Paper Man (1971) - full transcript
Four college students take advantage of a credit card mistakenly issued to someone who doesn't exist, then use their university's computer to erase the charges they run up. But the computer seems to have some ideas of its own ...
[music playing]
Thank you.
JOEL FISCHER (VOICEOVER):
Joel Fischer,
Joel Fischer, Joel Fischer.
Henry Norman?
Let me tell you, I
was just about to hand
it back and say, hey, man,
right box, wrong name.
And then I felt it.
One of those lovely
little plastic rectangles
that spells out instant credit.
And it seems old big
ugly, the giant computer
that keeps trying to
stick numbers on people,
finally blew one.
And I must say, it couldn't
have happened to a nicer group,
even though it was a mistake.
Henry Norman.
Hen-- you make a
weird R. Norman.
I get to be Mrs--
Mrs. Henry Norman.
And a second Mrs. Henry Norman.
Henry's a bigamist.
And just in case someone
says there's no such man,
here he is, personally
pasted together
out of computer sheets.
There we go.
Yay!
Terrific!
Bravo, Joel.
I think this calls
for a celebration.
A little toast.
Go ahead.
Uh, to the first
21st-century man.
To a new spring coat.
To the computer who giveth all.
May he never taketh away.
Um, to Henry Norman.
Yeah!
JOEL FISCHER: Yeah!
Hear, hear!
[music playing]
Avery!
Avery.
Come on, man.
At least listen, will you?
I mean, look at it this way.
Haven't you ever wanted to
step on a computer, too?
You take a little shot at
the whole number system?
Look around you.
We're not students here.
We're-- we're numbers,
computers, man.
That's where it is.
They pick your courses,
grade your papers,
and turn out your
lights at night.
And they even turn
on the sprinklers.
I'm sorry, Jerry.
I told you before.
Hey, come on.
I'm asking you for you help.
I mean, what do
you want me to say?
Look, it's not just me.
There are three
others in trouble.
All right.
What happened?
Well, the bank is about to
bust poor old Henry Norman.
It's gonna take a
genius to bail him out.
And you're it, pal Come on
Hi, am I late?
No, they should be
here any second, I hope.
I got him!
Maestro comes.
Welcome to the cabal, Ave.
Your friend and giant brain's
been giving us a hard time.
You know Joel, prodigy.
This here is Lisa,
light linguisitics.
Hello.
Hi.
And this is Karen McMillan.
Hi.
Hi.
She knows absolutely
nothing about computers,
so don't be too pleased
to meet her, all right?
I'm trying to get
close to her myself.
Anybody down there?
Nope.
Well, should we get started?
I understand you're
into something
like advanced
computer cybernetics
and theory or
something like that.
Yeah, something like.
The incredible
Henry Norman card,
from whence all credit springs.
They way I figure it--
The way we figure it, there is
a Norman Henry living in town.
We looked him up.
The giant brain apparently
reversed the name and address
and sent it to Joel's
post office box.
An obvious computer
good, right?
Meant for a rich
townie, and it comes
to an underaged, impoverished
member of a despised minority--
a student.
So we started using it.
I mean, what else
are we gonna do?
-It's illegal.
-It's not illegal.
It's credit.
It's very American to
have credit, Avery.
In fact, it's, uh, more
American to use it.
It's not illegal, honest.
We opened this account,
and we all kick
in when we get money from home.
The bills do get paid.
I don't know.
Don't you see, Avery?
Nobody will give students
credit because they
don't own anything.
The problem is the computer
has caught its mistake.
The bank sent us-- I
mean Henry Norman--
this credit questionnaire,
lousy with suspicion.
Hey, Jerry, I don't get it.
Exactly how's he
gonna make the bank
believe there is a Henry Norman
when there's no such person.
Don't ask me, babe.
I am just a poor,
dumb med student.
I only practice on that
thing now and then.
He makes it sane.
Come on.
Way I figure it, Ave, we ought
to be able to satisfy the bank
through our computer
here, seeing as how it's
the biggest one in the area.
A lot of companies
like Seacoast National
should have their computers
tied in by phone line.
That's right.
It's called timesharing.
Then all their files and
records are in this memory bank
here, right?
That's exactly right.
Oh, wow.
Do you mean you can create an
entire Henry Norman in here?
It's theoretically possible.
We don't need a complete
Henry Norman, though.
I mean let me have
that paper, Joel.
All we need to do is lay a
little background on him.
This is the profile we want.
Here, Joel.
He's 35.
An engineering degree from
here, then a master's from MIT.
Employed at Dynatech,
28 thou a year.
I'd say that's a
pretty solid citizen.
I think big ugly's
gonna love him.
This could take
quite a bit of time.
You see, each company
has its own codes.
