Rollerball (1975) - full transcript

Good evening.
Welcome to Houston, the energy city,

home of the defending
rollerball world champions.

This key international battle
pits divisional champions Madrid

against powerful Houston.

Here they come for a standing ovation.
On the track comes Houston!

Houston, led by
captain Jonathan e,

again their leading
scorer this year.

Jonathan! Jonathan!

Ok. Let's go.

The controller indicates he is ready.

Our 30 multivision
cameras will bring you



all the thrills and
excitement of this game.

Ladies and gentlemen,
our corporate anthem.

The controller tests his equipment,
readies for the start.

The firing of the test ball will
signal we're about set to go.

The controller for tonight's game
ta niehaus.

The officials approve play.
Each team concludes its huddle,

and the crowd cheers once again as
this Houston audience greets its team,

led by the stalwart
athlete Jonathan e.

Break off. That's it, boys.

Hook it!

Houston! Houston! Houston!

Now the play-by-play. Here's rd.

The computer counts down.
The ball is fired.

First period is underway
here at Houston tonight.



The first team to pick up the
ball will be on of fence.

And it's a pick-up by Houston!
It's picked up by bj.

Bj moves around, manoeuvring it to
the leading scorer Jonathan e.

Go on! Go on!

Watch him!

Jonathan e holds the ball aloft.

You must hold it in
view at all times.

- Pick 'em up, pick 'em up!
- I got him, I got him.

On your right!

Jonathan moves in, then
out in front of the bike.

Jonathan moves up the
track and up onto the side.

Here comes Sanchez.
Sanchez grabs Jonathan,

but off the rail comes moonpie
and takes out four Madrid men.

The old swooper moonpie

The remaining Madrid
skaters defend the goal.

Jonathan still has the ball.
Moving in, he'll try to shoot.

He does! Jonathan!
He shoots and it's just wide.

Regroup!

The Houston team will have to regroup.

Injured on the play is belmonte and
he's helped off the track for Madrid.

First period, no score, as we get
set for the firing of the second ball.

And he misses and it hits the
bike of Carter. Knocks Carter down.

Gimme a hand. Move out!

Jonathan is there.

It is handed off.
The pass is complete to Jonathan.

- He knocks him down dead!
- Did you see that?

The official looking over...

Keep up!

- Moon, on your left.
- Right, right!

I got him!

Break it up, break it up!

Go, Jonathan, go!

Can he give Houston the first goal?
He scores!

Yeah!

And at the end of the first
period, Jonathan's goal

gives Houston a 1-0 lead.

Scored by Jonathan e!
The time first period, 12 minutes.

The ball is fired for
the second period.

Madrid, trailing by one goal, try
to go on of fence to tie the score.

Go, Madrid!

- Here, latch on, latch on.
- I'm with you.

Come on, Madrid, come on!

He skates up in front.
Gonzales has it for Madrid.

Hands off again to bodeus.

Bodeus, on of fence
for the Madrid team.

Here's the Houston defence.

It's a shot. It's low!
And down on the track goes bodeus.

He's not injured, but his
scoring attempt failed.

And the score is still
1-0 in favour of Houston.

The ball is fired again.
Madrid is putting the pressure on.

Move it! Come on, move!

Hold on. Come on, let's move it!

- We got it now.
- Hold on, hold on.

Watch it. Keep an eye out!

Coming in now, Sanchez.
Moving to his left and right.

Has a full head of steam,
trying to tie the score.

Sanchez moves around the bike,
takes a long looping shot. He scores!

Sanchez scores for Madrid
and ties the game 1-1.

Second period.

The ball is in play again and
scooped up this time by Aston!

Three minutes. Get on!

Madrid penalty. Three minutes.

Biking misconduct on no.1 biker.

Are you satisfied, Madrid?
What game are you guys playing?

Take it easy.
Relax, you'll be all right.

The crowd's going wild,
loving this wide-open action.

Skate! Skate!
Come on, goddammit, skate!

A pile-up on the track.

The ball rolls free and into the gutter.
It's a dead ball.

Here, here! Come on, come on!
Off the track, off the track!

Come on, move out!

How is it, Jonathan?

- Gimme a towel, will you, bull?
- Sure.

Come on, dude!

Moonpie drop-kicks him!

Three-minute penalty!

Off the track! Off the track!

Group up!

Jumping over the Madrid
defence, gets up,

and he jams it in for the score!

Jonathan jams it in and scores

to give Houston a
2-1 lead over Madrid.

- Houston with the ball again.
- It's a bike!

Stop him!

Jonathan e has it, coming in
low with a great manoeuvre.

He shoots, he scores!

- I love this game, moonpie! I love it.
- Yeah!

We got two games left.
Guess who we're playing first.

Tokyo! Who'd have thought
they'd make it to the play-off?

