What shall we do? : Part 1

GOTAR
THE RULES ARE:
1) Death here means death in your world.
2) The only way out is through the final portal.

EXT. DEVASTATED AMPHITHEATER - NIGHT
Some gamers have returned to the arena and are searching through the rubble for survivors. The entire scene is one of gloom and despair. Some people are quietly sobbing, some have a blank stare, most are badly injured.
Henry is among those helping. He comes across a woman kneeling on the floor she's staring at a knife oblivious to what is going on around her. In a moment of madness she grips the knife tightly and plunges it towards her chest. Fortunately Henry stops her.

HENRY
(gently)
No.

He hands her over to someone else. Near the stage, he spots Tayo. Tayo is now caught under a bit of debris. He is unconscious. Henry begins to help then he calls to another player.

HENRY
Hey, I need help.

Someone arrives.

HENRY
Careful.

They carry Tayo through.

INT. HOSPITAL WARD, REAL WORLD - DAY
A huge ward is full of rows of unconscious players with their headgears. Each of them in a cubicle, connected to life support systems.
Aramide, Tayo's sister is seated beside Tayo's body. Their mum Rebecca arrives. She touches her son's hand.

REBECCA
Let's go. Mr. Spencer has agreed to take care of your brother.
ARAMIDE
Did he say anything about the government, what they plan to do?
REBECCA
No.
ARAMIDE
Are they really going to shut down the game?

Aramide wipes her teary eyes. Even though she knows it's an irrational thought, she wishes she never handed the gear over to her brother. Her mother holds her.

REBECCA
They won't do that. They won't. Your brother promised me he won't be long. Let's have faith.

Rebecca hugs her daughter.

INT. SHELTER, REMONI - DAY
Tayo opens his eyes and looks around as his hearing slowly returns. The room he is in is packed full of people and more are still coming in. NPC attendants are dying, wounded player in and out of the makeshift medical station.
He looks at his leg, there is a bandage around it.

On the other side of the shelter Hiro is seated beside Haruto. He is unconscious and his lower left leg and right feet are missing. Hiro looks dejected as she watches over him.

After taking in the chaotic sight Tayo tries to get up from his bed but fails, that's when Jim who is seated on a bed adjacent to him notices him.

JIM
Hey, take it slow
(shouting)
Henry! He's awake.

Henry appears from the crowd.

HENRY
Hi
TAYO
Hi. What happened?
HENRY
We found you in the rubble.
TAYO
So, it's real? We're trapped?

Henry nods.

TAYO
Did you find Guy? The boy I was with.

Henry shakes his head. 

HENRY
We haven't seen him.

Henry looks at Tayo with pity. He can guess what happened for him to be so desperate for an answer. Horror and sadness overwhelms Tayo and he lies down on the bed.

EXT. STABLE, REMONI - NIGHT
Tayo is at the stable looking through its charred remains. The burnt bodies of horses and people are strewn around. Tayo stops at one that looks like a burnt forse.
Tayo is not the only one at the stable. There are scavengers looking for valuable items from the ruins. Henry strolls up to him.

HENRY
Any luck?
TAYO
No.
HENRY
In times like these, it is best to... accept what has happened and keep moving. I and some others will be leaving soon. We heard most of the tourists landed in other cities. A change of view will be good.

Henry waits for a response, none comes.
He begins to leave

TAYO
Thanks, for rescuing me.
HENRY
Stay safe.

Tayo calls after Henry.

TAYO
Henry! A random question. Do you know if any of the executives survived, anyone that made the game?

Henry pauses.

HENRY
I don't know. I heard most of them were seated in front. They were the first to be taken out. I did meet some military guys but most of them have already left here.
TAYO
I see.
HENRY
Take care.

Henry leaves and Tayo walks into one of the stalls that still stands. He lies down and curls into a fetal position.

EXT. FOOD QUEUE, REMONI - DAY
There is a line for food. Some players are shouting instructions to others adding to the commotion.

PLAYER 1F
Sorry everyone, rations have finished. Please come back later.
VOICES IN THE CROWD
When is later? Have you heard anything from outside? Where's the General?

The murmur continues.

PLAYER 1F
We're doing our best please!

EXT. FOOD QUEUE, REMONI - LATER
Tayo emerges from the crowd. He is eating some of the bread that he got, then he spots Jim.

TAYO
Were you able to get some?
JIM
No.

Tayo cuts off the portion he has bitten and hands the rest to Jim.

TAYO
You can have it.

Jim hesitates to take the bread.

TAYO
I actually got extra.
JIM
(he smiles)
No one gets extra. Thanks.

Jim receives the bread and begins to eat it as he looks at his HP bar in his dashboard. Some of the things the dashboard shows are his level (two), class (warrior) and HP (35%). The level of his health keeps inching upwards the more he eats. Tayo also checks his dashboard. His level is five, class, warrior and health is 40%.