So it may take dozens
of code combinations
to get the computer to
give me the bank records.
Well, yeah, but
you can do it, baby.
Come on.
Sit down.
Joel, lock that door, will you?
What does that mean?
I'm just identifying
myself to the computer.
It's called logging in.
Hey, how'd he get
you to do this?
Threaten to shoot your
grandmother or something?
Come on, let him do
his thing, will you?
[music playing]
I got it!
That's it.
That's good.
Way to go!
OK, I took the original mistake
and the computer correction
and wiped them out
of the memory banks.
So your Henry Norman is laid
in just like you wanted him.
Look at that, man.
It's even thanking
us for the account
You might as well
take the programs.
Then you won't need me.
Do you know what
we've done, gang?
We've defied all
the laws of nature.
That's what we've done.
We've created a
living, breathing,
spending man out of sheets of
paper and little plastic cards.
Everybody over to
the Wagon Wheel.
We are going to celebrate.
It's all on Henry Norman.
Here, Joel, you hang onto these.
Give me that.
You'll be staying sober.
Why always me?
You know why.
Uh, the prodigy here, he
can't drink, you know.
He's a hypogly--
--cemiac.
Hypoglycemiac.
That's low blood sugar.
Well, you'd think a
promising young doctor would
know how to say that, right?
Come on.
Thanks, Ave.
Come on.
The party's for you, too.
No, I shouldn't.
I've got some work to do.
You look guilty.
Do you feel bad about playing
games with the almighty brain?
I don't know.
Maybe I should.
Oh, come on.
[music playing]
As graduate medical students,
you all might as well
get to know Proto-- prototype
patient model two, an advance,
we think, on the
original at Caltech.
He's not a bad sort, doesn't
complain about the bill,
and I think he'll give
you all the symptoms
you'll need to look for.
Jerry?
Movement, pulse, respiration,
even down to skin tone.
And if he's not
treated right, he's
even programmed to die for you.
[music playing]
Knight to king bishop six.
[music playing]
Queen to king bishop three,
and score another one
for big ugly, the giant brain.
Checkmate.
Oh, no.
I'll be darned.
I'm finished.
Well, you lasted
longer than last time.
I've got it programmed to
see three moves ahead now.
If I can get it up to four,
you'll have to take up bridge.
What have you got programmed
for spring vacation?
You going home?
No, I never go home
unless I have to.
Well, then, you're gonna have
free access to the machine.
Yeah, I know.
That's why we're all staying.
'Cause we love our computer.
Linguistics, sentence 13.
Run, John.
See John run.
[music playing]
Very good.
Oh, hi, Flint.
Would you like to check
this program for me
when you get a chance?
Oh, yeah.
What's the matter?
Can't get it to talk?
Oh, I'm getting it.
It knows its vowels.
And now I'm teaching it
to recognize fricatives.
Hmm.
But you know once it can talk,
I'll bet it has nothing to say.
Either that or it'll
talk your head off.
Yeah.
Run, John.
See John run
[music playing]
Uh, Lisa, I got a friend
here wants to meet you.
What?
Say hi.
Oh!
Get out of here, you nut.
Come on, Proto.
We're gonna go over and see Joel
Wake up, Joel We got trouble.
Oh, no.
Not again.
What's wrong with him this time?
He's got kidney failure,
or so it was diagnosed
by three of my classmates.
I guess so.
He's not even breathing.
Well, he's not
plugged in, you dummy.
Oh.
The truth is, he's
got a short somewhere
down here around his naval.
Doc Benjamin says, get that
bright kid Joel to run it down
or I'm gonna have to
send it back to Caltech.
And I said, not a chance, that
Joel is into probabilities
and game theories these days.
Good.
'Cause actually, he
makes me a little sick.
I said not a chance
unless it's for me.
Oh, I got to remind
you again, right,
that I fought for
you in Vietnam?
Here, sit down there.
It's the duty of
overbright pathetics you--
All right, all right,
all right, all right.
I'll tie him into the computer.
Then I don't know why I
got to worry about kidneys.
Allergies, that's
where the bread is.
No night calls,
nobody dying on you
Just line 'em up, zap,
zap, zap, six bucks a head,
thank you very much, ma'am.
You are strange.
Hey, uh, Proto's beginning
to look like Avery.
Uh, can I talk to
you a minute, Avery?
Oh, sure.
You know I've been playing
chess a lot with Joel.
And he, um-- well, to put it
mildly, he's a high verbal.
He talks too much.
He's been telling me
about this fictitious guy
that you created
with a computer.
Fictitious guy?
Joel showed me
the program sheets.
Oh.
Do you think it's a good idea?
I mean, for you?
Well, I just thought it was
sort of a prank, you know?
