensors detect unit’s plasma core at zero
percent. Weapon is ineffective.

Max’s cannon shifts back into an arm. His middle finger pops up with a PING to flip them the bird.

POLLY
(leaning out from behind Max)
Please don’t hurt them. I’ll go with you,
just leave them alone.

DRUDGE THREE
Negative. All units will present for
integration or be disassembled.

The Drudges’ plasma cannons SHIMMER as they power up.
The faintest TINK against Max’s boot. He glances down to spot Meeces watching him with tiny black eyes.
Max gives a solemn nod.

MAX
(softly)
Don’t be shy, Meeces.

The mouse squeaks. Its wind-up key spins as it rolls up to the curious Drudges.
Drudge One raises a heavy boot, holding it over Meeces.

DRUDGE ONE
Your defiance is noted. Prepare for —

The wind-up key ejects from Meeces with a shrill CHINK, not unlike the sound of a grenade pin being pulled.
The mouse gives a final teeny squeak.
Drudge One has enough time to fire a single blast before Meeces EXPLODES. All three Drudges are reduced to scrap.
As the dust settles, Max studies the gaping WHITE-HOT HOLE from a plasma bolt through his lower torso.

MAX
Hmm, you could be right, Polly. Maybe I’m
not that complete after all.

Scraps’s frantic BARKS bounce around the room.
Max swivels to spot Polly on the floor, her panicked eyes staring up at him. A SINGED CRATER smokes in her chest.
Max crashes to his knees, scooping Polly up.

POLLY
(sobbing)
Why would they do this?

MAX
It’s something they learned from their
makers. Stripping pieces from others in
an effort to fix the holes in themselves.

A SPARK flickers from Polly’s chest.
She looks down at the exposed wires and inky black fluid oozing from her wound.

POLLY
You lied to me, Max. You said…I was
special…

Max delicately cups her cheek with a bulky hand.

MAX
You are. To me. All of us.
(beat)
You’re one of a kind.

Polly smiles. Her body jerks and the light in her eyes
goes out. Scraps casts a MOURNFUL HOWL as the toys gather in silence.

FADE OUT:

OVER BLACK:
SFX: A large WIND-UP KEY turning and clicking into place.
Muted CHATTER. An electronic BARK.

FADE IN:

INT. WORKSHOP – DAY

Polly opens her eyes and sits up from the workbench.
She looks OLDER — a girl on the cusp of womanhood.
Max looms over Polly as the mechanized toys around them buzz and bleep with excitement.

POLLY
(wary)
Why are you all looking at me like that?
Max’s mouth grinds into a smile.

MAX
Happy birthday.

Polly’s grin lights up her eyes.
END.