The Outer Limits (1995–2002): Season 4, Episode 22 - The Balance of Nature - full transcript

YOU KNOW
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,

BRINGING MEREDITH HOME
MAY HAVE BEEN PREMATURE.

IT'S OVER, DON.

YOU KNOW IT, I KNOW IT,
ONCOLOGY KNOWS IT.

SHE HASN'T RESPONDED
TO TREATMENT IN WEEKS.

THE MELANOMA IS
WAY TOO ADVANCED.

HER LYMPH SYSTEM IS RIDDLED.

HER WHOLE BODY IS UNDER ATTACK.

YOU'RE NOT THINKING
OF INTERVENING.

SHE'S MY WIFE.

SHE DESERVES WHATEVER
DIGNITY I CAN GIVE HER.



THANKS
FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT, DON.

YOU KNOW, IF ONLY

THE REGRESSOR
WERE FURTHER ALONG,

MEREDITH
MIGHT HAVE BEEN

THE FIRST
TO BENEFIT FROM IT.

OF COURSE, WE BOTH
KNOW THE PRICE TO PAY

FOR STEPPING OUTSIDE
THE REGS.

NOAH, DAVENPORT
WOULD HAVE YOUR HEAD

ON A PLATTER.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND,

I'D LIKE TO BE ALONE
WITH MY WIFE.

I'D BE LOST WITHOUT YOU, KID.

I GOT NO CHOICE.

I GOT TO DO THIS.



IF I'M RIGHT,

THIS MACHINE
IS GOING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.

IF I'M WRONG...

GOD FORGIVE ME.

INITIALIZE CELLULAR ANALYSIS.

( computer )
SCANNING AND INITIALIZING.

WARNING.

"PROBABILITY
OF SUCCESSFUL REGRESSION

AT 72%."

"EXCEEDS
RISK PARAMETERS."

WELL, I'LL TAKE THOSE ODDS.

OVERRIDE INITIALIZED.

( computer )
OVERRIDING.

AND...EXECUTE.

REGRESSION SEQUENCE COMMENCING.

REGRESSION TARGET: 17 MONTHS.

PLEASE...

LET HER LIVE.

LESIONS ARE SHRINKING.

MULTIPLE INDICATIONS
OF HYPO-REMISSION.

CELLULAR REGRESSION SUCCESSFUL.

DISENGAGE REGRESSION SEQUENCE.

NOAH?

HEY, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

FINE.

( sighing )

I'M SO GROGGY.

DID I OVERSLEEP?

IT'S AMAZING.

LOOK AT YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT'S ALL THIS EQUIPMENT?

IT'S THE PROTOTYPE
OF THE REGRESSOR.

I BROUGHT IT HOME.

REGRESSOR?

HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU
HOW MUCH I LOVED YOU?

WARNING, WARNING.

SUBJECT DESTABILIZING

WHAT'S GOING ON?
IT'S REVERSING.

WE'RE GETTING
CELLULAR BREAKDOWN.

GOD, LET IT BE TRANSIENT.

YOU'RE SCARING ME. STOP IT.

INITIALIZE REGRESSION SEQUENCE.

OH, MY SKIN!

WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?

HANG ON!
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

INITIALIZE THE DAMN
REGRESSION SEQUENCE!

HELP ME.

MEREDITH!?

NOOOOO!

( 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 )
IT IS PERHAPS THE CENTRAL
PARADOX OF OUR EXISTENCE.

TO BE ALIVE IS
TO BE AWARE OF OUR MORTALITY.

LIFE IS BY DEFINITION
A TERMINAL DISEASE.

YOU NEVER THOUGHT

TO HIRE
PROFESSIONAL MOVERS?

WHY SHOULD I WHEN
I HAVE FRIENDS LIKE YOU?

YOU KNOW, NOT THAT
I HAVEN'T THOUGHT

ABOUT GETTING OUT
OF THE CITY MYSELF,

BUT DID YOU
HAVE TO COME THIS FAR?

TAKE A LOOK AROUND.

CLEAN AIR,
ZERO CRIME.

WHAT IS IT I'LL BE MISSING?

POKER WON'T BE
THE SAME WITHOUT YOU.

WHO ELSE FOLDS ACES UP?

WELL,

IT'S NOT
EXACTLY LIKE I HAD A CHOICE.

THE HOSPITAL CUT OFF
ALL FUNDING TO MY RESEARCH.