I know.
But I just don't want to see
anybody get into trouble.
AVERY JENSEN: Wasn't my idea.
Well, they couldn't
do it without you.
You're the only student
who's capable out of all.
I get the feeling
I'm being discussed.
Not exactly, unless you've
become to identify very
strongly with Henry Norman.
Why'd you tell him?
He didn't tell me.
Look, Fletch,
butt out, will you?
You're an employee here.
Just keep the machines running.
Don't try and ruin
our lives, all right?
I'm sorry you feel that way.
Well, we need counseling, we'll
go to the counseling center.
OK.
You're right.
It's none of my business.
See you later, Avery
Paternalistic creep.
We'll be lucky if he
doesn't fink on us.
I'll tell you, Jerry,
I don't care if he does.
You got no business
talking to him like that.
Just count me out.
I don't want anything
more to do with it.
[music playing]
Practically treating
us like criminals.
Hi.
Hi.
Hi.
Who is?
What happened?
Our Henry has, uh, received
another letter from our friends
at the bank.
And they would like to
know in no uncertain terms
why Dynatech has no record
whatsoever of his employment.
-Oh, boy
-Yeah.
Yeah.
We'd better close up
the account quick.
To close up an account,
one must pay up an account.
And we are behind
almost 100 bucks
before these new bills came in.
There's my new spring coat.
50 bucks.
Joel, why do you keep
it so hot in here?
It's the temperature
of the brain.
I think better.
Here's one pair of shoes,
low heel, blue and white.
Mine.
We're up the creek.
There's at least $100 here, and
probably more we haven't even--
Wait a minute, now.
Don't panic.
I mean, we knew this was bound
to happen sooner or later.
They run checks on charge
accounts periodically, right?
Dynatech is a timeshare
on our computer.
What we need is a
complete Henry Norman.
Get him on the Dynatech
payroll, then get him
a social security card, a
complete employment record.
I mean, everything a
real person would have.
He'll be more
complete than I am.
But how can we?
Avery's the only
one who knows how,
and he doesn't want
any more to do with it.
JERRY: Well, there's one way.
What?
One person.
Who?
I couldn't do that to Avery
Why not?
Hey, what's this?
A gun!
[music playing]
Who bought a gun already?
Well, somebody bought it.
Kay's Hardware.
[music playing]
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
We have-- we all have
duplicate cards now.
Why couldn't Avery have one?
Avery?
Avery.
JOEL FISCHER: Hold on.
Maybe it was Henry
Norman The real Henry
Norman is alive
and well and living
in the heart of the computer.
Cut it out, Joel It's creepy.
Whoever's playing
jokes, I don't like it.
Will the real Henry
Norman please stand up?
[music playing]
[knocking]
Hi.
Hey, hi.
Your landlord told
me just to come
on back Can I come in, Avery?
Oh, sure.
Sure.
Sorry.
Uh, I didn't realize that
you were here to see me.
Well, there's not much of
anything else to see but you.
Oh, here.
Let me help you.
Um, I have some beer.
Would you like a beer?
Yeah.
Thanks.
Here.
You know, this is probably the
only place in the whole school
I wanted to drink
it out of a can
in order to keep from getting
a disease off the glass.
That was a compliment, Avery.
I think.
Oh, thank you.
Hey, where'd you learn to make
such neat hospital corners?
In the Army, Avery?
No, I wasn't in the Army.
Uh, how's Jerry?
Why?
I hope you don't
think that I'm Jerry's
property or anything like that.
As a matter of fact, Jerry sent
me here to con you into doing
something you don't want to do.
Boy, you're kind of direct.
Well, six years of psych,
I guess I'm entitled.
So you're in psychiatry?
Please, psychology.
I have my master's.
I work at the outpatient clinic.
That's why I'm
interested in you, Avery.
I'm curious what
it means when you
have the neatest,
most spartan room
in the history of US education.
Well, what does it mean
when you keep using my name?
You must have called me
Avery three or four times.
Well, that means I'm
trying to make contact.
You are kind of a
remote guy, Ave. Avery.
Hey, what's this?
Hmm?
Looks kind of complicated.
Oh, no, it's not.
This is simple binary.
Binary?
Yeah, binary system.
Look, this is 13, the number 13.
It's base two.
Usually you count in
units of one, 10, 100.
You count int blocks of two--
two, four, eight, and so on.
And one is a yes, count it.
Zero is no, don't count it.
That's the way computers
talk to each other.
I don't think I understand.
I don't think I ever could.
Um, what's Jerry want?
Oh, you can guess.
It's, uh, Henry Norman again.
Listen, I didn't
want to come here,
but the others sort
of-- anything I say
is gonna sound like a con Look,
you don't have to get involved
anymore if you don't want to.
