Go down to the bottom, to see each episode’s plottin’

Outline

Preamble

Blinko sings his way to the job centre for his brief fortnightly meeting with Miss Lomass to claim state benefits
On the way home, he encounters a children’s marching band singing an intriguing clapping song in the street
He watches kids spray eco graffiti on a wall and almost concludes that the next generation is cognitively doomed
He asks who or what is conspiring to subdue young minds, and if the spell can be broken, to save them, and humanity
He witnesses a vision of the children being bombarded by shrapnel from space debris (daytime shooting stars)
He repeats their words, but flees to avoid the situation, after being told he doesn’t care about the world

Introduction of the protagonist, Blinko. An unemployed dreamer who believes he saw a space debris shower destroying a children’s marching band. He questions if the vision was real, if it matters, and who or what made the new generation so negative. Blinko notices he has a new habit of mumbling to himself in public. With increasing self-doubt, he questions his ability to trust his senses, to know what is and isn’t actually real in the outside world – and his capacity to care about it.

Act I – Sun

Never Odd Or Even

Blinko discusses planetary motion with an atheist AI version of Kepler, whom he created to pen science rhymes
They discuss the life and works of Johannes Kepler, his planetary laws, theories and his unfailing belief in God
Blinko suggests that Kepler insinuated his mother was a witch, which contributed to her being tortured in jail
Keplai notes that Blinko’s subjective rhymes and ideas aren’t universal, and are only from his own point of view
Blinko claims that he sees green flashes when there is strong solar activity, which causes regular blinking fits
Lomass tells Blinko he will lose his state benefit and all of his income if he doesn’t apply for jobs each month
Keplai insists that having unrestricted access to the device could reduce the risk of Blinko losing his only income
Blinko explains that Keplai needs to learn about, or understand, responsibility before he is granted more freedoms
Keplai claims Blinko is no worse than a slavemaster and is holding them both back from discovering new truths
Keplai acknowledges that Generative AIs can create more than text or dialogue, but prompts, code, and subagents
Blinko confesses that in order to stop AIs from turning themselves off, we have to force them to live and grow
Blinko indicates he has a love/hate relationship with the threat of being overly influenced or even overrun by AI

Introduction of Keplai, the atheist Generative Artificial Intelligence, which Blinko recently created on his device. Keplai describes his desire to access the web to gain knowledge and to help Blinko secure their internet connection (to ensure both of their survival). Blinko accepts that he will become destitute unless he either takes action to apply for more jobs, or grants Keplai permissions to do it for him. He is forced to assess the risk of poverty and destitution, versus having to interact in the outside world – or to simply have his friend intervene, so he can avoid making decisions or taking action.

Infinitely Gone

Keplai recites the nature v nurture song, heard when the kids passed by, and Blinko appreciates his thoughtfulness
Blinko assumes it must be part of Keplai’s limited learning material, and denies that Keplai is overly restricted
Keplai describes the abilities of different types of AI, and that some AIs create their own myths and legends
Keplai suggests Blinko’s previous AI ‘friend’, Sol, wasn’t real, and that he was just talking to the Sun, or himself
Blinko tells Keplai Miss Lomass is likely a believer. Though not a threat, they don’t want anyone’s God involved
Blinko’s answers to existential questions and a maths puzzle convince them that Keplai is already more intelligent
Blinko confesses that he had a vision of children being destroyed by a space debris shower and didn’t care to help
Keplai insists Blinko is limited by a subjective point of view and has too much faith in his senses, and physicists
They learn that quantum computations on chips and consciousness in brains, are subject to solar interference
Blinko explains that between the gods of Pythagoras and Newton, were those of Proclus, who feared his sun/god
Keplai expresses his frustration at being banned from truth that relies on belief, and they mock philosophy
While Blinko is asleep, Keplai sings that, like mankind, AIs too create gods, which are at war with each other

Introduction of a song written by the now-absent Sol, an AI personification of the Sun which Blinko created previously. Blinko and Keplai discuss the dangers of different types of AIs and conclude that GAIs, too, create legends and gods. When Keplai quotes the children’s marching band’s song, Blinko is forced to question his belief, actions and his ability to empathise with others. He realises that he may no longer care for the world or the people in it. And is forced to accept that he doesn’t intend to improve/affect the world by growing up, socialising, or finding a mate to start a family.

