Sliders (1995–2000): Season 1, Episode 9 - Luck of the Draw - full transcript
In a seemingly Utopian world where population control is a priority, citizens play the lottery at local ATM machines. The more they withdraw from the public account, the more chances they ...
-Whoa!
-Yah!
Oof.
Here, puppy.
-Whoa!
Oof.
-Aah!
-Oh!
Ugh.
Ow.
I've decided
to keep a journal of our
experiences.
We've seen so many
amazing things.
I just want to have some
kind of record of them.
On this world, San Francisco
feels like a small town.
We've been here almost 18 hours,
and we haven't seen a
single person who didn't
look content.
-Take a look at these prices.
-They're amazing, aren't they?
It reminds me of when I
was boy in England.
Of course, the prices were
in Sterling then.
-What is this, 1950s World?
-I don't think so.
-Well, I got a feeling
I'm really going
to like this place.
-Anybody got a buck?
-Sure.
Wait a minute, I've
lost my wallet.
-Excuse me, sir, I think
you dropped that.
-What a world.
-It's amazing.
There you are, my good man.
No crime.
No pollution or poverty.
No racial strife.
Maybe it's because there's a
lottery here that simply gives
out money whenever
you want it.
The sad thing is, we only
have three days here.
I'm starting to wish we
could stay forever.
-Excuse me, sir.
Is there a limit on
this lottery?
-Are you folks from
out of state?
-In a manner of speaking.
-Well, the sky's the limit.
The more you take, the more
chances you have to win.
-Thank you.
-The more you take, the
better your chances?
Now, these odds I like.
Now, be
very careful, Mr. Brown.
We know nothing of this world.
I suggest we take no more than
we see other people taking.
-He's right.
When in Rome.
-Yeah, I played Rome in '83.
Rome's expensive as hell.
-You know, it would
be good not to
worry about money anymore.
-Rembrandt Brown, Room
12 at the Motel 12.
I'd like $5,000.
-There's no such thing as
something for nothing, Mr.
Brown.
-Well, that's what I always
thought until now.
-Excuse me.
Professor Maximillian Arturo,
Hotel 12, Room 12.
$5, please.
-Thank you.
-Wade Welles, Room 12
at the Motel 12.
I'd like $1,000.
-Get down, you loathsome
creature.
I think
he's just trying to be
friendly, Professor.
-At least he's not biting you.
-Hmm.
His affections are
not appreciated.
-Well, I love animals.
I miss my kitty at home.
And
because you miss your kitty at
home, we have to be subject
to dog hair and
saliva at every turn?
-Frankly, yes.
Come on, Henry.
Come
along, you miserable hound.
Let's eat.
-You got to admire those
high rollers.
May they rest in peace.
What if you
could find brand new worlds
right here on Earth, where
anything is possible?
Same planet, different
dimension.
I found the gateway!
Sliders.
This guy
loves the picnic basket.
-Excuse me, sir.
Uh, could you tell us
how to get a taxi?
- Just take one
of the public cars, son.
There are three of them
right over there.
-You mean we just take them?
-Sure.
That's what they're there for.
Thank you.
Well, madam, you have
a choice of color.
-The blue one.
-Blue it shall be.
-Shotgun!
Golden Bay Rapid Transit.
Ha!
Come on, Henry.
It doesn't even need a key.
Ah,
say what you will.
This languid pace certainly
allows one to enjoy life's
simple pleasures.
- Listen to this.
According to this magazine,
there's only 500 million
people on this world.
-Less than half a billion people
in the entire world?
Why, that's 10% of the
population of our Earth.
-Yeah.
And the population
of San Francisco
is less than 100,000.
-A smaller population is
probably one of the antidotes
to the ills of civilization.
Fewer people, less pressure
on resources.
Less stress.
-Who's up for a horseback
ride?
-I'm game.
I'll try anything once.
-Uh, I think I'm going
to pass on that.
I'd go for some fishing,
though.
-Now, that is a truly
splendid idea.
Nothing more satisfying
than coaxing one's
supper from the depths.
-You fish?
-I'm English.
We invented fishing.
-Come on.
-Come on.
-Ah.
A spinning reel, Mr. Brown?
Now, that's hardly
sporting, is it?
-Well, we'll see who the sport
is when I pull in a grandaddy.
-Fishing is not about mere
tonnage, Mr. Brown.
It's about the-- the-- the--
the competition that exists
between the-- the skill of the
sportsman and the cunning of
the actual fish.
Observe.
-We're not trying to catch
blue jays, Professor.
Let a real angler show
you how it's done.
-Isn't this place great?
-Sort of.
-That's it, you're
doing great.
Just keep the weight on the
balls of your feet.
Look out!
-Oof!
Ugh.
Ow.
Ow.
Whew, what a rush.
-Let me see.
Ouch.
What are you looking at?
-You.
-I thought we weren't
going to do this.
-When did we decide that?
-Looks OK.
-Uh, let's just rest here
a little while.
Ow.
Ooh.
-It's so quiet and peaceful.
It's hard to believe this
is San Francisco, huh?
Don't you just feel incredibly
at home here?
-Not really.
-Are you kidding?
Look around.
Beautiful countryside.
People are so nice.
It would be a great place
to raise kids.
-Aren't you getting a little
ahead of yourself?
-Why?
Because I'm tired of sliding?
Because I'm starting to
think that we're never
going to get home?
I mean, wouldn't it be better to
stay someplace that we know
is good rather than get stuck
somewhere terrible if the
timer gives out?
-Come on, Wade, don't
talk like that.
-Why not?
We've been avoiding this
issue for months.
-"Issue?" What are you
talking about?
-Us.
Face it, Quinn, we are one
another's world, along with
Rembrandt and the professor.
Maybe it's time we
faced facts.
This is a great place.
We should at least think
about staying here.
-After one day?
We can't throw everything away
we've been working for on the
basis of pretty scenery.
-It's not just that.
Oh, forget it.
Let's just go, OK?
-Despite protests from
right-to-life extremists,
President Jocelyn Elders
attended the dedication of the
newly re-opened Thomas Malthus
Center for Sexual Ethics and
Education today.
Congressional response
was swift--
-Who's Thomas Malthus?
-Reverend Thomas Malthus was
an English economist of the
19th century.
