ANGELIQUE	Also known as the Gate Keeper. She is Dean Nyris’ assistant and one of the first Resurrected Humans. She has been alive for centuries though she looks in her early thirties. Everything about her is too polished and not quite human.
DR. TRACE	An elderly woman and retired Evolutionary Biology professor. She is a member of the Humana Society, determined to discover the origin of life.

SETTING

Reception room outside Dean Nyris’ office.

  TIME

The distant future.

LIGHTS UP

(Reception room outside Dean Nyris’ office. The waiting area is spotless and contemporary to a fault, not futuristic. Angelique sits at a desk, fixing her hair. Dr. Trace stands before her.)

ANGELIQUE

It simply cannot be done.

DR. TRACE

I’m not asking permission.

ANGELIQUE

And I’m not granting it.

DR. TRACE

I have an appointment with Dean Nyris.

ANGELIQUE

(playing with her hair)

I do understand, but the Dean is in a meeting.

DR. TRACE

Of course.  Of course.

(staring at Angelique)

You were never one of my students were you? 

(Angelique laughs.)

  

ANGELIQUE

Are you attempting to flatter me or flatter yourself? I’m much too old for that.

dr. trace

And far too impudent. You would never have survived my courses. “You can’t ace with Dr. Trace,” they used to say. You know, I’m hoping to teach again. Jump back into it all. And when my research meets approval—

ANGELIQUE

Your research won’t meet approval.

DR. TRACE

And who’s going to stop me?

(Dr. Trace steps around Angelique’s desk and is about to knock on Dean Nyris’ door. Angelique stands to stop her. Angelique moves like syrup: slow, liquid and fascinating. She takes Dr. Trace’s arm and moves her to the other side of the desk. Angelique sits back down.)

ANGELIQUE

We just remodeled our office. Early twenty-first century style.

DR. TRACE

Lovely. I’m sure the Dean’s office is even–

ANGELIQUE

Our crowning jewel is our exit. Might I show it to you?

DR. TRACE

I’m not asking too much, am I? Think of all the students who’ll be clamoring at the gate for admission when I’m on the faculty board. I’m only asking to speak with the dean. You can grant me such a small favor, am I right? You were never my student; you can’t harbor a grudge.

ANGELIQUE

Doctor Trace, we are the Resurrectionist University. We do not create fantasies. Have you checked with our Partner School?

DR. TRACE

What I saw wasn’t some fantasy and I won’t bring my research to the Grotesque College for their sew-on bodies.

ANGELIQUE

You saw this creature in your dream, if I understand correctly?

DR. TRACE

In my vision.

ANGELIQUE

(standing)

We will not fund your cult.

DR. TRACE

Excuse me?

ANGELIQUE

Wendy Beyo and Darwin Hong.

DR. TRACE

They were part of my research team.

ANGELIQUE

Their bodies were never recovered. I believe the scientific term for their contribution is experiment?

DR. TRACE

And you’re familiar with experiments. What year were you resurrected again? It was early enough that there were some complications.

ANGELIQUE

Or blessings.

DR. TRACE

There are so many legends about you, that you weren’t always the Gate Keeper—

ANGELIQUE

If you think I’m threatened by my past you’re mistaken. But we will not fund your research.

DR. TRACE

Surely, discovering the origins of life is worth something to you?

ANGELIQUE

This creature you propose exists, do you have a body to study?

DR. TRACE

No. But—

ANGELIQUE

Of course you don’t. A creature as tiny and helpless as you describe could not possibly exist now or ever. We cannot resurrect what was never alive.

DR. TRACE

But if my theory is correct, then if we cannot find a live specimen we can create one. That’s what Wendy and Darwin were for. Listen to me; I can describe the creature to you. It’s slimy red with a large skull—

(Angelique raises a hand and Dr. Trace goes silent.)

ANGELIQUE

Listen to yourself. A Human Baby? As if we ever looked like that. And, as I said before, we cannot resurrect what was never alive.

FADE OUT