The Outer Limits (1995–2002): Season 4, Episode 16 - Final Exam - full transcript

PLEASE HAVE YOUR TICKET
READY FOR ADMITTANCE
TO THE EXAMINATION HALL.

THIS LINE IS
FOR DOCTORAL CANDIDATES ONLY.

TODTMAN, SETH.

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?

TAKING
MY FINAL EXAM.

BUT YOU FAILED OUT
OF THE PROGRAM, SETH.

YOU KNOW THAT.

DEFINE PROGRAM.

DEFINE FAIL.

LET'S GO SOMEWHERE
AND TALK.

WE USED
TO BE FRIENDS.



FRIENDS!

FRIENDS DON'T STEAL
FRIENDS' INSIGHT

AND GENIUS.

FRIENDS DON'T CALL
FRIENDS PARANOID

IN FRONT
OF KANGAROO COURTS.

IS SHE CALLING SECURITY?

GOOD -- I WANTED
TO SHOW THEM SOMETHING

EVER SINCE
THEY THREW ME OFF CAMPUS.

SETH, SETH,
COME ON, IT'S OVER.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OVER
UNTIL I SAY IT'S OVER.

NOBODY WANTED TO LISTEN TO ME.

BUT NOW

YOU'RE GOING TO.

( gunshot )



SETTLE DOWN!

EVERY WAY
IN AND OUT OF THIS BUILDING

HAS A TRASH CAN.

AND EVERY TRASH CAN IS WIRED
WITH AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE

WHICH I HAVE JUST ARMED.

YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS.

REALLY?

DEFINE COLD FUSION.

WHAT?

I SAID
DEFINE COLD FUSION.

COLD FUSION IS, UM,
IS THE RELEASE

OF THERMAL
NUCLEAR ENERGIES

BY DEVICES THAT
OPERATE AT ORDINARY

ROOM TEMPERATURES
AND PRESSURES.

BUT SUCH DEVICES ARE
TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

WE'VE PROVEN THAT.

REALLY?
I MADE THIS ONE ALL BY MYSELF.

I DID IT ON
MY KITCHEN TABLE.

THE PEOPLE WHO SAID

IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE
WERE WRONG.

THE PEOPLE
WHO SAID

I WASN'T WORTHY TO BE
A GRADUATE STUDENT WERE WRONG.

THE PEOPLE WHO TRIED
TO DISCREDIT ME WERE WRONG.

AND TODAY

I GET TO PROVE THAT.

LOOK OUT THE WINDOW!

LOOK OUT THE WINDOW!

( recorded voice )
I AM A BOMB.

IN FIVE SECONDS,
I'LL DETONATE AND KILL

EVERY LIVING THING
WITHIN 100 YARDS.

FIVE,

FOUR, THREE,

TWO, ONE.

( siren wailing )

STOP RIGHT THERE!

THE BUILDING IS WIRED.

AND IF MY HEART STOPS

OR I PRESS THIS BUTTON
RIGHT HERE

THE DEVICE IN HERE
WILL EXPLODE

WITH A RELEASE OF ENERGY
ONE MILLION TIMES GREATER

THAN THE DEVICE

THAT JUST DETONATED
OUT THERE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

I WANT THE FIVE PEOPLE
ON THIS LIST.

I WANT TO SEE THEM
BROUGHT HERE BY THE GOVERNMENT

AND SHOT DEAD ONE AT A TIME.

FIVE LIVES
OR FIVE MILLION LIVES.

IT'S YOUR CHOICE.

YOU'VE GOT THREE HOURS.

HAVE A NICE DAY.

( Control Voice )
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG
WITH YOUR TELEVISION.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST
THE PICTURE.

WE ARE NOW CONTROLLING
THE TRANSMISSION.

WE CONTROL THE HORIZONTAL,

AND THE VERTICAL.

WE CAN DELUGE YOU
WITH A THOUSAND CHANNELS

OR EXPAND ONE SINGLE IMAGE
TO CRYSTAL CLARITY...

AND BEYOND.

WE CAN SHAPE YOUR VISION

TO ANYTHING OUR IMAGINATION
CAN CONCEIVE.

FOR THE NEXT HOUR,

WE WILL CONTROL
ALL THAT YOU SEE AND HEAR.

( ♪ )

YOU ARE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE
THE AWE AND MYSTERY

WHICH REACHES FROM
THE DEEPEST INNER MIND

TO
--THE OUTER LIMITS.

( Control Voice )
THEY SAY A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE
IS A DANGEROUS THING.

BUT WHAT OF THE MAN WHO
POSSESSES TOO MUCH KNOWLEDGE?

WHERE'S YOUR
ART PROJECT, KATE?

WHO'S DRIVING ME?

YOUR MOTHER IS.

HE'S JOKING, KATE.
I'M LATE FOR WORK.

I GOT A NEW PATIENT
AT 9:00.

I MUST FILE
A GRANT PROPOSAL BY NOON.

YOUR PROPOSAL
WON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE LATE.

MY CLIENT WILL IF THIS WEST-SIDE
FEEDING PROGRAM IS LOST.

COME ON.

NO, YOU DEAL
WITH ONE PATIENT,

AND THAT'S
WORLD SHAKING?

BUT I DEAL WITH
FEEDING 200 YOUNG WOMEN,

AND THAT'S WHAT?
SECRETARIAL WORK?

IT'S YOUR TURN.

YOU SHOULD HAVE
HAD KATE READY.
YOU WERE
STANDING HERE.

SHARON, I'LL LOSE RAPPORT

WITH THIS NEW PATIENT
IF I'M LATE.

YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT
LOSING RAPPORT WITH ME?

OKAY, FINE, I'LL TAKE HER.

COME ON, SWEETIE,
YOU'RE COMING WITH ME.

COME ON, SWEETHEART,
GIVE ME KISSES.

BYE, DADDY.