He said that mankind would be
forever condemned to live in
misery because the population
would always increase at a
faster rate than the
food supply.
Evidently, in this world
they took it to heart.
-Trout Almondine, get
it while it's hot.
-Oh, wow.
You guys really caught
all those?
-See if you can guess which
one is the professor's.
-Takes a sophisticated fly
fisherman to haul in a
monster like that.
-Ha, ha, ha, very
funny indeed.
Yes, we get the joke.
-Hey Q-Ball, you gonna eat?
Your
host, Jeff Edwards.
-Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Welcome to tonight's drawing,
brought to you by the Lottery
Commission.
-Ooh, the lottery.
Well tonight, 12
lucky entrants will share
prize money valued at more
than $5 million each.
And receive unlimited white card
privileges, the card that
only Lottery winners can get,
and the card that gives you
everything, everything
your heart desires.
-Wish me luck, Henry.
OK, the
computer's ready.
Let's get over there and get
our first selection going.
And here it comes, our
first selection.
-Julianne Murphy, 3107
Grandview Lane.
-Wow, beautiful as she is,
and $5 million too.
-There are still 11 lucky
Lottery winners left.
-Wade Welles, Room 12
at the Motel 12.
- I won?
Congratulations.
Miss Welles, your every
wish, just come true.
-I won!
I won the Lottery!
Oh, how good does this
world look now?
Sliders.
-I haven't been in a limo this
size since The Tops broke up.
-Miss Welles will be
riding in limos for
the rest of her life.
-Not the way I spend money.
What if I wanted to give
my money to the poor?
-Unfortunately, the last poor
person won the Lottery herself
about six months ago.
-What's the deal with
this white card?
-Very simple.
You show it to any merchant.
He gives you whatever
you wish.
You cannot be turned down.
It's society's way
of saying thanks.
-Damn, girl, some people
have all the luck.
-"Thanks" for what?
- Thanks for
playing the Lottery.
What else?
-Welcome, sir.
Ma'am.
-Ah.
-Ugh.
-That would look really
sharp on you.
-Yeah.
I like the blue.
-I don't know, that red
one's pretty nice.
-Well, buy them both.
It's not like they're going
to charge you for it.
-I hope you don't mind, but Miss
Murphy, one of the other
winners, was very excited to
hear that you had arranged to
show the Paris Fall
Collection.
Not at all.
-Sure.
I mean, the more the merrier.
Uh, I'll just get
you a-- a chair.
I mean, it would be a privilege
to get a chair for a
lady as beautiful as yourself.
-That's so sweet.
Thank you.
-It's OK.
Sit here.
-Where are you going?
-For a walk.
-Excuse me a second.
Quinn?
-Please.
-Quinn!
What's eating you?
-You shopping for designer gowns
isn't exactly my idea of
a good time.
-Well, I have to find something
to wear to the
Lottery winners' ball tonight.
-This whole thing doesn't
add up, Wade.
You can't just walk up to a
machine, collect thousands of
dollars, and then if you're
really lucky, you hit the big
jackpot.
-Will you chill out?
We landed in Utopia.
I'm a multi-millionaire.
You're afraid I'm going
to stay here.
Aren't you?
-Maybe.
-Quinn, this is a great world.
I don't know what I
want to do yet.
But whatever I decide,
can't we just
try and enjoy ourselves?
-It's not that easy.
-Are you going to take me to
this thing tonight or not?
- I'll be there.
-Miss Welles, welcome!
Hey, this is for you so that we
can identify the winners.
-Thank you.
-The men all get boutonnieres.
-We thought you weren't
going to make it.
Where's Q-Ball?
-He's not back yet.
-Security seems awfully tight
for a gala like this.
-In case the right-to-lifers
cause a disturbance.
-Well, uh, we'll see you
out on the dance floor.
-Shall we?
-Why not?
-A moment, Miss Welles.
I just need you to fill
out some forms.
-All right, I'll wait for
you at the buffet.
-OK.
What is this?
-A beneficiary form.
Next of kin, nothing out
of the ordinary.
-OK, that's fine.
-I left mine to the
Sierra Club.
I'm Ryan.
This is for you.
-Thank you.
-You're Wade Welles,
aren't you?
-How do you know my name?
-I saw you on television
the night they
announced the winners.
You know, if-- if you hurry
up and sign that, I
can ask you to dance.
-Let's go.
- OK.
-Ah.
-Are you all right?
-Sweetheart, I told you
I was The Crying Man.
I really feel happy, you know.
I mean, I feel as if I'm the
one who won the Lottery.
-And how.
No one's ever cried
over me before.
-Oh, get ready, sweetheart,
because I'm going to be
shedding lots of
tears over you.
-Mmm.
You know what I want?
-What's that?
-I'd like to spend the rest
of my life with you.
-No, no.
We don't want zero population
growth.
The Lottery must be stopped.
What's happening in
there is wrong.
We must stop the bloodshed.
Read it.
It'll change your life.
-I used to write songs about
love at first sight, but
nothing like this.
-What kind of song would
you write about us?
-Sweetheart, for you I'd
write a symphony.
-Take me, Rembrandt.
Right here, right now.
-Right here?
-Mm-hmm.
I'm a white card holder.
I can have anything I want.
And I want you.
-Uh, I want you too,
Julianne, but, uh--
I mean, shouldn't we go to
your room or something?
-Uh-uh.
The winners have to be here for
the midnight toast, and I
don't think I can
wait that long.
-That's basically it.
I was a Romantic Lit
major in school.
-Wine goes in at the mouth.
Love goes in at the eye.
That's all we shall know
for truth till we
grow old, and we die.
-That's "A Drinking
Song," by Yeats.
-Mm-hmm.
-I wrote a paper on him.
-Yeah, well, I--
I am so in awe of poetry.
I love the way they express
themselves, and it's a gift I
wish that I had.
-I think you express
yourself just fine.
So, what else do you like,
besides poetry?
-Well, I love traveling.
My goal was to climb Everest,
swim the English Channel, and
paddle the Amazon
before I was 30.
-Wow.
Did you really do all that?
-Yeah.
-And I thought I liked
adventure.
-All that was left was
winning the Lottery.
And you are the best
part of that.
