Boats Boats Boats Squeeze through the cracks Avoid the paths or the tracks Slip past the guards at the back Don’t let them fasten the straps Leave while they sharpen the axe. There's always a chance that the map Has been partially tampered we’re smarter than that! Move in the dark with the rats. Make sure the mask is attached Don’t breathe in the gas! Beware of arson attacks! Beware of traps! Beware of dastardly acts! Beware of partners in crime who are likely to narc if they’re snatched. So squeeze through the cracks Stay small, play ball - fast to react There’s prices on heads and there’s targets on backs - But always a way through. Always a patch. There’s always a catch. So count all the cards in the pack Count all the sharks in the tank It’s part of the plan Their sergeants are Masters of Arts that are darker than black cats, commandos on crack. Don’t want to restart you heart in the back of a car using spark plugs and parts marked for scrap. They’re baring their teeth and they’re arching their backs But it’s the one who laughs last who pulls rank. Fact! They’re baring their teeth and they’re arching their backs But it’s the one who laughs last who pulls rank. We’re the rising damp We’re the drip, drip, drip that splits rocks over time We’re the field mouse scratching at the back door, the tremor of the sub bass, the common cold, the radio waves. We’re that old droopy dog. Relentless. Impassive. We’re the scent of wild garlic that’s carried on the summer breeze If you were giving me (If you were giving me) Any ability? (Any ability) Invisibility! (Invisibility) Hyper agility! (Hyper agility) If you were bringing me In the facility - Injecting into me sting of a Killer Bee, Wing of a Kingfisher, Skin of a miniature thing from the Philippines Crinkling my chemistry And it was giving me (And it was giving me?) Any ability: (Any ability?) Increase in empathy? Extreme fertility? Immune to injury? They do not interest me. Invisibility? Invisibility! Hyper agility? Hyper agility! Then you would never see Me as I lift the key, In surreptitiously Enter into your dreams Sent to your centre Unsensed like a centipede Achieving synergy. Weaved into memory. listen to me Like you listen to Jiminy. Sit in the seat Where you planned my indignity So if you were giving me (If you were giving me) Any ability (Any ability) Invisibility (Invisibility) Hyper agility (Hyper agility) Cos sooner or later We’re going get through your containment Or at least we’ll get through to your neighbour Then we’ll move into your chamber It’s nothing new I would wager It’s just human behaviour Take it all like a Cuban dictator So do me a favour And move out the way cos There’s always a taste for The new different flavour So what will you do with that data? Small boats flashing blue on your radar. Never saw it coming Never broke a sweat And never bothered running. And that’s something. Why bust a gut if it’s such easy hunting. String up the bunting, multicoloured, rub in the sun in. Caught them unawares Couldn’t be easier like falling down the stairs Apples and bananas and oranges and pears. Squares- you’ll never see me buying all your shares. Yeah. It’s the ascent of the little man. Don’t blame me if you get yourself wickermanned In a shallow grave just east of Tajikistan Dodging death, destruction, doubt, despair Delivering deeply disturbing deposits of hair Echoes (echoes) - Edgar in the edit – the erudite epic - are we Ever gonna get it (Samuel Beckett) Foot fall - fiendish fleeting fashions splashed on the streets Flashing the fastest wings are fastened to Mercury’s feet Imminent images of eerie imperial imps Imposters are we living the illest of swindles within? Amorous appetites of glamorous arrogant parasite so-and-sos Angels and Asses wanna fight for the archives of the archipelagos Numerous natives; the narrative’s nucleus new to us Never say never when what you’re wearing is very illuminous Two minutes til telekinetic attack – Go! All that is left is a Tangle of tatters, a box of tobacco Way to the west – there’s a way to the west Boats

Danny (Activist): D Gerard (Lift Attendant): G Steven Bavington-Smythe (Politician): S D: You promised S: No comment D: Ooh, so honest? S: Close the door. G: I’m on it. D: You promised S: No comment. No comment D: You politicians are all so robotic. You never listen… S: Press the button G: I got it. D: Such nepotism! S: You deaf or something? D: Most wanted! S: Most want a better future D: Tell me who profits? D: You promised S: No comment D: Ooh, so honest? S: Close the door. G: I’m on it. D: You promised S: No comment. No comment If you’ve got a vision, let them vote on it G: Move your hand or the lift will close on it. S: We can’t hold the lift. D: You can’t hold office You’d sell your soul just to line your own pockets. D: You promised S: No comment D: Ooh, so honest? S: Close the door. G: I’m on it. D: Dude, you promised S: No comment. No comment S: You play the role but you’re just a false prophet. D: You're another drone with a God complex G: We’re going down S: Not with me in the cockpit G: No, the lift is going down and now you’re both on it.

