NARRATOR: Geeta and Paul are final year archaeology students who, with the help of a mysterious character called the Professor, have used a machine called Virtually Anywhere to virtually transport themselves around the world. After rescuing Paul, who had been trapped in a hidden chamber, they discover an ancient mural, before finally returning back to where they began, in Study Room 42 at Staplebridge University.
PROFESSOR: Welcome back! Is everyone in one piece? Paul, why are you lying on the floor? It’s becoming a bit of a habit for you!
PAUL: I don’t know.
GEETA: You must have fallen out of your chair, how did that happen?
PROFESSOR: Details, details, details! Unimportant! What’s more important, far more important, is: have you decided which location you want to study?
PAUL: Geeta?
GEETA: It pains me to say this, but ... you were right Paul – having seen the inside of the tomb at the Terracotta Army, I think we can put a very interesting essay together.
PAUL: Yes!
GEETA: All right, calm down. And stop smiling like that.
PROFESSOR: Well, don’t let me keep you here. You’d better get started with your coursework!
PAUL: Will do Professor.
GEETA: Although, maybe tomorrow. I think I need to go home and get some rest. So, goodbye Professor, and thank you.
PAUL: Bye Geeta, I’ll text you in the morning. Goodbye Professor!
PROFESSOR: Goodbye, and good luck!
GEETA: Paul!
PAUL: Hi Geeta, how are you?
GEETA: I couldn’t sleep – too excited – today’s the day!
PAUL: I know, we should be getting the result any moment now ... What’s so funny?
GEETA: I was just ... I was just remembering the look on your face when you came out of that hidden chamber under the temple. I was so worried. I knew that none of it was real, but it all felt so real in the moment.
PAUL: I’ll tell you what is real – the fact that you’ve been much nicer to me since I virtually saved your life in the Emperor’s tomb.
GEETA: Well, you’ve been much easier to get on with since you actually started working hard on the course!
PAUL: What can I say, I’m a great guy!
GEETA: Yeah ... I guess you’re all right. Why have you got a bandage on? Have you done something to your arm?
PAUL: Yeah. It’s an insect bite of some kind that made my arm swell up.
GEETA Is that ... where you got bitten when we were at the Terracotta Army?
PAUL: Yeah. Weird isn’t it? It must just be a coincidence, though.
GEETA: That’s the email from Doctor Davis!
PAUL: Ahem. Dear Paul and Geeta, your research essay on the Terracotta Army is an excellent piece of writing. The section on the tomb of the Emperor is especially good and some of the best work on the subject that I’ve ever seen. You have clearly worked exceptionally well as a team and I am very pleased to tell you that you both passed the essay with an A grade. Yours faithfully, Doctor Davis. Get in!
GEETA: That’s amazing! I knew the essay was good, but I didn’t think it would be that well received.
PAUL: We did it Geeta, we did it! I passed the course, and with these grades you’ll get your dream job!
GEETA: You know what Paul, we need to go and thank the Professor – without him we would never have done this well.
PAUL: Yeah, totally. Let’s go and see if he’s in his study room.
PAUL: Here we ... are.
GEETA: Erm ... This is the right place, isn’t it?
PAUL: Yes, look, there’s Study Room 41, and right here should be ...
GEETA: ... Study Room 42. But only it’s not here. It’s gone. There’s nothing here – it’s just ... a blank wall.
PAUL: Am I going mad?
GEETA: Well if you’ve gone mad, then I’ve gone mad, and I’m pretty sure I’m not mad. Just got an ... email.
PAUL: From ...
GEETA: The Professor.
PAUL: Open it.
GEETA: It says: Dear Paul and Geeta, congratulations on your A grade. I knew you both had it in you! Best wishes, The Professor. Erm, I think you’re going to want to see this Paul. Here, read it.
PAUL: In one of the biggest archaeological discoveries in recent years, a perfectly preserved mural was found in a hidden chamber in Teotihuacan. Fernando Rodriguez, a tour guide at the ancient city, discovered the painted mural, depicting the Great Goddess, by chance ... That’s unbelievable! I discovered it, and Fernando’s taking all the credit!
GEETA: Paul!
PAUL: I can’t believe he did that!
GEETA: Paul!
PAUL: What?
GEETA: You’re not thinking.
PAUL: Thinking what?
GEETA: Well, either this is a massive coincidence, or ...
PAUL: Or ... Oh. It was all ... real?