-Do you realize what a wonderful
world this is, hmm?
I mean, don't you wake up in the
morning and feel grateful
that you weren't born
on some other
godforsaken piece of rock?
-Frankly, I don't
think about it.
-Hmm.
Well, you should.
Trust me, I'm a physicist.
I know.
There are far worse
places than this.
-The truth is, I'm
a hypocrite.
Every day I work with
Lottery winners--
good, decent men and women,
making honorable sacrifices
for society.
-I don't see how that makes
you a hypocrite.
- I'm
afraid of death.
-I'm sorry, I don't follow
your reasoning.
-I'll check.
Excuse me.
Sir, is your name on the list?
-Professor!
-Sir.
-Hold it, mister.
-Excuse me.
Just a second.
-I'm a guest of Wade Welles.
She's one of the winners.
-Just got to check the list.
-I'm afraid she already
brought an escort.
Uh, I'm afraid I can't
let you in.
-I've got to get inside.
-Uh, sir--
-I'm glad you came.
There's something wrong here.
-Professor, we've got to
get her out of here.
Listen to me.
This Lottery, it's population
control.
-What?
-That's what winning means.
Tomorrow morning they're
going to kill Wade.
Sliders.
-This can't be true.
-My god, it says the Lottery
has killed 50,000 people
nationwide.
-They don't call it death.
Everybody's in a rush
to the afterlife.
They call it "making way."
-Look, maybe these
right-to-lifers are some kind
of crackpots.
-These right-to-lifers are
Nobel Prize-winning
philosophers and scientists.
Believe it.
Still think this is paradise?
-This is no time for acrimony.
Got to find a way of getting
her out of here.
-I'll tell you how we
get her out of here.
The same way we came in,
through the front door.
Then we hightail it for the
woods and hide out overnight
till we slide.
-I can't.
-Didn't you hear what
I just said?
-Quinn, there is
no way to hide.
Every move I make is
chaperoned until
this party is over.
Wade,
everything OK?
-I'll be with you in
a minute, Ryan.
-Who's he?
-Another lucky winner.
-Look, I got to go, OK?
I'll see you guys back
at the room.
-Listen, I've got a question.
Since we're sliding out of here
in the morning, could we
maybe bring somebody with us?
-No.
- Rembrandt.
Look, I mean it, man.
She's good people.
We just can't leave her here.
Mr. Brown.
We understand the extent of your
personal involvement, but
the risk is too great.
Explain.
-I'm not saying it's impossible,
Rembrandt.
But the more people we take in
the wormhole, the more energy
it drains from the system.
There's no guarantee we'd make
it to the next world safely.
-I just can't let
her die, man.
-All right.
Let me see what we can do.
It's barbaric.
-On the contrary, my boy.
In some ways, it's more humane
than our society.
-Professor, they kill people
to limit the population.
-And in our world, millions of
people die every year through
war, famine, disease, caused
in part by the fact that we
refuse to accept limits
on our population.
Here, they kill volunteers--
painlessly--
and generously reward
their beneficiaries.
Now, you may abhor their
methods, as indeed do I. As a
man of science, you cannot
dismiss the result.
-Society owes all of
you a great debt.
It's true.
As much as we envy you, we are
appreciative of this sacrifice.
Now that you all have your
departure times, we'd
appreciate your cooperation in
making this as efficient and
pleasant a making
way as possible.
-Could I speak to you
for a second?
Efficiency
is as important to
us as our appreciation--
-What?
We're missing the speech.
-Julianne, there's something
I need to say.
I have real feelings for you,
and the thought of going on
without you is almost too
painful to contemplate.
-What are you saying,
Rembrandt?
-I see a future with you, and
I want us to go on together.
You mean it?
You want to die with me?
-Die with you?
Julianne, there is something
I need to explain.
-Wade?
-No, man, it's me.
Listen, I've explained
everything to Julianne, and
she's cool.
-She understands about
the slide?
-Well, I told her to
keep an open mind.
Listen, she's upstairs
packing.
I'm going to go up and collect
her in a couple of minutes.
Q-Ball, I really appreciate
this.
-Let's just hope it works.
Is Wade with you?
-No.
Last time I saw her, she
was with, uh, Ryan.
-Take care, Rembrandt.
See you in a bit.
Later.
-So who was that guy?
The guy that showed up late.
-He's a friend.
-I'm not getting in the middle
of something, am I?
-It's sort of a long story.
-Whew.
-Ah, Ryan, I--
I can't.
-What's the matter?
-This is just happening
way too fast.
-Ordinarily, I would say,
let's take it slow.
But we're scheduled to make
way in the morning.
-Can I trust you?
-To my grave.
-What I'm about to
say is going to
sound pretty shocking.
I'm from a parallel world.
-What?
-Look, it-- it's not going to
make a whole lot of sense.
The point is, I entered this
Lottery under false pretenses.
I don't want to die.
-Wait a minute.
You're not a right-to-lifer,
are you?
-No.
Look, I don't understand the
way this society works, OK?
Right-to-lifers and
everything.
The point is, I've got
to get out of here.
My friends, those guys you saw
me with, we're scheduled to
leave here in a couple
of hours.
-You realize what
you're saying?
I mean, in the first
place, they're not
going to let you leave.
You'll get The Process.
-"The Process"?
-The penalty for subverting
the Lottery system.
They'll make you pay in pain
before they kill you.
-What are those sirens?
-Lottery police.
You didn't say anything about
this to anybody, did you?
-No.
-Must be the demonstrators.
-Ryan, listen to me.
If you help me, then neither one
of us has to die tomorrow.
You can come with us.
-No.
See, I shouldn't even be
listening to this.
You have no idea what these
people are capable of.
-Ryan, wait.
-No!
For your own good, OK?
Don't even think about it.
Go around the back.
Right.
-Julianne?
-Come in, Rembrandt.
-So now, we ready?
-Rembrandt Brown?
Lottery police.
You're under arrest.
Wait a minute.
You
have the right to remain
silent, but if you choose to do
so, it can and will be used
against you in a court of law.
-Mr. Brown, are you now or have
you ever been a member of
the Right to Life movement?
-Now, what are you
talking about?
I don't know anything about any
Right to Life movement.
Julianne, what's going on?