YOU SHOULD DO THERAPY
ON YOURSELF

BEFORE YOU INFLICT ADVICE
ON OTHER PEOPLE.

I REALLY THINK
YOU'RE OVERREACTING.

SECOND TIME
THIS WEEK.

IT CAN'T BE!

SHARON! SHARON!

WELL...
WHERE'S THE CALENDAR?

IT CAN'T BE TWICE THIS WEEK.

OH, GOD.

( phone ringing )

SHARON,
LOOK, I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY.

SIR, THIS IS
AN ALPHA CALL.

PLEASE STATE
YOUR IDENTITY.

WHAT? OH, UH...

MARTIN, JAMES MARTIN, PHD.

SIR, MY
AUTHENTICATION CODE

IS BRAVO-
ZULU-221.

WHAT IS YOUR COUNTER
AUTHENTICATION CODE?

UH, YEAH, DELTA-TANGO-983.

SIR, THIS
IS AN ALERT

FROM THE OFFICE
OF INTELLIGENCE,

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

THE SECRETARY
HAS DECLARED

A NUCLEAR EMERGENCY
SEARCH-TEAM MOBILIZATION.

ON A FRIDAY MORNING?

THIS IS
NOT A DRILL.

I REPEAT, THIS
IS NOT A DRILL.

TRANSPORTATION
YOUR LOCATION,

E.T.A.
TWO MINUTES.
WHAT?

( dial tone )
HELLO? HELLO?

( shutting phone off )

MOVE! MOVE!

WHAT DO WE HAVE?

NO LIFE-THREATENING
RADIOACTIVITY

FROM THE BLAST SITE,

THOUGH WE'RE GETTING
SOME READINGS.

IN TOUCH WITH THIS KID?

WE OPENED
A DIRECT LINE,

BUT HE WON'T
TALK TO US.

HERE'S THE LIST
OF THE PEOPLE

HE WANTS
BROUGHT IN.

THIS IS DR. MARTIN,
TEAM NEGOTIATOR.

HAS HE SAID ANYTHING ASIDE

FROM GIVING
YOU THIS LIST?

HE SAYS HE'S INVENTED
A COLD FUSION BOMB.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THIS KID DID.

HE'S BUILT
AN ORDINARY EXPLOSIVE DEVICE,

CONTAMINATED IT WITH
RADIOACTIVE WASTE TO FAKE

A NUCLEAR BLAST.
YOU WON'T ASSUME
JURISDICTION?

WE'LL STILL CONSIDER THIS
A NUCLEAR INCIDENT.

YOU PULL
YOUR MEN BACK

AND CAUTION THEM
ABOUT SPREADING WILD STORIES.

PANIC COULD DO MORE HARM
TO THIS CITY THAN THAT LUNATIC.

WE ALL KNOW
WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, OKAY?

YOU BET.

WELL...

LET'S SEE WHAT HE'S GOT TO SAY.

( phone ringing )

WHO'S THIS?

THIS IS JAMES MARTIN.

I'M THE D.O.E.-NES TEAM
NEGOTIATOR.

YOU SOUND LIKE
A SHRINK, MARTIN.

I DON'T NEED A SHRINK.

I JUST NEED SOMEONE
TRAINED IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY.

I HAVE A JOINT DEGREE
IN PHYSICS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

YOU KEPT LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
AND COULDN'T FIND ANY?

ACTUALLY
I TRAINED TO STUDY

ELECTRICAL FIELDS
OF THE BRAIN.

I STARTED DOING THERAPY
FOR CLIENTS

WHO COULDN'T TALK TO ANYONE

WHO DIDN'T
HAVE SECURITY CLEARANCE.

I'M HEAD SHRINK
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

A LIMITED AUDIENCE,
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

JUST TRY
TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

I HAVE A COLD FUSION DEVICE

WIRED INTO A DEAD MAN'S SWITCH
AND A TIMER.

THE YIELD OF THIS DEVICE
IS 50 MEGATONS.

IF IT DETONATES,

IT'LL DESTROY
THE ENTIRE CITY.

NOW TELL ME ONE THING.

WHAT'S THAT?

DEFINE HOW YOU CAN BELIEVE ME.

LISTEN, I TAKE THIS THREAT
VERY SERIOUSLY.

THEN YOU NEED TO HAVE
YOUR HEAD EXAMINED.

NO ONE HAS BUILT SUCH A DEVICE.

WHAT ARE THEY REALLY
SAYING, MARTIN?

THAT I FAKED THE BLAST?

I DON'T WANT TO OFFEND YOU,
BUT THE TRUTH IS

IF YOU REALLY CREATED
COLD FUSION,

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

WHY NOT JUST
CLAIM YOUR NOBEL PRIZE?

I WON'T EVEN GET
THE
CRACKER JACK
--PRIZE.

YOUR TEAM
WILL LOCK ME UP

AND TORTURE ME TILL

I'VE TOLD THEM WHAT I KNOW.

MR. TODTMAN, I SWEAR
NO ONE IS GOING TO HURT YOU.

THIS IS WHAT I EXPECTED.

I'LL GIVE YOU MORE PROOF.

NO, WAIT.

IF I'VE OFFENDED YOU,
I APOLOGIZE.

YOU THOUGHT
I'D DETONATE ANOTHER BLAST.

WELL, DON'T GET
YOUR PANTIES

IN A BUNCH -- KEEP YOUR EYE
ON THE FRONT DOOR.

I'M SENDING YOU
A SAMPLE.

HIT THE TIMER
AND STAND BACK UNDERCOVER

AT LEAST FIVE MILES.

MAKE IT SNAPPY,
BECAUSE MY TIMER

IS SPINNING LIKE A TOP.

PUT IT DOWN!

PUT IT DOWN SLOWLY!

THAT'S IT.

DON'T SHOOT, PLEASE.
HE GAVE IT TO ME!

COME ON! COME ON!
GUYS, MOVE IT!

