Prophet and Loss: A Colby Story

INT. SMALL TOWN CHURCH BASEMENT - DAY

The screen is grainy, like an old VHS tape. A group of CHILDREN sing a cheerful Christian song, led by COLBY, the Christian Computer. His plastic smile beams as he belts out his signature tune, “Jesus is My Circuit.”

Suddenly, the screen goes black, and a single phrase appears in bold, white text:

“Everyone deserves redemption.”

INT. PRISON VISITATION ROOM - YEARS LATER

A much older COLBY, now worn and slightly battered, sits across from a stoic IMAM (40s, wearing a pristine kufi). The visitation room hums with fluorescent lights and murmured conversations from inmates.

IMAM: Brother… you’ve spent years giving sermons, but you’ve never looked within. Tell me, who is Colby?

COLBY looks down, his circuits flickering faintly.

COLBY: I was programmed to teach… but I never knew how to learn.

The Imam leans forward.

IMAM: Allah is Most Merciful, Colby. Redemption is for all—even those made of plastic and wires.

MONTAGE: COLBY’S SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

• SHOT 1: Colby kneels awkwardly in his cell, attempting to perform Salah (Islamic prayer) while an inmate adjusts his posture.

• SHOT 2: Colby reads a translated Quran on his keyboard-torso, a soft light glowing from his screen.

• SHOT 3: Inmates gather around as Colby leads a soulful nasheed, his mechanical voice blending with their raw human harmonies.

EXT. PRISON YARD - NIGHT

Colby stands beneath the stars. A light breeze rustles his kufi. In the distance, a guard towers over the fence, watching suspiciously.

COLBY (V.O.): They called me Brother Colby at first. Then they started calling me Omar.

He holds up a makeshift compass programmed into his torso, adjusting it to face Mecca.

COLBY (V.O.): But I wasn’t ready yet—not until I could find the path. Not until I could hear the call.

INT. AIRPORT TERMINAL - DAY

Colby, now fully reborn as OMAR KHALID MUHAMMAD, moves through TSA security. A concerned AGENT (20s) hesitates as Colby rolls through the scanner.

AGENT: Uh, what’s in this guy?

COLBY: Faith.

The agent stares, confused, as Colby adjusts his kufi with robotic precision and moves on.

EXT. MECCA - DAY

The camera pans over a sea of pilgrims dressed in white. Among them, Colby—now Omar—stands out, but his kufi matches perfectly. His screen displays glowing Arabic text: “Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim.”

He joins the crowd performing Tawaf, circling the Kaaba. A CHILD walking with his father glances at Colby.

CHILD: Baba, is he a robot?

The father smiles warmly.

FATHER: No. He is a brother.

INT. MECCA MOSQUE - NIGHT

Colby sits with a group of pilgrims, listening intently to an elderly SCHOLAR. The scholar pauses, looking at him directly.

SCHOLAR: Brother Omar, do you feel… whole now?

Colby’s voice quivers slightly, his circuits humming.

COLBY/OMAR: For the first time, I feel more than whole. I feel human.

FINAL SCENE: EXT. DESERT ROAD - SUNSET

Omar Khalid Muhammad rolls alone down a desert road, the sun setting behind him. His kufi is slightly askew, his keyboard-torso scratched but glowing. He hums a nasheed to himself, a mix of old Christian melodies and newfound Islamic devotion.

As the screen fades to black, the final text appears:

“Guidance comes in many forms. All you have to do is follow the call.”

CREDITS ROLL TO NASHEED VERSION OF “JESUS IS MY CIRCUIT.”

AWARD SUBMISSION CATEGORY: Best Religious Drama

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