I'll just tell Jerry to lay off.
No sweat.
Well, let me ask you something.
What would you like me to do?
[music playing]
Good morning.
Jerry.
Jerry, you've done it.
Everything, it's incredible.
No kidding.
He's put Henry Norman into
every computer in the country,
and he's even got
a driver's license.
Well, how'd you
manage that, genius?
Well, some states
have computerized
their motor vehicle files.
They don't require fingerprints.
So I just patched it
in the phone lines.
You two been here all night?
Love among the rheostats, huh?
We got here early this morning.
He's been saving your neck
while you were in the sack.
There you are, Jerry.
Henry Norman exists.
Social security
number, draft card.
Draft card?
Of course he's over age.
KAREN MCMILLAN:
You look terrible.
Actually, I was studying
most of the night.
I had to drop Joel off this
morning at the hospital.
He's got that low
blood sugar thing.
And I bet you got him loaded?
No sweat.
They'll change his
diet, give him a shot.
Well, I have to go to
the clinic later on.
I'll drop in on him.
But right now, we have
to have breakfast, right?
Right.
Hey, listen.
I mean, with this, I can
get all the girls I want
and just charge 'em.
Well, don't run
up too big a bill.
[music playing]
You know, he was only 17.
He used to pretend he was 19.
All his life, he wanted to
be older, as old as his mind.
Who's gonna tell his parents?
I've already called them.
I was wondering if you wouldn't
go over and collect his things?
Sure.
Here.
You can take this, too.
I'll arrange for the shipping.
Avery?
You go on ahead.
I'll be over in a
couple of minutes.
Come on, Lisa.
[music playing]
How'd this happen?
They gave him insulin.
He's been here a dozen
times for the same thing,
and this time, they
gave him insulin.
The nurse somehow got
the wrong instructions
from the computer's daily
pharmaceutical list.
They've asked me to
check on its programming.
[music playing]
Hey, the manager
lives in the back.
I'd better go tell him
what we have to do.
OK.
[music playing]
[door closing]
[music playing]
[knocking]
AVERY JENSEN: Karen.
Karen!
Karen.
Karen?
Karen?
[knocking]
Are you all right?
What happened?
It was that dumb
effigy Joel made.
Oh.
Sit down.
You know, I think for a
minute I thought it was him.
The door was open
when I got here.
Somebody must have been here.
Only me.
Guess we're all here
for the same thing, huh?
I was just down in the basement
looking through Joel's things,
and there's nothing much
here except Joel's chess set.
What exactly were
you looking for?
Anything the kid
bought on credit.
I'm gonna have to send it back.
Well, we weren't all exactly
that fast on our feet.
All right?
Fletcher just told
us to come over here
and pick up some of his things.
Well, you don't
mind if I indulge in
a little self-interest, do you?
Wild horses couldn't stop you.
LISA: Hey, please.
I think we should end this
business with Henry Norman.
You know, you were
never really a part
of this whole trip,
anyway, except
to do your little number.
Jerry.
JERRY: I've had it with all
this sanctimonious jazz.
Please, Jerry.
Well, if he wasn't such a
computer freak, a sick one
at that, he would know
enough just to bug off
when he wasn't wanted!
Oh, boy.
You are such an
incredibly inhuman slob.
Only on alternate Thursdays
and when I'm nervous!
This must be Thursday.
Lisa.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
[music playing]
You know he had it up
to four moves ahead?
I wouldn't have
had a chance then.
Yeah, it doesn't make
any sense, does it?
We can create a perfect
world in our heads.
Joel could.
Logical, clean, and pure.
And everything works
out precisely right.
But in the real world, there
are too many variables.
Yeah, I can't even figure
out what went wrong.
What?
The computer error
at the Met Center.
I mean, the central computer
here should have some memory
of its mistake, shouldn't it?
I can't find it.
Maybe you could.
No.
I'm a student, not an employee.
I'm sorry, Avery.
[music playing]
Just let me alone, will you?
Let me alone!
[music playing]
Thanks.
Miss Soames?
You can come in now.
Let's see, you're file 4D.
You can go ahead into
the doctor's office.
I'll bring your file in.
[music playing]
LISA: Break.
Break.
Broken.
Broken.
Breath.
Breath.
Breath.
Breath.
Burr.
Burr.
Breath.
Breath.
[music playing]
[whirring noise]
Jerry?
[music playing]
Jerry?
Jerry?
[music playing]
Anybody!
Help!
Help!
[music playing]
I'm sorry.
For me or Lisa?
Or what?
I just hate to see you cry.
Why?
Because I'm showing my emotions?
At least I have some, Avery.
[music playing]
You mean that
computer down there
can run this whole building?
