It is the year 2060 and we are watching the EU news.
Newsreader - This is the EU news…our largest project in this millennium,
the info-microchip experiment, has gone completely out of control. In 2026 this
experiment was started, its purpose was to separate and being able to identify
criminals among EU people of the world.
Trouble is knocking on our door and as much as we try to make the perfect society,
we fail. Nothing's like it was before. The question is now: How do we correct
the mistakes our ancestors made long before our time? And here in the studio
we have Mr. O'Connell with us. Well, Mr. O'Connell, how do you think we can
prevent criminals or U citizens from stealing the microchips from our EU?
Mr. O'Connell - Mmmm, I don't really know. I think that it has something to
do with them not having their own chip. That means that they have no personality.
Therefore if they have an opportunity to get their hands on one of these chips
it means that they can have a whole new life a new beginning.
If you are without your p-chip you cannot get access to any buildings or any
stores etc. You basically have no life or identity.
Newsreader - The fact that criminals have no chip is just a security installation.
If they have no chip, then they have no access to banks, supermarkets etc.,
but I see the problem if they escape from prison. Maybe they will steal a chip
from the first person they meet.
Foreigners from land arias where they don't have the chips that come to visit
the EU get a free tourist chip when they arrive at the airport. This chip gives
limited access to shops, banks and so on, but after a short period of days it
deletes itself and is no longer useful.
Mr. O'Connell - That is true, but how can the criminals see the difference between tourists and citizens? That must be the greatest problem of them all.
Newsreader - That's a good question…let's hear what one of our listeners
have to say…………..
In a living room near the heart of London a family is sitting, watching the program. Florian, the son, starts to argue with his mother. He turns off the television.
Florian - What bullshit, they are just making it up, this annoying chip… Ha! I would be thrilled to get rid of it; maybe I should rob a bank, to prove it.
Emily (the mother) - What nonsense! You can forget that, young man if you lose your chip you lose your life.
Florian - But I'm old enough to decide what to do with my life, and if I want to commit a crime you can't stop me…
Emily - Listen to yourself, you must think of the consequences. Do you want to give up your education and your future?
Florian - I'm sick and tired of your, excuse my language, bullshit; no one cares what happens to me. I'm out of here.
He leaves the house, slamming the door behind him.
Later we find him at a friend's house, he had been allowed to stay the night,
because he didn't want to go home. There he begins to think about crime.
(Talking to his friend Leo) Florian - Do you think I could do it…I mean
rob a bank and get away with it?
Leo - Maybe, but I just don't want to be a part of it. It's great here in Euopia,
going to school in this computer era is much easier now than twenty years ago,
or so says my mother. And just take a look at the health department no doctors
at all, just perfect computers doing the work.
Suddenly, their robot cat Felix jumped up on Leo's lap.
Florian - Oh Christ! Can't you see robots and computers have taken over everything?
I'm going to do it, rob a bank, and prove that I can do more than just follow
the system.
Leo - Ok, do what you want.
Florian runs down the street, to the bank, he pulls a ski mask over his head and breaks through the door holding a gun.
Florian - Hands up, this is a robbery, put all the money in this bag and nothing bad will happen.
The bank clerk - Florian is that you? Yes you are Florian, Emily's boy I know that voice.
Florian broke down; he knew that the woman was his neighbor. There was no way he could ever pull it off. Now his eyes were full of fear, now he knew that he couldn't change or prove anything by committing a crime. He was frightened by the thought of going to a prison, losing who he was.
Florian - I'm sorry, I don't want to go to prison, I'm so sorry.
The bank clerk - You were trying to prove that you could get away with robbery
isn't that right? Well, let me tell you a story:
My brother George was once a normal happy EU citizen. But one day he began to
hate his surroundings, he wanted to prove that he could survive without his
chip, so he stole a car but got arrested. Back then, the authorities were much
more strict than now. He lost his chip, his life, and his dreams becoming a
U person. He had to live on the street and live of other people's scraps. Then
one day he tried to steal someone's chip, he was that desperate. But instead
of gaining an identity he got arrested again, this time being imprisoned. He
died of misery a few years after.
Florian - I didn't know that, but now I admit what a fool that I've been. Will you still call the police?
The bank clerk - No, as long as you promise not to do it again.
Florian - I promise
They hug.
Written by: Julie, Signe, Camilla M., Linda and Simon.