They're good.
They got the old samurai spirit.

Yeah, but they're
all about this tall.

Two or three little
things make one big thing.

They're liable to climb all
over you and eat your lunch!

I can't get on a man-to-man
basis with a pygmy or an oriental.

I don't know what it is.

You were fine
tonight, all of you.

Mean! Sharp!

- You boys did well again.
- Thank you, mr Bartholomew.

- And you, you rolled, you really rolled.
- Yeah.

You play like our champion here.
You take lessons from him?

No, we just give
lessons to the other team!

- How are you, Jonathan?
- I'm feelin' mean, mr Bartholomew.

- It's good to see you.
- Jonathan e, that's the name.

Houston players come and go,
but the champion plays on.

The energy corporation has a hard time
figuring out ways to pay the champion.

We can't think up more rewards. You'd
like us to have that problem with you?

Yes, sir!

Like Jonathan, you play with abandon.

But this is Jonathan's season.

Every season seems to
be Jonathan's season.

But this year,
we've got you on multivision.

A special show all about you.

No player ever had that before.

The whole world will be watching,
because this is your year.

You got it, babe!

- So, two games left.
- That's right, mr Bartholomew.

New York in the final!

The team seems healthy.
The champion says he feels mean.

No problems here.

- What is this? Fruit juice?
- Very healthy, mr Bartholomew.

Sweet dreams, moonpie.

It's a bad habit you got there.

You know what that habit
will make you dream, moonpie?

You'll dream you're an executive.

You'll have your hands
on all the controls,

and you'll wear a grey suit
and you'll make decisions.

But you know what, moonpie?

You know what those executives dream about,
out there behind their desks?

They dream they're
great rollerballers.

They dream they're Jonathan.
They have muscles.

- They bash in faces.
- Yeah!

Ready to go.
Can't keep these boys here all night.

Jonathan, come and see me tomorrow.

Good night, mr Bartholomew.

Shh! Quiet, quiet.

This is a great team.
A great city.

Great stuff out there tonight.

Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!

Jonathan! Jonathan!

- Good morning. Brutal game last night.
- Thank you.

- So it's Tokyo in the semi-finals?
- That's right.

Continue to hold the
calls, all right?

Come in, Jonathan. Keep silence with
me for a minute, won't you?

It's important to have a
place to think things out.

You have your ranch. I know you
take a lot of pleasure in it.

I cut my finger.

Sorry. Here.

You've had an amazing
career, Jonathan.

You know how proud we
are of the Houston team,

and what we think
of you at energy.

But now, there are
executives who want you out.

Sir?

You've had 10 years in
this game, Jonathan.

Longer than anyone ever.

- Retire... how can I do that?
- On your special programme.

Some people feel this programme should
be used to announce your retirement.

Who wants that?

When this special was first
planned by us here at energy,

we saw it as a good thing.

Now the executive
directorate wants a change.

The programme is scheduled,
the world is waiting,

so this does seem
the perfect time.

The team, they depend on me.

Jonathan, let's think
this through together.

You know how the game serves us.

It has a definite
social purpose.

Nations are bankrupt, gone.

None of that tribal
warfare any more.

Even the corporate wars
are a thing of the past.

I know that...

So now we have the
majors and their executives.

Transport, food, communication,

housing, luxury, energy.

A few of us making decisions on a
global basis for the common good.

The team is a unit.
It plays with certain rhythms.

So does an executive
team, Jonathan.

Now everyone has all the
comforts, you know that.

No poverty, no sickness.

No needs and many luxuries,

which you enjoy just as if you
were in the executive class.

Corporate society takes
care of everything.

And all it asks of anyone,
all it has ever asked of anyone ever,

is not to interfere with
management decisions.

I don't mean to resist.
I'm just trying to understand.

This is for your own benefit.
You must know that, Jonathan.

All decisions concerning you are.

Well, I lost Ella.

They took my wife,
because an executive wanted her.

I won't review all that again.

That was before I took over and
I had nothing to do with it.

From what I hear, your wife
wanted to leave herself.

So, now you're going to retire.

That shouldn't be
too hard for you.

Stupid game, after all.
Awful game.

You ought to be glad
to be out of it.

I don't...

I don't know, mr Bartholomew.
I just don't know.

I realise you had
nothing to do with Ella.

- Jonathan, I...
- But...

You're right.

I mean, I oughta do...

I oughta be happy
to do what you say.

Take your time. Take a few days.

You've just come through a game.
You're tired.

Go to your ranch,
but think about it.

And understand it.

Do understand it.

Because I don't
understand your resistance.

And I don't think
anyone else will either.

- Is clete here?
- In the training room.

I'll go say hello.

Jonathan?

Look what I got for breakfast.

It's a notice from
the corporation.

What's it say?

That I should get out of here.
You know, go away, vanish.

