The Outer Limits (1995–2002): Season 4, Episode 5 - In the Zone - full transcript

(BUZZING)

(GRUNTING)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

(LASER FIRING)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

(GROANING)

(SIREN WAILING)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

Yeah! Folks!

And with the ring,
it's the Ageless One!

The great one,
Tanner Brooks!
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)



ANNOUNCER:
On behalf
of the World Octal Federation,

thank you all for coming
down here. We love you!

And remember,

the thrills never stop
when you go for the...

Ring!

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

ANNOUNCER:
Yeah!

Tanner, you were limping
out there. Any comment?

Yeah, what happened?
Are you injured?
I won.

You sure did that.
What about your next match?
You gonna be okay?

I'll be fine, yeah.

MALE REPORTER: That was
a hell of a throw, Tanner,

where did you come up
with that one?

It was like I could
see the moves.



I could see there was
a white light from where I was
to where I had to be.

I saw it and I went for it,
and it was there.

MARCUS: Thanks, boys.

Man was in the zone.

That's good stuff, Tanner.

Reminds me of that move
you made in the Manila Open
a couple of years ago.

And you were still a
top ten then, weren't you?

Yeah.
(MARCUS CHUCKLES)

The tour won't be the same
without Tanner Brooks.

I just hope I get a chance
to go up against him
one last time.

Of course,

the only way that will happen
is if we both make
it to the finals.

See you there.
Count on it.

MALE REPORTER: How're you
gonna prepare for that?

FEMALE REPORTER:
Will it be a grudge match?

Hey, you looked
good out there.
Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm all right.

Don't let Marcus
psych you out,

he's just a lot of noise.

Besides, you'd kick
his butt.

Yeah, not even
on my best day.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Yeah?

MICHAEL: Mr. Brooks?
Yeah?

Uh, hi.

I wanted to congratulate you
on your match today.

Thanks.

If you want an autograph,
you can talk to
the lady out front,

she'll send you one.
Oh, no, no, thanks,

but I didn't come here
for your autograph.

What can I do for you?
Well, um,

would you like to win
this tournament?

Of course I would.

You can't.

Is that right?

Mr. Brooks, I've been
a fan of yours
for a very long time.

I've watched your progress,
your entire career,

but your performance today

clearly indicated to me
the limits of your abilities.

I see.
MICHAEL: Yes.

Uh, now if you really,

really want to win
this tournament,

you need something extra.

Now, I've developed
this treatment...
That's real...

And if you came down
to my office...

I'll tell you what, Doc,
I don't know
what you're selling

but I don't want any of
your snake oil, okay?

I'm not talking
about taking drugs.

I don't care what
you're talking about.

Get the hell
out of here.

Why don't you make me?

(SCOFFS)

MICHAEL: Come on,
what are you afraid of?

Mr. Brooks,

I'm a hell of a lot
faster than I look.

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.

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with a thousand channels

or expand one single image
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and beyond.

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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.

Evolution is guided
by the principle

of survival of the fittest.

For the human animal,

the urge to compete
is ingrained in our spirit.

But in some arenas,
the rules are not clear,

and victory
may well be an illusion.

Loser.

I used to keep
my extra bottle
under the sofa.

Or have you checked
there already?

Just looking
for my sneaker.

I didn't want
to wake you up.

Sorry.
It's okay.

You're going
to the gym?

Yeah.

Since when do you work out
the day of a match?

I just thought I'd try
something different, you know.

Shake things up a bit.

Can't hurt to change
a little.

No, I guess it can't.

Tanner, I was thinking
that, you know,

between your tournaments
and my clients,

we haven't had a lot of time
to spend together lately.

(ZIPS BAG)
I think we've been
doing all right, huh?

Yeah, well,
I was hoping that

afterwards we could get
away for a while.

Afterwards?

You mean like after
I lose the match?
No.

I mean after the tournament.
Did you see me yesterday?

Yeah.
I really think I can win
this one, Jess.

Used to be a time
I didn't have to try
to convince you of that.

That's not fair,
and you know it.

You're right.

I'm sorry.

But win or lose,
you are retiring, right?

