The Outer Limits (1995–2002): Season 5, Episode 14 - Descent - full transcript

[grunts]

[whining]

[growling]

[snorts]

[growls]

[screams]

Arthur.

Arthur?

You look a little lost.

Uh, um...

[stutters]
I--I--I...



(Arthur)
the depiction of the clothing
didn't seem entirely accurate.

Oh, the display is
just fine, Arthur.

Is your presentation
ready for tomorrow?

Yes. Well, almost.
I'm still trying to gather

a little more data.

Actually, my centrifuge
is running right now.

Well, maybe you should go
and keep an eye on it.

Good night, Arthur.

âªâª[music playing on tape]

(Arthur)
Checkmate in 6, Paolo.

[timer beeping]

[squeaking]

[whispers]
Hey.

Hey, little fella.



The other guys givin' you
a hard time?

Don't be scared.

There you go.
Don't be scared.

There you go.

Don't be afraid.

I'm about to change your life.

Shh. Let's do it.

Let's do it.

(male narrator)
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.

(narrator)
What makes us human?

Is it our basic instincts

or our noble aspirations?

Are we slaves to our genetics

or masters of our fate?

Excuse me. Excuse me.

(Arthur)
basically, the question
comes down to THIS:

Can a few thousand years
of civilization

undo the work of countless
millennia of evolution?

I believe the answer is Yes.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

In the past,
humans would hunt for food

and kill for mates.

The old and weak would die.

It was survival
of the fittest.

But society and technology

have altered that balance.

Human beings,
unlike any other species,

can build tools to manipulate
their environment.

Today, a hunt for food

is a trip to
the grocery store.

Finding a mate,
a visit to a singles bar.

Not for everybody.

Inflatables don't count, Jim.

[all chuckle]

With, um...

with Modern medicine,
we now live far Beyond

the span that nature
intended for us.

Genetic strains
which would've been

extinguished in the wild,

are now passed on
to the next generation,

making each successive one
weaker,

more dependent on
the ones before.

Less fit to survive.

(bum)
Hey, C'mon, pal,
you got some change?

Hey, Buddy,
wait up.

C'mon, man, I know
you got it to spare.

I'm sorry,
I don't have any change.

I don't have any change.
I don't have any change.

Hey, paper works,
too, bro.

And the cops'll only come
after you scream.

All right. All right.

(stansfield)
Someone get the lights,
please. Arthur, continue.

(Arthur)
We're, um, we're losing
our ability to compete.

To rise above our surroundings
and take charge of our lives.

The--the very traits
that made human beings

a successful species

in the first place.

By comparing samples of--of
primitive human D.N.A.

To those of
modern homo sapiens,

I propose that it
might be possible

to recreate
those genetic sequences

in--in modern man,

and trigger the attendant
behavioral changes.

We could reclaim
who we once were.

In fact, I've performed
several trials on rodents.

And so far, the results
have been quite encouraging.

The collared rat is the lowest
in his social Hierarchy.

He--he is ineffective
even in competing for food.

But after I injected him
with Genetic dominance traits,

he was able to reassert
his position.

Arthur, this is an
anthropology department.

If you wanna play around
with the rats,

you should've been
a psychologist.

Could you tell us about
your control group?

[stutters]
There isn't-- there wasn't,
there wasn't one.

Uh, this is just all, it's all
in its preliminary Stages.

Is that all you have?

Yes.

Well, thank you for your time.

Thank you,
Dr. Zeller.

Funding decisions
will be made tomorrow

by 5:00 P.M.

That will be all.

(feind)
Incoming.

Incoming.

[Feind and others laughing]

Oh.

What's this?
More stupid rat tricks?

This D.N.A.
Was extracted

from a homo erectus specimen.

I'm making
a genetic comparison.

To what?

To my own D.N.A.

Ooh! That's a good choice
for baseline.

I'm sure you're not
gonna find

a whole helluva lot
of caveman in you.

Hey, Arthur.
Hi.

Do you play?

Um, yeah, a little.

Me, too.

âªâª[MIDI music playing]

(Arthur)
Bach's fourth Concerto.

Balances out the left brain,
don't you think?

I really liked
your research presentation.

I think it's
an intriguing theory.

Oh, well,
thank you very much.

I hope professor stansfield
feels the same way.

Well, I'll see if I can
put in a good word for you.

Excuse me? I--I don't think
that's appropriate.

Well, neither is
kissing Martin's ass

every hour on the hour.

See you.

Dream on, Arthur.

She's way too
evolved for you.

How did I know
I'd find you here?

I'm sorry. I always found
the recreations relaxing.

It was a
rhetorical question.

Arthur, um,

I want you
to know that, um,

I gave your proposal
every consideration.

In the end, however,
I felt that our funds

would be better spent on
Jim Feind's project.

Feind?

Well, he was published
twice last year.

That's good for
the department.

He published
a 2-part retrospective

on Margaret Meade.

Fairy tales
an-and ancient History.

M-my proposal's leading Edge.

That's not the issue.

Arthur, uh, if I funded
your proposal,

there would be dozens
of well-respected,

Well-established
anthropologists

trying to shred your work
at every opportunity.

Now, if I thought you had
the guts to take them on,

maybe I would have made
a different Decision.

Look, you're a helluva lot
smarter than feind,

but you're not
a Leader, Arthur.