That kind of thing.
You know anything about that?

Yeah, I kinda heard
something about it.

You knew it was coming.

We've been together six months.

Didn't you even
wanna say goodbye?

- We'll talk about it later, ok?
- You didn't, did you?

You didn't even want me
here when you got back.

I gotta go see cletus.

- What do you want me to do now?
- I want you to take it easy.

I want you to go in and
fix us something to eat.

Clete's come a long way and I'm hungry.
All right?

Jonathan?

I'm glad you're all right.

Come on. All right, come on.

- I ain't tired enough.
- Yeah!

It caught you, didn't it, baby?
Two games running.

- What?
- You did that in the last two games.

Shoulder forward left.
You're standing on your left skate.

Do that in Tokyo, they'll take your
arm home for lunch. You with me?

Ok. You practise
that for me a little?

Hell, I forget which
corporation is which.

Any ass knows that fire's energy.

Who wrote the music?
Where does the music come from?

- Ok if I have one of these?
- Go on, have a holiday.

I forget what
corporation's running what city.

Chicago's still the food city.

But what about Indianapolis?
Whatever happened to that town?

Whatever happened to mackie?

Everything was much simpler when I
was a kid. We still had three nations.

That was before the corporate wars,
even before rollerball. Before everything.

Do you believe in kids?

I remember hearing about the
national football league and the world cup.

- Where are you going?
- Indianapolis.

What do you know about
that stuff, clete?

You know, how the corporations got
started, about the corporate wars.

They were nasty!

- Well, nobody talks about that.
- Well, except for friends.

Yeah.

I remember your rookie year.

You were mean and tight.
The best player I ever coached.

Nobody could lay a hand on
you that year. Remember?

Yeah.

Look, I gotta ask you something.

That figures.
Go ahead, I'm listening.

Well, there's something
going on with the game.

I don't know what it is.
I don't think I'm supposed to know.

- What's that?
- They want me to quit.

Why would they want
you to do that?

I don't know. That's what
I'd like you to find out.

I can try.

I hear just about everything going
on in the game, one way or another.

That's what I mean. I can't think of
another executive who'd tell me a thing.

Like I say,

I'll try.

- But I don't think there's much...
- Look, no troubles for either of us, clete.

Just find out what you can.

Trust me, Jonathan.
You know you can.

Sure. Well, sit down.

Yeah!

Thanks, boys.

Good show, Johnny.

That's the Houston stride.

You boys wanna play for Houston,
you'll have to learn it.

We pride ourselves on
being a power team.

- That's right.
- We're power, we're mean.

That doesn't mean to say we like to
have you hanging back there on a rail,

just fightin' somebody in section
a, when you should be in section b.

I'm coming up to score and
you ain't in the section,

- it won't do us no good.
- That's right.

Who's the two new catchers here?

Right. Gimme that ball.

Don't stick your hand in
that gutter too quick.

Wait till this ball
comes down on the track.

Don't get too anxious.
That thing'll take your arm off.

Now the bikers.

A biker might sacrifice a
little three-minute penalty,

run over the top of a skater, if he
feels he's skating a little too good.

So we have a few methods here in Houston.
There's hundreds.

One, of course, is to use this shield.
Use your pads. Use what you got.

Drive that arm in there.

Keep your feet forward. Hit, move,
you get away from the wreck.

Don't come across in here.
You get all twisted.

Or if a biker's sitting up nice and high,
a lot of guys like to ride high,

drag one off in mid-air.
I hurt you, blue?

I wouldn't hurt him for the world.

Now a third method, and the one
perfected by a little friend of mine...

- The swoop.
- Whoa!

The swooper, that's me!

Hang up on the rail,
use the speed of the track,

come down and drop-kick a biker.

Say, excuse me.

You're not paying a whole
lot of attention, are you?

- What's this dude's name?
- That's our new speedball from Manila.

Yeah, you know. That's toughie.

Come on up, tough.

He's a big honker.

Say, why don't you do me
and the boys a favour?

Since you know all there is
to know, we'd appreciate it.

Why not give us a demonstration?
Show us how you made that big rep.

Just skate around
and just take me out?

Go get him, toughie.

Now, eyes... use 'em.
Don't lock your eyes in one spot.

This game isn't all muscle.
Use your head.

Lock your eyes on the
target and keep...

Ears.
They're real important, too.

If there's anything I love,
it's luxury centres.

When I get my privilege card,
I know what I'm gonna get me, too.

- A secretary.
- What for?

You planning on
becoming an executive?

I just need one.
About this tall.

Yeah?
Why don't you give it a rest?

- Can I help you, please?
- Yeah. I tried to order some books.

They said I had to appear
at the centre personally.

That's right, this is our circulation unit.
Make your choice here or by catalogue.

There must be a mistake.
These books are classified.

