Z.P.G.

CAST

Russ McNeil - OLIVER REED
Carole McNeil - GERALDINE CHAPLIN
George Borden - DON GORDON
Edna Borden - DIANE CILENTO
Dr. Herrick - DAVID MARKHAM
Mary Herrick - SHELIA REID
Dr. Mallory - AUBREY WOODS
President - BILL NAGY
Telescreen Nurse - LOTTE THOLANDER
Metromart Salesman - WAYNE JOHN RHODDA
Telescreen Operator - DITTE MARIA
Psychiatrist - BIRGITTE FEDERSPIEL
Mother - LONE LINDORFF
Daughter - BELINDA DONKIN
First Guard - CLAUS NISSEN
Second Guard - JEFF SLOCOMBE
First Guide - DALE ROBINSON
Headwaiter - VICTOR LIPARI
Thief - MICHEL HILDESHEIM
Tour Guide - PAUL SECON
Informer - CARLOTTA MAGNOFF
Baby Shop - SAM MAISEL
Salesmen - EUGENE BLAU
Baby Shop Father - ANNELISE GABOLD
Baby Shop Mother - TORBEN HUNDAHL
Presidential Aide - PETER RONILD
Edict Doctor - BIRTHE TOVE
First Nurse - BIRGITTE FRIGAST
Second Nurse - BRIAN KEIFER
Edict Examiners - VLADIMIR KANDELL
Edict Mother - LENE VASEGAARD
Edict Boy - PETER HOHNEN
Jessie - THEIS IB HUSFELT

CREDITS

Producer, THOMAS F. MADIGAN; Director, MICHAEL CAMPUS; Screenplay by MAX EHRLICH and FRANK DE FELITTA: Director of Photography, MICHAEL REED B. S. C.; Supervising Editor, RICHARD C. MEYER A. C. E.; Music Com posed and Conducted by JONATHAN HODGE; Production Designed by TONY MASTERS; Production Executive, FRANK DE FELITTA; Production Associate, MAX EHRLICH; Production Manager, GEOFFREY HAINE: Assistant Director. RICHARD DALTON; Unit Manager, H. P. MOELLER-ANDERSON; Continuity, JANE BUCK; Sound, GERT MADSEN; Technical Adviser, PROF. P. C. MATTHEIS-SEN: Script Consultant, SANDRA KOLBER; Camera Operator, RON DRINK-WATER: Additional Photography, MIKAEL SALOMON; Aerial Photography, JAN WEINCKE; Editor, DENNIS LANNING; Sound Mixer, HUGH STRAIN; Still Photographers, NORMAN GRYSPEERDT and BENNY JACOBSEN; Publicity, DOREEN LANDRY; Wardrobe Mistress, JYTTE PABY; Make-Up, LENA HEN-RIKSEN: Production Accountant, BRIAN BROCKWELL; Art Directors, HARRY LANGE; and PETER HOJMARK; Special Effects Director, DEREK MEDDINGS; Construction Manager, DICK FRIFT; Set Dresser, ERLING JORGENSEN; Prop-erty Buyer, ANDERS VOLMER HANSEN; Gaffer, KAI LARSEN; Grip, JIMMY LEAVENS: Costumes by MARGIT BRANDT DESIGN OF COPENHAGEN; Fumi-ture by CADO; Titles by CHAMBERS & PARTNERS.

Plot

The time is the not-too-distant future and over-population has virtually ellminated sufficient air, food, water and shelter for the human race. In order to cope with the situation, an edict is issued forbidding the conception of children for 30-year period. Two couples Russ (OLIVER REED) and Carole (GERALDINE CHAPLIN) McNeil, and Edna (DIANE CILENTO) and George (DON GORDON) Borden are authorized personnel of the State Museum of Nature which contains the last living examples of flora and fauna on the Earth, together with an "authentic replica of the Natural Habitat of Twentieth-Century Man." In two typically 1970 homes the Bordens and McNeils dwell side by side as living exhibits of our present way of life for the tireless stream of tourists who wait up to four years for admission tickets.

The Bordens have come to terms with the edict, and Edna busies herself to satisfy maternal instincts. Carole, having made up her mind to follow her friend's example, cannot bring herself to accept final delivery of her own doll baby. In spite of a conversation Carole has with her psychiatrist via the McNeil's bedroom telescreen, she is unable to repress her desire to bear a child, and that evening she fails to utilize her abortion machine.

Christmas is heralded by the sound of carols emanating from the hovering Big Mouth Satellite. Russ and Carole celebrate at the Old Vienna Restaurant where, surrounded by plastic food tubes and simulated merriment, they are robbed of a few fresh vegetables by a desperate crowd.

On their way home, Russ and Carole visit two elderly friends, Mary and Dr. Herrick (SHEILA REID and DAVID MARKHAM), in the Happiness Home. But they find there is little real happiness among the elderly people who are waiting to die. Outside in the street they arrive at the Place of Public Execution just in time to see the Transgressors' bubble lowered over a young couple and a forbidden infant. They were turned in by a woman seeking the promised extra rations reward.

Hurt and disappointed, Carole asks Russ for a Christmas tree. When Russ returns with a forbidden live tree, she confesses that she is pregnant. They concoct a plan for survival. Carole, having pretended to leave Russ, will spend her pregnancy in an abandoned atomic bomb shelter beneath the house and bear the child there. Russ will continue to live in the house and allay the suspicions of the Bordens.

Baby Jessie is born and Carole returns to Russ, using an artificial doll baby to fool the Bordens. But Edna is not easily fooled When the child becomes ill and Carole attempts to smuggle him to Dr. Herrick, Edna follows them. With her suspicions confirmed, Edna and George blackmail the McNeils into sharing the child. Daily tensions grow until George insists he and Edna will assume full possession of Jessie.

Russ and Carole decide to make a secret break for the outside world. They tunnel from their bomb shelter to the sewer beneath the nearest Public Execution Point where they hide a boat and supplies.

Edna, hysterical at their refusal to turn over the baby, Informs on the McNeils. Carole, Russ and baby Jessie are branded Transgressors and enclosed in the execution dome. At night Russ digs down to their tunnel.

The desperate couple eventually reach the open sea and a deserted stricken island where they hope to build a life away from the society they did not create.