Recording the Future

Recording the Future

Idea: Set in the future, a scientist is trying to stop the decline of the amount of oil left. He is using voice recordings to preserve his tests. At first he is hopeful, but eventually, he does not succeed. He witnesses when all the oil is gone, and the ensuing panic, chaos and destruction that surrounds him.

Monologue:

(A man steps out. He is holding a voice recorder.)

Evan: (into voice recorder)

Log. 423. It is 2:45 am. Experiment 26 is over. Tests show rapid decline in amount and density. Forecasted outcomes look bleak. Product #659 has failed.

Log. 212. Hello. My name is Dr. Evan Talley. I am a scientist here in Cleveland. I have sent in this recording hoping to provide my evidence, and hopefully gain support in my theories. I thank you in advance, for listening to what I have to say.

Log. 215. Starting in the year 2037, we saw a tremendous drop in the amounts of oil. Some thought that all hope was lost, and we needed to find other resources before it’s to late. Others thought we could still survive with oil. By some luck, we were able to struggle through with oil. In today’s market, gas costs over $5 a gallon at almost every station. We are still feeling the effects of what’s happened. For the last few years, I’ve been studying availability and consummation rates. For this, I’ve stumbled upon catastrophic news. All oil will be gone within the next four years. It is my hope to develop a substitute for oil that has the same chemical makeup, to be able to manufacture oil, while we take steps to transition down toward other powers, such as hydroelectricity, or solar power.

Log. 386. 3:25 pm. My experiments have begun. By trying to make a watered down compound, hopefully I can make something new that support us.

Log. 451. All hope is lost. We have used up all of our oil. My tests have not succeeded. Looking outside, the fire has spread. People are going mad in the streets. Cars have stopped running. Gas stations have not only been robbed but destroyed. Chaos is engulfing everyone. With winter around the corner, people are panicking. Blackouts are imminent. Soon, I will not be able to carry on with my work. I fear all hope is lost.

Log. 483. I have moved to an underground bunker. My lab has been raided. Most of my work destroyed. I have insufficient power, backed by a generator, which must be manually charged. I will try to carry on.

Log. 500. This is my final log. All tests have proved insufficient. I cannot develop anything. I can only hope someone has succeeded somewhere else. Oil is no more. We must evolve our standards. Or at least de-evolve, back to before there were manufactured machines running on coal, oil, and other natural resources. Maybe by starting over from the bottom, we will find a new way to thrive. I don’t think it will ever be the same.