Danny (Activist): D Gerard (Lift Attendant): G Steven Bavington-Smythe (Politician): S S: You again? D: Yes, it’s me again. S: Well, as they say, it’s always nice to see a friend. D: How’s the family? S: Fine and dandy? How’s the bedsit? D: How’s life in Nether Whitacre post Brexit? (very good) S: How’s the cesspit of your anarchist collective? D: How’s the market, Steve? (fine) How’s your tech investments? S: Tech investments? There were no conflicts of interests – I’ve addressed this. D: At the party conference? (Yeah) I wasn’t on the guestlist. S: Well, that's because, Danny, you’d have got yourself arrested. Are we moving?!? Hit the button! G: Yeah, I’ve pressed it S: Parking level please! D: The press can’t be happy They’re running down the stairs now with all the paparazzi S: I don’t have time to be media savvy – D: True, but you’ve snapped selfies with Tony Hadley It’s just so sad to see you phonies get lambasted S: Very clever – now we’re both being sarcastic D: You used to have a spine (spine?) but now you're so elastic S: When, back in 92 when you were so keen on Maastricht? G: Oh, what a city - the Basilica's fantastic! D: Steve, we were activists, so enthusiastic! S: No, we were young. We were stupid. We were passionate. But what the world needs now is… D: Some clear-thinking pragmatists? S: Or beer-drinking activists? Na, you gotta be kidding me D: You’ve forgotten who we were! S: That’s cos it's all ancient history. D & S: What the hell was that? G: Oh-the-rattle-from-the elevator shaft? Just a little rumble, don't be troubled, it’ll pass D & S: What the hell was that? G: The software in the panel probably needs a patch It's no biggie, I'm sure there’ll be a fix for that D & S: What the hell was that? S: Can we reach the door? D: Is this thing intact? G: Just keep your feet on the floor S: Have the cables snapped? D: You’ve heard this noise before? G: People, please relax D: I’ve gotta be home by four S: For your yoga class? G: Gents, hold your hats. G: Gentleman - take a breath it's probably fine This elevator - ooh, a quid nice - it's probably mine D: I’m curious, what peril’s ahead of us? Is there something you’re not telling us? G: Guys, I wish I could alleviate your fears You're terrorizing both my ears, look you’re free to take the stairs S: You serious? This really is hideous I’m sick of you oblivious idiots. G: Oh, actually, look, we’re in between floors And the doors won’t budge, even with extreme force S: If this lift is stuck, there’ll be an incident. D: You don't interrupt. He’s got experience. G: Here’s a key to the service hatch, see my ID? I’m certified at lift repairs, does that put you at ease? S: Not really no, I ain't got time for this rubbish... G: Ladies and gentlemen, are you sitting comfortably? Lovely. Now while I’m reconfiguring circuits 1 to 3 These guys think I’m just muttering to myself But you and I know better, yeah I’m talking to someone else So people, here’s a question: have you thought about utopia? Plenty to choose from, there’s quite a cornucopia There’s Eden, Elysium, and Thomas More’s vision, De Pizan’s utopia, which is strictly for women These guys are both from the village of Nether Whitacre How would their opposing visions impact the villagers? What if these men - oblivious - myopic Got to visit their utopias? It could get quite chaotic! String theory, quantum fields, hopes and fears So much more to these four walls that can't compare See we can lift each other up, we can crush assumptions Or stay stuck inside a rift and push each other's buttons Wish I could send these gentlemen back to their lobby floors But we need their thoughts to be a little more than ones and noughts First destination: Mister Bavington-Smythe A little glimpse into a chapter that'll challenge your mind First I'll unravel a few wires, prime a solution And try my best to sidestep minor electrocution Guys, (yeah) this is floor seven, let's spend a short spell D: Did you just reset the system? G: Trust me, all's well Let me open up the doors and have a stretch; don't stampede And please hang on to this airhorn as I need to keep my hands free.

