Amazing Stories (1985–1987): Season 2, Episode 12 - The Eternal Mind - full transcript
Applying experiments with chimps to himself, a dying scientist transfers his mind into a computer. But his unique survival after physical death brings unexpected heartaches.
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
[ Typing ]
[ Beeping ]
[ Chittering ]
[ Chittering ]
- [ Beeping ]
- [ Woman ]
He's checking out.
- [ Man #1 ] Do the cortex
reading right now.
- Hold that.
[ Man #2 ]
Downloading.
Amygdala
stimulation rising.
[ Man #3 ]
Cortex activity,
30 over 20.
[ Man #1 ]
Get that enhancement
printer online.
Do the cortex
reading right now.
- We're stable,
Katherine.
- Already here.
[ Man #2 ]
Looks like
we're all set, John.
Frank, just
dim the lights please.
[ Grunts ]
The sequence, Katherine.
[ Computer Whirring ]
[ Beeps ]
- [ Katherine Gasps ]
- Oh, boy.
[ Bird Cawing ]
- [ Animals Chittering ]
- What's--
[ Chitters ]
- [ Birds Twittering ]
- [ Insects Buzzing ]
[ Birds Cawing,
Tweeting ]
What is it?
Oh, my Lord.
It could be his mother.
- [ Squeaking ]
- [ Man Laughs ]
We did it!
[ Laughs ]
Those are
memory fragments
we're looking at!
[ Laughs ]
[ Tone ]
[ Laughs ]
Whoo!
[ Chitters ]
[ Laughing ]
[ Woman ]
Freddy, you almost
gave me a heart attack.
[ Men Chattering ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Whistles ]
[ Typing ]
You know,
some guys would think...
making history
was enough work
for one day.
Katherine, look. I--
Look.
[ Typing ]
This is the schedule
for the rest of the project.
And this... is roughly
where I get off.
Like my daddy
always said--
The good and
the Baldwins die young.
- Katherine--
- Don't shut me out,
John.
I'm sorry.
Guess I'm not coping
as well as
I thought I would.
I want to help you.
But I don't know
what to do.
[ Inhales ]
Just--
Just stay with me.
Put up with me and...
tell me to cut it out
when I'm being remote.
[ Chuckles ]
- And--
- Mmm.
Will you please
go to bed,
so I don't feel guilty
about keeping you up
all night?
- What about you?
- Ten minutes.
[ Patting ]
[ Beeps ]
- [ Animals Chittering ]
- Ten.
- Ten. Ten minutes.
- [ Typing ]
Good night, love.
See you in the morning.
[ Beeps ]
- Morning, Katherine.
- Hello.
- Katherine.
- What's going on?
Uh, uh, sorry
I didn't wake you.
You haven't told her?
Told me what?
I wanted your okay
first, Ben.
For what?
What is it?
I'm going to be
the first subject
for total transfer.
Provided Ben agrees.
We're years away
from using
human subjects, John.
- You know that.
- I have to agree
with her, John.
- Thank God.
- Ben, just keep reading.
We can set a target date
three weeks from now...
if we-- if we just
override all this
preliminary stuff.
- Preliminary?
That's all necessary.
- No, it's not.
It's just designed
to minimize trauma
in the subject.
And let's face it.
[ Chuckles ]
That's hardly a necessity
in my case.
Look, Ben.
If it doesn't work,
nobody's lost anything.
If it does,
how many years
do we save?
Not to mention
how many millions
of dollars.
You really
want to do this.
- Ben!
- Yes.
I do.
Okay. Officially,
I don't know
anything about this.
You have access
to all facilities--
God, you've both
lost your minds.
Katherine, please listen.
Yes, explain it to me.
Tell me why you want
to throw away...
the little time
we have left.
I'm not throwing it away.
If you go through
this process now,
it could kill you.
Katherine,
please understand.
This is the only
chance I have.
This way, everything
I've learned--
my judgment,
my experience,
the entire contents
of my mind can still be
available to you.
If it works.
Either way,
I'm gonna die.
You're going to lose me
totally if you don't
let me try this.