THE REVIEW BOARD
IS STILL THREATENING

TO PULL MY LICENSE.

HELL,
IF THE D.A. HADN'T BACKED OFF

ON THOSE MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES,
I MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN PRISON.

YOU DID WHAT ANYONE WOULD HAVE.

YEAH.

NOAH...

MEREDITH WAS DYING LONG BEFORE
YOUR EXPERIMENTS EVER BEGAN.

IT WAS THE CANCER
THAT KILLED HER,

NOT YOU, NOT THE REGRESSOR.

THANKS FOR THE ABSOLUTION.

YOU'D HAVE MADE
A GREAT PRIEST.

LOOK, ALL
I'M SAYING IS THAT

JUST BECAUSE
THE REGRESSOR'S

BEEN MOTH-BALLED
DOESN'T MEAN THAT

YOU CAN'T APPLY THAT KNOWLEDGE
TO OTHER RESEARCH.

THE TRUTH IS
I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU.

I'D HATE TO SEE YOU
SINK INTO THAT HOL

THAT YOU WERE IN.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR.

YOU CAN'T GO ON
TORTURING YOURSELF.

IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON.

I'M HERE, AREN'T I?

TO DO WHAT?

THEY COULD USE A G.P.

I COULD MAKE HOUSE CALLS.

YOU'RE
50 MILES OUTSIDE THE CITY,

NOT 50 YEARS
BACK IN TIME.

SPEAKING OF TIME,
I GOT TO BE GETTING BACK.

LISTEN,
YOU NEED ANYTHING,

YOU GIVE ME A SHOUT.

HEY, JUST LOOK
FOR THE SMOKE SIGNALS.

( door opening and closing )

THIS IS FOR YOU, MEREDITH.

THIS IS FOR YOU.

HELLO THERE.

HELLO BACK.

NOAH PHILLIPS.

WELCOME TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M BARBARA MATHESON.

RUMOR IS YOU'RE A DOCTOR.

AH, GUILTY AS CHARGED.

IF I HAD WARNING
YOU WERE COMING,

WE WOULD HAVE CALLED OUT
THE WELCOME WAGON.

THE EQUIVALENT IN THE CITY

IS YOUR CAR DOESN'T GET
BROKEN INTO IN THE FIRST MONTH.

HARDCORE URBANITE, HUH?

NOT ANY MORE.

MADE THE BIG LEAP
TO THE COUNTRY.

NEED SOME PEACE AND QUIET.

YOU WON'T GET MUCH OF THAT
AROUND HERE,

NOT WITH
ALL THE ALIEN ABDUCTIONS.

OH.

OH!

THAT'S VERY GOOD --
I HAVEN'T HAD

A DECENT ABDUCTION
IN A LONG TIME.

IS IT JUST YOU,
OR DO YOU HAVE A FAMILY?

NO, NO, IT'S JUST ME.

WE'LL GIVE YOU A PARTY

SO YOU CAN MEET
SOME NEIGHBORS.

I'M NOT REALLY THE PARTY TYPE.

I'M NOT GOOD AT GIVING THEM.

I LIKE YOUR SALES PITCH.

IF YOU DON'T
WANT A PARTY,

HOW ABOUT I SURPRISE YOU?

WITH WHAT?

IF I TOLD YOU,
IT WOULDN'T BE A SURPRISE.

BARB, WHAT
ARE YOU UP TO?

COME ON OUT,
MEET OUR NEW NEIGHBOR.

DR. PHILLIPS, THIS
IS MY HUSBAND GREG.

( Greg )
DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING
SHE TELLS YOU.

THEY DON'T ROLL UP THE SIDEWALKS
UNTIL 9:00.

THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

I THOUGHT
YOU WERE HELPING ME PACK.

I'LL GET SOME
THINGS TOGETHER.

EXCUSE ME, DOCTOR.
YEAH, SURE THING.

LIFE OF A TRAVELING SALESMAN.

NO SOONER
LAY YOUR BUTT IN THE SACK

THAN SOMEBODY STARTS
BLOWING REVEILLE.

THAT'S THE PRICE
OF BEING NUMERO UNO.

I CAN IMAGINE.

SEE YA.YEAH.

WELL,
THE NEW NEIGHBOR

SEEMS LIKE SUCH
A NICE YOUNG MAN.

TELL YOU WHAT,
OLD HANLEY,

A LOT OF THIS
CONSOLIDATION STRATEGY

I PUT TOGETHER
IS GOING

TO CHANGE IT
SOON BIG-TIME!