-I'm sorry, Rembrandt, I
couldn't let you do it.
-You turned me in?
I had to.
I wouldn't let you jeopardize
my family's inheritance.
-Wait a minute, what is this?
I thought you loved me.
-I do.
But obviously you
were delusional,
and in need of help.
How could I turn my
back on that?
This is your idea of help?
-Yes.
We're about to be bonded
eternally.
We'll always be together.
Together?
Cordon off
that side over here too.
Let's go.
Move, move.
-What the hell's going
on out there?
-Police.
What time is it?
Almost 4:00.
-Where the hell are they?
-I don't know.
I'm going to find out.
Yes?
We'll
just be a few minutes.
Come on.
-Hello, Rembrandt.
I'm so glad you're here.
-It's not like I had a choice.
-I really misjudged
you, Rembrandt.
-Yeah?
Well, it looks like I
misjudged you too.
-You're so misguided,
so afraid of death.
That's why you're here, to be
liberated from your fears.
-Yeah, well, thanks,
but I think I do
just fine on my own.
-You must see that there's
nothing to be afraid of, my
dear Rembrandt.
Fear is what kills.
Love lives forever.
Here
you are, Julianne.
-Mmm.
Tastes so good, Rembrandt.
Like ambrosia.
-Julianne--
-Ooh.
I'm going to lie
back a little.
I already feel like
I'm floating.
Ooh.
I see a white light.
Ah, it's all around me.
It's through me.
Ah, there's nothing to fear.
Take my hand.
I'm going with the light now.
-She's made way.
She can't protect you anymore.
-Wait a minute.
What are you guys doing?
-We're taking you to the
Municipal Processing Center.
-Municipal Processing Center?
Where is that?
-That's where you're going
to die, Mr. Brown.
-Most uncomfortably.
Sliders.
-Where the hell have you been?
-Where's Quinn?
-He's out looking for you and
the lovesick Mr. Brown.
-We need to walk the dog.
-We don't need to
walk the dog.
The dog is perfectly fine.
-We need to walk the dog now!
-Ah.
Well, since you put it that
way, yes, of course.
I--
I think we need to
walk the dog.
-Come on, Henry.
-Come on, old boy.
Hey.
-Come on.
-Come on, little woofer.
-I couldn't talk in the room
because it's probably bugged.
-So I gathered.
-Tampering with the Lottery is
just about the worst crime you
can commit on this world.
This whole thing is
being monitored.
If we don't find Quinn and
Rembrandt soon, we're all
going to die here.
Folks,
don't stand here, please.
-Something's happening.
Excuse me.
What's going on?
-Some guy was trying to kidnap
one of the Lottery winners.
Ma'am,
you're just going to have to
stay out of the way, please.
Oh my god!
Hey
guys, you got to help me.
-What are they going
to do with him?
The Process, sir.
He's going to regret the day he
screwed with the Lottery.
-That's it.
That's it.
Nothing to see.
Wade.
Professor.
-They've got Rembrandt.
-I know.
What the hell did
you tell Ryan?
-You think Ryan turned him in?
Who else
could have done it?
-I can't believe that.
-They're taking Rembrandt to
Geary Street, a place called
the Municipal Processing
Center.
Well, we've
got to go get him.
-No.
You're staying here.
Otherwise, they'll think you're
trying to escape.
If you miss the slide,
they'll kill you.
Wait for us in the ballroom.
If we're not back in time,
slide without us.
Let's go, Professor.
-So, you're about to die.
-Now, you wait a minute.
-And I am sure you have
many questions.
-Yeah, like how the hell
do I get out of here?
-Well, rest easy, friend.
You're about to experience the
ultimate adventure, the
magical journey from our world
to the great beyond.
-I'm too young to die.
I'm too famous!
-When you first pass over, you
will find yourself in a long,
dark tunnel, headed for a
brilliant patch of light.
A loved one, perhaps a relative
who passed years
back, will appear and guide
you into the light.
-My dead relatives were
a pain in the butt!
I don't care to deal
with any of them!
Now, get me out of here, man.
This has gone too far!
Come on, now!
Don't!
All
life is precious.
The Lottery is sacrilege.
-Yeah!
-Zero population growth must be
achieved through true birth
control only.
We must stop the Lottery
before it's too late.
We must
stop the Lottery now.
Stop the Lottery!
Stand
clear of the van, please.
-What's going on?
-No!
No!
-Failure to disperse will
result in an immediate
physical response.
-He's still in the van.
Failure to
disperse will result in an
immediate physical response.
-Our friend's in there!
His only crime is
wanting to live.
Hey preacher man, his only
crime is wanting to live!
-Stand fast there, believers.
-He's trying to help a Lottery
winner stay alive.
He's a healer, not a criminal.
-Stop the slaughter!
- Stop
the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
-What?
Rembrandt.
-Man, am I glad to see you.
-Never criticize my
fishing again!
Come on.
-We've got a real
situation here!
Where the hell's the backup?
-Come on, let's get
out of here.
-How much time?
-Not much.
Let's move!
-Pedal to the metal, Q-Ball.
I can't wait to get
off this Earth.
-Hey!
Where are you going?
-Let's go.
Move out.
Secure the area.
-It's no use.
We're going to have
to run for it.
-You almost killed me!
-Sorry, man.
Got to go.
-Next time, I get to drive.
-Come on, you guys.
-Shh.
Quiet, boy.
-I thought I heard something.
Miss Welles?
-Shh!
-Hit the lights.
There she is.
-Ah!
Oh!
Ah!
Let me go!
Get your hands off of me!
-Oof!
-Ryan?
-What's going on out there?
-Ugh!
-Do you know what you just did?
-Oh, yeah.
So you better be telling the
truth about parallel worlds.
-We've got less than a minute.
My friends aren't here yet.
We are now!
Run!
Go!
-Go!
Bust it open!
-It's time!
-Slide!
-I'm out of here.
-Go, Professor, go!
-Ugh.
-There.
-Go, go, go!
-Ah!
There
they are down there!
-Ah!
Oof!
-It's clear.
-Ah!
Oof.
-Ow!
Ugh!
-Whoa!
Oof.
Ooh.
Ow.
Ah.
-Ah, we made it!
-Everybody OK?