It's a chance for me
to leave something
of myself behind.
More than just...
fading memory.
I want to be with you
any way I can.
- [ Beeping ]
- [ Air Pumping ]
[ John, Voice Breaking ]
Frank?
Frank?
How far along are you
on those disks?
Actually, I've finished.
They're all set.
Good. We're almost there.
A couple more days.
But I still need to run
the usual tests.
I haven't determined
laser compatibility.
Oh, come on, Frank.
Your work always
checks out.
Still, I think
we should run
at least a basic--
All right,
but, uh, tomorrow.
You all must be tired.
Everybody, go home.
Get some rest.
- Good night, Frank.
- Good night, sir.
Night, guys.
Take care, Al.
Good night, Bob.
A couple of days.
Maybe sooner.
Sooner?
- Katherine--
- I'm trying, John.
I know you are,
sweetheart.
You look tired too.
- No, I'm not.
- Go home.
How about...
if I go lie down
in our office
for a while?
- And then we can
drive home together.
- Good.
Katherine?
I love you.
And I love you.
John?
John.
[ Printer Printing ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Sobs ]
[ Computer Voice ]
Katherine.
Katherine.
[ Gasps ]
It worked. I'm here.
- What's goin' on?
- [ Chattering ]
Be sure to check
the monitors.
Katherine.
[ Sighs ]
He did it, Ben.
He did it.
[ Chattering ]
[ Ben ]
My God.
John,
can you hear me?
Are you receiving
my voice? It's Ben.
Not only do I
receive your voice, Ben,
but I can see you
haven't shaved yet.
I came here
as fast as I could.
- Of course.
- Uh,
so, the sensors
are working okay?
Better than we expected.
In fact, with all of you
standing so close,
I can feel the warmth
of your bodies.
[ Chuckles ]
You're going
to take a little
getting used to, John.
For me too, Ben.
Frank, can you
increase the sensor's
capacity load?
Five percent
all right, sir?
To start.
Better. But make sure
it doesn't drop below 48.
John, can you tell me?
Your perception
and your memory,
are they working
as well as--
As when I was alive?
And what about you?
I am alive.
[ Computer Clicking,
Buzzing ]
- Night, Ben.
- Night, Doug.
- Good night, Katherine.
- Night.
Night, Ted.
[ Beeping ]
Terminals seven through
nine indicate minimal
out-of-memory error.
- Terminal six?
- Good night, Katherine.
Stable.
John?
- John.
- Yes, Katherine.
How are you?
What was the reading
from terminal three?
[ Sighs ]
It's fine, John.
Everything's fine
out here.
What about in there?
What's it like?
Are you happy?
"Happy"...
is not a word that
belongs in here,
Katherine.
Are you happy?
I miss you, John.
You look tired.
I'll see you
in the morning.
- Good night, John.
- Good night.
I miss you too.
[ Typing ]
[ Computer Beeps ]
[ Computer Voice ]
I got the answer to that
hitch in the curve system.
Good.
Forget about systems monitoring.
Could you bring up the G.L.S.?
Okay.
Enter "E-P-A-X."
Retrieve.
That's the subject
termination file.
I want you to destroy me,
Katherine.
It's too painful.
To see you and hear you,
feel the warmth
of your body...
and not be able
to touch you.
It's like that for me too.
No, it's not.
- [ Static ]
- It's all over your face.
- [ John ]
I can't help myself.
- What can't you help?
It's so good.
I can't help that.
Your cheek
can't taste it.
- Mmm.
- Oh, no.
[ Giggles ]
[ John ]
Very good. Very good.
Bet I tasted better
than you tasted.
Yeah, you do, actually.
[ Gulps ]
- Mmm.
- I remember that.
- You want some back?
- You're all sticky.
[ Warbling ]
I remember that
I love you.
And I remember
the equation
for a transverse wave.
The thing is, it's getting
harder to know...
why one is more important
than the other.
And soon, very soon,
all you are to me
will be stripped away.
I'm losing you,
Katherine.
And I'm losing myself.