JIM
It's hilarious that we have to eat in this world too, proves the designers were beyond stupid. All in the name of progress or should I say greed.
TAYO
(with irony)
What would that make us that chose to enter their world? I think you're looking at it wrongly. I don't think they imagined this would happen.
JIM
No shit. Whose fault is it then?
TAYO
It's still their fault. They underestimated their creation. Many people think it's only a super-intelligence that poses a threat to humanity.
JIM
Shit! I should have let Henry try it first. Shit! Shit!
TAYO
Why didn't you go with him?
JIM
Do I look eager to die? I'm going to enjoy the most I can before this all ends.

He smiles at an NPC passing by and she smiles back.
Tayo spots an injured gamer with someone helping her walk.

TAYO
Do you know where I can get a weapon?
JIM
Why?
TAYO
I think I'm going to leave
JIM
We have to be patient Ray. Help will come.

Tayo's eyes shift to another injured gamer, then to the top of the amphitheater. There he sees someone standing at the edge.
Tayo gets up, realizing what's about to happen, he begins to runs as fast as he can. He does his best to avoid bumping into people as he runs.
Unfortunately he is too late. He has to watch in horror as the person at the top lets himself fall, to his death.

EXT. TOWN HALL, MONSRA - DAY
There is a huge crowd of players outside  big building and General Rowen and a woman are struggling to get through as a few other players and NPCs struggle to keep the crowd away from them.
Through the incoherent mumble of the crowd we still can make out some common questions such as "what is your plan?", "where is the CEO?".
Rowen and the woman climb the stairs but a player manages to break through and grabs hold of the woman.

WORRIED PLAYER
Please, tell us, is there any hope?

The general goes on ahead while the woman waits a moment to address the tourist. Her name is MARIE. She responds to the woman that grabbed her.

MARIE
There is.

Then she proceeds to address the crowd. She waves her hands to get their attention and ask them to quiet down.

MARIE
Can I have everyone's attention please

She has their attention. They are desperate for anything, any information.

MARIE
My granddad and I are doing our best to find a solution. So please, I ask you all to be patient and most importantly don't take matters into your hands, and by that I specifically mean, do not kill yourself. Go back to your houses, stay safe and wait.
CROWD MEMBER
We don't have houses.

The shouting begins again. Marie quickly heads for the building, leaving them behind.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER
The room is a bit dark despite the glowing rock hanging at its center. The windows are closed and Charles one of the players there begins to close the curtains too. Charles is a soldier and so too is Marie.
There are four people in the meeting. Rowen, Marie, Charles and someone else.

ROWEN
Clotech's CEO said it's possible. The headgears could kill us.
CHARLES
Sir, when did you know of this?

All eyes focus on the general, breaths held. The military was involved in the project. Did they know of the fatal flaw in the gear's design. Did the general here know?

ROWEN
(calmly)
After Charles, after. Just like everyone else.

Everyone relaxes. Charles takes a seat.

ROWEN
This world wouldn't exist if I knew of this risk.
MARIE
How do we proceed?
ROWEN
We'll call a meeting for all warrior class gamers. Marie you'll be in charge of information gathering, priority on the portal's location. Charles, you handle the key, along with the acquisition of any items we might need. The rest of us will continue providing the tourists with aid.
CHARLES
People are getting more and more agitated. Can people outside do something for us?
ROWEN
I don't know but we will do what we can. I believe in you all, we are--

A sound interrupts him mid sentence. They all become very still, trying to trace the source. Marie draws her sword.

MARIE
If you love your life, show yourself.
HIRO (O.S.)
Please don't attack.

Hiro emerges from a corner of the room with her hands up.

MARIE
Who are you?
HIRO
My name is Hiro. I'm a gamer. I'm sorry for interrupting... your meeting. I wanted to speak to you.
ROWEN
About?

Marie is seated now, sword sheathed. Hiro glances at the other soldiers, they are looking at her suspiciously, as they should. She not only infiltrated their HQ but this very meeting.

HIRO
I wanted to ask if you had an item to regenerate a person's limbs. It's for my--
ROWEN
How long have you been in here?

Rowen interrupts her, he's heard this request a thousand times.

HIRO
Since before the meeting started.
ROWEN
And the building?
HIRO
Over a day ago.
ROWEN
Then you have your answer. We are just getting started, like everyone else. We don't have such items, yet.

Rowen gestures towards the door signaling that Hiro's time is up. Hiro bows her head in apology and walks towards the door.

ROWEN
Wait. Would you like make yourself useful?

Hiro stops and nods.

HIRO
Yes
ROWEN
You could join Charles in his search for items.
HIRO
(happily)
Yes. Yes, I would love to.