The Kind Complex (14-18s)
By Isla Cowan
Tell me about your childhood.
Welcome to the Kind Complex – the factory of the future, where only the best and brightest teenagers of the tech generation are selected to work.
When Agnes joins the design team, she enters the manufactured world of human-Kin: artificial intelligence humanoids created for hospitality and service jobs humans don’t want. The Kin go through a rigorous development process, equipped with childhood memories to replicate individuality, and provide a better customer experience.
But Agnes isn’t here to make Kin; instead, she’s here for answers, for change and, if necessary, revolution.
Award-winning playwright Isla Cowan returns to Strange Town to conjure up a new world of sanitised tech and sinister ambitions, glimpsing five minutes into the future to ask what truly makes us human.
Setting(s) |
The ‘Kind’ Complex. The feel of a warehouse or factory. Somehow run-down but also high-tech – think steam-punk, or Star Wars. |
|---|---|
First produced | June 2023; directed by Catherine Ward-Stoddart |
Genre | Drama, Science-Fiction |
Cast Size | 20 |
Recommended for performers aged | 14-18 |
Running Time | 60 minutes |
Recommended for audiences aged | 11+ |
Script Extract:
The Workshop. Bob and Belle are working on Kyle, while Ben, Bish and Bex work on Kai nearby.
Belle is fixing some wiring in Kyle’s brain.Bob is working on Kyle’s hand. It almost looks like they’re surgeons.
Bob manipulates Kyle’s fingers, chuckles to himself.
BOB Hey.
Hey, Belle
Belle continues working.
BOB Belle.
Belle, look at this.
Belle.
Belle continues working. Bob is still laughing.
BOB Belle, belle, look.
Look.
Look at this.
BELLE What?
Bob turns the hand and shows her, he’s put Kyle’s middle finger up.
Bob laughs more.
BELLE Are you serious?
BOB Look, he’s – like he’s – he’s giving you the finger –
Bob bursts out laughing again, like it’s the funniest thing he’s seen.
BELLE Yeah I get it
BOB But you’re not laughing
BELLE Because it’s not funny
BOB But he’s –
BELLE I know
BOB He’s –
BELLE I KNOW
BOB You’re no fun!
BELLE I’m trying to concentrate
BOB Hey, Bish.
Bish.
Bish.
BISH What is it?
BOB Look at this.
Bob turns the hand to show him.
Bish bursts out laughing.
Bob turns to Belle.
BOB See, told you it was funny.
BEX What are you two giggling at?
She spots the hand.
Very mature. Get back to work.
BOB Who made you the boss?
BISH Yeah, who made you boss?
BEX Prof did
BEN What? When?
BEX He said I was in charge while he stepped out
BOB Oh jeez
BEX Hey!
BEN Why did he put you in charge?
BEX Cause I’m the best?
BOB (under his breath) The bossiest
Natalie and Nick enter with Agnes.
NATALIE: And, this, is the Workshop.
NICK You won’t really be spending time here
NATALIE But it’s good to see how it all happens
AGNES: So, this is where they put the robots together?
NICK We don’t use that word here
AGNES Robot?
NATALIE It’s derogatory
AGNES Oh, sorry
NICK But, yes, the Kin are assembled here.
AGNES: How?
NICK Well, it’s a complicated process. It takes lots of time, maths –
NATALIE A bit of magic!
NICK The mechanics oversee both the physical and mental programming –
NATALIE Coding and building
NICK – of the Kin. They’re quite a talented bunch – but it’s all numbers and sequences to them
NATALIE They don’t really get the human side of what we do here
NICK And of course, it’s a lot of trial and error really.
NATALIE These mechanics are currently working on Kyle. Kyle’s been sent back for a psychotic episode.
NICK They often get sent back after a few goes around the talking tests.
NATALIE I think you’ll find we’re very – thorough – here
Prof enters.
NICK Ah, and this is Prof, our head mechanic
PROF: They call me a mechanic, but, really, I’m a scientist
NATALIE: Prof is very particular about words
PROF: Words are important. Words shape our world, our minds. As powerful as a drill or a piece of code.
You call me a mechanic and that creates a certain expectation. You call me a mechanic, and you call me a fixer, a maker –
AGNES: Don’t scientists make things?
PROF: Nothing that wasn’t there before. Scientists solve problems, make meaning out of matter. We simply give structure to what is already there.
Take these Kin. It’s all there already, in the mind, the memory. We simply give them a bodily form.
And, what, may I ask, do you call yourself?
AGNES: Me? Oh, I’m Agnes
PROF: Agnes?
NATALIE: Our new consultant
PROF: Consultant Agnes. Agony Aunt.
AGNES: Agony?
NATALIE: We better be moving on
PROF: Pleasure to meet you, Agnes.
NICK Now the gym is upstairs but that’s for the Kin, not for us, and it’s not really worth the stairs
NATALIE So let’s head straight over to the Calibration Chamber!
Nick and Natalie exit, with Agnes.
BELLE (to Bob) Right, I think I’ve isolated and patched the right neuron.
You ready to reconnect this?
They reconnect Kyle.
They stand back.
Kyle slowly wakes up, he looks around him.
He looks at his hand (the one Bob was working on).
He starts screaming.
BELLE Switch him off!
Bob rushes over to Kyle. There’s a bit of a tussle.
Switch him off!
Bob manages to press a button on the back of Kyle’s neck.
Kyle goes limp again.
If you are interested in this script, please email James at james@strangetown.org.uk
