Characters: The Elevator

The character of the Elevator is like Jenny, in the fact that it is an artificially intelligent unit. However it was decided that he should not be as capable of making logical decisions or engaging with the other characters as she is. Instead he is something that has merely been built for the sake of covenience of the biological life forms enabling them to get from place to place. However, in the drama, Jenny has taken over control of the Elevator and the ability of the characters to reach certain areas. This would mean that it would be extremely difficult to go against her will, especially since without control of the Elevator they would find themselves trapped in one place which was something we wished to leave room for since it was thought that Jenny might become the main antagonist.   

One line we gave the Elevator in his less than helpful confrontation with Lexon is

‘There is no down from here on and no one ever does go up so there.’

And in giving the Elevator this line we hoped to raise more questions in the minds of the audience as to the situation in the building. After all, what is the point in a building possessing elevators if none of the occupants ever go up? Having worked out the basis of the plot for the entire radio series we now had to drop in hints about what the situation might be and this was one of them. It was decided that Lexon and Rebecca should struggle to reach the top floor against Jenny’s wishes, meaning that the machines within the building, including the Elevator would turn against them.