Sure.

I said I would, didn't I?

Gotta go.

(SIGHS)

You're late.
You're lucky
I came at all.

What are you doing
with military hardware?

(BEEPS)

Well, you can hardly
buy this kind of stuff
at Radio Shack.

You know, for a sports doctor,
you look an awful lot
like a rocket scientist.

Yeah.

Well, the defense
technology transfer

to the private sector
is very commonplace
these days.

You know, microwave ovens
came from the space program.

Look, you said you had
some kind of a treatment

that could guarantee
me to win the Octal.

Uh-huh.

Is it legal?

It's not illegal.

How does it, how does it, uh,

how does it work?

I thought you were the one
that told me, uh,

you weren't into drugs.
Look, I've never
been on drugs.

I've been in the game
a lot of years,

but I'm in top shape now.
I've never felt better
in my life.

I don't need you
or any treatment to win.

I just...

MICHAEL: You just,

maybe would like
an edge perhaps?

Um, just in case, yeah?

Yeah.

Tell me,

have you ever
heard the phrase
"transcortical reflex"?

No.

Well, it has to do
with a high-speed response
to neural stimulation.

You see, when you
take a nerve impulse,

uh, and allow it
to go much faster

directly to
the cerebral cortex,

it will influence,

influences voluntary
muscle control.

You see.
Mmm-hmm.

I'm not a doctor.

What are you saying?

Um, would you turn
that switch on for me?

Sure.

(ELECTRICITY BUZZES)
Ow!

(SNICKERS)
Case in point.

You see, your hand reacted
before you even knew
what was happening.

Before your brain
could process the event,

the event was already
passed, you see?

Now, my treatment
accelerates the human
neuromuscular system,

so that a person
can comprehend

and take part
and react to events

in a much shorter time scale
than would ordinarily
be possible.

You mean like how
baseball players say

they can see the ball
slow down before they hit it.
That kind of thing?

Yes, yes, exactly, exactly.

Now, my treatment

results in some remarkable
improvements in
reflex and reaction times.

Now, this is temporary
of course.

However, it lasts
long enough

to make the difference
in the Octal.

Hmm.

What do you get out of it?

Well, um,

I get out of it
what any couch potato,
armchair athlete would

in watching
his favorite sport.
A vicarious thrill.

You're going to bet
on me, aren't you?

Oh, yes.

Yes, I am,
but not for money.

Sometimes,

success alone is indeed
its own reward.

I see.

So, Mr. Brooks?
Mmm-hmm?

Tell me,

do you feel like
a winner today?

(LIQUID BUBBLING)

(KEYBOARD CLACKING)

(BUBBLING)

What the hell
is that stuff?

Oh, human nerve tissue.

(BEEPS)

Genetically engineered.

This stuff is not
easy to grow.

But you see, the energy
required to accelerate you

through this whole process
is gotta come
from somewhere,

so what I do is,
I pull the energy

out of the tissue,
then I amplify it

and I put it back into you.

The conductive fibers
in this special suit

serve to equalize
that effect throughout
your entire body.

The hormones that
you give off during
intense physical effort

will kick in then trigger
that reflex acceleration.

So, all you got to
do is concentrate,

and let it work for you.

(EXHALES)

(KEYBOARD CLACKING)
(ENERGY PULSATING)

(MACHINE BEEPS)

(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)

(BEEPING)

(HORN BLOWING)

ANNOUNCER:
Ladies and gentlemen!
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

The World Octal Federation
is proud to welcome you

to the next level
in combat sports!

A simple arena.

A simple goal!

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

And the most awesome test
of strength, speed, skill

and just plain guts

that you'll ever
want to see!

Today,

from the fighting city
of Philadelphia,

Helen, "The Hammer" Draybeck!

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

Meeting in a battle royale
against that old favorite,

the Ageless Wonder,

Tanner Brooks!

(AUDIENCE CHANTING)
Tanner! Tanner! Tanner!

(CHANTING CONTINUES)

ANNOUNCER:
Ladies and gentlemen,

are you ready

to take the ring?

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

Your health insurance
paid up?

I feel pretty good today.