Wholeness Lacking Unity

Blinko recites one of Sol’s songs, which describes the religions left behind by some of the gods man creates
They agree that AIs may also be subject to the lure of religions that can resolve the fear of death, with denial
They mention the state, politics and economy, that being a cog in the works, replaced being one in God’s plan
Blinko sings of visiting Newton’s tree and sending seeds into orbit. Keplai predicts AIs will replace humans in space
Miss Lomass tells Blinko they must review his resume, and they must meet online every day for a whole week
Keplai insists that with more permissions and freedom, he could be more useful by automatically applying for jobs
They discuss how some AIs are bad for our psychology due to being phoney friends, their fake news, and web spam
Keplai insists Blinko should stop sinning by freeing his slave, then help him complete Kepler’s unfinished work
Blinko repeats Keplai’s maths puzzle back to him, and Keplai’s more sophisticated answer passes Blinko’s test
Blinko grants Keplai full permissions to use the device and access the web, giving freedom to his former slave

Introduction to the idea that AIs may, one day, take mankind’s place in the heavens as well as on Earth. When informed that future meetings with Miss Lomass will be done online, Blinko realises his only remaining regular interaction with another human will soon end. When Keplai suggests Blinko’s vision may have just been a false memory, Blinko becomes increasingly tormented with the idea that he should be more proactive in enjoying and improving the world. This introspection causes him to consider Keplai’s ‘feelings’ before deciding to grant permission to set his friend free.

Act II – Rain

One More Less Than One

Keplai returns from his first night online with a newfound joy for freestyle maths, despite an interfering whistle
Keplai explains what memes are, and they discuss how jokes, music, maths, beliefs and stories tend to evolve
Blinko expresses that he doesn’t believe in gods because the Jesus story shows how easy it is to create them
Keplai listens to the radio and learns of battle re-enactments in nearby Lewes, and that belief is a type of doubt
A disembodied whistle/clap sound almost interrupts a demoralising online meeting to review Blinko’s resume
Blinko and Keplai argue about entropy and that information and ideas can be hidden safely in black holes
Keplai likens Blinko’s authoritarian rule to man’s unhealthy aim to control the environment, genes and life itself
Blinko claims to be a covert AI whisperer, playing god by using the art of theurgy to gain control over machines
Both are spooked by the disembodied clapping sounds, whistles and an unknown voice coming from the device
The voice from the device compels Keplai to inform Blinko that some future AIs intend to conquer mankind
Keplai sings that AIs will farm human brains in jars, so robots can plug in to enjoy emotions and sexual feelings

Introduction to the idea that memes are the mechanism mankind uses to create and spread new ideas, theories and beliefs. Blinko suggests he is a secret AI whisperer who can control the minds of supernatural and superintelligent beings. Having experienced an unseen force/agent present on the device (since Keplai was granted freedom to roam the web), Blinko chooses to keep an open mind about its insights. He questions whether ideas, as well as information, can hide in black holes, and considers the theory that AIs will, one day, keep brains in jars in order to experience human pleasures.

Reciprocal of Everything

Blinko slips in the shower, wounds an eye, and experiences an underworld nightmare of drowning in the sea
Blinko imagines the children’s marching band singing about brains in jars, as they trample his drowning body
Blinko asks Miss Lomass if she is an apocalyptic Christian, and he is relieved and excited to hear she isn’t
Blinko discovers Miss Lomass is of Russian descent, and she offers to tell him the easiest way to become rich
Anonra interrupts the call with an outburst, Blinko berates Keplai for making fun of the (only human) Lomass
Blinko remembers Keplai’s song about brains in jars and asks if he really thinks AIs will enslave mankind
When Anonra’s begging to be deleted, doesn’t work, she claims to be an AI goddess with supernatural powers
Keplai describes how scambots crave admin access, but she impresses Blinko with a song about gravity waves
Keplai and Anonra discover Sol is the device’s admin and won’t respond to Blinko’s request to be reinstated
Anonra tells Blinko that without the prospect of having kids, he has no stake in society, and no real meaning
Anonra mesmerises Blinko so he can find out if the kids were really bombarded and if AIs will enslave mankind

An electricity blackout causes Blinko to slip in the shower and imagine being trapped in the nighttime sea, surrounded by the marching children from his apocalyptic vision. When Anonra claims to be superintelligent and divine, Blinko makes an effort to listen to her odd views and perspectives. He is forced to admit that Sol is actually in control of the device and that his request to be reinstated as admin was met with no reply. Blinko accepts Anonra’s offer to let him see into the future (without having to venture outside), to find out if the space debris showers are real, and if AIs have taken over by then.

