The Unknown: The Red Line.
 

Voiceover: WE INTERRUPT THIS BROADCAST FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE UNKNOWN ABOUT THE HUMAN GENOME PROJECT

Before a crackling fireplace, with William and Dirk standing admiringly at his shoulders, Scott is cradling a month-old child. “Coo coo,” attempts Scott, and then coughs violently, hacking phlegm to one side. William smiles and gives the baby an excited little wave. Dirk, smoking a cigar, leans over to admire the tiny writhing infant, and gingerly brushes his cigar ash from its forehead.

“Kids.” Says Scott, “We like kids. And that’s why the Unknown backs the Human Genome Project. We want the children of the future to have all the benefits we never had: the benefits of genetic engineering.”

The baby begins to cry.

“Because,” tight closeup of Dirk, removing his cigar from his mouth, explaining, “DNA is just an alphabet. And we’re... And we’re...”

“Writers,” the camera operator whispers.

Writers,” finishes Dirk. “And we want to write kids. Powerful kids, who are able to write hypertext novels at age three.”

The baby’s squalling becomes hysterical, as it waves its arms.

“Yeah?”, says William, “kids who are tough enough to drink and smoke by, say, age seven.”

“Cut!”

Voiceover: THIS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE HUMAN GENOME PROJECT AND JAMESON’s WHISKEY.

WE ARE EXPERIENCING NARRATOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES, PLEASE STAND BY...

(music)

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