It runs the whole
college, Sheriff.
We mean those
functions which are
electrical, mostly-- the lights,
security systems, the elevator.
And you're the
one that runs it.
You understand that thing?
No.
No, I'm just a
technician, really.
You're going to need somebody
on the level of theory.
Computers are a new world.
Yeah, that's what they tell me.
[music playing]
I, uh, haven't been
able to reach the head
of the department, Dr. Burk.
Almost everyone is gone
for the vacation period.
But I did put in a call to
Dr. Eddie at Michigan State.
He's one of the few who
may be able to help.
Or that young man, Avery Jensen.
He knows as much about
these things as anyone else.
He doesn't seem very
anxious to see us.
Avery's a brilliant student,
but he's abnormally shy.
Also, he knew the dead girl.
You know, if there's anything
I don't look forward to,
it's spending some time
with a brilliant student
who's abnormally shy.
Ah.
I saw you lose.
You must be all broken up
I was in combat, honey.
I've seen a lot of people
die, maybe too many.
I feel lousy about
Joel and Lisa.
Just haven't hung
out any signs, OK?
I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry, Jerry.
I even snapped at poor Avery.
Yeah, poor Avery.
Listen, Jerry, I think
we should take Henry
Norman out of the computer.
I can't explain it--
Forget it.
But I've got this feeling.
Look, I said forget it.
I'm here on a scholarship, and
they got a funny morals clause.
There's not enough
money in the account
to close out Henry Norman
without the whole roof falling
in.
You get kicked out
of school nowadays,
you don't get back in anywhere,
so we'll just let Henry sleep
in the computer for a
while, and we'll all just
keep our pretty mouths shut.
Oh, that's beautiful.
That's really beautiful.
By any chance, did you happen
to explain this to Avery
before you sucked him in?
Listen, babe, stop
worrying about Avery
and start worrying
about yourself.
Stay away from him!
Don't tell me what to do.
The five of us
created Henry Norman.
Two thirds of the survivors
are standing right here.
Now that's two
deaths in two weeks
connected to the computer.
What are you trying to say?
That you better face it
while you still got a chance.
There's only one
person has that kind
of control over the computers.
[music playing]
AVERY JENSEN: Do you have
anything for a Norman?
A Henry Norman?
I think it might be
special delivery.
[music playing]
Thank you.
[music playing]
[footsteps]
[music playing]
Avery?
JERRY: Want a drink?
You're gonna need one.
Where's Avery?
I'm thinking he's gonna be
here in about 10 minutes.
Keeps a pretty tight schedule,
you know, that Avery.
How could you do this?
Look.
KAREN MCMILLAN:
What does this mean?
Oh, you tell me.
Did you find what
you were looking for?
Go on.
Show it to him.
I found it in
Lisa's slave unit.
Why didn't you tell somebody?
Like the police or somebody?
Maybe because that's a message
to the machine, not from it.
Jerry, cut it out.
Let's see what else you got.
Henry Norman.
General delivery.
A birth certificate?
[music playing]
Where does it come from?
I sent away for it to
the Bureau of Records.
I just wrote a letter in his
name and asked for a copy.
Wait a minute, I don't get it.
He exists.
Look at it.
We created him in the computer.
But now there's
actual documents.
I found a transcript in
the administration files,
his old school records clear
back to grammar school.
I didn't put any of
that in the computer.
You gave him things like
the degrees, the job record.
But not this!
I didn't do any of that.
[music playing]
Something's happened.
I tried to erase him.
I wiped the memory banks clean.
You what?
I went back to the computer,
and I erased everything.
But now it's all back in.
I just came from there.
It's all laid back
just like it was.
We can't control him.
The computer's thinking
in billionths of a second,
erasing its own
errors simultaneously.
We can't do anything about it.
Who says that-- that
you could have made
up some phony documents, huh?
And if the program is
still in the computers
because you never took it out!
Why not?
Why not?
I just don't know
why, that's all.
I just don't know why!
But I'm warning you, Avery!
You stay away from me!
I am not Joel,
and I am not Lisa!
So don't mess with me!
Well, I'm warning you, Jerry.
Keep away from computers,
and stay out of that place.
Why?
What are you afraid
I'll find out?
Huh?
What are you afraid
I'll find out?
You better come with me.
No!
Karen.
I'm staying.
What are you thinking?
He's upset.
He's a little drunk.
He might do anything.
He might go to the police,
the administration, anything.
Well, I can't do
anything about that.
No, but I can if
I go after him.
Well, go ahead.
[music playing]
Burned out.
Completely destroyed.
And the boy in the morgue
doesn't look too good, either.
Now, this thing takes
in different amounts
of electricity, right?
Yes, depending on how
complex the function.