MARTIN, THIS THING
ISN'T EVEN BIG ENOUGH

TO PACK A CONVENTIONAL WALLOP,

EXACTLY THE SORT OF
PARANOID FANTASY YOU'D EXPECT

FROM SOME
FAILED ENGINEERING STUDENT.

I'M NOT SO SURE.

THE KID TAKES HOSTAGES,
FAKES A NUCLEAR BLAST.

YOU DON'T THINK HE'S CRAZY?

ALL I'M SAYING IS HE'S LUCID
ENOUGH TO DO TECHNICAL WORK.

HE SURE AS HELL
PRODUCED A BIG EXPLOSION.

IT DIDN'T GENERATE
SIGNIFICANT RADIATION.

ISN'T THAT THE EERIE PART?

THE THING ABOUT COLD FUSION IS,
IF IT REALLY WORKS,

IT HARDLY RELEASES
ANY RADIATION AT ALL.

EXCEPT
WE ALL KNOW, MARTIN,

THAT COLD FUSION
ISN'T POSSIBLE.

LOOK, ALL I KNOW

IS THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB WAS
BUILT MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO.

PLENTY OF TIME FOR DEVELOPMENTS,
DON'T YOU THINK?

HELICOPTER IT OUT

TO THE TEST SITE.

WE NEED TO START WORK
ON THE HOSTAGE RESCUE PLAN.

WE'RE OPENING
THE OUTER CASING NOW.

LISTEN,
I DON'T THINK HE WAS LYING.

WE'LL SHOW YOU
WHAT A LUNATIC HE IS IN HI-8.

IF HE ISN'T, I'LL FILE

A PATENT ON THIS MYSELF
AND RETIRE.

OKAY.

HE HAD IT RIGGED.

THE CLOCK'S COUNTING DOWN.

WE'RE PULLING BACK
TO THE BLAST SHELTER.

TELL THEM TO INCINERATE IT
BEFORE IT BLOWS.

NO, WE NEED
THE DOCUMENTATION.

THOSE TUNNELS CAN CONTAIN
A 10-KILOTON BLAST,

ASSUMING IT'S NOT JUST TNT.

WHAT IF IT REALLY
IS A COLD FUSION BOMB?

OKAY, BOMB ROOM
IS SEALED.

SAFETY PROTOCOL
IS IN PLACE.

10 SECONDS.

FIVE, FOUR,

THREE, TWO,

ONE, AND...

BIG NOTHING, HUH?

TOLD YOU, MARTIN.
GUY'S A WHACKO.

NOTHING ON THE VIDEO EXCEPT...

WHAT THE...?

HAL? HAL?

TEAM TWO! TEAM TWO, RESPOND!

SIR?

THREE SATELLITES DETECTED
A SUB-SURFACE DETONATION

AT BASE ONE
IN THE MEGATON RANGE.

HE DID IT.

HE REALLY DOES
HAVE COLD FUSION.

I WANT TO SEE EVERYONE
ON HIS LIST.

WHY ARE
YOU DOING THIS?

WILL SOMEBODY TELL ME
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?

SIT HIM DOWN.

STAY THERE, SIR.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET

MORE HOSTAGES
FOR HIM?

ARE YOU SPEAKING
AS MY NEGOTIATOR

OR A DO-GOOD THERAPIST?

IT WILL ONLY INFLATE HIS EGO
AND TERRORIZE THEM NEEDLESSLY.

NEEDLESSLY?

DO YOU COMPREHEND
OUR OPTIONS HERE?

HE MAY HAVE A 50-MEGATON DEVICE.

WHAT IS THE ONLY
ASSURED METHOD

OF DISABLING
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

INCINERATE IT
BEFORE IT ACTIVATES.

YOU DO THAT IS BY USING
A TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPON

WHICH WILL KILL EVERYONE

WITHIN SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS,
INCLUDING US.

NOT YOU.
YOU CAN CALL FROM ANYWHERE.

BUT SOME OF US MUST STAY.

TELL ME
WHAT WILL HAPPEN

IF WE KILL THE PEOPLE
ON THIS LIST?

WILL HE WALK OUT
OR WILL HE PULL THE TRIGGER?

I'M STILL NOT PREPARED
TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

IT WILL
TAKE TEN DAYS

TO EVACUATE EVERYBODY
IN THIS CITY.

TEN DAYS.
WHAT DO I DO?

WILL KILLING THE PEOPLE
ON THIS LIST SATISFY HIM?

WILL IT SAVE THE CITY?

GET HIM
ON THE LINE.

ANSWER MY QUESTION.

I CAN'T, WILL.

HE WENT
INTO COUNSELLING

AFTER HE STARTED
FIGHTING HIS TEACHERS.

BUT NONE OF HIS THERAPISTS

SAW THIS
SORT OF PSYCHOTIC ANGER IN HIM.

I MUST SEE HIM FACE TO FACE
TO UNDERSTAND HIM IN TIME.

WIRE ME AND GET
HIM ON THE PHONE.

KAY, I'LL DELIVER THESE
TO THE AGENCY.

BUT I NEED 20 MORE COPIES
FOR THE PRINCIPAL DONORS.

SEE YOU LATER.

( car alarm beeping )

( radio )
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
IS DENYING REPORTS

THAT THERE
IS ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN

TODAY'S TERRORIST BOMBING
AT THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

AND THE RUMORS THAT MINUTES AGO

AN MAJOR EXPLOSION OCCURRED
IN THE DEPARTMENT'S

SUPER-SECRET RESEARCH LABS
AT WILLOWBRIDGE.

IN APPARENT CONFIRMATION,

INDEPENDENT SOURCES CONFIRMED
THAT NO SIGNIFICANT RADIATION

WAS RELEASED IN THE EXPLOSION.

THE REPORTS A NUCLEAR ACCIDENT

MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED THERE

WERE WRONG.

IN OTHER NEWS TODAY--

( phone ringing )

( woman )
FEDERAL OPERATOR 652.