I CERTAINLY
HOPE SO.

THANKS FOR THE VOTE
OF CONFIDENCE.

I KNOW HOW ANXIOUS
YOU'VE BEEN

ABOUT THE NEW MAN
THEY BROUGHT IN.

HE'S
A SNOT-NOSED KID.

AH, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

YOU DON'T BUILD A COMPANY
AS BIG AS HANLEY'S

WITHOUT HAVING GREAT RESPECT
FOR EXPERIENCE.

BESIDES...NO PIMPLE-FACED JERK'S

GOING TO DO ME
OUT OF MY PROMOTION.

HE'LL SING IN A HIGHER KEY
WHEN I GET THROUGH WITH HIM.

AH, THE COFFEE'S COLD.

OH, HERE, LET ME
GET YOU A FRESH CUP.

YES, SIREE,
I TELL YOU THAT'S GOOD.

I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS.

BY DOCUMENTING THESE EXPERIMENTS
WITH THE MODIFIED REGRESSOR,

I HOPE TO PROVE TO THE WORLD

THAT ITS DREAM OF DISCOVERING
A FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

CAN TRANSCEND MYTH...
AND BECOME A REALITY.

OF COURSE I MAY ALSO

BE PROVIDING THE AUTHORITIES

WITH THE EVIDENCE THEY NEED
TO PROSECUTE ME

FOR WALKING AWAY WITH
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

WORTH OF HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT,
BUT...WHAT THE HELL.

OKAY, GUYS...

LET'S MAKE HISTORY.

( machine beeping and whirring )

RUN SELF-DIAGNOSTIC.

( computer )
SYSTEM CALIBRATING.

INITIALIZE REGRESSION SEQUENCE.

INITIALIZING.

AND...

EXECUTE.

REGRESSION SEQUENCE COMMENCING.

CELLULAR REGRESSION SUCCESSFUL.

YES.

( knocking )

"WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

HOPE YOU LIKE HOMEMADE PIE."

( Greg )
CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT! GEEZ!

YOU CALL THIS SHIRT IRONED?
LOOK AT THAT! LOOK AT THAT!

I BUST MY BUTT FOR YOU.

LEAST YOU COULD DO
IS FIX ME A DECENT SHIRT!

BEFORE YOU WORRY
ABOUT THE GODDAMN NEIGHBOR!

BARBARA, ARE
YOU ALL RIGHT?

OH, I'M FINE.

ARE YOU SURE
EVERYTHING'S OKAY?

BUT OF COURSE.
WHY WOULDN'T IT BE?

WELL, IT'S JUST--

JUST, UM, I JUST CAME OVER
TO THANK YOU FOR THE PIE.

OH, DID YOU GET A CHANCE
TO TRY A PIECE?

NO, I'LL TRY SOME
WHEN I GET BACK.

ANYWAY, UM...THANKS.

OH, IT'S MY PLEASURE.

WHO WERE YOU TALKING TO?

THE NEW NEIGHBOR.

( sighing )

I CATCH YOU
WHINING TO HIM,

THERE'S GOING TO BE HELL TO PAY.

I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
I DON'T BELIEVE YA!

STOP THIS, PLEASE.

I'LL GIVE YOU
SOMETHING

TO WHINE ABOUT, YOU LITTLE--!

( hitting her )

NOW YOU SEE
WHAT YOU MADE ME DO?

ARE YOU HAPPY? ARE YOU HAPPY?!

DAMN.

THE SPECIMEN'S REGRESSED CELLS
HAVE ENTIRELY REVERSED.

RESULTS...

DEVASTATINGLY LETHAL.

MORNING.

MORNING.

HOW WAS YOUR FIRST NIGHT
IN THE NEW HOUSE?

MUST BE THE COUNTRY AIR.

SLEPT LIKE A BABY.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?

FINE --
JUST FIGHTING

THE NEVER-ENDING BATTLE

OF THE WEEDS.

ARE YOU SURE
YOU DON'T NEED SOME HELP?

OH...NO, THANKS.

I'M...

DONE GARDENING FOR TODAY.

NO, WAIT, WAIT, BARBARA, WAIT.

I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE
TO BUY FOOD.

I'M GOING INTO TOWN TODAY.

WOULD YOU COME WITH ME?

OH, ACTUALLY, I'VE LET

QUITE A FEW CHORES
BUILD UP.

IT'D BE NICE HAVING
SOMEONE SHOW ME AROUND.