Danny (Activist): D Steven Bavington-Smythe (Politician): S S: Woah! I never knew the colour grey could be so captivating. It’s the colour of a battle station. It’s the colour of the land of space men. D: It’s the colour of an empty basement. S: No, it’s the colour of a little boy’s imagination. Steel, glass and concrete - everywhere I’m gazing. Everything’s a grey thing but nothing is aging. Futuristic brutalism you can see your face in. Pavement under foot, shimmering like we were skating Polished to a shine. 20 million innovations. Flying cars, iron bars, sky scrapers and vapours D: Trains run on time and the litter’s in the waste bin. S: No cracks, no rats, grade A sanitation. New shoes out the box: the pervasive fragrance. Everywhere the signs of industry and application. The grey flash of a rocket overhead marks the occasion. Grey suits passing by but no one is complaining. D: Everyone’s polite and everyone is patient. S: Not an indication of any deprivation or any segregation. Could there be a better nation? A woman with grey eyes approaches us while we are waiting D: We don’t know where we are and we don’t know what this place is. S: She looks at us in amazement then cracks a smile and points us to a building with a sign that says ‘The Ancients’. Huh, what is she saying? D: Dude, let me speak to her. Hi, I’m Danny, this is Steve S: Good afternoon! D: We're just visiting and we'd just like to know – uhh what – sorry, that was really fast. We only speak English? S: Parlez-vous? Anglais? D: We don't understand, we're just wondering? Ok um... S: Oh don't worry about her, just look at this place! Have you ever seen anything like this? D: You like this? Everything sterile and lifeless S: Have you ever seen anything like this? No sign of detritus and the people are the nicest. Have you ever seen anything like this? D: I prefer the high rises and the spiders where I live. S: Have you ever seen anything like this? Everything in order. No alarms, no surprises. D: I think we need to get out - get out quick. S: Well, let’s see The Ancients and we'll make it a round trip D: Naw, we need to get out - get out quick S: What are you expecting? We’re not visiting Auschwitz. D: Bad vibes - we need to get out - get out quick S: Well I thought anarchists should have a sense of adventure, Forget your apprehension, we don’t want to offend her. I thank the woman and we go to check out the centre. An attendant inspects us and then lets us enter. The place is impressive - a vision of splendour A well attended exhibit with visitors everywhere Crowds of different ages, indiscriminate gender. We’re surrounded by pictures of things I remember. The walls are lined with loads of charts, black and white photographs The church of St Giles and the M40 overpass. A drunk at the swan pub who can barely hold his glass. An ordinance survey, mapping out all the roads and parks Of my constituency - images of Nether Whitacre. The nearby theme park and a portrait of a cricketer. The final picture is of a group of seven villagers Being beaten by masked guards. Huh, that’s very sinister. We follow the corridor and find ourselves in a vast hall surrounded by glass walls. Behind them? Are those Gargoyles? What are all those creatures? Some are pacing back and forth Some are crawling on all fours We move closer then it starts to dawn. D: These are humans S: I summon the attention of one of the exhibits. He approaches the glass with a certain timidity. "What is going on? Is this some sort of prison?" He looks around wildly at those in the vicinity. "It’s not safe here, get out as fast as you can" When he speaks he covers his mouth with the palm of his hand. "You don’t get it. This is worse than your deepest fear. You and us - we’re the only people here." "That’s crazy. There’s hundreds just in this museum. Are you blind? Come on, surely you see em." "Na they’re not people, they’re AIs" he whispers Twenty years ago they finally crushed our resistance. So what do you think they’ll do to you? this is no museum. We live in cubicles in a human zoo." Don’t say anything. Back away now. D: Slowly. Slowly. S: Don’t say anything. That’s the way out. D: Only. Only Two guards at the gate. S: Keep your face down. D: Low key. Low key. S: Through the park. Up the pace. At the place now. D: Home free. Home free S: Don’t say anything. I think we’ve been clocked. D: Don’t say anything. I see another three cops. S: Every path back to the lift’s been blocked. D: I said before that this place seems off. S: Don’t say anything. Now is not the time. D: Don’t say anything. Now we got to hide. S: Air horn! In your bag! D: Have you lost your mind? S: What? There’s not a lot of options on our side. D: Don’t say anything. S: Press the button D: Don’t say anything. S: Press the button. What you waiting for. You see them coming? D: Hands on ears cos here goes nothing…