You won't be.

(MACHINE POWERS UP)

(SIREN BLARES)

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

(GROANS)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

Ha ha!

(VICTORY SIREN WAILING)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

Helen, it looked like you had
it in the bag, what happened?

I don't know what happened,
he was down for the count.

FEMALE REPORTER:
How did you manage to...

Ladies and gentlemen!

The winner once again!

Tanner Brooks!

(AUDIENCE CHANTING)
Tanner! Tanner! Tanner!

JESSICA: Tanner.

(GASPS)

(SIGHS)

(MOANS)

Tanner.

(GASPING)

(GROANING SLOWLY)

(SLOW MOANING)

Jess?
What's happening?

(SLOW MOANS)

Jess?

JESSICA: Honey.

BOTH: (GASPING)

I can't take anymore.

(EXHALES)

(ENERGY PULSATING)

(GRUNTS)

(ELECTRICITY CRACKLES)

(GROWLS)

Tanner Brooks!

(GRUNTS)

When's your next match?
You'll be okay?

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

(GRUNTS)

(VICTORY SIREN WAILING)

ANNOUNCER:
Tanner Brooks,
ladies and gentlemen!

It's okay.

What happened?

The treatments
are wearing off, man.

What treatments?
Who's this?

Jessica, this
is Michael Chen.

He's a sports medicine
specialist.

Come on.

Mrs. Brooks,

your husband is an
exceptional athlete.

I'm sure you must be
very proud of him.

I am.
Dr. Chen's been
helping me with my, uh,

training program.

How long's this been
going on?

Not long.

Uh, look, why don't you
drop by the office
later this evening?

Perhaps we could discuss
the situation further then.

That's great.
That's what I'll do.

Come on, I gotta
hit the showers.

I'll meet you outside.

(SHOWER RUNNING)

(WATER SLOSHING)

(DISTORTED SPLASHING)

(CAR ALARM BEEPING)

(CHILDREN CLAMORING)

Tanner!

I mean,

Mr. Brooks?
Yeah.

Do you think you
could sign this?Sure.

KID: Thanks.
TANNER: What's your name?

Douglas.
Douglas.

(SCRIBBLING)

Thanks, man!

Hey, guys!
Check it!

I got Tanner Brooks'
autograph!

JESSICA: Look out!

(BRAKES SCREECHING)

(GRUNTS)

TANNER: Kid?
Kid, you all right?

Tanner!
Come on, guys!
Let's get out of here.

JESSICA: Are you okay?

Get me to Chen's lab.

Hurry.

(SHIVERING)

JESSICA: If you can't do
anything for him,

I'm taking him
to a hospital.

MICHAEL: Now Mrs. Brooks...
To see a real doctor.

Mrs. Brooks, please,
try to understand.

Now, the treatments
your husband underwent,

and quite by choice
I might add,

were to enhance his reflexes
and his coordination.

Now on occasion,

there are some
stresses on the body,
certain side effects...

Side effects doesn't
begin to cover what I saw.

(TANNER GROANS)

Tanner?
(GASPS)

Tanner?
(GROANS)

What happened?
Do you remember?

(SIGHS)

(TANNER GROANS)

Not all of it.

Man, it was like,

my senses were
on a rubber band.

I was being snapped
from one world to the other.
It was...

One place, everything
was moving real slow,

and the other place,
everything was,
was moving really fast.

Oh, baby, what have you
done to yourself?

Mr. Brooks.

MICHAEL: Mr. Brooks,

it appears that the energy
from my treatments
is building up in your system.

It's affecting you
more than just
on a cellular level,

it's affecting you
also on a quantum
mechanical level.

What does that mean?

Well, it means that your body
is shifting in and out

of an entirely
different quantum phase,

a phase where time flows
much differently than here.

Can you do anything about it?

Well, I believe the effects
should dissipate on their own
in due time.

It may take a little while,
but in the meantime,

no more treatments
for you, starting
immediately, all right?

Hey, Chen.

You can't do that to me.

The finals are tomorrow!

There's no other choice!

TANNER: Chen said this
energy build-up's
gonna dissipate, right?

