Location:
AI Company Denmark. Ltd.  The lab of Denmark Ltd Data Centre  
 
Setting: 
Heaven 2050: an Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab which interacts patients with VR counselling therapy. The lab also houses a virtual landscape which enables people to upload their consciousness before they die. A technical glitch has occurred in Scene One of the play and sees the consciousness of Hamlet Sr has escaped the virtual world. 
 
Characters:
Ghost: an encrypted AI of Hamlet Sr who uploaded his consciousness to Heaven 2050 
Hamlet Senior (Snr): the former CEO of  Denmark Limited  
Hamlet: a patient who just lost his father Hamlet Sr.
Dr Horatio: a doctor whose expertise is VR counselling and is also Hamlet’s friend from his time at Wittenberg University.
Marcellus: security guard in the company
Claudius: the current CEO of Denmark Limited
 
Act One Scene Four
 
A dark, spacious room with no windows. Multiple large screens are visible on the walls as they rapidly process AI data. A screen in the centre of the wall shows an illuminated three-dimensional projection of the human brain in blue light. The image of the brain is moving and small flashes of blue light illuminate the screen. There is one seat in the centre of the room, below the central screen.
 
WIDE SHOT: Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus enter through an electric door at the rear of the room. Horatio enters first and scans his hand on a virtual lock to seal the door behind them. Marcellus follows closely behind Horatio. Hamlet enters the room last with a bleak expression. He looks to the projection of the brain and thus appearing more alert, he takes his seat.
  
 
Hamlet
The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.
 
Horatio
It is nipping, and an eager air.
 
Hamlet
What hour now?
 
Horatio
I think it lacks of twelve. 
 
CUT TO: Digital clock above the central screen, showing 12:00 Heaven time.
 
Marcellus
5 No, it is struck.
 
TIGHT ON: The contemplative face of Horatio.
 
Horatio
Indeed, I heard it not. It then draws near the season
Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.
 
WIDE SHOT: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony can suddenly be heard playing at a deafening volume. Horatio and Marcellus are taken aback in shock, with Marcellus stumbling slightly in a fright. Hamlet, however, remains in his seat holding a noticeably vacant expression, seemingly accustomed to the volume of the music. 
  
Horatio
What does this mean, my lord?
 
TIGHT ON: Hamlet’s face, now wearing a look of smugness. 
 
Hamlet
The King doth wake tonight and takes his rouse,
10 Keeps wassail, and the swagg'ring upspring reels;
 
CUT TO: Claudius seated in a corporate office. The room is dark and dimly lit by a screen which is projected behind him. The screen shows the bitcoin market with a continually moving graph. He is draining a magnum of Rhine wine into a glass which is already full. A virtual tablet is visible beside him depicting the front page of a business plan for the deforestation and redevelopment of Silkeborgskovene forest. 
 
TIGHT ON: The face of Hamlet. He is looking to a screen to the left of him which now shows a projection of Claudius in his office. The music is now fainter. 
 
Hamlet
And he drains his drafts of Rhenish down.
 
TIGHT ON: Horatio taking notes on a virtual tablet while observing Hamlet who is now more engaged in this discussion since his anger at Claudius’ corruption has been roused.
 
Horatio
Is it a custom?
 
WIDE SHOT: Hamlet rises from his seat. He is stood still but raises a finger sarcastically as he speaks his line.
 
Hamlet
Ay, marry, it is.
 
 
TIGHT ON: Hamlet’s face. Following a pause, he now adopts a scorning expression and begins to pace around the room.
 
This heavy-headed revel east and west
15 Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations.
 
WIDE SHOT: Hamlet is pacing as he speaks. He moves close to the projection of Claudius, looking on in disgust.
 
They call us drunkards, and indeed it takes 
From our achievements, though performed at height.
Often, it chances in particular men,
That, for some vicious mole of nature in them,
20 As in their birth, wherein they are not guilty,
 
TIGHT ON: Hamlet now moves to look at himself in a virtual mirror. His expression abruptly changes from one of scorn to a deep and pensive contemplation.
 