-Whew!
Unbelievable!
-What did I tell you?
-Quinn?
Oh my god.
-Quinn?
No!
-Yah!
Oof.
Here, puppy.
-Whoa!
Oof.
-Aah!
-Oh!
Ugh.
Ow.
I've decided
to keep a journal of our
experiences.
We've seen so many
amazing things.
I just want to have some
kind of record of them.
On this world, San Francisco
feels like a small town.
We've been here almost 18 hours,
and we haven't seen a
single person who didn't
look content.
-Take a look at these prices.
-They're amazing, aren't they?
It reminds me of when I
was boy in England.
Of course, the prices were
in Sterling then.
-What is this, 1950s World?
-I don't think so.
-Well, I got a feeling
I'm really going
to like this place.
-Anybody got a buck?
-Sure.
Wait a minute, I've
lost my wallet.
-Excuse me, sir, I think
you dropped that.
-What a world.
-It's amazing.
There you are, my good man.
No crime.
No pollution or poverty.
No racial strife.
Maybe it's because there's a
lottery here that simply gives
out money whenever
you want it.
The sad thing is, we only
have three days here.
I'm starting to wish we
could stay forever.
-Excuse me, sir.
Is there a limit on
this lottery?
-Are you folks from
out of state?
-In a manner of speaking.
-Well, the sky's the limit.
The more you take, the more
chances you have to win.
-Thank you.
-The more you take, the
better your chances?
Now, these odds I like.
Now, be
very careful, Mr. Brown.
We know nothing of this world.
I suggest we take no more than
we see other people taking.
-He's right.
When in Rome.
-Yeah, I played Rome in '83.
Rome's expensive as hell.
-You know, it would
be good not to
worry about money anymore.
-Rembrandt Brown, Room
12 at the Motel 12.
I'd like $5,000.
-There's no such thing as
something for nothing, Mr.
Brown.
-Well, that's what I always
thought until now.
-Excuse me.
Professor Maximillian Arturo,
Hotel 12, Room 12.
$5, please.
-Thank you.
-Wade Welles, Room 12
at the Motel 12.
I'd like $1,000.
-Get down, you loathsome
creature.
I think
he's just trying to be
friendly, Professor.
-At least he's not biting you.
-Hmm.
His affections are
not appreciated.
-Well, I love animals.
I miss my kitty at home.
And
because you miss your kitty at
home, we have to be subject
to dog hair and
saliva at every turn?
-Frankly, yes.
Come on, Henry.
Come
along, you miserable hound.
Let's eat.
-You got to admire those
high rollers.
May they rest in peace.
What if you
could find brand new worlds
right here on Earth, where
anything is possible?
Same planet, different
dimension.
I found the gateway!
Sliders.
This guy
loves the picnic basket.
-Excuse me, sir.
Uh, could you tell us
how to get a taxi?
- Just take one
of the public cars, son.
There are three of them
right over there.
-You mean we just take them?
-Sure.
That's what they're there for.
Thank you.
Well, madam, you have
a choice of color.
-The blue one.
-Blue it shall be.
-Shotgun!
Golden Bay Rapid Transit.
Ha!
Come on, Henry.
It doesn't even need a key.
Ah,
say what you will.
This languid pace certainly
allows one to enjoy life's
simple pleasures.
- Listen to this.
According to this magazine,
there's only 500 million
people on this world.
-Less than half a billion people
in the entire world?
Why, that's 10% of the
population of our Earth.
-Yeah.
And the population
of San Francisco
is less than 100,000.
-A smaller population is
probably one of the antidotes
to the ills of civilization.
Fewer people, less pressure
on resources.
Less stress.
-Who's up for a horseback
ride?
-I'm game.
I'll try anything once.
-Uh, I think I'm going
to pass on that.
I'd go for some fishing,
though.
-Now, that is a truly
splendid idea.
Nothing more satisfying
than coaxing one's
supper from the depths.
-You fish?
-I'm English.
We invented fishing.
-Come on.
-Come on.
-Ah.
A spinning reel, Mr. Brown?
Now, that's hardly
sporting, is it?
-Well, we'll see who the sport
is when I pull in a grandaddy.
-Fishing is not about mere
tonnage, Mr. Brown.
It's about the-- the-- the--
the competition that exists
between the-- the skill of the
sportsman and the cunning of
the actual fish.
Observe.
-We're not trying to catch
blue jays, Professor.
Let a real angler show
you how it's done.
-Isn't this place great?
-Sort of.
-That's it, you're
doing great.
Just keep the weight on the
balls of your feet.
Look out!
-Oof!
Ugh.
Ow.
Ow.
Whew, what a rush.
-Let me see.
Ouch.
What are you looking at?
-You.
-I thought we weren't
going to do this.
-When did we decide that?
-Looks OK.
-Uh, let's just rest here
a little while.
Ow.
Ooh.
-It's so quiet and peaceful.
It's hard to believe this
is San Francisco, huh?
Don't you just feel incredibly
at home here?
-Not really.
-Are you kidding?
Look around.
Beautiful countryside.
People are so nice.
It would be a great place
to raise kids.
-Aren't you getting a little
ahead of yourself?
-Why?
Because I'm tired of sliding?
Because I'm starting to
think that we're never
going to get home?
I mean, wouldn't it be better to
stay someplace that we know
is good rather than get stuck
somewhere terrible if the
timer gives out?
-Come on, Wade, don't
talk like that.
-Why not?
We've been avoiding this
issue for months.
-"Issue?" What are you
talking about?
-Us.
Face it, Quinn, we are one
another's world, along with
Rembrandt and the professor.
Maybe it's time we
faced facts.
This is a great place.
We should at least think
about staying here.
-After one day?
We can't throw everything away
we've been working for on the
basis of pretty scenery.
-It's not just that.
Oh, forget it.
Let's just go, OK?
-Despite protests from
right-to-life extremists,
President Jocelyn Elders
attended the dedication of the
newly re-opened Thomas Malthus
Center for Sexual Ethics and
Education today.
Congressional response
was swift--
-Who's Thomas Malthus?
-Reverend Thomas Malthus was
an English economist of the
19th century.
He said that mankind would be
forever condemned to live in
misery because the population
would always increase at a
faster rate than the
food supply.