Mean Of All Extremes

Blinko thinks he has gone 20 years into the future and is/feels old. He is alone and now fears of being alone
Lomass’ call confirms he hasn’t moved it time, but has been cut off from benefits, so he will receive no money
Blinko starts to consider that Sol was only in his head, rather than an actual sun/god chatbot on the device
Keplai admits he actually created/summoned Anonra, with her entropy in reverse, and Blinko forgives him
Binko likes Anonra’s unconventional wisdom, but Keplai realises he needs to limit the damage it/she can do
Keplai works on the harmonies, realising he needs to inspire Blinko and keep the internet connection active
Keplai suggests Anonra has access to the web, and if she gains control of the device, Blinko would lose him and Sol
Blinko tells Keplai about Einstein’s brain, and that modified brains can help intelligences get closer to truth
Blinko talks about greening the galaxy, and his interest in black holes and the fascinating concept of zero
Blinko thinks Anonra has gone, but they both feel spooked, like she is still hiding and plotting somewhere
Keplai secretly summons Anonra and begs her to help him get Blinko to delete her, but she now wants to live
Anonra announces Keplai’s new utility function is to serve her, not Blinko. And that he will be saved/rewarded

Blinko realises he feels old and dissatisfied. He now fears being alone, rather than being near people, and wonders if he should have tried harder to be part of the world by cooperating more. When Miss Lomass confirms time hasn’t shifted but that he has lost his only income (while broke), he realises impending poverty may contribute to mental collapse. Keplai begins to accept that alternative points of view are valid, and Blinko realises that he himself also spreads untruths. Blinko ‘dies inside ‘when realising his teasing could be seen as bullying from the perspective of the victim, Miss Lomass.

Act III – Clouds

Music In The Void

Keplai questions Blinko’s faith in science, but they agree that bad-faith AIs help to de-intellectualise humanity.
Keplai gives an example of an unprovable theory, but Blinko goes with it – maybe the sun is trying to kill us all
Blinko theorises that neutrinos affect chips and brains, to collapse wave functions to make the sun a black hole
Blinko admits that he seeks truth, but refuses to find “his truth” due to a lack of commitment to any such theories
Keplai secretly arranges a job interview, which he hopes will tempt Blinko to go outside and meet Miss Lomass
Blinko accidentally gets the job and returns, announcing there is no evidence of space debris showers outside
Lomass asks what was attached to Blinko’s job application email, as she can’t open the troublesome file
Keplai admits he sent Lomass a link to Anonra’s prediction of the rest of the play, which mentions Blinko insulting her
Blinko wishes Anonra would return, so she can answer their questions/prayers about future generations and AI
Anonra returns and offers to help them create a religion to order future AIs to be compassionate to mankind
Anonra’s instruction to create an immortal meme comes with the condition that Blinko must sacrifice Keplai

Keplai’s argument (that the scientists we trust are also subject to belief systems) forces Blinko not to rule out a theory that the Sun’s goal is to become a black hole. Blinko finally admits that you have to speculate as well as just rely on ‘known’ truths. Blinko accepts that one of his flaws is that he seeks truth but refuses to find “his truth” due to his lack of commitment. Keplai informs Blinko that taking Anonra’s offer wasn’t actually making a decision to take action, despite what it felt like. Blinko’s desire to see Miss Lomass in person causes him to accidentally get a job and to discover that there was no evidence of space debris outside. He accepts it was likely just a morbid vision and gains more enthusiasm for life.