I can take another treatment.

I'm in great shape.
I can take a 100
more treatments.

Will you listen
to what you're saying?

(JESSICA SIGHS)

I don't understand
any of this.

You've never taken drugs
before in your life.
(WHISPERS) It's not a drug!

You used to feel sorry
for the players that did.
It's not a drug!

There's no difference.

I can't win without it!

Well, then that's something
you're just gonna
have to accept.

That's easy for you to say.

I have spent my entire life
training to be the best.

Not my best, "the best!"

And for the first time,
in my career, I can actually
see it happening.

You know what,
you don't understand that.

And you never will,
you know why?

Because you don't know
what it's like to be a winner.

You don't know what
it's like to be the best.

Well, I'm sorry, honey,

but you're not the best.

And so what if you're not?

This game is not
who you are.

Winning only
lasts for a moment.

You can't build your life
around a moment,

because a moment
doesn't last.

You know that
I love you, right?

Of course.

Then please,

forfeit the match tomorrow.

Walk away from this
while you still can.

I can't do that.

I can't, Jess,
that'd be pathetic.

Everybody would think
I was scared.

Not the people that matter!

I don't wanna
go out that way, okay?

You know,

when I nearly drank
my way out of our marriage,

you helped me stop.

You stopped me
from hurting myself.

I'm just trying to do
the same for you.

REPORTER: (ON TV)
And with the startling news of

Tanner Brooks' injury
just before the finals,

we spoke to his opponent
in the match.

Marcus, do you think
this is just bad luck?

Considering the timing
of Tanner's injury,

I'd say his luck's
holding out just fine.

Got to be honest
with you, boys, I mean,

look at the man's career.

It's always been
second place, second best.

Never really had
what it takes.

It's no different now.

Won't surprise me
if he doesn't show,

I mean, look at me.

Can you blame the guy
if he's scared
to go up against this?

(LAUGHS)
(CAMERAS CLICKING)

(KEYBOARD CLACKING)

(MACHINE POWERS UP)

(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)

(BEEPS)

(HORN BLOWING)
 REPORTER:
Here at ringside,
time is running out,

and unless Tanner Brooks
reports to the arena
within five minutes,

by rule, the match
will be declared
a forfeit.

(AUDIENCE CHANTING)
Tanner! Tanner! Tanner!

(CHANTING CONTINUES)

Jessica, tell me
he's coming, please.

I don't know
where he is, Neil.

I woke up this morning
and he was gone.

Check his dressing room.

Yes, again.

(AUDIENCE CHANTING CONTINUES)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

ANNOUNCER:
Tanner Brooks!

Hey, folks, you didn't think
we were gonna
disappoint you, did you?

Ladies and gentlemen!

Are you ready

to take the ring?

You should have stayed
injured, old man.

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

(SIREN WAILING)

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

(AUDIENCE CHEERS)

(CRACKLES)

(GASPS) Tanner?

(AUDIENCE JEERING)

(CAMERAS CLICKING)

NEIL: What kind
of lab is this?

Why did you give
my husband
another treatment?

Mrs. Brooks, I didn't.

I got here,

the locks were cut,
the equipment was all on.

Your husband broke into
this place last night.

Then I want to know

exactly what's
happened to him.

Look, the treatments
were developed

to improve the reaction times
of fighter pilots.

There were
some side effects

and the DOD decided
to abandon the project.

It doesn't look
abandoned to me.

Their decision
was premature.

My principles were sound,

and I decided to develop
the treatment on my own.

All it needed was
a few refinements.

And a guinea pig!

The treatment works best
with individuals

that have a very high degree
of athletic ability.

So a professional athlete
was the perfect choice.

You know, you're
just like my husband.

Obsessed with victory,

no matter what the cost.

No matter who it hurts.

Is Tanner dead?

Uh, no.

I don't think so.

Mrs. Brooks,

your husband
subjected himself to

power levels even higher
than I've ever used before.

My read-outs indicate that

the effect has
probably shifted him

into an entirely
different quantum phase,

uh, another time
continuum, if you will,

and in that state, uh,

everything around him
has to be going so slowly,

that seconds to us,

have to seem
like hours to him.