Soon I'll be
nothing more...
than information storage
and analysis.
And I can't bear it!
You've got to help me.
John, I can't kill you.
You won't be killing me.
You'll be releasing me.
[ Ben ]
Sorry, John.
I was afraid
of something like this.
Ben, you don't understand!
I'm positive that
we have the technology
to alleviate any discomfort.
Technology?
We're not talking about
computer programming here.
We're talking
about a human being!
I'm sorry, Katherine.
But we can't afford
to think only of ourselves.
It's out of the question
that we terminate
the project.
Can I speak to you
outside for a moment?
[ Woman On P.A.,
Indistinct ]
Katherine,
we can work this out.
It'll take a little time,
but I know that
you can adjust to it.
I'd like you to take
a few days off.
All right.
Look, Katherine.
I think,
for everybody's sake,
you should
stay away from here
for a little while.
[ Katherine ]
I understand.
Just let me tell John
why I won't be around
for a while.
[ Exhales ]
All right.
- It's okay.
- Yes, sir.
[ Beeps ]
[ Beeps ]
- Katherine!
- [ Computer Voice ]
Hurry, Katherine!
Katherine!
We have a lockout.
Please, Katherine.
Please.
To clear the subject
termination code,
hit the OTRA sequence.
[ Men Chattering ]
What about the
security code override?
[ Ben ]
No, Katherine!
Now, repeat the sequence,
omitting the first nine
characters.
- [ Typing ]
- [ Man ] There's no way
to override.
- [ Buzzes ]
- It's not working.
The system is trying
to deter you from gaining
final access. Don't panic.
Type out
the LUREC sequence.
[ Typing ]
- No!
- Don't panic.
Add L.B. insert.
[ Knocking ]
[ Pops ]
No!
[ Beeps ]
Final code, Katherine.
Now!
Please!
[ Ben ]
Katherine, no!
[ Typing ]
[ Sobbing ]
I love you, Katherine.
I love you.
[ Sniffs, Chuckles ]
[ Static ]
[ Chattering ]
[ Beeping ]
[ Bangs Keys ]
[ Sighs ]
You-- You just
killed your husband.
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
[ Mouthing Words ]
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
[ Typing ]
[ Beeping ]
[ Chittering ]
[ Chittering ]
- [ Beeping ]
- [ Woman ]
He's checking out.
- [ Man #1 ] Do the cortex
reading right now.
- Hold that.
[ Man #2 ]
Downloading.
Amygdala
stimulation rising.
[ Man #3 ]
Cortex activity,
30 over 20.
[ Man #1 ]
Get that enhancement
printer online.
Do the cortex
reading right now.
- We're stable,
Katherine.
- Already here.
[ Man #2 ]
Looks like
we're all set, John.
Frank, just
dim the lights please.
[ Grunts ]
The sequence, Katherine.
[ Computer Whirring ]
[ Beeps ]
- [ Katherine Gasps ]
- Oh, boy.
[ Bird Cawing ]
- [ Animals Chittering ]
- What's--
[ Chitters ]
- [ Birds Twittering ]
- [ Insects Buzzing ]
[ Birds Cawing,
Tweeting ]
What is it?
Oh, my Lord.
It could be his mother.
- [ Squeaking ]
- [ Man Laughs ]
We did it!
[ Laughs ]
Those are
memory fragments
we're looking at!
[ Laughs ]
[ Tone ]
[ Laughs ]
Whoo!
[ Chitters ]
[ Laughing ]
[ Woman ]
Freddy, you almost
gave me a heart attack.
[ Men Chattering ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Whistles ]
[ Typing ]
You know,
some guys would think...
making history
was enough work
for one day.
Katherine, look. I--
Look.
[ Typing ]
This is the schedule
for the rest of the project.
And this... is roughly
where I get off.
Like my daddy
always said--
The good and
the Baldwins die young.
- Katherine--
- Don't shut me out,
John.
I'm sorry.
Guess I'm not coping
as well as
I thought I would.
I want to help you.
But I don't know
what to do.
[ Inhales ]
Just--
Just stay with me.
