Sleep Dealer 2009

In the not-too-distant future, humanity has become entwined in a complex web of militarized borders, virtual labor pools, and global digital networks that seamlessly merge minds and experiences. Against this backdrop, three individuals from disparate walks of life embark on perilous journeys to bridge the technological divides that threaten to suffocate their existence.

Memo Cruz, a factory worker with a passion for electronics and hacking, finds himself trapped in a world where humans are reduced to mere automatons, connected to the network via intricate cables that pierce their bodies. The sleep dealers, as they’re called, risk collapsing from exhaustion if they don’t disconnect soon enough. Memo’s memories of his idyllic hometown, Santa Ana Del Rio, Oaxaca, serve as a poignant counterpoint to his present reality.

The narrative unfolds through a series of flashbacks, as Memo reminisces about the verdant fields and rich cultural heritage of his childhood. His father urges him to abandon his fascination with electronics and join the family’s struggling agricultural endeavors, but Memo’s heart remains captivated by the allure of innovation and rebellion. The drought-stricken homestead, once a thriving oasis, is now parched and barren due to the Del Rio Water corporation’s dam, which has siphoned off the region’s precious water resources.

As Memo works on his electronic receiver in secrecy, its range expands, reaching distant cities and allowing him to tap into the world beyond his isolated community. The tantalizing prospect of hacking into the global communication networks becomes an all-consuming obsession.

The summer heat brings with it a sense of foreboding as Memo’s clandestine activities attract unwanted attention from Del Rio Water’s security forces. A remote-controlled military drone, operated by Rudy Ramirez (a Mexican-American), zeroes in on Memo’s frequency, sparking a brutal attack that sends him scrambling for cover. The stakes escalate when Memo and his brother stumble upon a live TV broadcast detailing the destruction of their own home, where Memo’s prized equipment lies helpless against the onslaught.

In a desperate bid to save their father, they rush back to find him fighting for his life amidst the chaos. Alas, their efforts prove too late; the drone pilot, fueled by a cold calculation, ends their father’s life with a precision-guided rocket strike. The weight of this devastating blow sends Memo fleeing to the city of Tijuana in search of refuge and new opportunities.

As fate would have it, Luz Martínez shares the same bus ride with Memo, a chance encounter that sparks a series of events. Memo’s curiosity is piqued by the nodes on Luz’s wrist, which she uses to interface with the digital network, and he inquires about acquiring similar technology for free. Luz, who supplements her income by uploading memories to TruNode, a platform where viewers pay for experiences, reveals that she can connect him with a coyotek - someone who can facilitate his digital augmentation - if he’s willing to take a stroll through a certain alley. However, Luz is also burdened by financial woes, and the weight of her loans threatens to default.

Memo’s initial attempt to find a coyotek ends in failure, leaving him penniless and forced to seek shelter at an abandoned shack on the outskirts of the city, where he meets other node workers who live off the grid. Meanwhile, Luz’s memories are in high demand, particularly those featuring Memo himself. She sells her recollection of their initial encounter, earning a prepaid offer for the next installment. When she tracks down Memo and discovers his financial struggles, she offers to help him secure a node job at a local bar that has the necessary equipment. Her expertise as a coyotek, learned from her ex-boyfriend, proves invaluable in getting Memo connected.

As Luz’s digital endeavors take off, TruNode demands more emotional depth from her uploads, forcing her to confront her feelings and reveal intimate details about her experiences. The true nature of her memories is eventually revealed when the person requesting them is exposed as Ramirez, a representative of Del Rio Water, working under the direction of the enigmatic Del Rio himself. Amidst this revelation, Luz and Memo find themselves growing closer, sharing a moment of raw connection that transcends their digital existence.

However, the truth about Luz’s motivations comes crashing down when Memo discovers that she has been profiting from her memories of him, leaving him feeling betrayed and exploited. His sense of exhaustion is compounded by his newfound understanding of Luz’s business, leading him to distance himself from her. In a surprising twist, Ramirez appears on the other side of the US-Mexican border, seeking out Memo with a message that challenges everything he thought he knew about their connection. As tensions rise and danger lurks around every corner, Memo is faced with an impossible choice: trust Ramirez’s words or flee from the perceived threat.

As Memo reunites with Luz, he enlists her expertise to establish a vital link between Ramirez and the network, a crucial step in unraveling the mystery surrounding the rogue water engineer. With calculated precision, Memo infiltrates the Del Rio Water security system, exploiting his newfound access to commandeer one of the company’s drones. However, this tactical maneuver inadvertently triggers a chain reaction: other autonomous aerial vessels are dispatched to intercept Ramirez, sparking an intense aerial dogfight that tests their piloting skills and strategic thinking.

As the high-stakes battle unfolds, Ramirez’s defiance in the face of orders ultimately leads him to take drastic action. With a burst of explosive force, he manages to blast a breach in the dam, a pivotal moment that resonates with a personal significance tied to Memo’s own family history. The water engineer is overjoyed by news from his homeland, as ancestral waters return to the surface, bringing jubilation to subsistence farms and communities that had long suffered under the strain of scarcity.

Meanwhile, Ramirez finds himself forced to flee southwards into Mexico, unable to return to his loved ones in the United States. In contrast, Memo begins to rebuild his life in Tijuana, forging a new path forward as he leaves behind the tumultuous events that have shaped his journey thus far.