The voltage was too high.
There must have been at least
1,000 volts when he touched it.
But the regulator--
-Yeah, I know.
I know.
It's, uh, controlled
by the computer.
Another accident.
Well, we're gonna
get other people
in the company to
work on it, and maybe
they can figure something out.
Well, if you can't figure
it out, I sure can't.
All I know is I could have
two, maybe three murders here.
But I can't prove a thing.
Son.
Sir.
You're the politest murder
suspect I've ever had.
Get those things off of him.
Sorry about those handcuffs,
but you look like the quiet kind
of fellow might hurt himself.
I've never intentionally
hurt anyone in my life.
Well, son, I'm gonna let
you go only 'cause I have to.
You know, that brain or computer
out there, whatever you call
it, seems to be a total
mystery to everyone
around here but you.
And it's killed three people.
You knew every one of them.
And that last boy, now you
didn't like him one bit.
You had an argument with him.
That much I can prove.
Now, what I'm trying to
say is one of these days,
you're gonna do something.
I'm gonna get you.
That is, if you don't go over
the line into cuckoo land
first.
Can I go?
Yeah.
He's withdrawing, pulling back
into himself more and more.
Doesn't give very many details.
His problems apparently
started as a child.
He has a history
of mental illness.
He was in an institution
for three years,
and I've concealed
that from everybody.
You haven't concealed anything.
It's a matter of record.
Anybody could have
checked the files.
You're being too rough
on yourself, Karen.
As a matter of
fact, I knew there
was something in his past.
He told me in so
many words once.
I never thought anything of it.
Maybe if I had told Jerry.
I'm supposed to be
objective, aren't I?
Trained to be.
Then you also know that
you can't be objective when
it's somebody you care about.
No.
That's why I asked
you to read the file.
You seem to understand Avery.
OK, let's face facts.
He might be sick, very sick.
Now, this business about
the computers being human,
that worries me.
But it was through the
computer that I found his file.
It told me.
Or warned me.
I don't know which
Now, come on, Karen.
Computers do what
people tell them to do.
I'm just a technician,
but I know that much.
Now, who would want
you to see that file?
Avery?
Avery himself?
Who else would he
ask to help him?
[music playing]
KAREN MCMILLAN: Avery?
[music playing]
I think this is the last
place you ought to be.
Why?
After what happened.
Avery?
I was hoping you trusted me.
Do you?
[music playing]
I don't know.
I think you'd better tell him.
I read your file, the one they
keep at the psychiatric clinic.
Doesn't matter.
It does matter.
Karen's worried about you,
and so am I. We thought
perhaps we should
contact your parents.
My parents are dead.
But the file says they're alive.
I wrote down their
address somewhere.
There.
This is where we
lived 20 years ago.
[music playing]
My parents are dead.
I killed them.
[music playing]
Avery.
Avery!
Please, I want to help you.
Well, then, let
me prove it to you.
I'll take you there.
[music playing]
All right.
[music playing]
How far is it?
Where?
The place where you grew up.
Oh, it's 150 miles.
Is that where it happened?
What?
Whatever happened
that made you sick,
made you go into an institution.
Nothing happened.
I just have to see.
I have to show you.
House will be all boarded up
and nothing there, no life.
I don't believe
you killed anyone.
Not Jerry not
with the computer.
You watch where you're going!
You're driving too fast!
You handle him!
I'll handle the driving!
Do you think you ought
to be driving so fast?
What?
Please slow down
He is not a mama's boy.
He is a fine boy!
And if you were
any kind of a man--
You don't need a man!
You got your little
man in the back seat!
You don't need a husband,
and I don't need you!
I'm sick and tired of you
and the kid and the whole--
Hey, you leave
Avery out of this!
You just leave him alone!
Hope it gives you
some satisfaction
when you grow up to
know that you drove
your old man right out of--
[screaming]
[music playing]
KAREN MCMILLAN: What is it?
[music playing]
Watch out!
[music playing]
[knocking]
[music playing]
How's he doing?
Well, physically he's fine.
We were both very lucky.
Hmm.
But the other?
He just won't
communicate to anyone.
He just sits there.
Art, the police say he
tried to commit suicide.
But I know he didn't.
I know he didn't!
What are they gonna do?
They're gonna keep him here
a while, run some tests.
After that, I-- I don't know
I don't believe he did it.
I won't believe that.
Avery?
How you feeling?
Avery, please speak to us.
Avery, you don't have to talk.
Just listen.
Karen and I, we care about you.
And we want desperately
for you to get well.
This shell of yours is no good.
As far as what you believe
about the computer,
well, I guess I was
the one who scoffed.
But you know, we haven't
been able to find
any rational explanation.
And someday, we all
may have to face
the fact that you were right.
