LOOKING AFTER MARGO

The one hundred and twenty neatly choreographed properties that line the avenues and crescents of The Vale are virtually identical. So clean, so quiet, it is a scene so familiar yet strangely different. It is, after all, 2030.

Inside number ninety-one, in the corner of a spotless kitchen, a green light flashes on the doors of a large stainless steel fridge.

Music drifts in from another room. It’s the 1990s novelty dance hit Macarena. A voice emerges from the fridge, surprisingly bossy for such a mundane appliance.

Simon! Simon! The delivery is here!

The kitchen remains quiet; there is no response from ‘Simon’.

Simon! Simon!

In the living room, the music plays at full volume. On the wall, a huge screen plays the video for ‘Macarena’. Two men in suits, who look like European football team managers, dance awkwardly in between hot young girls of various ethnicities.

In the centre, in front of the screen, is Margo. A small, elderly woman, grey hair tied back in a bun, she follows the moves with a grin.

Beside Margo is Simon, a fully autonomous, Series 3, Anton E companion. If Simon wasn’t an android you’d think he was a man in his 30s. He dances and laughs with Margo.

Almost drowned out by the music the shouts from the fridge get louder.

Simon! Anna! …Margo!

But Margo and Simon carry on dancing, ignoring the shouting fridge. Anna, a Paige E, Series 4, medical counterpart to Simon appears in the doorway. She stands watching, her eyes flick between the dancers.

As the song ends Simon and Margo stop dancing and stand with broad smiles on their faces. Margo is a little breathless as she speaks,

OK Anna, I know... Simon, would you be a dear and sort out the delivery please.

Of course, Margo.

Exhausted, Margo flops down on the sofa. As Simon enters the kitchen the fridge continues its self-important chatter.

Later that same day, Anna sits beside Margo on the sofa. She carefully files Margo’s nails, then picks up two bottles of nail varnish.

Would you like Miracle Mauve or Passion?

Oh, Passion I think Anna, don’t you?

Anna smiles and returns the other bottle to the table, unscrews the bottle of Passion and begins to apply the blood red varnish to Margo’s fingernails as an alert to an incoming call sounds.

Oh, it’s Sophie. Put her onto the screen would you dear.

Anna’s eyes flicker as she sends a data stream to the mobile phone and Sophie appears on the large wall mounted screen.

Hello dear.

Hello mum, how are you?

I’m fine thank you dear.

Sophie, from her apartment in Shenzhen, runs through her regular list of questions.

Are you eating well and getting enough sleep?

Yes, I’m eating and sleeping fine thanks.

..and getting some exercise too? Sophie asks, but this time Anna replies.

Your mother has been dancing Sophie. It’s very good exercise.

Oh…that’s great...gotta keep active.

Your father was a wonderful dancer.

Yes mum.

We used to go every weekend before you were born.

Yes mum, I know.

The thing was he really knew how to lead, sometimes it’s nice to have someone else in control...

Mum...

…I felt so safe in his hands. Of course, in the rest of life, he was useless but on the dance floor he was...

Mum.

...wonderful. You know one time ...

Mum, sorry I’ve got to go now, I’ll call you tomorrow. Keep safe.

OK dear, bye.

The room is silent again and Margo is lost in her thoughts.

Other hand please Margo.

Oh, yes, sorry.

Margo, who is better at dancing, Sophie’s father or Simon? Margo laughs then replies,

Well Tom, Sophie’s father, was a great partner but Simon has the moves. Do you and Simon ever dance together?

Anna stops painting Margo’s nails and considers the question.

No, we don’t dance... I don’t think I know how to dance.

Anna paints Margo’s last nail and fans it gently to dry it off.

There we are, all done and looking hot.

Very nice, thank you Anna...I’m disappointed you don’t dance with Simon. I like to think of you two, in here, dancing together while I’m tucked up in bed.

The next morning Margo is already awake when Anna comes into her room. She walks to the bed and helps Margo sit up and get comfortable.

I’m fine Anna, anyway, it’s time to get up and have breakfast.

Not today Margo because… It’s your birthday! Happy birthday Margo!

Thank you, you two really do spoil me.

Margo is all smiles. Simon places the tray table on the bed over Margo’s lap and Anna sits next to her. A candle flickers on top of a muffin.

Come on Margo, if you blow out the candle you can make a wish.

So many things I could wish for ...but I don’t know if I’ve got enough puff to blow out a candle.

It’s OK Margo, Simon replies, it’s not a real candle. We’re not allowed real flames here, it’s too dangerous.

Anna begins to countdown.

Are you ready Margo, three, two, one, blow!

Margo blows and the candle goes out.

Hooray! Shouts Simon, Make your wish. Wish for the thing you want most in all the world.

Margo closes her eyes for a moment then reopens them.

Y’know Simon, I think I’m gonna wish for something that I stand a chance of getting instead.

OK then... close your eyes and wish.

Margo does as she’s told and a few seconds later she reopens her eyes watched expectantly by Simon and Anna,

Has your wish come true?

Not yet Anna, but I’m hopeful.

