You are a 25-year-old playwright and consider yourself to be part of counterculture, you distance yourself from the mainstream. You have written a play called ‘Patriarchy is the opium of the people’ that portrays sexism by means of strong provocation. You haven’t been able to get the play on any stage and have not had another big break as an artist. Steven von Trier, an accomplished director, has recently offered you a substantial amount of money to use your script. He will take out the provocation and will add a romantic love story. You will still be credited as the writer.

Omelas is a city where everyone is happy and contented. No one is poor, starving, sad, or upset. There are no crimes that occur and no conflicts or corruption to be seen. It is a utopia. However, in the basement of one of the buildings, a sickly child is locked up. The happiness of Omelas is contingent on the child’s suffering. Any kindness or sympathy towards the child, apart from minimal food and drink, will cause the society of Omelas to decay and collapse. Everyone knows of this child.