Spring 2008, Volume 4

Fiction by Chad Bolling


Brave New World Movie
an adaptation of the novel

This scene is an excerpt from a feature film adaptation of the novel Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley. The story takes place in the future, a future where it is illegal to fall in love and babies are grown synthetically. The totalitarian society is controlled by a fictional drug called soma, which causes psychedelic experiences. In this scene, two of the main characters are discussing the outsider, John the savage, whose values are still of the old world. John the savage is a Native American whose ideals and values are old-fashioned. John believes in marriage and true love unlike the rest of this futuristic society.

87 GIRLS CHANGING ROOM - NIGHT 87

FANNY
(An hour later, in the Changing Room, Fanny was energetically protesting.) But it’s absurd to let yourself get into a state like this. Simply absurd (she repeated). And what about? A man-one man.

LENINA
But he’s the one I want.

FANNY
As though there weren’t millions of other men in the world.

LENINA
But I don’t want them.

FANNY
How can you know till you’ve tried?

LENINA
I have tried.

FANNY
But how many? (asked Fanny, shrugging her shoulders contemptuously). One, two?

LENINA
Dozens. But (shaking her head) it wasn’t any good (she added).

FANNY
Well, you must persevere (said Fanny sententiously. But it was obvious that her confidence in her own prescriptions had been shaken). Nothing can be achieved without perseverance.

LENINA
But meanwhile ...

FANNY
Don’t think of him.

LENINA
I can’t help it.

FANNY
Take soma, then.

LENINA
I do.

FANNY
Well, go on.

LENINA
But in the intervals I still like him. I shall always like him.

FANNY
Well, if that’s the case (said Fanny, with decision) why don’t you just go and take him. Whether he wants it or no.

LENINA
But if you knew how terribly queer he was!

FANNY
All the more reason for taking a firm line.

LENINA
It’s all very well to say that.

FANNY
Don’t stand any nonsense. Act. (Fanny’s voice was a trumpet; she might have been a Y.W.F.A. lecturer giving an evening talk to adolescent Beta-Minuses.) Yes, act-at once. Do it now.

LENINA
I’d be scared (said Lenina).

FANNY
Well, you’ve only got to take half a gramme of soma first. And now I’m going to have my bath. (She marched off in her robe)


BIO:  Chad Bolling has a culinary degree and is a student at Woodbury University in Burbank, where he studies animation and screenwriting.