Evidently, in this world
they took it to heart.
-Trout Almondine, get
it while it's hot.
-Oh, wow.
You guys really caught
all those?
-See if you can guess which
one is the professor's.
-Takes a sophisticated fly
fisherman to haul in a
monster like that.
-Ha, ha, ha, very
funny indeed.
Yes, we get the joke.
-Hey Q-Ball, you gonna eat?
Your
host, Jeff Edwards.
-Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Welcome to tonight's drawing,
brought to you by the Lottery
Commission.
-Ooh, the lottery.
Well tonight, 12
lucky entrants will share
prize money valued at more
than $5 million each.
And receive unlimited white card
privileges, the card that
only Lottery winners can get,
and the card that gives you
everything, everything
your heart desires.
-Wish me luck, Henry.
OK, the
computer's ready.
Let's get over there and get
our first selection going.
And here it comes, our
first selection.
-Julianne Murphy, 3107
Grandview Lane.
-Wow, beautiful as she is,
and $5 million too.
-There are still 11 lucky
Lottery winners left.
-Wade Welles, Room 12
at the Motel 12.
- I won?
Congratulations.
Miss Welles, your every
wish, just come true.
-I won!
I won the Lottery!
Oh, how good does this
world look now?
Sliders.
-I haven't been in a limo this
size since The Tops broke up.
-Miss Welles will be
riding in limos for
the rest of her life.
-Not the way I spend money.
What if I wanted to give
my money to the poor?
-Unfortunately, the last poor
person won the Lottery herself
about six months ago.
-What's the deal with
this white card?
-Very simple.
You show it to any merchant.
He gives you whatever
you wish.
You cannot be turned down.
It's society's way
of saying thanks.
-Damn, girl, some people
have all the luck.
-"Thanks" for what?
- Thanks for
playing the Lottery.
What else?
-Welcome, sir.
Ma'am.
-Ah.
-Ugh.
-That would look really
sharp on you.
-Yeah.
I like the blue.
-I don't know, that red
one's pretty nice.
-Well, buy them both.
It's not like they're going
to charge you for it.
-I hope you don't mind, but Miss
Murphy, one of the other
winners, was very excited to
hear that you had arranged to
show the Paris Fall
Collection.
Not at all.
-Sure.
I mean, the more the merrier.
Uh, I'll just get
you a-- a chair.
I mean, it would be a privilege
to get a chair for a
lady as beautiful as yourself.
-That's so sweet.
Thank you.
-It's OK.
Sit here.
-Where are you going?
-For a walk.
-Excuse me a second.
Quinn?
-Please.
-Quinn!
What's eating you?
-You shopping for designer gowns
isn't exactly my idea of
a good time.
-Well, I have to find something
to wear to the
Lottery winners' ball tonight.
-This whole thing doesn't
add up, Wade.
You can't just walk up to a
machine, collect thousands of
dollars, and then if you're
really lucky, you hit the big
jackpot.
-Will you chill out?
We landed in Utopia.
I'm a multi-millionaire.
You're afraid I'm going
to stay here.
Aren't you?
-Maybe.
-Quinn, this is a great world.
I don't know what I
want to do yet.
But whatever I decide,
can't we just
try and enjoy ourselves?
-It's not that easy.
-Are you going to take me to
this thing tonight or not?
- I'll be there.
-Miss Welles, welcome!
Hey, this is for you so that we
can identify the winners.
-Thank you.
-The men all get boutonnieres.
-We thought you weren't
going to make it.
Where's Q-Ball?
-He's not back yet.
-Security seems awfully tight
for a gala like this.
-In case the right-to-lifers
cause a disturbance.
-Well, uh, we'll see you
out on the dance floor.
-Shall we?
-Why not?
-A moment, Miss Welles.
I just need you to fill
out some forms.
-All right, I'll wait for
you at the buffet.
-OK.
What is this?
-A beneficiary form.
Next of kin, nothing out
of the ordinary.
-OK, that's fine.
-I left mine to the
Sierra Club.
I'm Ryan.
This is for you.
-Thank you.
-You're Wade Welles,
aren't you?
-How do you know my name?
-I saw you on television
the night they
announced the winners.
You know, if-- if you hurry
up and sign that, I
can ask you to dance.
-Let's go.
- OK.
-Ah.
-Are you all right?
-Sweetheart, I told you
I was The Crying Man.
I really feel happy, you know.
I mean, I feel as if I'm the
one who won the Lottery.
-And how.
No one's ever cried
over me before.
-Oh, get ready, sweetheart,
because I'm going to be
shedding lots of
tears over you.
-Mmm.
You know what I want?
-What's that?
-I'd like to spend the rest
of my life with you.
-No, no.
We don't want zero population
growth.
The Lottery must be stopped.
What's happening in
there is wrong.
We must stop the bloodshed.
Read it.
It'll change your life.
-I used to write songs about
love at first sight, but
nothing like this.
-What kind of song would
you write about us?
-Sweetheart, for you I'd
write a symphony.
-Take me, Rembrandt.
Right here, right now.
-Right here?
-Mm-hmm.
I'm a white card holder.
I can have anything I want.
And I want you.
-Uh, I want you too,
Julianne, but, uh--
I mean, shouldn't we go to
your room or something?
-Uh-uh.
The winners have to be here for
the midnight toast, and I
don't think I can
wait that long.
-That's basically it.
I was a Romantic Lit
major in school.
-Wine goes in at the mouth.
Love goes in at the eye.
That's all we shall know
for truth till we
grow old, and we die.
-That's "A Drinking
Song," by Yeats.
-Mm-hmm.
-I wrote a paper on him.
-Yeah, well, I--
I am so in awe of poetry.
I love the way they express
themselves, and it's a gift I
wish that I had.
-I think you express
yourself just fine.
So, what else do you like,
besides poetry?
-Well, I love traveling.
My goal was to climb Everest,
swim the English Channel, and
paddle the Amazon
before I was 30.
-Wow.
Did you really do all that?
-Yeah.
-And I thought I liked
adventure.
-All that was left was
winning the Lottery.
And you are the best
part of that.
-Do you realize what a wonderful
world this is, hmm?
I mean, don't you wake up in the
morning and feel grateful
that you weren't born
on some other
godforsaken piece of rock?