Danny (Activist): D Gerard (Lift Attendant): G Steven Bavington-Smythe (Politician): S D & S: What the hell was that? G: Don’t worry, take a deep breath Brain feels blurry? Find your feet gents A beer and curry and you’ll both be reset D & S: What the hell was that? S: The human zoo? With the sleek machine threats D: The doom and gloom of the death police checks? G: You seem stressed, teeth clenched, what ya see next? S: You tell me, cos you seem to be blessed with ESP Why the secrecy? D & S: Yes G: Was the technology at the top of the league? D & S: Yes G: Were the streets crime free and squeaky clean? D & S: Yes. G: Was there peace and the people all seemed obedient? D: Well, peace as conceived by an evil genius DNA streamed through a USB stick Fleets of machines speaking GPT text D & S: Horrible! D: Perhaps you’ll see sense That nightmare’s spawned from your own belief set Your preachy speeches and your reams of leaflets. S: Hold on! Slow down! That’s very convenient! Pinning this on me is quite the cheap trick When your hopes and dreams they breed extremists. My policies they might need a rethink But wouldn't lead human beings to cease and desist. D: Really? S: And at least they’re coherent! Your ideology, all agree’s, a complete mess. A world of your making that’s a source of deep stress and depression leading to descent and regress. Wait! D: What? S: Weren’t we going down? G: Just a little glitch, I’m on it now D: Don’t you remember the game? S: The game? D & S: The game! D: We played it with James Imagine a world rearranged And reformed Remove all restraints G: What was the ultimate aim? D: The aim? D & S: The aim! D: Well let me explain The question was always the same It's the slogan of Steven’s campaign D & S: What do you wanna see changed? G: Changed? D: Culture of cars - invest in the trains What do you wanna see changed? S: Changed? We’d usually come up with something insane D: What do you wanna see changed? S: Changed? D: What’s collapsing under the strain? What could be brought into public domain? Best of friends Then everything changed S: Yeah, it’s a shame D & G: It’s a shame S: But dreaming is something I can’t entertain D: You should be ashamed G & S: Ashamed? D: And sent right back to your nightmare again. The world that I wanna see? S: What's that? D: Ecological leaders with science degrees The world that I wanna see? S: What's that? D: Affordable housing, minus the fees The world that I wanna see? S: What's that? D: There’s never a need for bicycle thieves S: Cause every bicycle’s free? D: Yeah, you pick one up from bicycle Pete The world that I wanna see Sir, can’t you make this happen for me? G: The unravelling of Bavington Who could imagine it A crack in the wall between the travelling companionship His counterpart is salivating at the challenges; wants his cake? I’ll twist the knife and fate and serve a slice of it Storytime, this one’s the book of Daniel Will shake him to the core as it falls from a crooked mantel Open up a page and let’s redecorate his brain Detonator press and wait... are they not entertained? Okay... Disconnect wires, reattach fuses Let's commence fellas, it’s time to get moving Last thing you might expect's a quiet threat looming Nevertheless, experience collects the best students, we're here You want a better life for everyone like Ikea? Take this map and marker pen, get sightseeing, bright idea.

Danny (Activist): D Steve Bavington-Smythe (Politician): S D: Let’s walk along the hedgerow, and stay off the path We’re almost at the X that he put on the map S: It’s quiet. D: Yeah, and we’re close to the pub S: I wonder whether they serve the hummus that you love D: Shh, I hear noises, let’s hide in the coal shed Back in the day, this is where I’d stash my moped Breathe it in, it's where they store their biomass Repurposing sawdust! S: Well, you gotta admire that D: You’re warming to this place, right? Well so am I Look outside, there’s so many, many bikes going by I haven’t seen a car yet – I think we’re in better hands Finally we’re copying the best of the Netherlands That guy on a horse with a megaphone – clip clop? S: What’s he saying? "Everyone to the big top?" D: Probably some sort of community gathering We’ll sneak in the back – I can’t believe this is happening S: Well you go ahead then, but I’m staying here I mean these people look weird, what’s up with their ears? D: Come on, give this place a chance, don’t resist S: Na, you got 15 minutes and then we're back to the lift D: Alright, well have it your way, I’ll follow the map This could be the future S: Or it could be a trap Could be a cult leader surrounded by sycophants Don’t blame me if you get yourself Wickermanned! S: I thought you were dead, where you been? D: I’ve been hanging out with Egalitarians S: Wait, wasn’t the plan to stay concealed? D: Shoulda seen this magnificent potato field S: Your ears look different – what did you do? D: To blend in, I had to copy their tattoos - I used the attendant’s marker pen Most villagers tend to have darker skin Wonderful folk, healthy diets Organic fruit everywhere, um, there, you try it And Nether Whitacre's field of tents Is where they host most of their big meal events It’s like: town council meets festival And they’re all so profound and best of all they gave me this, I think it’s their manifesto Wanna hear their directives? S: Mm, I guess so D: A life of love is a life saved Gotta admit that’s a nice way To start your book – what a typeface Look at the binding – the spine’s ace