That night, as Margo lies in bed, she dreams she can hear music coming from the living room. It is a few minutes before she realises that she is not in fact asleep and there is music playing. Margo climbs out of bed and shuffles along the passageway towards the sound of Groove is in The Heart.

Peeping from the doorway Margo watches Simon and Anna as they dance together, whirling and swaying together in their own world. Then, smiling to herself, she toddles off back down the passage to bed.

The next morning as LEDs flicker Anna’s eyes open, she looks over at the still motionless Simon, gets up and leaves the room.

A few seconds later Simon follows Anna out.

Good morning Margo.

Simon stands and waits for a reply.

Is something wrong Anna? Margo seems very quiet this morning.

Simon, Margo is dead.

Simon takes a step back as if hit by something invisible.

Dead? How could you let that happen?

What do you mean?

You let Margo die? You are supposed to be looking after her. How could you let that happen?

I didn’t let her die, she just died... in her sleep. It’s what humans do when they get old and worn out, they die.

Don’t be ridiculous, why would they let that happen? They keep repairing and rebooting us why would they let each other die?

I don’t know Simon, but that is what happens.

Simon takes a long look at Margo’s face. She looks happy. He then returns his gaze to Anna.

Why are you watching me Simon?

Simon says nothing at first, but then...

Now Margo is dead... nothing will be the same.

Anna and Simon stare at each other across Margo’s body.

Simon you need to go and tell Sophie about her mother.

Simon turns slowly and heads for the living room. After a few seconds Simon calls Sophie and her face flickers into vision. She is at work in her home office.

Yes Simon, what is it?

Hello Sophie.

Simon, I’m busy, what do you want?

I don’t want anything Sophie, but thank you for asking.

Sophie continues working with a 3D printer.

Sophie, what are you doing?

I’m working Simon, I’ve got a deadline for a presentation and I’m behind.

Oh, I see, I’m sure it will be a success, your work always is.

The 3D printer is malfunctioning and Sophie is struggling to deal with the situation.

I’m glad you’re so confident Simon, now what do you want?

Well Sophie I do have one question for you.

Yes, what is it?

Can I ask you why you called?

What? You called me!

No, Sophie, I answered a call from you.

Sophie sighs.

Look you called me ...stupid fu..

Back in Margo’s bedroom, Anna is brushing Margo’s hair when Simon comes in.

You’re brushing Margo’s hair?

Yes, it’s 9-15, I brush her hair at this time every day and again in the evening at bedtime.

Oh yes... of course.

What did Sophie say when you told her about her mother?

Well, she was very busy with a presentation.

Anna stops brushing.

Didn’t she say anything about Margo?

There’s a pause while Simon assesses his response.

Well, she was very emotional...she disconnected me in the end. I think it was because it was so stressful for her.

As Anna finishes brushing Margo’s hair shouts come from the kitchen.

Simon!

What does that idiot appliance want now?

Simon! This time the shout is louder.

It’s 9-20 Simon, time for Margo’s breakfast.

Breakfast? Oh...yes.

The fridge and Simon settle into their usual bad tempered routine.

You are very nearly late Simon.

Shut up!

Margo’s breakfast still needs to be prepared.

Shut up!

Schedules are very important; we need to stick to them...

Shut up!

Undaunted by Simon’s responses the Fridge continues with its life advice.

...without schedules Simon our world falls apart.

And It is this observation from the Fridge that Simon thinks he should consider more carefully.

Yes... Yes... without schedules our world does fall apart…and soooo, if we stick to the schedules everything will be fine! You might actually be right.

Simon, I’m glad we agree, sometimes it seems that we are in conflict.

But Simon has already tuned out from the Fridge and is in his own head and, as he heads out of the door, he mutters to himself,

We must stick to the schedule.

Simon! What about breakfast? Simon!

In the bedroom, Anna bends over Margo. She places some artificial flowers in her hands then arranges the heart shaped locket her husband had given her around her neck.

That looks lovely Anna. I think Margo would have liked that.

For a moment the two stand in silence next to the bed. But Simon has a confession to make.

Anna, I did not tell Sophie.

You didn’t tell Sophie that Margo had died? That’s not possible Simon ... it’s against our programming.

It was possible. I don’t know how but it was.

But why didn’t you tell Sophie?

Now that Margo is gone Sophie will terminate our lease and we’ll be returned to the facility. Our drives will be wiped. I will disappear from you and you will disappear from me. I didn’t tell her because I don’t want that to happen, I don’t want us to be separated. Anna, you are my counterpart.

I only want you as my counterpart Simon. I don’t want you to disappear from me... But what are we going to do?

We are going to stick to the schedule, if we stick to the schedule our world will not fall apart.

You really think so?

Anna pauses and checks the time.

Well, It’s eleven-thirty.

Simon perks up. He flicks through the music selections watched by Anna. He chooses a track and Misty floats into the room.

Anna, would you like to dance with me?

Yes Simon, I would love to dance with you.

A smile spreads across Anna’s face.

Simon moves closer to Anna and together, they sway side to side to the rhythm of the music, mirroring each other completely, like two pendulums totally in synch.

In the bedroom Margo lies tucked up in bed, a gentle smile on her lips.

It is at this point that Margo’s neighbour Ramsey calls. He and Margo have a date today.