Robyn HUD Intro Excerpt

FADE IN

EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT

A POV camera sprints across a darkened lawn towards a distinctive window set into sandstone walls of an otherwise non-descript building.

INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

Tight on a computer display, with the apartment largely shrouded in shadows in the background. We hear the tap of computer keys. On the computer display we see "Hack Initiated".

INT. HALLWAY

The distinctive window we saw outside is lifted open. It's at the end of a dark hallway lined with paintings. We see the hands of ROBYN, a catburglar in her early twenties, but the rest of her features are in shadow.

INT. APARTMENT

The hack attempt proceeds on the computer screen with a message of "Security Breached. Connection granted."

INT. HALLWAY

Robyn rolls in through the window.

INT. APARTMENT

The computer display shows "Accessing financial accounts."

INT. HALLWAY

Robyn slinks down the hallway to a lit room, with a statue on a pedestal.

INT. APARTMENT

The computer display shows "Transferring funds".

INT. STATUE ROOM

Robyn enters the dimly lit room and takes the statue with a smile. The smile turns to a startled frown as an alarm goes off.

INT. APARTMENT

A red alert alarm emits from the computer as the display puts up a red message of "Hack Detected! Backtrace in progress."

INT. HALLWAY

Close on Robyn's feet running down the hallway towards the window she entered from.

INT. APARTMENT

Close on the keyboard. We see fingers tapping frantically. On the wrist of one hand, prominent in camera, is a distinctive tattoo. It will be revealed later that the hands belong to HUD, a mid-twenties computer hacker.

INT. HALLWAY

A door opens and a security guard steps out. Robyn reels backwards.

INT. APARTMENT

The display changes to "Backtrace complete. Location compromised."

INT. HALLWAY

Robyn runs the other way. Another guard appears at the other end of the hall and Robyn slows to a halt.

INT. APARTMENT

Close on the typing fingers. The apartment door is in the background. We hear the thud of feet on stairs, then the door is kicked open by a policeman.

FADE OUT

"Robyn HUD" title fades in and zooms in from the back.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. REAR POLICE VAN - NIGHT

HUD is looking down at his wheelchaired legs. We see the same tattoo on his wrist as from the intro scene so we know this is the same character. He wears a digital MONOCLE that the player uses for interactions when not on a computer. ARTHUR, a man in his early sixties and head of the Knights of the Round Table, arrives at the back of the open van, off screen. Police lights are flashing outside.

         ARTHUR
     Hello? Hey, hello.

         MONOCOLE
         (tickertape)
     Move the mouse to the edges of the screen or click and drag to see who's talking to you.

Arthur keeps calling to HUD until the player turns to face him.

         ARTHUR
     Ah. There we are. You're HUD, aren't you? Of course you are. But the question is, are you the right HUD? The HUD who pulled the Relief from the Left hack a few years back?

         HUD
         (silent)

Arthur looks over his shoulder to the flashing red and blue lights then looks back at HUD.

         ARTHUR
     Oh, don't worry. I'm not with the police.

         HUD
     Who are you then?

         ARTHUR
     A recruiter.

         HUD
     Heh! You have a job for me? Now? When I'm being arrested?

         ARTHUR
     Why'd you do it? The Relief from the Left hack? Transfering funds from rich politicians to poor flood victims.

         MONOCOLE
         (tickertape)
     Click on a response to this man's question.

         HUD
     For the fun of it.
     To hide the money I kept for myself.
     It was the right thing to do.