They have been
transcribed and summarised.

- Who summarises them?
- I suppose the computers do.

- What do you need books for?
- I wanna study up on some things.

You could go to the computer
centre where the real librarians are.

But we have all the edited versions here.
Anything I think you'd want.

Let's see, then. This is not a library
and you're really not a librarian.

I'm only a clerk, that's right.
I'm sorry, really.

The books are really in computer
banks being summarised? Where is that?

There's a computer
bank in Washington.

The biggest is in Geneva.
That's a nice place to visit.

- I guess that's where the books are now.
- Thank you.

It's not that exactly.

Yeah, but books, Jonathan?

Anything you wanna know, you
could hire a corporate teacher.

You could call somebody
up, use your privilege card.

I can't. That's just it.

I think there's something going on.
Somebody's pushing me.

Who? Bartholomew?

But you're Jonathan e. Everybody knows you.
You've got everything!

You know you'll be treated right.
You always have been.

Yeah. I don't know.

Well, I do know. We're living good.
You know we are.

I found this to wear.
Is it all right?

That's the uniform of the house.

I'm Daphne.

Yeah. That figures.

It's all right.

Here. Wear these, too.

That's right. No penalties.
Limited substitutions.

You can handle it!
You can beat Tokyo!

All we gotta do is
change our tactics.

There's always been rule changes.
You know that!

It gets more people to watch the
game, that's all there is to it.

You all signed contracts to finish the
season, no matter what the alterations.

- Every last one of you signed.
- See, now we all signed a contract...

It doesn't matter! We're not gonna lose,
no matter how they change the game.

That's right. That's right.

All it means is a
change of strategy.

We knock out their bikers
early, then their skaters.

Don't try to score yourselves
and the game's yours.

Watch yourselves out there.
They're playing the same rules we are.

It's gonna be rough.
But it's still basically the same game.

And the team with the power wins.

That's easy to say, man!

Hey, rusty.

Hey! Wait a minute.

Hey, rusty, come on.

Listen, you were talking
about them contracts.

How come everyone else has got
to play with the no-penalty rule,

and they're
pressuring me to quit?

I don't know.

But can't you do what you're told?
For your own good, get out.

L... don't wanna leave the guys to
play Tokyo with the rules breaking down.

Jonathan, it doesn't
matter what you want!

You think about that.

These are in slow-motion to show the
impact of your blows on opponents.

Yeah, fine.

We want you to
approve the sequences.

It's, erm...

It's all fine with me. Anything.

I really don't see
why I'm needed here.

Well, the energy people
want you to be satisfied.

There, now.
Isn't that a marvellous shot?

Sure.

I'm a stat freak myself.
Isn't that perverse?

Have you got
anything I can take?

Just take one.

Statistics?

Yes. The greatest number of
points scored in a single game - 18.

The highest velocity of a ball when
actually fielded by a skater - 120mph.

Most deaths...

Please. Don't do that.

Most deaths - 9. Rome versus
Pittsburgh, December last year.

The greatest number of
players put out of action

by a single player in
a single game - 13.

A world record,
courtesy of your dear self.

There have been studies of
stat freaks in rollerball.

Some go to the track, but they
never take their eyes off the big board.

What's this?

I always wonder if a rollerball
player sees himself as a class apart.

"Hello... pause.”

"I'm Jonathan e... smile."

"I would like..." This for me?

Very astute. Yes.
It's your retirement announcement.

Your special is already
scheduled all over the world.

You're supposed to read this
as part of the programme.

- What sort of pill did you give me?
- Pure aphrodisiac, daph. Enjoy yourself.

Can't we finish up
here and go home?

You are being recorded.

- Feeling woozy?
- Try to read the announcement.

I'm all right.

Why don't you read the...?

How many assignments
you been on, daph?

You're good at what you're good at,
so you must've been around some.

A lot of girls have stayed
with me, but you know that.

Never seemed to mind.

But odd thoughts I've had
about you, daph. Odd thoughts.

- Wondered if you'd been briefed on me.
- I'll ask you to read...

Yeah, a lot of things occur to me, daph.
A lot of things occur to you?

You look terrible.

You do look terrible.

Come on.

You shouldn't take anything
offered to you just like that.

- What was in it?
- Nothing to hurt you.

You're too trusting.
Ever think of that?

Hook 'em deep now!

They're good boys, but
they're a bit rough.

Thank you.

As you know, the Tokyo
game is coming up.

You will remember that the Tokyo
team uses karate and hapkido techniques.

We will review these techniques with
special attention to deathblows.

Same lecture every year!

There are certain body areas that
skilled opponents will endeavour to strike.

What we got for our skilled opponents
is the Houston fist-in-the-face technique!

Especially in a game
with no penalties...

Gotta get mad, all right? Play hard. Don't
matter if they're all tiny little men.