(Since nature cannot choose his origin).
His virtues else, 
 
TIGHT ON: Claudius’ face, he is laughing as he gulps down his wine.
 
be they as pure as grace,
 
WIDE SHOT: Hamlet is pacing the room now at an increased speed, he has moved away from the virtual mirror. Horatio and Marcellus watch with concern.
 
As infinite as man may undergo,
 
TIGHT ON: Hamlet’s scorning face. His eyes are glazed in an impassioned fury. He is now whispering.
 
25 Shall in the general censure take corruption
From that particular fault. 
 
CUT TO: A blurred digital projection of the consciousness of Hamlet Sr. An invasive buzzing sound can be heard in the background. The sound of Hamlet Sr’s breathing can also be heard. His breath has a recognisably digitised sound so not to sound entirely human, but should still have a quasi-human quality.
 
Horatio
Look, my lord, it comes!
 
TIGHT ON: Hamlet’s eyes which show a look of terror.
 
WIDE SHOT: Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus are all now facing the blurred projection of Hamlet Sr. 
 
Hamlet
Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned,
30 Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell,
Be thy intents wicked or charitable,
 
TIGHT ON: The projection appears to buffer and realign and the face of digitised Hamlet Sr is revealed.
 
TIGHT ON: Hamlet’s face turns from an expression of fear into a grimace. 
 
Thou com'st in such a questionable shape
 
TIGHT ON: Hamlet is now smiling, with visible tears in his eyes.
 
That I will speak to thee. I'll call thee Hamlet,
King, father, royal Dane. 
 
WIDE SHOT: Hamlet has changed now from a smiling expression to one of desperation. He grabs the control pad from Horatio’s pocket. He is violently pointing the controller to the digital projection and is now trembling.
 
35 Oh,Oh, answer me!
What may this mean,
That thou, dead corpse, again in complete steel
Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon, 
Making night hideous and we - 
 
TIGHT ON: Hamlet is crying now and his voice is reduced to a whisper. Horatio is quickly typing in his virtual notepad as he observes Hamlet’s erratic actions.
 
fools of nature,
So horridly to shake our disposition 
With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?
 
 
WIDE SHOT: Hamlet drops the control pad. He drops to his knees, terror stricken. He is now pleading and shouting.
 
Say! Why is this? Wherefore? What should we do?
 
CLOSE ON: Hamlet senior beckons his son to go with him, staring into the screen.
 
CUT TO: Horatio, standing above the still seated Hamlet, adopts a reasoned tone.
 
 
Horatio
It beckons you to go away with it,
45 As if it some impartment did desire
To you alone.
 
Marcellus
It waves you to a more removed ground.
 
CLOSE ON: Marcellus who is turned to Horatio with a look of concern.
 
But, do not go with it -  
 
WIDE SHOT: Horatio with a stiff upward posture glances to Marcellus and then back to the kneeling Hamlet.
 
Horatio
No! By no means. 
 
TIGHT ON: Hamlet looking to the ground now with a vacant expression.
 
 
Hamlet
50 It will not speak? 
 
WIDE SHOT: Hamlet rises from his kneeling position now and retrieves the control from the ground. He looks to the projection of his father’s conscience and pauses momentarily.
 
Then I will follow it.
 
 
Horatio
(raising his voice)
Do NOT – 
 
TIGHT ON: Horatio places his hand on Hamlet’s shoulder. He reduces his volume.
 
My lord.
 
CLOSE ON: Hamlet looks to Horatio and smirks.
 
Hamlet
Why, what should be the fear? 
55 I do not set my life at a pin’s fee,
And for my soul, what can it do to that,
Being a thing immortal as itself?
 
CUT TO: The projection of Hamlet Sr. glitches. 
 