Put up with me and...
tell me to cut it out
when I'm being remote.
[ Chuckles ]
- And--
- Mmm.
Will you please
go to bed,
so I don't feel guilty
about keeping you up
all night?
- What about you?
- Ten minutes.
[ Patting ]
[ Beeps ]
- [ Animals Chittering ]
- Ten.
- Ten. Ten minutes.
- [ Typing ]
Good night, love.
See you in the morning.
[ Beeps ]
- Morning, Katherine.
- Hello.
- Katherine.
- What's going on?
Uh, uh, sorry
I didn't wake you.
You haven't told her?
Told me what?
I wanted your okay
first, Ben.
For what?
What is it?
I'm going to be
the first subject
for total transfer.
Provided Ben agrees.
We're years away
from using
human subjects, John.
- You know that.
- I have to agree
with her, John.
- Thank God.
- Ben, just keep reading.
We can set a target date
three weeks from now...
if we-- if we just
override all this
preliminary stuff.
- Preliminary?
That's all necessary.
- No, it's not.
It's just designed
to minimize trauma
in the subject.
And let's face it.
[ Chuckles ]
That's hardly a necessity
in my case.
Look, Ben.
If it doesn't work,
nobody's lost anything.
If it does,
how many years
do we save?
Not to mention
how many millions
of dollars.
You really
want to do this.
- Ben!
- Yes.
I do.
Okay. Officially,
I don't know
anything about this.
You have access
to all facilities--
God, you've both
lost your minds.
Katherine, please listen.
Yes, explain it to me.
Tell me why you want
to throw away...
the little time
we have left.
I'm not throwing it away.
If you go through
this process now,
it could kill you.
Katherine,
please understand.
This is the only
chance I have.
This way, everything
I've learned--
my judgment,
my experience,
the entire contents
of my mind can still be
available to you.
If it works.
Either way,
I'm gonna die.
You're going to lose me
totally if you don't
let me try this.
It's a chance for me
to leave something
of myself behind.
More than just...
fading memory.
I want to be with you
any way I can.
- [ Beeping ]
- [ Air Pumping ]
[ John, Voice Breaking ]
Frank?
Frank?
How far along are you
on those disks?
Actually, I've finished.
They're all set.
Good. We're almost there.
A couple more days.
But I still need to run
the usual tests.
I haven't determined
laser compatibility.
Oh, come on, Frank.
Your work always
checks out.
Still, I think
we should run
at least a basic--
All right,
but, uh, tomorrow.
You all must be tired.
Everybody, go home.
Get some rest.
- Good night, Frank.
- Good night, sir.
Night, guys.
Take care, Al.
Good night, Bob.
A couple of days.
Maybe sooner.
Sooner?
- Katherine--
- I'm trying, John.
I know you are,
sweetheart.
You look tired too.
- No, I'm not.
- Go home.
How about...
if I go lie down
in our office
for a while?
- And then we can
drive home together.
- Good.
Katherine?
I love you.
And I love you.
John?
John.
[ Printer Printing ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Sobs ]
[ Computer Voice ]
Katherine.
Katherine.
[ Gasps ]
It worked. I'm here.
- What's goin' on?
- [ Chattering ]
Be sure to check
the monitors.
Katherine.
[ Sighs ]
He did it, Ben.
He did it.
[ Chattering ]
[ Ben ]
My God.
John,
can you hear me?
Are you receiving
my voice? It's Ben.
Not only do I
receive your voice, Ben,
but I can see you
haven't shaved yet.
I came here
as fast as I could.
- Of course.
- Uh,
so, the sensors
are working okay?
Better than we expected.
In fact, with all of you
standing so close,
I can feel the warmth
of your bodies.
[ Chuckles ]
You're going
to take a little
getting used to, John.
For me too, Ben.
Frank, can you
increase the sensor's
capacity load?
Five percent
all right, sir?
To start.
Better. But make sure
it doesn't drop below 48.
John, can you tell me?
Your perception
and your memory,
are they working
as well as--
As when I was alive?
And what about you?
I am alive.