SURE YOU WOULDN'T
WANT TO COME

FOR
A COUPLE OF HOURS?

COME ON, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

WHAT DOES A GIRL
FROM RURAL FLORIDA END UP

DOING IN NEW YORK?

SINGING JAZZ
IN CABARETS.

GET OUT OF TOWN.

THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I DID.

BY POPULAR DEMAND.

JAZZ SINGER
IN NEW YORK.

THAT IS VERY COOL.

WELL, IF YOU CAN
FAKE IT THERE,

YOU CAN FAKE IT
ANYWHERE.

I BET YOU WERE
THE REAL THING.

HERE.

MY STAGE NAME

WAS BARBARA DUMONT.

I KEEP THAT PICTURE

TO REMIND MYSELF
OF THE POWER OF SELF-DECEPTION.

WOW.

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

MY CAREER WASN'T EXACTLY
LIGHTING UP THE GREAT WHITE WAY.

THEN I MET GREG.

HE SENT FLOWERS
TO MY DRESSING ROOM

FIVE NIGHTS IN A ROW

BEFORE HE
INTRODUCED HIMSELF.

HE WAS CHARMING,

AND I WAS EAGER
TO START A FAMILY.

DID YOU START
A FAMILY?

UNFORTUNATELY
GREG WASN'T ABLE

TO HAVE CHILDREN.

HIS JOB
TOOK HIM OUT WEST.

I GAVE UP THE MUSIC
TO BE WITH HIM.

YOU MISS IT?

WELL, I TRY NOT TO WALLOW
IN SELF-PITY,

TEMPTING AS THAT
MIGHT BE.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

WHEN IT COMES
TO MAKING THE MOST

OF ALL I HAVE LEFT,

I SAY
DAMN THE TORPEDOES.

DO YOU WANT
TO TALK ABOUT IT?

THE BRUISE
ON YOUR FACE.

OH, I JUST
HAPPEN TO BE

THE WORLD'S
CLUMSIEST PERSON.

CLUMSIEST LIAR MAYBE.

THINGS HAVE
BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING

FOR MY HUSBAND LATELY.

HE'S AFRAID
OF LOSING A PROMOTION

TO A MUCH YOUNGER MAN.

YOU CAN'T MAKE EXCUSES FOR HIM.

I'VE SEEN HOW
THESE PATTERNS ESCALATE.

GREG IS ALL I HAVE
IN THIS WORLD.

MOST OF THE TIME,
HE STILL CARES.

IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN,
I WON'T SIT ON MY HANDS.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I'D TALK TO HIM
OR REPORT HIM,

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M SORRY.

I DON'T MEAN TO
BE PRESUMPTUOUS.

NO, THAT'S OKAY.
CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING?

SURE.

WHY ARE YOU SO UNHAPPY?

WHAT? DO I LOOK
THAT UNHAPPY TO YOU?

WHEN YOU GET TO BE MY AGE,

YOU CAN LOOK INTO
A PERSON'S EYES

AND SEE RIGHT THROUGH
TO THEIR SOUL.

UM...

LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, I LOST
SOMEONE THAT I LOVED VERY MUCH.

YOUR WIFE?

YEAH.

MEREDITH CONTRACTED SKIN CANCER.

IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST.

I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH
AT THE TIME

I WAS CONVINCED WOULD HELP HER.

SO I TRIED
AN EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T WORK.

IN FACT...

IT KILLED HER.

OH, NO, THAT MUST
HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE FOR YOU.

IF I HADN'T BEEN
INVOLVED IN MY WORK,

I WOULD HAVE NOTICED SOONER.

I COULD
HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

YOU CAN'T BLAME YOURSELF.

BEING A DOCTOR
DOESN'T MAKE YOU ALL-POWERFUL.

ARE YOU STILL DOING
CANCER RESEARCH?

NO, IT'S NOT
CANCER PER SE.

AT ONE POINT,
I WAS SURE

THAT I WAS ONTO
THE VERY MECHANISM

WHICH MAKES US AGE.

PUT THAT
IN A BOTTLE.

I'LL ORDER
SOME MYSELF.

OH!

I DON'T SEE WHY.

YOU LOOK LIKE

YOU'RE IN GREAT HEALTH.

VERY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

OH, DOCTOR PHILLIPS,
PLEASE.

NOAH...NOAH.
HEY, HOW ABOUT A PHOTO?

OH, NO, NO THANK YOU.