Especially in a game with no
penalties and limited substitutions.

- Get mad and fly!
- Please...

I know about certain body areas, too.
We gotta hit those guys in the ganglia.

- Where?
- In the ganglia.

That's a mess of
nerves under the ear.

You gotta drive the jawbone up in that
mess of nerves and it rings a bell.

You must understand...

The Tokyo team has a very
eccentric playing style.

And no penalties! If I go down,
I know my team is with me, right?

- Please...
- Brute speed!

Familiarise yourself with the
basic fighting-art techniques.

Nobody's gonna take
us, rules or no rules!

- Go on.
- This is the Houston team!

- Rules or no rules!
- We fight for each other!

Houston! Houston! Huston!

They're really quite beautiful,
in a wild kind of way.

- I can almost smell the lions.
- Don't be silly. They're made in Detroit.

They're android.
They're all programmed.

That's right, the whole
game is played by robots.

They look like men
and they bleed!

Not so loud, they'll hear you.

It'll ensure stability, expansion and
profits for the planetary enterprise.

- What do you think about that?
- You make it sound absolutely romantic.

He's gorgeous,
absolutely gorgeous.

I know, but he's so intelligent.
I'm practically living on bright pills.

Hey, here he is.

Hey, Johnny boy! Hey, kid!

Come on, let's hear it. Come on!

- Gimme a hand. I got too much here.
- Behave yourself.

Hello, mackie.

Well, how you been?

It's your night tonight, Jonathan.

Having a good time?

I'm glad you're here.

I'm here with an executive.

He asked all about you.

Wanted to know if I enjoyed you.

Hey, rookie! Give her your hand.

It's too much!

- What about the new game?
- I haven't heard much about it.

The rule changes were
announced a week ago.

- Who changed them?
- I've been trying to find out.

Rules or no rules,
it's still the same game.

- I'm looking forward to the programme.
- When you see that screen replay...

- Did you hear about Evans?
- What?

- He's out. Gone.
- No kidding.

The old man? Who got him?

- What?
- I said who got him?

The crocodile.

Do you like poetry?

Why don't you come upstairs?
I got a poem for you.

Welcome, sports enthusiasts everywhere.

Tonight, multivision trains its cameras
on the amazing career of Jonathan e.

As Houston began to mould itself
into a world championship team,

- the attacking style of Jonathan e...
- Jonathan, you're on!

Has always been the
team's strongest asset.

Yes, the game seems
invented for him.

Jonathan! Jonathan!

Look, I talked to
everybody I could.

There is something going on,
you're right about that.

Nobody will talk about it,
I mean nobody!

It's hard finding anything out, Jonathan.
You know that.

Hell, nobody even knows the names of
the men on the directorate any more.

Look, I'm sorry.

- They want you out, you know that.
- Yeah.

But do you know who they are?

Bartholomew, I guess.

Above Bartholomew.
It's the executive directorate.

- Why would they worry about me?
- Well, they do.

They're even after the old man because
he didn't get your retirement announced.

- Why put the programme on without it?
- I think they had to.

They didn't want to.
It's very tricky.

Jonathan, there's one
thing you ought to know.

Look, nobody's said it,
but I'm sure of it.

They're afraid of you, Jonathan.

All the way to the top, they are.

What are they afraid of me for?

Don't go yet.
We're showing some replays.

Let's see 'em then!

Mr Bartholomew would like to see you now.
He's in the study.

Come on, hurry up!

You know I've always considered
your situation, Jonathan,

and your needs.

Now you have to
consider mine and ours.

I'm considering it,
mr Bartholomew.

No player is greater
than the game itself.

It's a significant game
in a number of ways.

The velocities of the ball,
the awful physics of the track.

And in the middle of it all,
men playing by an odd set of rules.

It's not a game a man is supposed
to grow strong in, Jonathan.

- You appreciate that, don't you?
- More and more, mr Bartholomew.

Shoot that statue! That's the one!
Shoot that!

Hey, the tree!

You must take good advice.

You're not to play against Tokyo.
You're not to play again.

- I want some concessions.
- Concessions?

Believe me, I'd be happy to talk
a deal, Jonathan. I love deals.

But this situation
is much, much simpler.

This multivision event
tonight was very embarrassing.

For me and for others.

It might be I won't ever find out why
I've been asked to leave the game,

but I do know I can get some
concessions and I want them.

You missed!

I wanna see Ella my wife.
Arrange it so I can see her again.

That's not easy, Jonathan.

I want other concessions,
too, mr Bartholomew.

Look at that!

I've never seen anything like
that in my life! That's incredible!

That's terrific. Terrific!

Specifically, you're
bargaining for the right to stay

in a horrible social spectacle.

It has its purposes. You've served
those purposes brilliantly.

Why argue when you can quit?