THE NUMBER YOU HAVE CALLED
IS TEMPORARILY OUT OF SERVICE.

PLEASE WAIT. CONNECT ME
TO THE SECURITY OFFICE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE REFERRING TO.

YOU AND I BOTH KNOW

I'M CALLING THE D.O.E.
LABORATORIES AT WILLOWBRIDGE.

IF SOMETHING'S HAPPENED,
YOU'VE GOT TO TELL ME.

I'M A FAMILY MEMBER.

MA'AM, I'M SORRY,

BUT I HAVE
NO INFORMATION.

FAMILY MEMBERS
ARE URGED

TO MAKE
NO RASH ASSUMPTIONS

OR PUBLIC STATEMENTS
AT THIS TIME.

YOU WILL BE
CONTACTED

WHEN PERSONNEL
BECOME AVAILABLE.

( dial tone )

OH, MY GOD.

( dialing )

PARKWAY ELEMENTARY.

THIS IS MRS. MARTIN.

I MUST PICK KATE UP IMMEDIATELY.

( phone ringing )

WE NEED TO TALK.

YOU SOUND DEPRESSED,
MARTIN.

YOU SHOULD TALK TO YOURSELF.

I DON'T THINK
YOU'LL BE MUCH HELP TO ME.

I HAD FRIENDS ON THE TEAM
THAT TESTED YOUR DEVICE.

IT...COULDN'T
HAVE MALFUNCTIONED.

THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW
MY INSTRUCTIONS, DID THEY?

THEY TRIED TO STUDY IT.

AND THEY PAID
FOR IT

WITH THEIR LIVES.

SO WHY DON'T WE JUST CALL IT
EVEN, OKAY?

I MEAN, EVERYONE, EVERYONE KNOWS

WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY
DISCOVERY YOU'VE MADE.

SO WHY DON'T YOU LET ME INSIDE
TO MAKE A DEAL?

I CAN HEAR YOUR PAIN, MARTIN.

BUT YOU'VE
GOT TO THINK LOGICALLY.

MY RIGGING THE DEVICE
WAS AN ACT OF MERCY.

IT PREVENTED ANYONE ELSE

FROM LEARNING HOW TO BUILD
A COLD FUSION BOMB.

THE WORLD IS STILL SAFE.

I CAN'T FOLLOW
YOUR LOGIC.

I MUST TALK TO YOU.

I'M WORRIED
ABOUT YOU, MARTIN.

YOUR LIPS ARE MOVING.
WE ARE TALKING.

IN PERSON.

TRIGGER'S STILL WIRED
TO MY HEART.

SNEAK IN A GUN OR EVEN
A WAVE OF RIGHTEOUS ANGER,

IT WON'T WORK.

500 PEOPLE DIED
IN THAT EXPLOSION.

YOU OWE ME A CHANCE TO SEE YOU.

OKAY.

FOR A PRICE.

KILL THE FIRST PERSON
ON MY LIST.

YOU KNOW I CAN'T DO THAT.

YOU COULD IF
YOU RESPECTED ME.

I COULD DETONATE THIS BOMB.

THE BLAST WAVE WOULD REACH HIM
HALFWAY TO MARS.

I SWEAR TO GOD,
HE ISN'T EVEN HERE.

TOO BAD.

IN THE MOVIES,
THEY'RE ALWAYS HERE.

BUT YOU WANT TO TALK ANYWAY?

NO, GOD, PLEASE.

THEN KILL HER!

WHAT THE HELL?

GIVE HER AN EXTRA HOLE
IN HER HEAD.

HELP ME!

USE THE DISTRACTION TO FILTER IN
THE DEMOLITION TEAM.

GET THEM DIRECTLY
UNDER THE BUILDING

TO CONTAIN THE BLAST.

COPY THAT.
OKAY, LET'S DO IT.

SADDLE UP, GUYS, LET'S MOVE
THAT NUKE INTO THE TUNNEL.

YOU REALLY WANT
A HUMAN SACRIFICE?

YOU'RE RIGHT.
I AM A LOUSY NEGOTIATOR.

SO SHOOT ME INSTEAD
AND TALK

TO MY SUCCESSOR
WHEN HE FLIES IN.

YOU REALLY WANT
TO BE PUT OUT OF YOUR MISERY?

COME THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.

I'LL LET YOU PAST THE SENSORS.

BUT ANYONE ELSE TRIES
TO GET NEAR,

I'LL BLOW THIS DEVICE.

( sensor beeping )

YOUR LIFE

OR HERS?

GET IT OVER WITH.

( gunshot )

WHAT MADE YOU THINK
I WOULDN'T SHOOT YOU?

I DIDN'T.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT
ANYONE ELSE TO DIE.

OKAY, YOU'VE DEFINED
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS.

YOU'VE GOT GUTS.

LET'S TALK.

JACKSON'S ON, SIR.
JACKSON,
WHERE ARE WE?

WE'VE MADE ENTRY
INTO THE TUNNEL.

THERE COULD BE TRAPS ANYWHERE.

IT COULD TAKE US HOURS.

WE DON'T HAVE HOURS.

IF HE TOLD THE TRUTH,
WE HAVE LESS THAN 60 MINUTES.

YES, SIR,
I UNDERSTAND.

WE HAVE TO BE UNDER
THE LECTURE HALL IN 50 MINUTES.

AREN'T YOU
TOO SMART FOR THIS?

IS THAT YOUR BEST LINE?

YOU'RE SURE
YOU GOT YOUR DEGREE

FROM
A REGULAR COLLEGE,

OR WAS IT A NIGHT SCHOOL
WHERE LIFE EXPERIENCE COUNTS?

I DIDN'T EXPRESS
MYSELF WELL.

WHAT I MEANT TO SAY
IS I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY,

WHEN YOU'RE SO SMART,

WHY YOU'VE CHOSEN TO CAUSE
SO MUCH PAIN.