-Frankly, I don't
think about it.
-Hmm.
Well, you should.
Trust me, I'm a physicist.
I know.
There are far worse
places than this.
-The truth is, I'm
a hypocrite.
Every day I work with
Lottery winners--
good, decent men and women,
making honorable sacrifices
for society.
-I don't see how that makes
you a hypocrite.
- I'm
afraid of death.
-I'm sorry, I don't follow
your reasoning.
-I'll check.
Excuse me.
Sir, is your name on the list?
-Professor!
-Sir.
-Hold it, mister.
-Excuse me.
Just a second.
-I'm a guest of Wade Welles.
She's one of the winners.
-Just got to check the list.
-I'm afraid she already
brought an escort.
Uh, I'm afraid I can't
let you in.
-I've got to get inside.
-Uh, sir--
-I'm glad you came.
There's something wrong here.
-Professor, we've got to
get her out of here.
Listen to me.
This Lottery, it's population
control.
-What?
-That's what winning means.
Tomorrow morning they're
going to kill Wade.
Sliders.
-This can't be true.
-My god, it says the Lottery
has killed 50,000 people
nationwide.
-They don't call it death.
Everybody's in a rush
to the afterlife.
They call it "making way."
-Look, maybe these
right-to-lifers are some kind
of crackpots.
-These right-to-lifers are
Nobel Prize-winning
philosophers and scientists.
Believe it.
Still think this is paradise?
-This is no time for acrimony.
Got to find a way of getting
her out of here.
-I'll tell you how we
get her out of here.
The same way we came in,
through the front door.
Then we hightail it for the
woods and hide out overnight
till we slide.
-I can't.
-Didn't you hear what
I just said?
-Quinn, there is
no way to hide.
Every move I make is
chaperoned until
this party is over.
Wade,
everything OK?
-I'll be with you in
a minute, Ryan.
-Who's he?
-Another lucky winner.
-Look, I got to go, OK?
I'll see you guys back
at the room.
-Listen, I've got a question.
Since we're sliding out of here
in the morning, could we
maybe bring somebody with us?
-No.
- Rembrandt.
Look, I mean it, man.
She's good people.
We just can't leave her here.
Mr. Brown.
We understand the extent of your
personal involvement, but
the risk is too great.
Explain.
-I'm not saying it's impossible,
Rembrandt.
But the more people we take in
the wormhole, the more energy
it drains from the system.
There's no guarantee we'd make
it to the next world safely.
-I just can't let
her die, man.
-All right.
Let me see what we can do.
It's barbaric.
-On the contrary, my boy.
In some ways, it's more humane
than our society.
-Professor, they kill people
to limit the population.
-And in our world, millions of
people die every year through
war, famine, disease, caused
in part by the fact that we
refuse to accept limits
on our population.
Here, they kill volunteers--
painlessly--
and generously reward
their beneficiaries.
Now, you may abhor their
methods, as indeed do I. As a
man of science, you cannot
dismiss the result.
-Society owes all of
you a great debt.
It's true.
As much as we envy you, we are
appreciative of this sacrifice.
Now that you all have your
departure times, we'd
appreciate your cooperation in
making this as efficient and
pleasant a making
way as possible.
-Could I speak to you
for a second?
Efficiency
is as important to
us as our appreciation--
-What?
We're missing the speech.
-Julianne, there's something
I need to say.
I have real feelings for you,
and the thought of going on
without you is almost too
painful to contemplate.
-What are you saying,
Rembrandt?
-I see a future with you, and
I want us to go on together.
You mean it?
You want to die with me?
-Die with you?
Julianne, there is something
I need to explain.
-Wade?
-No, man, it's me.
Listen, I've explained
everything to Julianne, and
she's cool.
-She understands about
the slide?
-Well, I told her to
keep an open mind.
Listen, she's upstairs
packing.
I'm going to go up and collect
her in a couple of minutes.
Q-Ball, I really appreciate
this.
-Let's just hope it works.
Is Wade with you?
-No.
Last time I saw her, she
was with, uh, Ryan.
-Take care, Rembrandt.
See you in a bit.
Later.
-So who was that guy?
The guy that showed up late.
-He's a friend.
-I'm not getting in the middle
of something, am I?
-It's sort of a long story.
-Whew.
-Ah, Ryan, I--
I can't.
-What's the matter?
-This is just happening
way too fast.
-Ordinarily, I would say,
let's take it slow.
But we're scheduled to make
way in the morning.
-Can I trust you?
-To my grave.
-What I'm about to
say is going to
sound pretty shocking.
I'm from a parallel world.
-What?
-Look, it-- it's not going to
make a whole lot of sense.
The point is, I entered this
Lottery under false pretenses.
I don't want to die.
-Wait a minute.
You're not a right-to-lifer,
are you?
-No.
Look, I don't understand the
way this society works, OK?
Right-to-lifers and
everything.
The point is, I've got
to get out of here.
My friends, those guys you saw
me with, we're scheduled to
leave here in a couple
of hours.
-You realize what
you're saying?
I mean, in the first
place, they're not
going to let you leave.
You'll get The Process.
-"The Process"?
-The penalty for subverting
the Lottery system.
They'll make you pay in pain
before they kill you.
-What are those sirens?
-Lottery police.
You didn't say anything about
this to anybody, did you?
-No.
-Must be the demonstrators.
-Ryan, listen to me.
If you help me, then neither one
of us has to die tomorrow.
You can come with us.
-No.
See, I shouldn't even be
listening to this.
You have no idea what these
people are capable of.
-Ryan, wait.
-No!
For your own good, OK?
Don't even think about it.
Go around the back.
Right.
-Julianne?
-Come in, Rembrandt.
-So now, we ready?
-Rembrandt Brown?
Lottery police.
You're under arrest.
Wait a minute.
You
have the right to remain
silent, but if you choose to do
so, it can and will be used
against you in a court of law.
-Mr. Brown, are you now or have
you ever been a member of
the Right to Life movement?
-Now, what are you
talking about?
I don't know anything about any
Right to Life movement.
Julianne, what's going on?
-I'm sorry, Rembrandt, I
couldn't let you do it.
-You turned me in?
I had to.
I wouldn't let you jeopardize
my family's inheritance.