OH, COME ON.

YOU AND ME TOGETHER.

DAMN THE TORPEDOES.

OKAY...OKAY!

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

OKAY,
RIGHT OVER HERE.

OH.

WHERE YOU BEEN?
YOU HAD ME WORRIED.

WE WERE
DOING SOME SHOPPING.

SORRY, GREG,
IT WAS MY FAULT.

I ASKED BARBARA
ALONG.

HUNGRY -- THINK YOU COULD

PUT SOMETHING
ON THE TABLE?

OF COURSE -- EXCUSE ME, DOCTOR.

I COULD TAKE YOU BOTH TO DINNER.

MAKE UP FOR
MY PRESUMPTUOUS BEHAVIOR.

OH, NO, NO.

ONE THING YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT ME AND BARB THOUGH.

WE KIND OF LIKE
TO KEEP TO OURSELVES, HUH?

( door closing )

( banging )

( computer )
SYSTEM CALIBRATING.

BARBARA?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

IS THIS THE MACHINE

THAT MAKES
PEOPLE YOUNG?

OH, BARBARA,
THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

PLEASE STEP AWAY.

I'VE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE, NOAH.

NOTHING AT ALL.

NO, WAIT!

( computer )
REGRESSION SEQUENCE COMMENCING.

DISENGAGE!
DISENGAGE!

ACCESS DENIED.

REGRESSION IN PROGRESS.

CELLULAR REGRESSION SUCCESSFUL.

BARBARA.

DID IT WORK?

COME HERE,
COME HERE.

OH! MY GOD!

IS THAT REALLY ME?

THAT'S REALLY YOU.

NOAH...MY YOUTH.

YOU'VE GIVEN IT BACK TO ME.

I'M SORRY, I HAVE NO RIGHT.

YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT.

WARNING.

SUBJECT DESTABLIZING.

WHAT IS IT? NOAH.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

THE CELLS ARE
BREAKING DOWN.

BARBARA.

NO, DON'T LOOK AT ME.

BARBARA,
IT'S ALL RIGHT.

WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!

OH, GOD ALMIGHTY.

( door closing )

( clearing throat )

IN AN EFFORT TO PROLONG
THE CELLULAR REJUVENATION,

I'VE DECIDED
TO INCREASE EXPOSURE

BY RUNNING
TWO EMITTERS IN TANDEM.

AND I'M HOPING
THAT THE STRONGER DOSE

WILL GIVE THE CELLS

THE STABILITY THEY NEED
TO REMAIN YOUNG.

RUN DIAGNOSTIC FOR EMITTER A.

( computer )
SYSTEM CALIBRATING.

NOAH?

BARBARA, I DIDN'T
HEAR YOU COME IN.

OH, I'M SORRY, I'M
INTERRUPTING YOUR WORK.

NO, NO, NO,
COME ON DOWN.

I BROUGHT YOU
SOMETHING.

YEAH, WHAT'S THAT?

IT'S MY SCRAPBOOK

FROM WHEN I WAS
SINGING IN CABARETS.

I THOUGHT
YOU MIGHT ENJOY IT.

YEAH...OH, I LOVE IT.

THAT'S A CONCERT
WE DID IN A COLLEGE.

OH, IS THIS

THE RESEARCH
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT?

PHILLIP'S FOLLY -- LOOK IT UP
IN THE MAD SCIENTIST ALMANAC.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

IN THEORY, YOU COULD
TAKE A MALIGNANT GROWTH

AND TAKE IT BACK TO THE POINT
WHERE IT WAS BENIGN

OR EVEN NON-EXISTENT.

SO YOU HAVEN'T
GIVEN UP ON IT?

I TRIED.

SOMETHING KEPT
NAGGING AT ME.

I DON'T THINK
I'M EVER GOING

TO BE ABLE TO
RECONCILE MYSELF

WITH WHAT HAPPENED
TO MEREDITH

UNTIL I CAN GET THIS
DAMN THING TO WORK.

NOAH...

MAYBE I SHOULDN'T SAY THIS.

IT'S NOT MY PLACE.

BUT I THINK YOU HAVE
TO FACE THE TRUTH IN YOUR LIFE

MUCH AS I HAVE
HAD TO IN MINE.

WHAT YOU DID
FOR MEREDITH,

YOU DID OUT OF LOVE.

YOU CAN'T FAULT
YOURSELF FOR THAT.WHY NOT?

I HAD HER LIFE IN MY HANDS.