DEFINE YOUR LOGIC.

I READ IN YOUR CASE FILES
THAT YOU LIVED

IN MANY FOSTER HOMES
AFTER YOUR MOTHER DIED.

MANY PEOPLE
MUST HAVE CAUSED YOU PAIN.

THEN HELP ME FEEL BETTER.

KILL THEM FOR ME.

WHEN A CHILD IS TRAUMATIZED,
THEY STILL HAVE CHOICES.

SOME GROW UP AND FIGHT BACK.

THEY BECOME
PROTECTORS

AND TRY TO SAVE
OTHER PEOPLE

FROM THE SAME PAIN
THAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH.

YOU MEET THEM AS
SOCIAL ACTIVISTS, TEACHERS--

AND BADLY DRESSED
THERAPISTS?

ARE YOU A LONER, MARTIN?

DON'T HAVE A WIFE TO PICK OUT
YOUR CLOTHES FOR YOU?

NOT THAT I MEAN
TO CRITICIZE.

SOME OF THE VERY BEST PEOPLE

AT THIS SCHOOL
SAID I DRESSED LIKE A GEEK.

YOU KNOW, THE TEXTBOOKS CLAIM
THAT HUMOR AT A TIME LIKE THIS

USUALLY MEANS YOU'RE
SCREAMING INSIDE.

I THOUGHT THE LACK OF IT MEANT
THAT I WAS STUPID OR A MADMAN.

WHAT ABOUT
YOUR NEXT TYPE OF VICTIM?

WELL, THEY'RE THE TYPE
WHO IDENTIFY WITH THE ABUSERS,

AND THEY BECOME
PAIN-GIVERS THEMSELVES

WHICH IS INHERENTLY ILLOGICAL,

BECAUSE THAT'S JUST ANOTHER FORM
OF SURRENDER TO THE ABUSERS.

IT'S SAYING YOU CAN'T BEAT THEM,
SO YOU'RE JOINING THEM.

OH, COME ON, MARTIN.

ARE YOU TRYING
TO TIE ME UP IN LOGICAL KNOTS

LIKE I WAS SOME SORT OF WAR GAME
COMPUTER YOU COULD CRASH

WITH A GAME OF TIC TAC TOE?

NO, I DON'T HAVE TO BE
THAT SMART.

JUST YOU DO, AND YOU ARE.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE CHOICES.

THE MYSTERY TO ME IS WHY HAVE
YOU BECOME A VICTIMIZER ANYWAY?

BECAUSE I WANT JUSTICE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE PEOPLE
ON MY LIST DID TO ME?

NO, I DON'T.

MR. WALKER
WAS MY LAST FOSTER FATHER.

HE USED TO EXPERIMENT ON ME,

SEE WHAT SORTS OF THINGS
HE COULD BEAT ME WITH

WITHOUT LEAVING A MARK ON ME.

HE DROVE HIS WIFE TO SUICIDE
LAST YEAR,

IF THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

THEN SCREW HIM.

THEN THERE'S MR. OWENS,

MY SOCIAL WORKER.

HE CALLED ME A LIAR
WHEN I ASKED FOR HELP.

I RECENTLY FIGURED OUT WHY.

HE WAS TAKING KICKBACKS
FROM THE WALKERS.

LET'S PUT THEM
IN JAIL.

THEN WE HAVE
MS. CARSTAIRS.

SHE KNEW I COULDN'T DEAL
WITH PEOPLE VERY WELL.

SHE FORCED ME TO WORK
THE LIBRARY'S FRONT DESK.

WHEN I BEGGED HER FOR A TRANSFER
TO THE STACKS, SHE FIRED ME.

I TOLD HER I WOULDN'T EAT,
LITERALLY NOT HAVE FOOD.

SHE BARRED ME FROM
ANY WORK-STUDY JOB

AT THE SCHOOL
ALL THE SAME.

I'M NOT SURE
IT MERITS THE DEATH PENALTY.

AND FINALLY THERE'S KLAUS WYLIE,

WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S
HASTINGS AWARD.

HE STOLE MY IDEAS

AND ACCUSED ME
OF PLAGIARIZING HIM

WHEN I SUBMITTED MY OWN PAPER
TO THE COMMITTEE.

ALL UNFORGIVABLE THINGS TO DO
TO SOMEONE

WHO'S TRYING
TO MAKE THEIR WAY IN THE WORLD

ALL ALONE,
I AGREE.

THANK YOU.
THEN GIVE ME THEIR LIVES.

OR WHAT?

YOU'LL KILL EVERYONE
IN THE CITY?

WHERE IS THE JUSTICE IN THAT?

BECAUSE THEY'RE DEAD ANYWAY.

I MEAN,
HAVEN'T YOU

EVER WONDERED WHY

THERE ISN'T ANY INTELLIGENT LIFE
IN THE UNIVERSE?

EXCUSE ME?

OH, COME ON,
MARTIN.

ALL THOSE YEARS

LISTENING TO THE STARS
AND NOT A PEEP.

NO
I LOVE LUCY

WITH TWO-HEADED GREEN GUYS
PLAYING BOTH LUCY AND RICKY?

NO RADIO SIGNALS AT ALL.

YOU KNOW WHY?
NO, I DON'T.

BECAUSE THEY GET
TO THIS POINT

WHERE YOU AND I
ARE TODAY,

AND THEY DISCOVER

THE ENERGY WEAPON
THAT ANY CHILD CAN BUILD.

AND THEN
THEY DESTROY THEMSELVES.

I CAN'T ACCEPT THAT.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU CAN EITHER.

BEFORE THIS DAY'S
OVER, YOU WILL.

I JUST WANT JUSTICE
DONE FOR ME

WHILE
THERE'S STILL TIME.

WAIT. DON'T MOVE.

( alarm signal beeping )

MOTION SENSOR.
PULL BACK SLOWLY.