WIDE SHOT: Hamlet, Marcellus and Horatio all look to the screen. The projection refocuses and the digitised breathing of Hamlet Sr grows louder. He beckons Hamlet with his hand to follow him.
 
 I’ll follow it.
 
EXTREME CLOSE UP: Hamlet now reaches for a small device which will upload his own consciousness onto the Heaven database. Horatio places his hand on his shoulder again in an attempt to stop him.
 
Horatio
What if it tempt you toward the flood,
60 And there, assume some other horrible form
Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason,
 
TIGHT ON: Horatio steps in front of Hamlet and is now looking directly into his eyes.
 
And draw you into madness? My lord, think of it -  
 
EXTREME CLOSE UP: Hamlet is stooping now and he has a tired look of defeat. He is still grasping the device which will upload his consciousness.
 
WIDE SHOT: The projection of Hamlet Sr. once more beckons Hamlet with an insistent look.
 
Hamlet
It waves me still.
 
EXTREME CLOSE UP: Hamlet looks to the projection now and his expression transforms from vacancy to a smile of familiarity. He steps closer to the screen and brings the device closer to his head.
 
I’ll follow thee.
 
WIDE SHOT: Marcellus and Horatio move in quickly in an attempt to restrain Hamlet. There is a struggle over the device. They both speak with a stern tone. Hamlet is growing increasingly distressed and hysterical.
 
Marcellus
65 You shall not go, my lord.
 
                         Hamlet
                         Hold off your hands!
 
Horatio
Be ruled. You shall not go.
 
CLOSE ON: Hamlet drops to his knees in front of the projection. He is crying now and clearly in a state of confusion.
 
Hamlet
                         My fate cries out!
And makes each petty artery in this body
70 As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve.
 
 WIDE SHOT: Horatio and Marcellus look on in concern. Marcellus keeps his eyes fixed on the device whilst Horatio observes Hamlet. The digitised breathing of Hamlet Sr increases in volume and his face moves closer into view. He lifts his hand, beckoning his son to follow him into the digital landscape. 
 
Still, am I called? 
 
CLOSE ON: Hamlet rises now, his eyes fixed on the screen. Marcellus attempts to restrain Hamlet and Horatio reaches for the device. Both attempts fail and Hamlet is now struggling to control his anger, violently breaking away from Marcellus.
 
Unhand me, gentlemen!
By heav'n, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me.
I say, away!
 
EXTREME CLOSE UP: Hamlet secures the device onto his temple. 
 
75 I'll follow thee.
 
WIDE SHOT: Hamlet’s physical body is slumped on the ground in a coma state. The central screen now shows Hamlet’s consciousness uploading to the virtual landscape. Multiple lines of light shoot across the screen to create a complex digital map of Hamlet’s brain. The projection of Hamlet Sr glitches and then disappears. The room is left significantly darker.
 
CLOSE ON: Horatio remains concerned but unsurprised at Hamlet’s choice to enter the virtual landscape. He maintains an upward posture, glances at the notes he has taken and looks to Marcellus. 
 
Horatio
He waxes desperate with imagination.
 
Marcellus
Let's follow. 'Tis not fit thus to obey him.
 
WIDE SHOT: Horatio retrieves the control panel from the floor. He points it to the screen and selects the track consciousness option. 
 
Horatio
Have after. To what issue will this come?         
 
Marcellus
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.   
 
EXTREME CLOSE UP: Horatio and Marcellus each secure a device onto their temples which will allow them to temporarily enter the landscape only as medical observers. Still standing, they look to the central screen which now shows their consciences uploading separately into the digital landscape. Horatio is calm and looks to Marcellus reassuringly.
 
Horatio
80 Heaven will direct it.
 
CUT TO: The digital clock shown at the start of the scene which now shows 12:01 in Heaven time. A labyrinthian map constructed of blue lights flashes into view. There is a distortion and the screen glitches as the setting moves to the virtual landscape for Hamlet’s verbal encounter with his father’s consciousness.