I don't even know
if he can hear you.
I'm quitting my job
here, going away.
But I'll come back
if you want me to.
I'll keep in touch.
You need friends.
I want to be one.
[music playing]
It's very sad.
[music playing]
You're quitting?
Yeah, I'm afraid so.
After all this, I got
to find something else.
Yeah.
ART FLETCHER: I'll
stay in touch.
Thanks.
You ought to get away yourself.
I can't.
I'm partly
responsible, you know.
[music playing]
I checked.
His parents were killed
in an automobile accident
when he was six.
And I didn't believe him.
But the psychiatric
files-- the computer again?
You know, in a way,
I'm the only one left.
I'll say it again.
Go.
Get away from everything here.
[music playing]
Here's one I like.
And it has nothing whatsoever
to do with calculus.
Karen, I can think again.
I mean clearly.
All this week, I've
been running equations
and logarithms and
computations of different kinds
through my head.
Imagine me practicing thinking.
I know a few people
who should try.
I figured it out
about Henry Norman.
Oh, Avery, please.
I have.
I know all about Henry Norman.
He's flesh and blood, Karen.
He's real.
He's alive.
Karen, listen to me.
I need you.
You're the only
one I can talk to.
And if I don't, it
could all slip away.
We created a paper
man, the five of us,
a complete identity, a cloak,
a cloak that someone needed
desperately, desperately
enough to kill three people
in order to keep it a secret.
Avery, please.
Remember that Jerry gave the
original programmed to Joel,
and after Joel died, no
one ever found it again.
But when I tried to erase
everything from the computer,
it all reappeared
because whoever
had the program put it back in.
And my case history sent
to you-- someone counted
on my cracking up, and I did.
I began to think the
computer itself was doing it.
But it wasn't, Karen.
It was a man, a human being.
I don't know.
I just don't know.
And the birth
certificate and the school
records, we didn't need
those, but somebody else did.
But it doesn't make any sense.
I was involved, too, and
nobody's tried to kill me.
You weren't a risk.
You never worked with computers.
You didn't really
understand any of this.
Well, why?
Who would need an identity?
Someone who was forced
to give up his own.
A fugitive-- a fugitive
with special skills
he couldn't ever use.
I know there's a Henry
Norman out there, Karen.
And I can find him.
All I have to do is strip away
the cloak, and he'll be there.
But I have to get to the master
computer for just five minutes.
Yes, I'm asking you to help me.
I can open the
padlock on the window.
I know the attendant's
routine backwards.
Avery.
I know what you're thinking.
You could be helping a
madman, a homicidal madman.
Every fact seems
to point to that.
All I can ask you to do is
something that I never could--
forget facts,
forget logic, forget
everything that seems real,
and just trust and believe.
[music playing]
[alarm ringing]
[knocking]
Come in.
Henry, the Air Force bought
every one of your ideas
on the new backup system
If this thing checks out,
you'll be heading
the entire project.
It'll check out.
You know, it seems to me I once
heard there was a small company
down in Texas working
on a project like this,
but something happened and they
just didn't follow through.
Did you ever hear about it?
No.
Mhm.
Yeah.
Then there's just one
thing that concerns me.
You're gonna have to pass
one more really intensive
security check, so
I just hope there
isn't anything or anybody--
-Oh, no.
Nothing.
No one.
Just thought I'd mention it.
Go on back to work We're
all proud of you, Henry.
[music playing]
[knocking]
[music playing]
Avery?
[music playing]
Who's there?
[music playing]
Art!
Oh, Art.
ART FLETCHER: I
tried your apartment.
The police were watching it.
I thought I'd try here.
I'm so glad you came.
I tried to get in
touch with you,
but you left no
forwarding address.
I didn't want to be disturbed.
I came as soon as
I saw the papers.
Yeah, Avery.
Has he tried to contact you?
Well, Art, I helped him escape.
Where is he now?
KAREN MCMILLAN: I don't know.
Why did you do it?
I don't know.
I wish you'd been there.
I didn't know what to do.
It's like it's his last
link to sanity that there
is a real Henry Norman.
A real Henry Norman?
A fugitive.
A fugitive?
Do you think that's possible?
I don't know.
I believed him when
I was with him.
I just-- I just don't
know anything anymore.
Now, try to remember, did
he have any kind of proof?
No, nothing.
He just said all he wanted to
do was get in the computer room.
The computer room?
I'm supposed to meet him
at 11 o'clock with the keys.
[music playing]
Did you get the keys?
[music playing]
[car engine]
[tires squealing]
[brakes squeaking]
[music playing]
Police.
Stakeout.
[music playing]
Oh, Art, do you think
I'm doing the right thing?
You've got to go to him.
He needs our faith, our trust.