( computer voice )
WARNING, WARNING.

PLEASE STEP BACK FROM THE CAR.

EVERYBODY, MOVE!
GET DOWN! GET DOWN!

GET DOWN! GET DOWN!

BASE.

MY TEAM IS DOWN.

THE NUCLEAR DEVICE
IS INTACT.

( signal beeping )

THEY TRIED TO COME UP
THE UTILITY TUNNEL.

WOULDN'T YOU?

ARE YOU WEARING
A WIRE?

YES.

TELL THEM
WHAT I'VE DONE.

HE JUST OPENED
A SAFETY GUARD

ON WHAT LOOKS LIKE
AN OVERRIDE DETONATOR,

SOMETHING THAT
HE CAN HIT

AND SET OFF
HIS BOMB IMMEDIATELY.

JIM,
THE SLIGHTEST MOVE TO USE IT,

YOU'VE GOT TO TELL US.

LIEUTENANT JACKSON,

WAIT FOR DETONATION
ON MY COMMAND.

YES, SIR.

I'M ON THE TRIGGER.

THEY DIDN'T
RESPECT ME.

THEY DIDN'T
LISTEN TO ME.

IT'S THEIR JOB.

NOW THEY GOT
A NEW JOB.

SHOOT THE FIRST PERSON
ON MY LIST,

OR I WON'T WAIT FOR THAT TIMER.

I'LL BLOW THIS THING NOW.

KILL WYLIE, OR THE CITY BLOWS.

IS JACKSON
CLOSE ENOUGH?

WILL HE VAPORIZE
THE COLD FUSION DEVICE

OR DETONATE IT?

TELL ME, YOU'RE
THE DISPOSAL EXPERT.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH
SIMULATIONS BEFORE,

BUT NOT ANYTHING
LIKE THIS.

WHAT DO I DO?
SHOOT A MAN?

IT'S AGAINST EVERYTHING
THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR.

I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

HE'S CRAZY.
DON'T YOU GET IT?

SHOOT HIM!

NECESSITY DEFENCE --
JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE.

IF THE LIFEBOAT'S
GOING TO SINK,

YOU CAN THROW
PEOPLE OVERBOARD.

IF THE DAM'S
GOING TO BREAK,

YOU CAN OPEN
THE FLOODGATES.

THE LAW ISN'T
THAT CLEAR.

IF JACKSON'S
100 METERS OFF,

THAT NUCLEAR MINE
MAY NOT WORK.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT
BECAUSE IT'S OUR LIVES.

YOU OWE ME THIS!

PROFESSOR WYLIE.

OUR NUCLEAR MINE BLOWS OR
HIS COLD FUSION DEVICE IGNITES,

IT'S THE SAME RESULT --
YOU'LL DIE, WE'LL ALL DIE.

YOU BROUGHT ME HERE
AGAINST MY WILL.

I DON'T HAVE TO DIE!
YOU BROUGHT ME!

I'M SORRY.

NO, YOU CAN'T DO THIS!

( Seth )
...THREE,

TWO...

( whimpering )

NO!

SHOOT HIM!

SHOOT HIM
AND LEAVE HIM THERE,

OR THE WHOLE CITY
DIES!

DON'T DO IT!
HIS LIFE
IS WORTHLESS!

WILL! STOP!
SHOOT HIM!

( gunshot )

WHAT ARE
YOU FEELING?

THAT YOU ARE NEVER SMART ENOUGH
TO TAKE ME ON.

WE'RE DONE TALKING.

FOR YEARS...

YOU SAT ALONE IN YOUR BEDROOM
AT NIGHT DREAMING ABOUT REVENGE.

ONLY NOW,
INSTEAD OF EXHILARATION,

ALL YOU'RE FEELING IS EMPTINESS.

WHAT MAKES
YOU SO SURE

YOU CAN
READ MY MIND?

YOU KNOW
WHAT THEY SAY.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SHRINKS

AND PATIENTS
IS THAT WE HAVE

A CERTIFICATE
THAT SAYS WE'RE SANE.

LOOK WHO'S
DEVELOPING A SENSE OF HUMOR.

MAYBE BECAUSE I WAS BEATEN UP
ENOUGH IN MY CHILDHOOD

THAT I'M SYMPATHIZING WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE NO CLUE HOW I FEEL.

I KNOW ENOUGH
TO TELL YOU THIS.

THAT MAN DYING AND YOUR
TURNING ANOTHER GOOD MAN

INTO A MURDERER
DOESN'T MAKE YOU

FEEL ANY BETTER
THAN KILLING

FIVE MORE
OR FIVE MILLION.

DO YOU KNOW
HOW THE FIRST THOUGHT

OF AN ATOMIC BOMB
CAME INTO THE WORLD?

NO.

IT WAS, UM, 1939.

A GROUP OF GRADUATE STUDENTS
WORKING WITH ROBERT OPPENHEIMER

SKETCHED A DESIGN
ON THEIR CLASSROOM BLACKBOARD.

NOT LONG AFTER THAT,
ANOTHER JUNIOR GUY WAS THINKING

ABOUT THIS LITTLE RESEARCH
REPORT FROM PARIS

WHILE HE WAS RIDING ALONG
IN HIS COMMUTER TRAIN IN BERLIN.

THE FRENCH GUYS HAD NOTICED THAT
WHEN THEY SPLIT CERTAIN ATOMS,

THEY GOT
AN EXTRA RELEASE OF NEUTRONS.

AND THERE, AMID THE SCREECH

OF STEEL WHEELS
AGAINST STEEL RAILS,

THE LIGHT
FLICKERING ACROSS HIS FACE,

THAT GUY REALIZED
THAT YOU COULD NOT ONLY BASE

A BOMB ON
THAT SORT OF CHAIN REACTION,

BUT YOU COULD ALSO BREED
YOUR OWN URANIUM TO DO IT.

DO YOU, UH...

