The Dream State

Creator: Ryu Miyaki
Age rating: 17 and older
A one time Hero of the Nation seeks to escape a totalitarian world where dream machines are used to control and pacify the populace.
Project collaboration: Closed
Full synopsis
Synopsis: THE PITCH: "Nineteen Eighty-Four Meets Grand Illusion."

John Curtis lives in a rigid, ordered world. He works hard and is loyal to country and The Great Leader. His days brighten considerably when he goes to The Morpheus Theater. There, citizens put on dream machines and all the privations of life are forgotten. John dreams of a beautiful woman.

An unknown person spreads -- via leaflets thrown in the sky at night and graffiti -- anti-government messages. The police pursue David Manning, John's friend -- David escapes to John's apartment. When questioned by chief of police Xavier Kleege, John, the loyal citizen, tells him where David is. David is declared guilty of sedition and is executed. John goes to The Morpheus Theater and escapes in dreams.

John becomes a Hero of the Nation. He is given the latest in state technology, an M-3000 -- a portable dream machine. John comes across Lila Percy -- a dead ringer for his dream woman. He tries to talk to her, but she brushes him off.

John finds -- hidden in his apartment -- David's writings. The writings claim The Great Leader is dead and that wars are fabricated. They asks, why are people not allowed to find out things for themselves? Why is travel outside the country prohibited? Amidst the writings is an escape map.

Lila, trapped in a bad marriage, has a change of heart. She and John begin a relationship -- they meet sporadically, however, and the fear of being exposed never leaves them. John tries to convince Lila to escape with him... she is unsure.

Xavier catches them together. He senses that John is guilty of more than the adulterous affair. John, tortured, confesses to being in possession of David's writing. John is sentenced to one year of hard labor, Lila's given six months. When they get out, they seem to have forgotten each other.

John returns to being a dutiful, hard working citizen finding fulfillment in the dream machines. A wild flower growing in the cracks of a sidewalk and a remembrance of a place he visited with Lila, bring her back to him. He rejects the dream machines and commits himself to leaving the country.

He relays a message to Lila... on the night of The Great Leader's birthday celebration, John and Lila attempt an escape. Xavier pursues. John and Lila make it to the neighboring country... leaving the dream machines and everything they know about being governed behind them.

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