Z.P.G. (1972)
A couple decide to have a child in a society where having children has been outlawed due to resource shortages.
Genre
Characters/Groups
Metromart Salesman - Wayne John Rhodda
Telescreen Opterator - Ditte Maria
Psychiatrist - Birgitte Federspiel
Baby Shop Salesman - Eugene Blau
Baby Shop Salesman - Bent Christensen
Father in Baby Shop - Sam Maisel
Mother in Baby Shop - Annelise Gabold
President's Aide - Torben Hundahl
Edict Examiner - Vladimir Kandell
Character thumbnails with links to profiles
Detailed Synopsis
A flying machine announces to the public a word from The President (ZPG)|The President of the society. The President notifies the public of the verdict of the World Federation Council. As the Telescreen Operator gets the telescreen ready, The President asks the President's Aide (ZPG)|President's Aide how much time he has and the President's Aide tells him he has six seconds. The President tells the public that due to overpopulation, having a child is forbidden and those who have a child shall be punished with death. Also pregnant women are required to report for registration. At a hospital, an Edict Doctor marks with an electronic imprint, a baby with B.E., before edict and a Nurse 1 (ZPG)|Nurse notes the baby's name as John Graham and hands the identification card to Nurse 2 (ZPG)|Nurse. Another baby is brought to be scanned and the Edict Doctor notes the baby will be the last for the next 30 years. At Baby Land, Russ and Carol wait in line to get an electronic baby. A Baby Shop Salesman 1|Baby Shop Salesman shows a father and Mother in Baby Shop a mechanical baby. He tells them how the mechanical baby will also suffer from fake sickness. Mother in Baby Shop asks if they have a younger model, but the Baby Shop Salesman tells her they are sold out. A Father in Baby Shop tells the Mother in Baby Shop to make up her mind. The Mother in Baby Shop accepts the doll and names her Bonnie. Baby Shop Salesman 2|Baby Shop Salesman calls for the next couple and Carol tells Russ she wants to leave. They leave and the flying machine curfew time for those that were already out so the next rotation of people can go to work. Guard 1 and Guard 2 get ready for their shift and they curse the flying machine. Carol and Russ go to a restaurant where they eat processed food stored in tubes. A transgression is reported and Edict Mother says Edict Boy is just young looking for his age. Edict Examiner 1 and Edict Examiner 2 walk over to Edict Boy and check for an electronic implant, which he has and Informer yells the implant is a fake, which Edict Examiner 2 confirms is not true. Russ and Carol walk to the Statemuseum of Nature where Daughter (ZPG)|Daughter tells her Mother (ZPG)|Mother they are almost next in line to get inside. A man waiting in line asks Mother how long she had to wait to be able to go to the museum and she tells him four years. 1st Guide sees Russ and Carol walking past the line and tells them to stand in line and Tour Guide (ZPG)|Tour Guide tells Daughter and Mother they are next. The guests walk through the museum and see re-enactments like road construction and also stuffed animal displays. A worker sees Daughter smelling a fake flower and yells at her and Daughter runs into Russ, who picks her up and stares at her before putting her down. Another tour guide shows the public how a gasoline pump worked. In the Hall of Criminals, the overhead speaker talks about those who created overpopulation which lead to the great famine and smog blanket age. Russ and Carol continue into the part of the museum which mimics the houses people used to live in.