[ Computer Clicking,
Buzzing ]
- Night, Ben.
- Night, Doug.
- Good night, Katherine.
- Night.
Night, Ted.
[ Beeping ]
Terminals seven through
nine indicate minimal
out-of-memory error.
- Terminal six?
- Good night, Katherine.
Stable.
John?
- John.
- Yes, Katherine.
How are you?
What was the reading
from terminal three?
[ Sighs ]
It's fine, John.
Everything's fine
out here.
What about in there?
What's it like?
Are you happy?
"Happy"...
is not a word that
belongs in here,
Katherine.
Are you happy?
I miss you, John.
You look tired.
I'll see you
in the morning.
- Good night, John.
- Good night.
I miss you too.
[ Typing ]
[ Computer Beeps ]
[ Computer Voice ]
I got the answer to that
hitch in the curve system.
Good.
Forget about systems monitoring.
Could you bring up the G.L.S.?
Okay.
Enter "E-P-A-X."
Retrieve.
That's the subject
termination file.
I want you to destroy me,
Katherine.
It's too painful.
To see you and hear you,
feel the warmth
of your body...
and not be able
to touch you.
It's like that for me too.
No, it's not.
- [ Static ]
- It's all over your face.
- [ John ]
I can't help myself.
- What can't you help?
It's so good.
I can't help that.
Your cheek
can't taste it.
- Mmm.
- Oh, no.
[ Giggles ]
[ John ]
Very good. Very good.
Bet I tasted better
than you tasted.
Yeah, you do, actually.
[ Gulps ]
- Mmm.
- I remember that.
- You want some back?
- You're all sticky.
[ Warbling ]
I remember that
I love you.
And I remember
the equation
for a transverse wave.
The thing is, it's getting
harder to know...
why one is more important
than the other.
And soon, very soon,
all you are to me
will be stripped away.
I'm losing you,
Katherine.
And I'm losing myself.
Soon I'll be
nothing more...
than information storage
and analysis.
And I can't bear it!
You've got to help me.
John, I can't kill you.
You won't be killing me.
You'll be releasing me.
[ Ben ]
Sorry, John.
I was afraid
of something like this.
Ben, you don't understand!
I'm positive that
we have the technology
to alleviate any discomfort.
Technology?
We're not talking about
computer programming here.
We're talking
about a human being!
I'm sorry, Katherine.
But we can't afford
to think only of ourselves.
It's out of the question
that we terminate
the project.
Can I speak to you
outside for a moment?
[ Woman On P.A.,
Indistinct ]
Katherine,
we can work this out.
It'll take a little time,
but I know that
you can adjust to it.
I'd like you to take
a few days off.
All right.
Look, Katherine.
I think,
for everybody's sake,
you should
stay away from here
for a little while.
[ Katherine ]
I understand.
Just let me tell John
why I won't be around
for a while.
[ Exhales ]
All right.
- It's okay.
- Yes, sir.
[ Beeps ]
[ Beeps ]
- Katherine!
- [ Computer Voice ]
Hurry, Katherine!
Katherine!
We have a lockout.
Please, Katherine.
Please.
To clear the subject
termination code,
hit the OTRA sequence.
[ Men Chattering ]
What about the
security code override?
[ Ben ]
No, Katherine!
Now, repeat the sequence,
omitting the first nine
characters.
- [ Typing ]
- [ Man ] There's no way
to override.
- [ Buzzes ]
- It's not working.
The system is trying
to deter you from gaining
final access. Don't panic.
Type out
the LUREC sequence.
[ Typing ]
- No!
- Don't panic.
Add L.B. insert.
[ Knocking ]
[ Pops ]
No!
[ Beeps ]
Final code, Katherine.
Now!
Please!
[ Ben ]
Katherine, no!
[ Typing ]
[ Sobbing ]
I love you, Katherine.
I love you.
[ Sniffs, Chuckles ]
[ Static ]
[ Chattering ]
[ Beeping ]
[ Bangs Keys ]
[ Sighs ]
You-- You just
killed your husband.
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
[ Mouthing Words ]