Shake off the poverty mind-frame Make amends with the wild again Never put out your divine flame Know your sentinels by name Do not tolerate blind rage Care for people of retirement age Respect the ones who grind grain That’s precisely what I’m sayin’ Try to fast every five days Teachers all get a high wage This got past the design phase? We definitely came to the right place This must be what their Bible is And you’re greeted with a tribal kiss These are citizens not just survivalists And they’re all practicing mindfulness Serenity, you know, I would die for this S: Well, maybe somewheres there’s a sign up list D: You wanted artifice, I want this Your dreams are done, dude, mine persists S: Look, we’ve both taken quite a risk I think it’s high time we go back and find the lift D: Okay, but gimme just a final wish S: As long as I don’t have to go and meet a cyclist D: I just wanna capture some viral clips I swear I’ll be back in five minutes S: And if they confiscate your phone and then tie your wrists? D: Steve, why you tryna diss this entire trip? S: He better not leave me stranded Of course, they've got 10 commandments Share everything you’ve planted Support our public transit Round up the disenchanted Shackle potential bandits So they’re meaningfully reprimanded Yeah well, that seems kinda outlandish Never take peace for granted Never steal a piece of naan bread If you get caught red-handed Tss, your face will get branded What? Your face will get branded? By Erik the Terror from Stanstead? I really don’t fancy our chances Hey Danny, ya better get back damn quick! Crowd: Eric! Eric! Eric! D: Drop the book, drop it now. We gotta get to the fence ‘fore they lock it down We’re “terrorists” – we’re the talk of town Just saw some things – wanna block em out S: Wrong way! D: Through the gate S: Now we’re being chased by a group of eight D: And they really don’t care who they mutilate doesn’t matter how well you communicate S: Over the wall! D: They’re catching up And I’ve just seen Erik do nasty stuff Dude! You’re not fast enough We get caught and you know that they’re branding us you’re not fast enough S: They’re really branding us? D: You’re not fast enough S: They’re really branding us? D: You’re not fast enough S: It’s getting hazardous D: Not fast enough S: If only we could catch a bus D: Fast enough S: I think we’re fast enough! Crowd: Eric! Eric! Eric!

Danny (Activist): D Gerard (Lift Attendant): G Steven Bavington-Smythe (Politician): S G: Infinite heavens and infinite hells, think of the merits The jarful of pennies, it's chalkboard and nails Been through it all and saw for myself Waged in the war of imagination and worn the epaulettes as well Many a patron in these fifteen square feet I've sprung vacant and let em see the things of their dreams Folly, on a jolly as they romp through those scenes But come back On Melancholy (that's a nod to John Keats) mmm Think our vision’s grown but it's pipsqueak! Think the mission's literate but it's kidspeak! I've grown fond of my metal box of big dreams Just hope the correspondents’ consciousnesses are not Swiss-cheesed I love when fate delivers sets of fresh recruits And they’re forced to seppuku what once was resolute Back to the drawing board, back to the pen and pad The travellers return and every time they're always yelling out… D & S: What the hell was that? D: You knew that this would happen? We’re risking life and limb and you’re just standing here chatting? G: There’s a tracker on the map so I knew where you were And now you've got some killer war stories to tell your chauffeur Did you use the marker pen? S: We just escaped the darkest hearts of men D & S: You’re asking ‘bout the pen? S: Willy Wonka, can’t you comprehend? Six villages! D & S: We just about made it through D: Whatcha gonna do when this whole crew is chasing you? S: Danny, here’s your map – D: Nah, mate, you keep it I just saw my dreams all fade – I can’t believe it S: Look, I sympathise - you were yearning for something life-affirming D: But what we witnessed was incredibly disturbing Can’t we have a culture of courteous behaviour? Where bodybuilders converse with their nerdiest of neighbours? Where every single citizen is worthy of a favour? Where work is more than labour? Where words are more than vapour? G: Well, gentlemen – here we are – we reached the parking level I trust your disillusionments won’t be detrimental S: It’s been special – you've got an extraordinary vessel The two of us will have a discussion. D: Maybe several. G: Gentlemen, watch your step! D: Let's get outta here. Thanks for the experience, it's... G: You're most welcome S: It's been an experience... D: I just want to take the stairs from now on. S: Yup. Goodbye. G: You can scream "Screw the system! Society’s cursed!" Every changemaker I’ve met listened quietly first Identify your enemies and ask "why do they hurt?" And people pay attention to what you write in the dirt S: Hey driver, sorry, today I won’t need the car, I'm seeing my old friend Danny D: Yeah, I know, it’s bizarre S: Why don't we walk to Nether Whitacre? You know, through the People’s Park D: Ok. S: That might just be the place where truly good ideas start.