And you say you want to
know why decisions are made.

Your future comfort is assured.
You don't need to know.

Why argue about decisions you're not
powerful enough to make for yourself?

Energy will treat you well,
you know that.

If the rule changes stay,
mr Bartholomew, I'm playing with my team.

Too late. The rule change
is scheduled and announced.

There's no going back.
You've seen to that.

I'll see you in Tokyo.

You can be made to quit.
You can be forced.

You can't make me quit.

Don't tell me I can't.
Don't ever say that! I can!

You can be stopped!

Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!

You could have killed someone!

- It's all going too fast. I'm not packed.
- You're not going, daph.

Those bags are ready. Here.
Take this extra hat.

Sir, I've had a call.
I have to go over to energy.

- You're not going to Tokyo?
- What do you mean, I'm not going?

I hope this isn't
an inconvenience.

No, no, it's no problem.

I'm supposed to go with you.

Well, what's that mean?

Who told you you're
supposed to go with me?

Nobody told me.

Listen, Jonathan, I really wanna go
with you. I do really. You'll need me.

Get yourself another
assignment, will you, daph?

Everybody's an assignment.
Life's an assignment.

You better do as you're told, Jonathan.
That's all I have to say.

Are you threatening me?

- Don't be here when I come back.
- You won't be back, Johnny boy...

Don't try to frighten me,
Daphne, you don't know how.

You go tell them people that I'm
going to Tokyo and you're not?

- You tell them that.
- No!

Ciao!

Keller.

Make sure my gear gets
to the track in Tokyo.

I'm gonna travel with the team this trip.
You call transportation and tell them.

Yes, sir.

What chance does Houston have
of defeating Tokyo tonight?

Both teams have fine
players and different styles.

- What do you say, moonpie?
- Yeah, yeah...

It's not an even match, see, because the
Tokyo team has all these little short guys!

Tokyo! Tokyo! Tokyo!

What about the rule changes?

Well, at Houston, we kinda
play a wide-open system.

Will you comment on a game where
the rules are always changing?

The game's always had rule changes.
They don't affect the good teams.

You're a great new player.
What's the secret of your success?

It's no secret. I just imitate him
and plastic surgery keeps me beautiful.

There are rumours that the last game of
the season will be without time limits.

Any comments?

I don't think it'll come to that.
It's still a game.

There are also other rumours
you're retiring from the game.

Here I am.

Corporate society was
an inevitable destiny,

a material dream world.

Everything man touched
became attainable.

I've been touched all my life,
one way or the other.

Either caressed or hit.

Don't much seem to
matter which any more.

I guess that's why I
wanna see Ella again.

To see if I still
feel things now.

You know what I mean?

Yeah...

There are some
other things, too.

They took Ella away from me.

Now they're trying
to push me out.

I'd sure like to find out why.

I think I'll go to one
of them computer centres.

See what I can find out.

Finding out things, that's...

That's the thing, moonpie.

Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!

Hello, everyone, and
welcome to Tokyo

and tonight's
dramatic semi-final match

for the world's rollerball championship
between hosts Tokyo and Houston.

Big rule changes tonight.

There will be no penalties called
and there is limited substitution.

Ladies and gentlemen, please
stand for our corporate hymn.

Tokyo! Tokyo!

The controller for tonight's game
cc Nakamura.

- You all right?
- Yeah, I'm all right.

I just wanna get out there
and hit them little fellas.

Listen, stay close now,
all right?

Yeah. Ok, Johnny.
Let's go, let's go!

Attention.
Your attention, please.

Rule changes for tonight's game:
Limited substitution and no penalties.

The controller checks the
computer, ready to fire,

and the first ball is fired,
the game is under way.

Remember, there'll be no
penalties and limited substitutions.

This promises to be a
punishing game for both teams.

- Here they come!
- Next time around.

- Spread! Spread out!”
- All right, boys! Go ahead!

Stick him!

Stay close now, stay close.

Stick with 'em!

Go, go, go!

There's a scramble in
front of the goal.

Kubo, on his knees, scores!

Kubo scores from a kneeling
position in front of the goal.

And Tokyo takes a 1-0
lead over Houston.

This is a fast-paced game
tonight with Tokyo leading 1-0.

Houston being pressured
by the faster Tokyo team.

The second ball is fired.

- Spread out!
- Slow 'em down!

Spread out!

The faster tactics
of the Tokyo team.

And now Houston, their bikers
and skaters form a wall.

- Watch the ball!
- Jam 'em outta there!

Bike, bike!

Bike him! Bike him!

You got him, baby, you got him!

The ball is fired,

the second period is
underway with Tokyo leading.

Houston forced to come
from behind tonight.

Here you go.

Watch the man behind me!
Watch the man behind me!

The ball is in play again.
It's scooped up by Carter for Houston.