-Wait a minute, what is this?
I thought you loved me.
-I do.
But obviously you
were delusional,
and in need of help.
How could I turn my
back on that?
This is your idea of help?
-Yes.
We're about to be bonded
eternally.
We'll always be together.
Together?
Cordon off
that side over here too.
Let's go.
Move, move.
-What the hell's going
on out there?
-Police.
What time is it?
Almost 4:00.
-Where the hell are they?
-I don't know.
I'm going to find out.
Yes?
We'll
just be a few minutes.
Come on.
-Hello, Rembrandt.
I'm so glad you're here.
-It's not like I had a choice.
-I really misjudged
you, Rembrandt.
-Yeah?
Well, it looks like I
misjudged you too.
-You're so misguided,
so afraid of death.
That's why you're here, to be
liberated from your fears.
-Yeah, well, thanks,
but I think I do
just fine on my own.
-You must see that there's
nothing to be afraid of, my
dear Rembrandt.
Fear is what kills.
Love lives forever.
Here
you are, Julianne.
-Mmm.
Tastes so good, Rembrandt.
Like ambrosia.
-Julianne--
-Ooh.
I'm going to lie
back a little.
I already feel like
I'm floating.
Ooh.
I see a white light.
Ah, it's all around me.
It's through me.
Ah, there's nothing to fear.
Take my hand.
I'm going with the light now.
-She's made way.
She can't protect you anymore.
-Wait a minute.
What are you guys doing?
-We're taking you to the
Municipal Processing Center.
-Municipal Processing Center?
Where is that?
-That's where you're going
to die, Mr. Brown.
-Most uncomfortably.
Sliders.
-Where the hell have you been?
-Where's Quinn?
-He's out looking for you and
the lovesick Mr. Brown.
-We need to walk the dog.
-We don't need to
walk the dog.
The dog is perfectly fine.
-We need to walk the dog now!
-Ah.
Well, since you put it that
way, yes, of course.
I--
I think we need to
walk the dog.
-Come on, Henry.
-Come on, old boy.
Hey.
-Come on.
-Come on, little woofer.
-I couldn't talk in the room
because it's probably bugged.
-So I gathered.
-Tampering with the Lottery is
just about the worst crime you
can commit on this world.
This whole thing is
being monitored.
If we don't find Quinn and
Rembrandt soon, we're all
going to die here.
Folks,
don't stand here, please.
-Something's happening.
Excuse me.
What's going on?
-Some guy was trying to kidnap
one of the Lottery winners.
Ma'am,
you're just going to have to
stay out of the way, please.
Oh my god!
Hey
guys, you got to help me.
-What are they going
to do with him?
The Process, sir.
He's going to regret the day he
screwed with the Lottery.
-That's it.
That's it.
Nothing to see.
Wade.
Professor.
-They've got Rembrandt.
-I know.
What the hell did
you tell Ryan?
-You think Ryan turned him in?
Who else
could have done it?
-I can't believe that.
-They're taking Rembrandt to
Geary Street, a place called
the Municipal Processing
Center.
Well, we've
got to go get him.
-No.
You're staying here.
Otherwise, they'll think you're
trying to escape.
If you miss the slide,
they'll kill you.
Wait for us in the ballroom.
If we're not back in time,
slide without us.
Let's go, Professor.
-So, you're about to die.
-Now, you wait a minute.
-And I am sure you have
many questions.
-Yeah, like how the hell
do I get out of here?
-Well, rest easy, friend.
You're about to experience the
ultimate adventure, the
magical journey from our world
to the great beyond.
-I'm too young to die.
I'm too famous!
-When you first pass over, you
will find yourself in a long,
dark tunnel, headed for a
brilliant patch of light.
A loved one, perhaps a relative
who passed years
back, will appear and guide
you into the light.
-My dead relatives were
a pain in the butt!
I don't care to deal
with any of them!
Now, get me out of here, man.
This has gone too far!
Come on, now!
Don't!
All
life is precious.
The Lottery is sacrilege.
-Yeah!
-Zero population growth must be
achieved through true birth
control only.
We must stop the Lottery
before it's too late.
We must
stop the Lottery now.
Stop the Lottery!
Stand
clear of the van, please.
-What's going on?
-No!
No!
-Failure to disperse will
result in an immediate
physical response.
-He's still in the van.
Failure to
disperse will result in an
immediate physical response.
-Our friend's in there!
His only crime is
wanting to live.
Hey preacher man, his only
crime is wanting to live!
-Stand fast there, believers.
-He's trying to help a Lottery
winner stay alive.
He's a healer, not a criminal.
-Stop the slaughter!
- Stop
the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
Stop the slaughter!
-What?
Rembrandt.
-Man, am I glad to see you.
-Never criticize my
fishing again!
Come on.
-We've got a real
situation here!
Where the hell's the backup?
-Come on, let's get
out of here.
-How much time?
-Not much.
Let's move!
-Pedal to the metal, Q-Ball.
I can't wait to get
off this Earth.
-Hey!
Where are you going?
-Let's go.
Move out.
Secure the area.
-It's no use.
We're going to have
to run for it.
-You almost killed me!
-Sorry, man.
Got to go.
-Next time, I get to drive.
-Come on, you guys.
-Shh.
Quiet, boy.
-I thought I heard something.
Miss Welles?
-Shh!
-Hit the lights.
There she is.
-Ah!
Oh!
Ah!
Let me go!
Get your hands off of me!
-Oof!
-Ryan?
-What's going on out there?
-Ugh!
-Do you know what you just did?
-Oh, yeah.
So you better be telling the
truth about parallel worlds.
-We've got less than a minute.
My friends aren't here yet.
We are now!
Run!
Go!
-Go!
Bust it open!
-It's time!
-Slide!
-I'm out of here.
-Go, Professor, go!
-Ugh.
-There.
-Go, go, go!
-Ah!
There
they are down there!
-Ah!
Oof!
-It's clear.
-Ah!
Oof.
-Ow!
Ugh!
-Whoa!
Oof.
Ooh.
Ow.
Ah.
-Ah, we made it!
-Everybody OK?
-Whew!
Unbelievable!
-What did I tell you?
-Quinn?
Oh my god.
-Quinn?
No!