Brave New World

**"Brave New World"** is the first episode of the first season of *Juvenile Prosperity*. It is the first episode of the series overall.

## Plot

*In 2003, young David Mayfair is living in his dreams of seeing the world, unaware that he is about to embark on an adventure that will change him forever.*

## Synopsis

In 2019, Travis Rogers wakes up from a nightmare, reaching for his bad shoulder as he does so. He breaths panically as he rubs his eyes, staring out the window of his motel room as he does. He walks over to the window and looks outside, paranoid, before going back to bed and hesitantly going to sleep.

In 2003, David Mayfair stands with his father while he makes a sizable donation to Whitehall Academy; David then remarks to his older brother Ethan that the donation was only made to secure David's future place at the college. When the Mayfair family poses for a photograph, David makes sure to roll down his sleeves to cover up some heavy bruises.

That night, David is forced at the diner table to study, under constant watch from his bodyguard.

[...]

David hides in the corner of the boxcar, shivering. He attempts to button up his overcoat, but his hands shake so much that he is only able to do up the top collar button before he gives up and hugs his chest. Suddenly, a gruff voice calls out from the other side of the boxcar, asking David for his reasons for running. David tries to ignore him, but the voice continues, revealing himself as an old man named "Gordon". The old man collapses to the floor and reveals he has severe lung cancer. David asks if he wants to be taken to a hospital, but Gordon says he has lived on the road his whole life and definitely won't stop at the end of it. He gives some advice to the young David to never go back to what he is running from, and to literally become "someone else". He offers David his bag and supplies before dying in peace. David closes his eyes before taking the bag and finally falling asleep.

The next morning, David jumps off the train just as inspectors arrive and find Gordon's body. He rests on a rock on a grassy hill and looks through the bag, finding a battered journal reciting Gordon's experiences in the Vietnam War, alongside some food, water and a map. He makes his way into a nearby town and buys some more food, before noticing a discount record store. He enters and looks around, saying hello to the Clerk.

David, unaware that the Clerk is approaching him, notices records by Randy Travis and Kenny Rogers, focussing on their last names. As the Clerk asks how he can help, David suddenly lightens up and answers in a thicker southern accent and stronger drawl. He appears suddenly more confident and articulate. He asks how much the records and headset are, and hands the Clerk $15. The Clerk asks if he wants the headphones personalized, and David says he does; when the Clerk asks his name, David hesitates before finally answering: "Travis Rogers". Leaving the store, he puts on the headphones and dances through the streets with a sense of glee he has never felt before, before going into a full sprint as the song quickens.

As he makes his way down a country lane, he spots a scratched black guitar half-buried in the dirt. He retrieves it and takes an instant liking to it, carrying it beside him as he makes his way along the road, finally free.

 **Season 4** | "TBA"