Houston on the offensive attack.

Come on!

Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!

Right in the slot,
through three men and he scores!

Houston goal scored
by Jonathan e!

The time - 12.05, second period.

- I love this game!
- Yeah!

Some injuries here as three
players are helped off the track.

- Sprint!
- Yeah, right!

Come on, moonpie! Over here!
Over here!

- What the hell are those guys doing?
- I don't know. Stay close.

I told you to stay close.

All right, turn loose
next time around.

All right? Go on,
go on, go on, go on!

Moonpie!

I got him, I got him!
Let me have him!

Take it easy. Everything'll be all right.
Sit down over here.

Sit right here.
Everything's gonna be all right.

Medic, hey, medic, come over here!
Come on!

Moonpie!

- Come on, moonpie.
- Come on, get some help!

Set him down, set him down!

Just a bit more. Breathe.

Come on now, moonpie.

Come on, moonpie!

Come on, Tokyo! Go get 'em!

Go, go, go, Tokyo!

Jonathan, watch yourself out there!
Now, watch them!

Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!

Keep behind, blue.

Look out!

Jonathan e!
Time in the third period - 11:35.

Sprint! Sprint!

Roll out! Roll out!

Blue!

This way, please.

May I say first, please, that you
played a superb game in our city.

Thank you.

A simple problem, yet I know
it is difficult for you.

Your team-mate has no
family we can contact,

and permission is required
now before consummating matters.

So, he's technically dead?

Yes, unfortunately.

His heart and lungs will function,
but his brain is, er...

It has expired.

From the first minutes, it was hopeless.
I believe this was explained to you.

He's warm.

Yes. But if you will, please,
you must sign a release form.

It is required.

Does he, er...?

Does he dream?

No, there is no brain wave at
all, no sort of consciousness.

Just a deep coma, a vegetable.

No dreams, nothing.

But even a plant, er...
Feels something.

Who can say? Please.

It... senses life.

I mean, it, er...
Turns towards the sun.

- It's alive, isn't it?
- You must sign.

You...

You just leave him the way he is.

- Just leave him as he is.
- You must sign. There's no other way.

- Arrangements will be made.
- Please!

- There are hospital rules that...
- No, there aren't.

There aren't any rules at all.

Let me know if you
have any problems.

You won't find any
answers in Geneva.

Take care of your arm.

In my opinion, we are confronted
here with something of a situation.

Otherwise I would not have
presumed to take up your time.

Once again, it concerns
the case of Jonathan e.

We don't want anything
extraordinary to happen to Jonathan.

We've already agreed on that.

No accidents, nothing unnatural.

The game was created to demonstrate
the futility of individual effort.

Let the game do its work.

The energy corporation
has done all it can.

If a champion defeats the meaning
for which the game was designed,

then he must lose.

I hope you agree
with my reasoning.

Thank you all.

Will you follow me, please?

Hello! Hello! Yes, it is!

The famous Jonathan e.
Hard to believe.

Sorry things are in a mess.
The rollerball champion. Wonderful!

Not many people come
to see us, you know.

We're not easy to
talk to, zero and I.

We're a little
confused again here today.

This is embarrassing.

It's embarrassing
to misplace things.

- You've misplaced some data?
- The whole of the 13th century.

Misplaced the computers,
several conventional computers.

We can't find them.

We're always moving things
around, getting organised...

My assistants and I.
But this is zero's fault.

Zero, he's the
world's file cabinet.

Pity. Poor old 13th century.

Well, come along now.
You want to get started, don't you?

Yes, sir.

This way.

Now...

We've lost those computers with
all of the 13th century in them.

Not much in the century,
just Dante and a few corrupt popes.

But it's so distracting
and annoying.

You've unlimited restrictions here,
of course,

but you'll have to come so,
so many times.

It all takes such effort.

Do the executives
still come here?

They used to, some of them.

- What about the books?
- Books, books? They're all changed.

All transcribed.
All information is here.

We've zero, of course. He's the
central brain, the world's brain.

Fluid mechanics, fluidics.

He's liquid, you see.

His waters touch all knowledge.

Everything we ask has
become so complicated now.

Each thing we ask... this morning we
wanted to know about the 13th century.

He flows out into all
our storage systems.

He considers everything.

He's become so ambiguous now,

as if he knows nothing at all.

Erm... could you tell
me about the corporate wars?

Wars, wars? Yes, of course,
we have them all here.

Punic war, prussian war,
peloponnesian war.

Crimean war, wars of the roses.

One doesn't recall them in
sequence, but corporate wars...

Well, zero will or can,
I'm sure, tell you anything.

A memory pool, you see.

He's supposed to tell us where things
are and what they might possibly mean.

Look, zero. A visitor.

Jonathan e,
the rollerball champion.

You've filed away a
lot of data on him.

Do you remember?