IF ONLY
WE COULD HAVE TRADED PLACES.

THAT'S CRAZY!

OH, THINK OF THE HOPE

YOU COULD PROVIDE
OTHER PEOPLE.

OH, NOAH, YOU HAVE

SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR.

YOU'RE VERY SWEET,
YOU KNOW THAT?

BARBARA, BARBARA--

NO, NO, JUST, JUST NO.

NO.

BARBARA.

BARBARA, WAIT!

I'M 30 YEARS OLDER THAN YOU,
NOAH...MORE.

THAT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME.

EVEN IF
I WEREN'T MARRIED,

IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT.

I'M ON THE DOWNWARD SLOPE

OF MY LIFE.

OH, NOAH,
YOU ARE SO YOUNG.

ALL THAT KISS DID
WAS REMIND ME OF ALL OF THAT.

LISTEN TO ME.
HE DOESN'T DESERVE YOU.

I NEED YOU, BARBARA,
MORE THAN YOU KNOW.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS
THAT JUST WEREN'T MEANT TO BE.

THERE IS...THERE'S
A BALANCE OF NATURE, NOAH.

YOU CAN'T TURN BACK
THE CLOCK JUST BY

WISHING FOR IT.

NO ONE CAN.

( door closing )

GREG, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING HOME?

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

YOU DISAPPOINTED?

WELL, OF COURSE NOT.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO
SEE YOU UNTIL TONIGHT.

YOU'D BETTER GET USED TO IT,
BECAUSE YOU'LL BE SEEING

A HELL OF
A LOT MORE OF ME NOW.

DID SOMETHING
HAPPEN AT WORK?

DAMN RIGHT.
YOU DIDN'T
GET THE PROMOTION.

PROMOTION.

THAT BASTARD HANLEY FIRED ME.

GEEZ, ALL THOSE YEARS
ON THE ROAD DOWN THE DRAIN.

YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID TO ME?

"MAN YOUR AGE
OUGHT TO BE PLAYING GOLF,

WATCHING HIS GRANDKIDS GROW UP."

HE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE!

AH, WHAT THE HELL
AM I GOING TO DO?

OH, GREG,
I AM SO SORRY.

DON'T GIVE ME
THAT CRAP!

YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING ELSE.

NO ONE KNOWS THE BUYERS
LIKE YOU DO.

DON'T PATRONIZE ME!

YOU ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS A LOSER
FROM THE BEGINNING.

THAT'S NOT TRUE!
WHY ARE YOU SAYING THAT?

YOU THINK
I CAN GET ANOTHER JOB, HUH?

I'M 66 YEARS OLD.
IT'S OVER! I'M DEAD!

MIGHT AS WELL THROW DIRT ON ME!

WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOING?

I WAS JUST
GETTING YOU SOMETHING TO EAT.

DON'T YOU EVER
TURN YOUR BACK ON ME.

WHERE WERE YOU?
YOUR CAR WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY.

I WAS JUST NEXT DOOR.

I WAS TALKING
TO DR. PHILLIPS.

I TOLD YOU
TO STAY AWAY FROM HIM!

OH, GREG, DID
YOU HURT YOURSELF?

GREG, WE WERE JUST TALKING.

DON'T YOU LIE TO ME!

I TOLD YOU
TO STAY AWAY FROM HIM!

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

YOU'RE TRYING
TO CHARM A GUY HALF YOUR AGE!

THINK I'M A JOKE?!
YOU'RE THE JOKE!

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

OH, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

AND BY GOD, YOU WILL!
BY GOD, YOU WILL!

THE BALANCE OF NATURE.

I'M USING

OPPOSITELY CHARGED BEAMS
FROM THE TWIN EMITTERS

TO SIMULTANEOUSLY IRRADIATE
AN ADULT FROG AND A TADPOLE.

I'M TRYING TO CREATE
A LIVING EQUILIBRIUM,

THAT BALANCE OF NATURE THAT
BARBARA WAS TALKING ABOUT.

IF MY THEORY IS RIGHT,

THE FROG SHOULD REGRESS,
AND THE TADPOLE SHOULD AGE,

WITH A CROSS-OVER EFFECT

THAT SHOULD STABILIZE
THE CHANGES IN BOTH ANIMALS.

HERE GOES NOTHING.

INITIALIZE
TRANSFERENCE SEQUENCE.

( computer )
INITIALIZING.

AND...EXECUTE.

