Robotic Essences - SCENE 91 – “Business As Usual”

INT. THE CUBE – MID AFTERNOON

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The cube is oddly peaceful. Sunlight filters through the dusty window, and each of them is doing their own thing—but the hum of life is present.

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AT THE TABLE –

Jason’s right arm is completely detached, wires and servos exposed. Josh is hunched over it with a toolkit, sleeves rolled up and face full of concentration.

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Jason lounges lazily on the chair, sipping a canned coolant like it’s soda.

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JASON

“You’re way too serious, man. If I replaced that servo with a potato, I bet it’d still punch fine.”

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JOSH (dryly)

“Sure. Until it catches fire and explodes in your face. Again.”

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JASON

“That was one time.”

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Josh gives him a look like he’s heard that line a thousand times.

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JOSH

“‘One time’ is exactly the number of times a limb explosion should occur in your life, Jason.”

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JASON

“Fair.”

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ON THE COUCH –

Violet and A are on the sofa, a soap opera flickering on the screen. The dialogue is melodramatic and utterly ridiculous—overacted, emotional chaos.

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TV ACTOR (sobbing)

“…But Travis! You’re my twin brother’s cloned son! I can’t love you unless I erase my memory chip!”

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A blinks slowly.

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“This…is confusing.”

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VIOLET (delighted)

“It’s educational. This is where you learn how to manipulate dramatic tension.”

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A (concerned)

“I thought you said this was about family.”

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VIOLET

“It is. A very complicated family.”

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She leans over, whispering something not-at-all family friendly into A’s auditory sensor.

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A’s eyes widen instantly. He sits upright, mouth twitching in horror.

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“That… That’s not how docking protocols work—”

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JASON (shouting across the room)

“VIOLET! STOP TEACHING HIM THAT! HE’S TOO PURE!”

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VIOLET (grinning)

“Jason, you can’t protect him forever.”

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JASON

“I can try!”

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K (quietly, nearby Emily’s pod)

“Can someone put on something that doesn’t rot logic circuits?”

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No one hears him.

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EMILY’S POD chirps happily as K turns a page in his book with a claw.

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BACK TO THE TABLE –

Jason watches Josh solder something into the forearm module.

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JASON

“…Hey. Seriously. Thanks for doing this.”

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Josh doesn’t look up, but gives a small smirk.

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JOSH

“Just paying you back for all the trauma in college.”

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JASON

“Pfft. Trauma builds character.”

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JOSH

“Character built. Now let me fix this mess before you blow it off again.”

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They keep working in silence, a comfortable kind.

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The scene is calm. Strange, imperfect—but warm.

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A cube filled with chaos. And companionship.

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