- Does it answer you?
- Yes, it speaks.

It finds things

and loses them,

and confuses itself.

Ask anything, he'll find it
for you, section and lot.

Won't you, zero?

All right. I'd like, erm...

I'd like some information
about corporate decisions,

how they're made
and who makes them.

Zero, you heard the question.

Answer him.

Negative.

You don't have to give him
a full political briefing.

- Answer.
- Negative.

This is Jonathan e.
He has to know.

Make it simple.

Answer.

Corporate decisions are made
by corporate executives.

- Corporate executives make...
- I know we have the answers.

Knowledge converts to power.
Energy equals genius.

- Power is knowledge.
- I don't want to bully you.

Genius is energy.

- Corporate entities control elements...
- But you have to answer!

Of economic life,
technology, capital,

labour and markets.

Corporate decisions are made by...

- You have to, zero!
- The 13th century...

- Negative, negative, negative...
- It's so embarrassing!

Negative. Negative. Negative...

Hello, Johnny.

How are you, Ella?

Nervous.

How are you?

I'm all right, I guess.

What are you doing?

Looking at you.

Counting your scars.

Seeing how you've changed.

You mean that's how I've changed?
Just a little more beat-up.

No...

You're just not...

Yeah, well...

Come on.

You want a drink or something?

No, thank you.

You have a lovely place.

Thank you. Well,
I've seen your house.

You have?

Yeah, when we played in Rome,

I stood a block away

and, er... watched your front
gate for a couple of hours.

I was just, er...

Standing there wondering...

Wwhat your furniture was like, what
you said to each other in the mornings.

What's he like?
What's he do, this...?

He's a city engineer.

We have a jet-copter, a son,

two cats and a
place in the alps.

You don't really want
to hear all of this.

- A son?
- Yes.

We have a lot of friends.

And he has a lover. We have
furniture a lot like yours.

Same taste in furniture.
How about that?

You know, Johnny,

all they want is a kind of incidental
control over just a part of our lives.

They have control economically and
politically, but they also provide.

- You know they do.
- Provide?

They were responsible
for taking you away,

and I started to hate them.

But they weren't.
It was the game, Johnny.

I mean,
it was so important to you.

It was as if I
wasn't even there.

The play, there was nothing else.

I'm sorry.

You know I wanted you here.
Well, I mean...

This might sound
all wrong, but...

Well, I was just trying to...
Remember myself then.

Yeah.

Maybe it was...
Love I wanted to try to remember.

There's a lot of things
I wanna talk to you about.

Yeah.

I've been thinking, Ella.

Thinking a lot.

I've been watching.

It's like people had a choice
a long time ago between...

Well, having all them
nice things or freedom.

Of course, they chose comfort.

But comfort is freedom.
It always has been.

The history of civilisation is the
struggle against poverty and need.

No! No, that's not it.
That's never been it.

I mean, them privileges
just buy us off.

Look...

They want me to quit, Ella.

Then quit.

Just like that?

But you've got to do it now.

You've got to, before it's too late,
whether you want to or not.

Look, Johnny...

The next game, there won't be any
substitutions allowed. And no time limit.

You'll die, Johnny.
Everybody will die.

No time limit.
They tell you that?

Yes.

- They tell you to convince me to quit?
- Yes, but that isn't why I came here.

You have to get out
for your own sake.

Please, Johnny, please.

Did they tell you to
stay if I did quit?

Are you my big reward?

You still don't understand
why I came here.

You're the only
person I ever wanted.

I wanted you on my side, that's all.

It's like you're a god now.

Maybe you know what I don't.

I've been so stupid for so long.

I've been so stubborn.

I don't even know why.
It scares me.

I know I'm probably gonna...
I'm probably gonna die.

And you'll be in there pumping
away long after I'm gone.

Hey, you... you got
it made, old buddy.

Bluebonnets and everything.

Houston! Houston! Houston!

Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!

Jonathan's dead!
Jonathan's dead!

Jonathan's dead!
Jonathan's dead!

Jonathan's dead!
Jonathan's dead!

Houston! Houston! Houston!

Attention.
Your attention, please.

Rule changes for tonight's
world championship game.

No substitutions, no penalties,

and no time limit!

Watch now, he's got the ball.
Next time around, we defend.

Come on! Come on,
get outta there!

Get him up.

He did it!

Get him in the elevator.

Get off the rail!

Get him off the track!

I don't want another man on that track!
Houston, what the hell are you doing?

- Ain't nobody gonna win this game!
- Game?

This wasn't meant to be a game!
Never!

Watch his leg. Easy, easy!

Let me have him.
Let me have him!

Move out. Move out!

Jonathan...

Jonathan...

Jonathan. Jonathan. Jonathan...

Jonathan!

Jonathan! Jonathan!

Jonathan!

Jonathan!