BI-POLAR REGRESSION SEQUENCE
COMMENCING.

CELLULAR REGRESSION SUCCESSFUL.

DISENGAGE TRANSFERENCE SEQUENCE.

( computer )
PARAMETERS STABLE.

RECALIBRATING
FOR POLARITY REVERSAL.

ONE UNEXPECTED ANOMALY --

THAT POLARITY OF THE BEAMS
APPARENTLY SWITCHED.

DONOR STATION HAS TURNED

INTO THE RECEIVING STATION
AND VICE VERSA.

THEY MUST GO BACK AND FORTH
WITH EVERY TRANSFERENCE.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

IS THAT CELLULAR REGRESSION
AND PROGRESSION

SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED.

DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE THE MOST
STABLE READINGS TO DATE.

I MAY ACTUALLY
HAVE PULLED THIS THING OFF.

( car starting )

BARBARA, IT'S ME! NOAH.

BARBARA!

RUN DIAGNOSTIC ON SUBJECT A.

( computer )
SCANNING.

BARBARA,
YOU'VE GOT TO DO THIS.

YOUR VITAL SIGNS
ARE RIGHT ON THE THRESHOLD.

YOU'RE BLEEDING INTERNALLY.

I'VE GOT NO TIME
TO GET YOU TO A HOSPITAL.

HEY, BARB, YOU...

WHAT THE...?

BARBARA?

BARBARA?!

BARBARA? BARBARA?

( Noah )
INITIALIZE
TRANSFERENCE SEQUENCE.

( computer )
INITIALIZING.

AND...EXECUTE.

BI-POLAR REGRESSION SEQUENCE
COMMENCING.

CELLULAR REGRESSION SUCCESSFUL.

PARAMETERS STABLE.

RECALIBRATING
FOR POLARITY REVERSAL.

THAT'S ME.

( Barbara sighing )

BARBARA?

WHERE AM I?

WHO ARE YOU?

MY NAME IS
DR. NOAH PHILLIPS.

NOW YOU'VE JUST SURVIVED
A VERY TRAUMATIC EVENT.

I MUST ASK YOU
SOME QUESTIONS.

TELL ME YOUR NAME,

YOUR FIRST AND YOUR LAST NAME.

BARBARA SPENCER.

WHAT YEAR IS IT?

IT'S 1957.

OH, MY.

DO I HAVE AMNESIA?

WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?
TELL ME!

IT'S EASIER TO SHOW YOU.

COME HERE.

SOME KIND OF TRICK.

IT HAS TO BE.

NO, BARBARA,
IT'S NOT.

IT'S NOT 1957
ANYMORE.

IT'S 1998.

YOU'RE 65 YEARS OLD,
AND YOU'VE BEEN

MARRIED TO GREG
FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.

OH, NO, THIS IS CRAZY.

LOOK, I DON'T KNOW
WHO YOU ARE,

BUT I WANT YOU
TO STAY AWAY.

WAIT, WAIT, BARBARA,
WAIT, WAIT.

YOU MUST KNOW THAT
GREG HAS A TEMPER.

WHEN I FOUND YOU,
HE'D BEATEN YOU SO BAD,

YOU WERE ALMOST DEAD.

HE WOULD NEVER HURT ME.

I KNOW HIM.

LOOK...THIS IS

A PICTURE
OF YOU AND I.

IT WAS TAKEN
TWO DAYS AGO.

THAT'S ME?
YES.

IS THAT WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING?YES.

YES, YOUR SCRAPBOOK.

HERE...YOU THINK THAT
YOU AND GREG AREN'T MARRIED YET?

WELL THEN,
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS?

EVEN IF I BELIEVED IT,
HOW COULD THIS BE YOU?

YOU SAID THIS MACHINE WAS
SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOU YOUNGER.

LISTEN,
I FIRST USED THIS MACHINE,

OH, IT WAS ALMOST A YEAR AGO
ON MY WIFE.

SHE WAS DYING OF CANCER.

THE FIRST VERSION
DIDN'T WORK,

AND SHE DIED ALMOST INSTANTLY.

IS THAT
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME?

OH, NO, NO -- I REALIZED,

BY STRIKING A BALANCE,
I COULD KEEP THE CELLS YOUNG.

YOU GAVE UP YOUR YOUTH
TO GIVE ME BACK MINE?

IT SEEMED ONLY RIGHT.

AFTER ALL,
YOU WERE THE INSPIRATION

THAT LED ME TO THE ANSWER.