Without that, he's got nothing.
Now, we've got to have
some kind of a plan.
You've got to get out of here,
the back way, preferably.
I'll see if I can get some kind
of diversion for our friend
there.
[music playing]
MALE SPEAKER (ON RADIO):
Control, this is station two.
Come in.
This is Hurley.
Go ahead.
MALE SPEAKER (ON
RADIO): Sheriff,
we've got something on that
Jensen kid-- a lock, maybe.
How good a lock?
The best.
Exactly where he'll be and when.
When?
The other car is
covering the far side
of the campus, Sheriff.
Good.
Now, you cover the
stadium entrance.
You stay with me.
Well, if he shows
up, we've got him.
I feel terrible
about doing this.
I really thought
he was innocent.
That's the only reason
I let her go to him.
Hey, Mr. Fletcher, would
you mind telling me again
exactly what he said?
Well, he called just a
few minutes after she left,
and he sounded wild, deranged.
I tried to reason with him.
I begged him to turn himself
in, to try and get some help.
And?
He became enraged.
He said he killed before,
and he'd do it again if they
tried to get him back there.
After that, I guess my
only thoughts were of Karen
and how to save her from him.
You know, it's kind
of like you were
telling me to shoot
first and then
put the pieces together later.
I wouldn't want to tell
you how to do your job.
No, I'm sure you wouldn't.
But it anything happens
after what I've told you,
it is your responsibility.
[music playing]
Avery!
Did you get the key?
Yeah.
[music playing]
Stop right there, Jensen!
I didn't tell him.
Give me the key.
[music playing]
Sheriff, don't hurt him.
I'll do my best, miss.
Don't hurt him!
[music playing]
Jensen!
Don't move or I'll shoot!
[music playing]
Well, he's not going anyplace.
You get someone down here with
a key And the head shrinkers!
[music playing]
It's all over, son
You come on, now.
It's all right, Sheriff.
You're not gonna need that.
[music playing]
Fine.
I'll tell him.
Mr. Johnson is on
his way to see you.
Well, that's not bad,
when they come to you.
Do you want to go on with
this dictation, Mr. Norman?
No.
Just tell him that I'll see him
at the meeting in San Francisco
and sign it cordially.
Henry, can I talk
to you for a minute?
What is it, Bob?
Well, Henry, I don't
quite know how to say this.
But, uh, well, these
men-- these men tell me
they have a report that a
Henry Norman, a man who matches
your background exactly,
was killed a few hundred
miles from here yesterday.
Killed?
Came through in
a computer report.
A computer report?
Well, naturally, considering
what you're involved in,
that does raise
certain questions.
Who are they?
Well, they're from Washington.
They want to question you.
That's all I know.
All right.
Let me get my pipe.
[music playing]
Henry?
Hold it, Norman!
[music playing]
All right.
Just put it down, now.
[music playing]
Now, why don't you just put it
right over here on the desk?
Over here on the desk.
[music playing]
I don't get it.
Who was this guy, anyway?
[music playing]
They just got the
government man's report,
and I, uh-- well, I felt I
owed it to you to come in
and tell you about it myself.
Now, this Henry Norman--
or as you knew him,
Arthur Fletcher-- his real name
was Hennessy, Claude Hennessy.
He was part owner of
a small electronics
place down in Texas, kind
of a scientific genius.
Little bit cracked,
too, like most of 'em.
Uh, no offense.
Anyway, one day
he and his partner
get into a beef about
who's to get credit
for something they invented.
And right there in the office,
right in front of everybody,
he shoots him.
The people don't do a thing.
They just stand there
and look and let
him walk out of the place.
People will do that.
Well, nobody ever saw him again.
He just disappeared.
I guess he came here,
and he got this little
job, couldn't just sit on it.
He wanted to be back
in the big time again.
I think we know the
rest of the story.
Thank you, Sheriff.
Hey, tell me something.
You killed him off with
that computer, didn't you?
I just programmed in
a report of his death.
The way we created him
is the way he died.
So that's what made him,
and that's what killed him
What'd you put in that report?
Just the date and the
phrase "accidental death."
Nothing more.
Why?
Well, the report the
feds picked up on,
the one that sent
'em to check him out,
said he jumped from a building.
And they got it the day
before it really happened.
[music playing]
[computer clicking]
Who started that thing?
Oh, it's being activated
by another computer
somewhere, data seeking.
Now they're talking
to one another.
That's right.
You know what I think?
Pretty soon, they're
not gonna need you.
All they're gonna need
is another Henry Norman
[music playing]
What do you think about that?
Another Henry Norman.
If at first you don't
succeed, ha, ha, ha.
Yeah, very funny.
[music playing]
Let's go.
[music playing]