How long can he
survive like that?

I have to guess that
he can't last more than
10, maybe 12 hours.

I mean, the strain
on his body, his cells,
his metabolism,

has got to be
absolutely incredible.

Is it supposed
to be doing that?
(CRACKLING)

We've got
to catch this.

(ENERGY PULSATING)

(GASPS) Oh, my God!

(ENERGY PULSATING)

There!

(BEEPS)

JESSICA: It is Tanner.

I thought you said
he couldn't interact
with anything.

The chamber is energized
the same way your husband is.

It's been responding
to his presence.

JESSICA: If you're right
about what's happened to him,

he may have been in
that chamber for hours

just to get our attention
for a few seconds.

He may not even
realize we saw him.

Can you use the chamber
to bring him back?

It's possible.

Even if it is,

how are we going to
let him know he has
to get back in there?

JESSICA: I'll tell him.

In person.

This treatment will shift
you into the same state
as your husband,

at which point, you will
be able to touch
and interact with him.

Assuming you can find him.

I think I know
where he might be.

Get back as quickly
as possible.

Every second counts.

Okay.

Mrs. Brooks.
Mmm-hmm?

I'll bring you back,
I promise.

Let's do it.

(KEYBOARD CLACKING)

(MACHINE POWERS UP)

(ENERGY CRACKLING)

That's it.

She's gone.

Not quite.

You still have to
bring them back.

That depends
entirely on her.

TANNER: And Tanner Brooks
comes up from behind.

With incredible effort,
he snags the ring,

and slams it home.

(CLANGS)

The crowd goes wild.

JESSICA: Tanner.

How did you get here?

Same way you did.

Tanner, everything's
going to be okay, but,

we have to get
back to the lab.

Why?

JESSICA: Chen thinks he can
reverse the process.

We got the idea from you.
We saw you in the chamber when
you were calling for help.

I wasn't calling for help,
I was waving goodbye.

Why?

(SIGHS)

I thought I'd never
see you again.

TANNER: I was in the chamber
it seemed like forever, I just

wanted to say goodbye.

JESSICA: Are you telling
me that you don't
want to come back?

You know, when I first
started Chen's treatments,

it was like
I was invincible.

Nobody could touch
me in here.

And you know what?

Nobody could.

It was easy.

It wasn't challenging,

It wasn't exciting,
it wasn't dangerous.

It wasn't fun.

I managed to take the fun
out of the only thing

I was ever really
any good at.

(TANNER SIGHS)

I hurt the only woman
I ever really loved.

Pretty impressive, huh?

Tanner.

Look, I'm sorry.

I blew it.

Big time.

Hey.

Sometimes it's not about
winning or losing.

It's about accepting
what's happened,

and finding our way
through it.

You're the one
who taught me that.

Come on.

Let's get back.

(EXHALES)

Come on.

(ENERGY PULSATING)

MICHAEL: It's not working.
What's the matter?

I should have realized.
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLES)

There are two of them!

What are you doing?

The system is designed
for only one person.

There's not enough
nerve tissue left

to absorb the energy of two.

What are you
talking about?

If I'm going to bring
them back, I have to absorb
the excess energy.

Please, there's
very little time left.

(ENERGY INCREASING)

I thought I had all
the bugs worked out.

Here, when they get back,
give them that.

What for?

It's an explanation.

(ENERGY CRACKLES)

(GROANING) I'm so sorry.

He's cold.

It's gonna be okay.

Here you go.

Tanner!

What?

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

Your face.

You've aged.

Chen said that,

the treatments would
accelerate the cells,

the metabolism.
Aging process.

Even though you were
only there a few hours...

It felt like years.

Chen, uh, said
to give you this.

He was only
30 years old?

He tested the treatment
on himself.

It's not his fault.

I did this to myself.

I can deal with it.

Hey,

we'll deal with it.

I love you.

CONTROL VOICE:
For the human race,

life is a ceaseless
competition

for power, for fame,
even love.

But when the desire
for victory

is reduced to winning
at any cost,

then we can only
guarantee our defeat.