HOW DO I KNOW
THIS ISN'T

SOME KIND OF HORRIBLE
BRAINWASHING...

LIKE KOREA?

OH, I WOULDN'T DO
THAT TO YOU, BARBARA.

YOU MEAN
TOO MUCH TO ME.

YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT.

NOAH,
IF...WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS TRUE,

THEN I'VE ROBBED YOU
OF HALF YOUR LIFE.

IT'S NOT RIGHT.

PLEASE...

PUT ME BACK
THE WAY I WAS.

WHAT?

WHY?

SO YOU CAN GO BACK

TO BEING
A BATTERED WOMAN?

I'M GIVING YOU
A SECOND CHANCE HERE,

A CHANCE TO LIVE AGAIN,
THE RIGHT WAY THIS TIME.

YOU'RE TELLING ME
I HAVE LIVED MY LIFE.

I CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY
FROM SOMEONE ELSE.

PLEASE...

PUT ME BACK THE WAY I WAS.

PUT YOURSELF
BACK THE WAY YOU WERE.

IT'S MY DECISION
TO MAKE.

IT'S NOT YOURS.

INITIATE TRANSFERENCE SEQUENCE.

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT
TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS?

JUST HURRY UP
BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND.

AH! HOLD IT!

GREG!

GREG, MY GOD, IS THAT YOU?

YOU DIDN'T LOOK SO GOOD

WHEN YOU WERE
MY AGE EITHER, YOU KNOW.

GREG,
PUT AWAY THE GUN.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

HE'S DUMB ENOUGH TO GIVE YOU
40 YEARS OF HIS LIFE.

I'LL TAKE
WHAT'S LEFT.

THAT COULD KILL HIM.
USE ME INSTEAD.

YOU'RE STILL MY WIFE.
THAT HASN'T CHANGED!

BUT HE SAID
YOU NEARLY KILLED ME.

I ONLY DID IT BECAUSE
I WAS AFRAID OF LOSING YOU.

DOC, GET INTO
THE MACHINE.

TAKE YOUR CHANCES, OR I END IT
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!

GREG, PLEASE LEAVE HIM ALONE!

GET OUT OF THE WAY.

BARBARA,
WE BETTER DO WHAT HE SAYS.

I'LL BE ALL RIGHT, I PROMISE.

ALL RIGHT, GREG.

SIT IN THAT CHAIR.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT...ALL RIGHT.

WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU MUST THINK I'M AN IDIOT.

YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?

SHE WAS SITTING IN THAT CHAIR!

THE BEAMS' POLARITY
SWITCHES EVERY TRANSFERENCE.

SHUT UP, DOC! SIT DOWN!

NOW GET THAT THING STARTED.

YOU DON'T WANT
TO DO THIS.

START THE MACHINE,
DOC, NOW!

INITIATE TRANSFERENCE SEQUENCE.

IT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE MY VOICE.

YOU'D BETTER
FIND ANOTHER WAY, DOC.

DO IT RIGHT NOW!

GO ON!

BARBARA, HIT THE GREEN BUTTON,

THE ONE THAT'S NEXT
TO THE FUNCTION KEYS.

( computer )
INITIALIZING.

SOMETHING'S HAPPENING.

I CAN FEEL IT.

( computer )
BI-POLAR REGRESSION
SEQUENCE COMMENCING.

WAIT!

WHAT'S HAPPENING!?

NO!

NO!

( Noah )
BARBARA,
HIT THE RED POWER BUTTON!

YOU KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN!

YOU'RE TRYING
TO KILL ME!

NOAH!

NOAH.

ARE YOU OKAY?

WHERE AM I?

WHO ARE YOU?

YOU DON'T
RECOGNIZE ME?

NO.

MY NAME IS BARBARA.

I FEEL SO STRANGE.

YOU DON'T
REMEMBER ANYTHING?

REMEMBER?
REMEMBER WHAT?

REGRESSOR...?

OH...I JUST
KILLED MEREDITH.

OH, GOD.

NOAH...

YOU'VE SURVIVED
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

WHAT I'M ABOUT
TO TELL YOU

IS GOING TO SOUND
UNBELIEVABLE,

BUT YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO TRUST ME.

MEREDITH DIED
ALMOST A YEAR AGO.

( Control Voice )
PHILOSOPHERS AND POETS CONCUR
ON ONE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH --

LOVE WILL FIND A WAY.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.