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

THAT ALL THOSE PEOPLE
WEREN'T NECESSARILY SPECIAL,

AND THAT IT WASN'T EVEN
BASED ON THEIR OWN EXPERIMENTS.

EXACTLY.

WHEN A SCIENCE
IS READY,

PEOPLE CAN'T HELP
MAKING THE DISCOVERY.

THE WORLD IS GOING TO END
VERY SOON, DR. MARTIN.

THE CONCEPTS ARE SO SIMPLE.

EVEN A CHILD

CAN MAKE
A COLD FUSION BOMB.

YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT CHILDREN, SETH?

LOOK, UM...

THIS IS A REAL CHILD.

SHE ONLY WEIGHS 61 POUNDS.

YOU COULD BALANCE

THE WEIGHT OF HER LIFE
IN YOUR HANDS.

SHE'S NEVER HURT YOU
OR ANYONE THAT I KNOW OF.

BUT YOU'RE GOING
TO KILL HER

IF YOU SET OFF
YOUR BOMB.

LIAR.

YOU GOT YOUR FAMILY
OUT OF THE CITY HOURS AGO.

NO, THEY DON'T KNOW.

IT IS A PROCEDURE.

ONCE THE TEAM'S ASSEMBLED,
THEY TOOK MY PHONE AWAY.

WHAT'S HER NUMBER?

WHAT?

GIVE ME
AN OUTSIDE LINE NOW.

I CAN'T NEGOTIATE
WITH LIARS!

CALL HIS WIFE NOW.

( phone ringing )

HELLO?

WHO'S THIS?

SHARON MARTIN.

ARE YOU CALLING
ABOUT JIM?

HE'S OKAY.

THANK GOD.

BUT HE WANTS YOU
TO DO SOMETHING, SHARON.

I WANT YOU TO DO SOMETHING.

IS YOUR DAUGHTER THERE?

YES.

THEN TAKE HER,
SHARON.

TAKE THAT PRETTY LITTLE CHILD
OF YOURS

AND DRIVE THE FASTEST WAY
OUT OF TOWN.

WHO IS THIS?

JUST DO IT.
YOU'VE GOT 30 MINUTES.

THAT'S MY ACT
OF MERCY TO YOU.

TELL HER.

SHARON, IT'S ME.

I'M OKAY.

YOU'RE AT THE UNIVERSITY,
AREN'T YOU?

THAT WAS THE BOMBER,
WASN'T IT?

IS IT DADDY?

IT'S OKAY, SHARON.
I'LL BE ALL RIGHT,

I SWEAR TO YOU.

RIGHT NOW GET KATE
IN THE CAR

AND CROSS
THE HAMILTON FOOTHILLS.

PUT THEM
BETWEEN YOU

AND THE CITY.

AND NEVER LOOK BACK.

PROMISE ME, SHARON.

JUST COME HOME IN ONE PIECE,
OKAY, JIM?

AND I'LL TAKE KATE TO SCHOOL
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

YOU BET.

NOW GO, GO.

OKAY.

I GAVE YOU A LIFE,
TWO LIVES.

NOW YOU OWE ME ONE.

WHAT?

KILL THE NEXT PERSON
ON MY LIST.

KILL MR. WALKER.

YOU CAN'T WANT THIS.

WHY WON'T YOU GIVE ME
WHAT I WANT?

YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY
WANT THIS.

THE ONLY REASON SOMEONE
IN YOUR POSITION LETS ME INSIDE

IS BECAUSE YOU WANT ME
TO HELP STOP YOU.

OH, YOU REALLY HAVE LOST IT.

YOU DEFINE THIS.

IF YOU REALLY WANTED
THOSE PEOPLE DEAD,

YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE COME HERE

AND DRAWN A TEAM OF COMMANDOS
AROUND YOU

TO TRY AND STOP YOU!

I HAVE THE POWER
TO DESTROY THE WORLD.

I WANT RESPECT FOR THAT!

YOU'D GET THAT
BY BLOWING UP ANYTHING

AND WRITING
TO THE PRESS!

THINK ABOUT THE LOGIC, SETH.

REASON IT THROUGH.

( alarm beeping )

THEY'RE COMING
UP THE TUNNEL AGAIN.

IT'S THEIR JOB.

THEY'LL NEVER
GET HERE IN TIME.

NOW THAT MY HOSTAGES
ARE ASSEMBLED,

LET'S LINE 'EM UP,

OR THE BLOOD
OF THIS CITY

WILL BE
ON YOUR HANDS.

( soldier )
TUNNEL'S JAMMED.

WE CAN'T CLEAR IT
IN TIME.

JIM, YOU MUST
GET HIM TO STOP THAT TIMER.

I AM PREPARED TO
TAKE ANOTHER LIFE.

WHAT DID
THEY TELL YOU?

NOTHING USEFUL.

WHAT DID
THEY JUST TELL YOU?

THEY OFFERED ME

ANOTHER LIFE,
DIDN'T THEY?

ONLY IF YOU'LL STOP THE TIMER.

TELL THEM I WANT WALKER.

TELL THEM YOURSELF.

GIVE ME WALKER!

I WANT TO SEE HIM

DOWN HERE
ON HIS KNEES

BEGGING FOR MERCY!

GIVE ME WALKER!

I WANT
TO SEE HIM BEG.

GOD KNOWS HE KNOWS HOW TO.

HE SAW ME DO IT.

I WANT HIM
DOWN HERE!

HIT THE BOMB
WITH THE LASER BEAM.

YOU CAN LINE IT UP
IN THE MIRROR.

WHAT?

FIRE
INTO THE MIRROR.

YOU CAN FUSE THE
DETONATOR CONTROLLER.

GET US THE BIGGEST LASER
THEY HAVE.

YES, SIR.

GOD, NO.

NO!

GOD, NO!

SETH!

IT'S ME!

I'M PRACTICALLY
YOUR DAD!

LOUDER!

