GREG, 20s, soaked and covered in sand, drags himself ashore. Coughing, he crawls along the beach.

For as long as I can remember, I was dissatisfied with myself.

He pulls out a wad of paperwork that’s been crumpled and is sopping wet. He pulls a picture out of it of... Himself?

I went to Apex because I wanted to reach my full potential, for myself, for Angela, I was tired of being... ‘less than’. But if I knew what I’d have to give up for it. Would I still have done it?

Greg, significantly healthier looking, but downtrodden, sits in a doctor’s office.

So you’re here about the self improvement procedure.

That’s right Doctor Richards.

Great, After we’re done with you you’ll be right as rain. But I have to warn you, the procedure isn’t just going to fix you up like *that*

He snaps his fingers as he says it.

We identify key areas of your life that you’re unhappy with, in your case, motivation, communication, physical fitness, and help you develop a sense of... how do I call it.. hardiness, by putting you through our gene therapy device.

That sounds great. It’ll be nice to feel more energized, be more attentive to Angela, a better guy overall. Sometimes it feels like she and I aren’t compatible. You know? She’s a real catch, and I’m not.

I see where you’re going with this. You feel like you don’t deserve the life you have, huh?

Exactly.

Well it’s settled then.

A dimly lit surgery room with techno-junk in it. Greg is lying on a gurney.

This might be disorienting for you at first. So try to relax.

Okay.

Count down for me from 10.

The doctor places a gas mask over Greg’s face.

10...9...8...7...6...5....

Prelap increasing images of consumerism. Cars! Suits! Slowly it transforms into nightmares of the world. Bombs. Guns. Crying people. Into nothing but white and humming noise.

We’re WARPED out of the white humming and into the room. Greg is laying in some sort of stasis pod, tubes strapped into his nose and mouth. He jolts up and gags! Rips the tubes out.

The computer monitor next to him blips red.

Doctors rush into the room and push him into the pod again. Greg struggles against them.

How the hell is he awake? He’s supposed to be dead already.

We don’t have his organs yet. Hold him down! Security!

A man in a uniform comes in and takes out his stun gun. He jolts it against greg’s leg and greg gasps.

The security guard comes in for another stun and this time Greg grabs his hand and makes him stun one of the doctors.

Greg rips the tubes out and rolls off the bed, he tackles the other doctor. The security guard lunges for him and greg dodges him. Greg runs out the door wearing his surgical gown.

Greg comes out of a hatch on a small island, he clambers over the sand and runs for the beach. He jumps into the waves as people chase after him.

Greg, shivering and wet, walks up to a homeless man who’s gathering cans out of a trashcan.

Greg, dressed in homeless clothes, walks towards his house, he looks in the window, and sees sitting on his sofa his girlfriend Angela, snuggled up with... Himself.

Greg, our greg, is absolutely befuddled.

Angela’s phone goes off, she gets up and moves into the kitchen, taking the call.

Hey Lindsey, it went great.

Greg hides under the window to the kitchen, listening to the conversation.

It’s like he’s a completely new man since he came back from Doctor Richard’s. He’s doing better at work, he’s eating better, and we even went on one of those wine and paint dates since he got back. It’s like he’s a brand new Greg.

Greg looks into the window at ‘himself’, thumbing through his phone. Double Greg puts his phone down and walks into the kitchen. Hugging Angela from behind and kissing her neck.

Alright. Gotta go, We’re watching ‘The Bachelor’!

Greg has rigged up a little tent using a tarp. He lays down and holds the picture of himself and a picture of Angela that he has. He tears a little piece of his dirty shirt and ‘tucks in’ Angela’s picture.

I don’t know what the hell they did to me, but I’m coming for you tomorrow honey. We’ll sort this whole thing out.

The next day, Greg, as well put together as he can be, approaches his house and spots Doctor Richards with two security guards at the front door.

Doctor Richards knocks on the door. Greg scurries back to the kitchen window to see what’s going on.

Double Greg walks to the door and answers it. He looks concerned.

Greg is so engrossed with watching his double, that he doesn’t notice Angela looking at him from the kitchen. She pops into view and shrieks at the intruder staring at her in the window.

Double Greg whips his head around. Doctor Richards motions to the security guards, who come running.

Greg hauls ass out of there, tripping and fumbling he rounds the corner and there’s a security guy RIGHT THERE who shoots at him, barely missing. Greg scrambles back, barely making it out alive.

He runs towards the curb, there, a white van pulls up and the side panel pops open. Inside is a woman who ushers him toward her.

Get in!

It’s as good of a plan as any. Greg hustles to the van and jumps through the door.

Go!

The security guy is right on their tail, firing at the van as it speeds off.

Greg, relieved, looks at his rescuer.

Thank you.

The driver of the van answers.

You’re welcome.

THEY’RE THE SAME?!