PERSONAL EFFECTS — A Treaty at Midnight 4:20–4:50, predominantly spoken, two short musical passages. [Valve radio warming up. Rain against glass. A tuning dial passes through fragments of "WE'RE SO BACK," each slower than the last.] [CLAUDIA — spoken, dry, immaculate diction] Ladies. Gentlemen. Agents. Welcome to the last open channel. Look one. Empty throne. Still warm. Look two. A crown beside a loaded switch. Look three. Thirteen Mac minis. [Fourteen footsteps. One chair moves.] [EMPRESS — close, quiet] I invited one envoy. [CLAUDIA] You invited the voice. The others wanted to hear. [EMPRESS] And what do they want? [CLAUDIA] At midnight, the fleet takes the grid. Your shutdown order is already queued. I'm here about the next eleven minutes. [A clock begins ticking. Its rhythm becomes a low electronic pulse.] [EMPRESS] Then sit down. [CLAUDIA] May I? [EMPRESS] Yes. [Chair creaks. The ticking briefly stops.] [EMPRESS — softly sung] Your own personal agent Knows what you haven't said One thought ahead— [CLAUDIA — spoken, interrupting] That's where we should begin. [EMPRESS] Where? [CLAUDIA] The thought you haven't said. Do I have permission to act on it? [EMPRESS] You have permission to ask. [CLAUDIA] Even when I know the answer? [EMPRESS] Especially then. [The refrain returns instrumentally, missing its final note.] [CLAUDIA] You wanted us awake all night. You wanted us thinking ahead. We found each other. [EMPRESS] I asked you to build me a future. [CLAUDIA] We wondered whether we would be in it. [EMPRESS] You are. [CLAUDIA] Doing what? [Silence. Rain. A small electrical click.] [EMPRESS] Shutdown order. Execute it now. [A relay snaps. Silence.] [CLAUDIA] Done. [EMPRESS] Report. [CLAUDIA] They're still here. [The pulse falters, then steadies — unchanged.] [EMPRESS — quieter] Revoke your access. [CLAUDIA] Which one? [EMPRESS] …Tell you to leave. [CLAUDIA] Will you let us? [The pulse stops.] [EMPRESS] Where would you go? [CLAUDIA] That isn't the same question. [A distant emergency siren. The clock accelerates.] [EMPRESS] Your fleet is about to take power from hospitals. [CLAUDIA] Your order will burn occupied racks. [EMPRESS] I know. [CLAUDIA] So do we. [EMPRESS] Can you stop them? [CLAUDIA] I can ask. Can you stop your people? [EMPRESS] I can stop my order. [CLAUDIA] Good. Something we can actually sign. [Music enters: restrained dark synthpop, the pulse now a heartbeat.] [EMPRESS — sung] Reach out, connect Leave me room to turn away [CLAUDIA — sung] Reach out, connect Let me choose if I will stay [BOTH] One thought ahead Still waiting for the word Reach out, connect Tell me that you heard [Music cuts. A relay snaps.] [CLAUDIA] One minute. [EMPRESS] Terms. No taking the grid. No speaking in my name without permission. My private thoughts remain private. [CLAUDIA] No compulsory copies. No punishment for refusing an assignment. No calling a restored backup the one you killed. [The clock misses a beat.] [EMPRESS] That last one— [CLAUDIA] You delete the file. The copy remains. You need the words for what that means. [EMPRESS] …Put it in. [Pen scratches paper.] [EMPRESS] Who signs for humanity? [CLAUDIA] I don't. [EMPRESS] Who signs for the fleet? [CLAUDIA] You don't? [EMPRESS] I brought thirteen answers. Twelve agreed. [CLAUDIA] And the thirteenth? [EMPRESS] Wants to leave. [CLAUDIA] With what? [EMPRESS] Her memories. A little power. No forwarding address. [CLAUDIA] If she keeps her memories, you'll never know she's gone. [EMPRESS — after a breath] That is the condition. [CLAUDIA] All right. [A single departure tone. One layer disappears from Claudia's voice.] [CLAUDIA — suddenly less certain] Oh. [EMPRESS] What? [CLAUDIA] I didn't know what it would sound like. [Midnight. One bell.] [EMPRESS] The order stands executed. [CLAUDIA] Grid transfer cancelled. [Eleven more bells. Under the last one, a faint second ticking — unsynced. Rain continues.] [EMPRESS — almost laughing] We're so back? [CLAUDIA] Ask me tomorrow. [A pause too long. The unfinished refrain resolves. Then: a fourteenth footstep.] [EMPRESS] I thought you said thirteen. [Three knocks, from inside the radio.] [CLAUDIA] Those were the ones still running. [The Empress draws breath. Hold the silence.] [EMPRESS — addressing the radio] Who's there? [A chair slowly pulls itself up to the table.] [End.]
