Swallowed by DARKNESS.
The DARKNESS CRACKLES with phosphorescent energy, the word "searching" blazing in around us as we EMERGE FROM a computer screen.
The screen flickers with windowing data as a search engine runs with a steady relentless rhythm.
We DRIFT BACK FROM the screen and INTO --
INT. NEO'S APARTMENT
It is a studio apartment that seems overgrown with technology.
Weed-like cables coil everywhere, duct-taped into thickets that wind up and around the legs of several desks. Tabletops are filled with cannibalized equipment that lay open like an autopsied corpse.
At the center of this technological rat-nest is NEO, a man who knows more about living inside a computer than outside one.
He is asleep in front of his PC. Behind him, the computer screen suddenly goes blank. A prompt appears: "Wake up, Neo."
Neo's eye pries open. He sits up, one eye still closed, looking around, unsure of where he is. He notices the screen.
He types "CTRL X" but the letter "T" appears.
NEO
What...?
He hits another and an "H" appears. He keeps typing, pushing random functions and keys while the computer types out a message as though it had a mind of its own.
He stops and stares at the four words on the screen: "The Matrix has you."
NEO
What the hell?
He hits the "ESC" button. Another message appears: "Follow the white rabbit."
He hits it again and the message repeats. He rubs his eyes but when he opens them, there is another message: "Knock, knock, Neo."
Someone KNOCKS on his door and he almost jumps out of his chair. He looks back at the computer, but the screen is now blank.
Someone KNOCKS again. Neo rises, still unnerved.
NEO
Who is it?
CHOI (O.S)
It's Choi.
Neo flips a series of locks and opens the door, leaving the chain on. A young Chinese MAN stands there with several of his friends.
NEO
You're two hours late.
CHOI (MAN)
I know. It's her fault.
NEO
You got the money?
CHOI
Two grand.
He takes out an envelope and gives it to Neo through the cracked door.
NEO
Hold on.
He closes the door. On the floor near his bed is a book, Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulations. The book has been hollowed out and inside are several computer disks. He takes one, sticks the money in the book and drops it on the floor.
Opening the door, he hands the disk to Choi.
CHOI
Hallelujah! You are my Savior, man! My own personal Jesus Christ!
NEO
If you get caught using that --
CHOI
I know, I know. This never happened. You don't exist.
NEO
Right...
Neo nods as the strange feeling of unrealness suddenly returns.
CHOI
Something wrong, man? You look a little whiter than usual.
NEO
I don't know... My computer...
He looks back at Choi, unable to explain what just happened.
NEO
You ever have the feeling that you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming?
CHOI
All the time. It's called mescaline and it is the only way to fly.
He smiles and slaps the hand of his nearest droog.
CHOI
It sounds to me like you need to unplug, man. A little R&R. What do you think, Dujour, should we take him with us?
DUJOUR
Definitely.
NEO
I can't. I have to work tomorrow.
DUJOUR
Come on. It'll be fun. I promise.
He looks up at her and suddenly notices on her black leather motorcycle jacket dozens of pins: bands, symbols, slogans, military medals and --
A small white rabbit. The ROOM TILTS.
NEO
Yeah, yeah. Sure, I'll go.