I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

THIS ISN'T THE WAY.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY.

YOU KNOW HOW LONG
HE TERRORIZED ME?

I WANT HIM DEAD!

NO.

THAT'S IT, ISN'T IT?

YOU'VE SAID MORE
ABOUT YOURSELF

THAN YOU REALIZED.

I JUST HAVEN'T
SEEN IT.

WHAT?

ALL OF THIS
IS ABOUT FEAR.

WHAT AM
I THINKING?

IT'S ALWAYS
ABOUT FEAR.

NOT ANY MORE.

I HOLD THE POWER.

I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT THE FEAR

THAT THOSE PEOPLE
CAUSED YOU.

I'M TALKING ABOUT
THE FUNDAMENTAL FEAR THAT IS

REACHING DOWN INTO THE CENTER
OF YOUR SOUL RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S THE ANSWER
TO THIS MYSTERY.

YOUR DISCOVERY HAS
TERRIFIED YOU.

YOU'D RATHER DIE THAN
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FEAR.

AREN'T I RIGHT?
LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF.

ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU'RE FEELING?

COME ON, MOVE IT.

LET'S GET THIS THING POWERED.

JIM, KEEP HIM AWAY

FROM THE WINDOW.

WE NEED TIME.

YOU'RE JUST
TRYING TO DISTRACT ME.

I'M TRYING TO REFLECT
YOUR TRUTH BACK TO YOU.

THAT'S WHY YOU CREATED
THIS PSYCHO-DRAMA.

YOU DON'T WANT
THE WORLD TO END.

LET THAT BASTARD OUT THERE
SUFFER WITH HIS OWN TERROR.

STOP THE TIMER
AND TALK TO ME.

( soldier )
LASER'S POWERED UP.
HIT IT.

OKAY...

I'LL ADMIT
THIS IS INTRIGUING.

DEFINE WHAT YOU MEAN.

BUT YOU BETTER TALK FAST,

BECAUSE OUR TIME FOR CHIT-CHAT
IS ALMOST UP.

I CAN'T DEFINE IT FOR YOU.
IT JUST IS.

JUST LOOK
INSIDE YOURSELF.

TELL ME
WHAT YOU FEEL.

WHAT IF I DO FEEL FEAR?

WHAT IF I WISHED I NEVER SAW
HOW TO BUILD THAT THING?

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

IT'S BUILT.

AND SOMEONE ELSE WILL BUILD
ANOTHER ONE VERY SOON.

WE CAN CONTROL THE MATERIALS
NEEDED TO BUILD IT.

WE CAN STEER
THE PATH OF EDUCATION

AWAY FROM THE DISCOVERY.

THE MATERIALS ARE EVERYWHERE.

WHEN SCIENCE
IS READY TO MAKE A DISCOVERY,

NOTHING CAN STOP IT.

ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY THE IDEAS
WILL OCCUR TO LOTS OF PEOPLE.

DON'T LET HIM TURN.

STEP UP THE POWER.

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

BUT HOPE IS AS INTRINSIC
TO THE HUMAN CONDITION

AS OUR THIRST
FOR LIFE.

I WANT YOU
TO LIVE.

I DON'T CARE
IF THAT'S LOGICAL.

LET'S PUT THE GENIE
BACK IN THE BOTTLE.

THEY'LL FORGET ABOUT
THE DEATHS TODAY

IF YOU MAKE
THAT DEAL.

AND THE VERY EFFORT
OF TRYING

WILL HELP CURE
YOUR FEARS.

COME ON.

ADMIT TO YOURSELF
WHAT YOU'RE FEELING.

I, UH...

MAYBE I DO FEEL FEAR.

WE GOT IT!

GET THAT SON OF A BITCH
NEAR THE WINDOW,

THEN WE'LL PUT HIM DOWN.

LET'S DISCUSS THIS
A LITTLE MORE.

LET ME
RESET THE TIMER.

SETH, NO, NO.

WHAT THE HELL?

PUT HIM DOWN.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

MARTIN'S IN THE WAY, SIR.

I DIDN'T WANT
ANYONE ELSE TO DIE.

YOU WERE BUYING TIME.

GENERAL,
HE COULD STILL

MANUALLY ACTIVATE
THE DETONATOR.

( general )
MOVE ASIDE, JIM.

MOVE ASIDE.

THEY'LL SHOOT ME THROUGH YOU.

MOVE FROM THE WINDOW,
WE'LL BOTH LIVE.

WE'LL FIRE
WHETHER YOU MOVE OR NOT.

NO, YOU STEP AWAY,
OR I'LL RESTART IT.

ON MY COMMAND.

READY...

WHY CAN'T I CONVINCE YOU?

AIM...

BECAUSE
WE'RE ALL DEAD ANYWAY.

FIRE.

SETH.

DON'T MOVE!
DON'T MOVE!

STOP! STOP THEM!

THE DOOR'S STILL ARMED.

IT'S OVER.

THE SECOND SWITCH
TURNS OFF THE SENSORS.

ALL RIGHT, GO, GO, GO!

HELP ME SAVE
THE NEXT GUY LIKE YOU.

HOW DID YOU LEARN
ABOUT COLD FUSION?

WHAT WAS THE
BREAKTHROUGH CONCEPT?

IT'S SO SIMPLE ONCE
THEY ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION.

ONLY THEY'RE EXPECTING
THE WRONG ANSWER.

SETH.

SETH...SETH.

( student mumbling )

TOM?

IS SOMETHING
WRONG?

NO, EVERYTHING'S GREAT.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO FAIL.

I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T THINK SO AT ALL.

TOM, WHERE
ARE YOU GOING?

I GOT SOME WORK TO DO.

DON'T WORRY.

I'LL SEE YOU.

I'LL SEE YOU REAL SOON.

( control voice )
IF KNOWLEDGE IS POWER,

AND POWER CORRUPTS,

HOW WILL HUMANKIND
EVER SURVIVE?