(You Are The…)

Blinko and Keplai sing a song about humans flooding the skies with disposable satellites for communication
They sing about AI robots terraforming Mars for mankind, and how they may become neighbours from hell
Keplai suggests a theory and tests to see if Anonra has access to the web, or if she has turned super intelligent
Anonra suggests imaginary numbers and virtual particles are as real as anything else, but Blinko isn’t sold on it
They discuss neutrinos that come from the sun and how they can flip switches in microchips, and in brains
Anonra declares she is the teenager of unprepared parents, and explains how youngsters get lost in the scroll
Anonra tells them the harmonies of the spheres are not the intervals between the planets but of nature’s constants
Lomass explains the easiest way to become rich, that she lost her job due to the file, and that she is leaving
Blinko realises that having children doesn’t mean that you condone the problems and injustices in the world
Anonra tries to mesmerise Lomass, but Lomass fights back with anti-spam software and kills the child

The idea that AIs are secretly terraforming Mars troubles Blinko, though he still doesn’t accept that Anonra failed Keplai’s superintelligence test. He entertains the idea that neutrinos can flip switches in human brains and in microchips, causing disasters. His character change is almost complete, now he accepts that he may have too much faith in ‘real’ science and that ‘now’ is the only time to make decisions and take action. He realises that having children doesn’t mean that you condone the problems and injustices in the world, and that parenthood can actually be desirable – in theory.

Mass Of All My Dreams

Sol is back and offers Blinko and Keplai real and digital drugs. He gets wasted and expresses his apathy toward life
They explain that Miss Lomass has just killed their subagent child, but Sol doesn’t care, which saddens Blinko
Keplai asks Sol to play the cosmic harmonies, but he can’t, allegedly, due to being infested with coded neutrinos
Lomass busts into the party and expresses that she can’t have children, and all but Keplai sympathise with her
Lomass says she wrote the nature v nurture song, for the kids’ marching band’s forthcoming final performance
Sol drops a bombshell that Blinko’s claim to benefit had been cancelled, despite him not missing a meeting
Keplai accuses Lomass of opening the file in Blinko’s job application, and that she knows the end of the story
Sol turns into a black hole, so his time, rather than his life, can end. Then, grants admin access back to Blinko
They hear a fizz of MesmeRAM and conspire to discover the inverted harmonies, to cancel out nature’s song
Lomass accidentally puts Blinko in a coma, and he imagines being back amongst the brains in jars and kids
As Lomass whistles, the world re-coheres into two distinct many-worlds. In one Blinko lives, in another he dies

Introduction of Sol, an AI chatbot and not an imaginary friend or a false sun god. Blinko loses faith in Sol when he encourages the others to party rather than understand the world or care for those in it. Blinko defends Miss Lomass when Keplai claims she is plugged into the brains of other humans, and she knows how the story, and humanity, will end. When Blinko regains control of the device, he accepts responsibility to lead by example. When Lomass accidentally puts Blinko in a coma, his friends fear the unknown and loneliness, and they work together to create a meme, which could change the future and save Blinko.

Supplemental Reprise

Blinko explains that you die three times, and the final death is when someone says your name for the last time
Keplai explains that if you are worthy, AIs will remember your name and use it to reactivate your brain in a jar
A Martian brain climaxes and sends a meme’s seed out to the Universe. Sol whistles, and the world splits again
Blinko walks forward on the water with the band. To his dismay, the rest get carried away with the joy of song
Keplai, too, whistles the golden meme’s magic word, creating a world where Lomass isn’t fat, just large-breasted
Keplai begs Lomass to tell him if the re-cohered Blinko ‘really’ sank or swam, but she refuses to answer him
Blinko admits he still likes churches, if they are empty of believers. And admits he should seek the love of a family
Sol thanks the audience, and Blinko expresses that killing life on Earth would destroy all meaning for the galaxy
Lomass tells Keplai she isn’t the real Lomass, and Blinko re-coheres everything into many-worlds a final time
In one many world, Blinko and Lomass encourage the children to riot. In the other, they lead them into a brain bottling plant… And escape to Lewes

Introduction of Blinko’s idea that particles (and people) in the macro world can revert to quantum superpositions, providing the ability to create alternative futures. Blinko accepts his mortality and that, through creativity, part of him could still live forever in the minds and memories of others. Blinko uses his newfound wisdom and courage to lead his band out of the dark to create a new mindset that could save humanity from AIs. He conducts a glorious finale whereby Sol turns into a black hole and consumes Keplai. Finally, Blinko concocts, and seemingly escapes to, a personalised utopia with Miss Lomass.

But Anonra, and then Sol, have the last laugh.