âªâª[clarinet playing]

[rats squeaking]

After Only 3 days
after the initial injection,

the test subject has
managed to dominate

all of the other rats,

and alter its social standing
in the group.

With additional injections,

I expect to see
even more progress.

Although,

lack of Funds may prevent
further research,

and we may have to
postpone this experiment

due to, due to

my failings as a man,

due to the fact that I am
the department joke,

and due to the fact

that I am every bit

the pathetic,

impotent weakling

that everybody thinks I am.

[squeaking]

(mikulak)
people, we've got a problem.

According to this,

nothard and his team
have found

a complete
africanus skeleton,

and they estimate
it's at least

40,000 years older than ours.

This is not good.

Our skeleton generates
a considerable amount

of revenue
for this department.

Not to mention Prestige.

Even if their find
does predate ours,

it'll take them at least
2 years to get it out, intact.

The bones are all encased
in solid limestone.

(mikulak)
Doesn't matter.

Nothard has already
made a request

for a sample for
anatomical comparison.

And why give it
to 'em?

What?

Nothard won't be able

to make any real comparisons

until he actually extracts
the skeleton.

So why take the spotlight
off Ours any sooner than that?

This department
has always maintained

a policy of complete
cooperation with our peers.

Oh, we'll cooperate.

When we have to.

But even then,
who knows?

Sometimes, samples
get damaged.

(Arthur)
Sometimes they even
get lost in the mail.

That's not the way we do
business around here, Arthur.

Well, maybe it is
how we should.

Unless you're not willing
to do what it takes

to keep us on top.

This department is
where it is because of me.

Thank you for your input.

So what is this?

The new, improved
Arthur Zeller,

hardcore,
cutthroat scientist?

Fuck off.

[wolf howling]

[wolf growling]

So far, side effects
appear to be negligible.

Subject is experiencing
slight headaches,

mild visual and auditory
hallucinations, however,

subject is also exhibiting
greater self-confidence

and is becoming increasingly
more assertive.

Based on the current data,

I--I expect these--these
trends to accelerate

as the GENETIC treatments
Continue.

[screams]

[screams]

Hey, all right,
it's my lunch money man.

Now what've you
got for me today?

Nothing, not today,

not ever!

It's ok, man.
It's all right. It's cool.

[growling]

[screams]

Oh, my God. Laura.

Are--are--are you all right?

(Laura)
What the hell do you think
you're doing?

Uh, I'd been arguing

with Professor jacklin
in material science

for months now about
the penetrating power
of Flint Spears.

He's been telling me

that there's no way that
early man Could've stopped

a wooly mammoth with
One of those things.

Anyway, he called me up
this morning,

tells me he has
some new calculations.

I get fed up, tell him I'd be
happy to come down here

and show him
just how wrong he was.

So he's supposed
to meet me here.

Apparently you
started without him.

I am so sorry.

I did not even
see you come in.

There is no way that
I would ever hurt you, Laura.

Getting skewered
with a Flint Spear

just wasn't on my
list of things to do today.

Believe me, there is nothing
I would like to do less

than skewer you.

With a Spear, anyway.

Excuse me?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry,
I didn't mean to say that.

Working late as usual.

I'm just trying
to make the most of

the lab time I have left.

Look, Arthur,
you can always resubmit

your proposal next year.

Oh, yeah? Why bother?

It won't make any difference.

You'd already made
your mind up

before you--you even
read it, if you read it.

Arthur, I know you've been
under a lot of pressure.

You haven't exactly been
your usual self.

On the contrary,

you know, uh,

I've never felt better.

Not that you'd care.

You're probably far too busy
with Laura.

You know, she's a
very beautiful woman.

If I were you,
I'd keep an eye on her.

Laura told me what happened

in the display hall
this morning, Arthur.

Your behavior
has been erratic.

The entire department
is talking about you.

[snorts]

That scare you?

Scare me? Arthur, I've given
this a lot of thought.

I want you to
go on sabbatical.

Oh, I'm not
leaving my research.

Your research is finished.

You need some time off.

That's not acceptable.

Well, that's the way
it's going to be.

You are on sabbatical
as of this minute.

I want to help you, Arthur.

But if I see you here
before next semester,

you're fired.

[grunts]

[breathes heavily]

[growls]

[screams]

[grunts]

[gruntIng]

IN the parking lot?

Disgusting.

[grunts]

Oh, my god, Martin.

Z-Zeller.

[grunts]

[breathing heavily]

[grunts]

âªâª[plays discordantly]

[breathing heavily]

After only 2 injections,

the outcast, the weakling

has pushed aside the others
who dominated

and humiliated him.

Beta is now alpha.

[breaThes heavily]

THE violence required was, uh,

surprising,

regrettable,

but this is Nature's way.

For the first time
in his life,

the alpha seems truly alive.

The way he sees,
the way he smells.

Everything sharper,
everything brighter,

crisper.

It's--it's-- it's as if

he is sensing the world
for the first time

the way he was meant to.

And this is only
the beginning.

[unintelligible
human shouting]

[grunts]

[birds singing]

That's him. Officer,
that's him right there.

You, uh,
Arthur Zeller?

I am.
What's going on?

There was an attack
on campus last Night.

Uh, professor stansfield,
he got beat up pretty bad.

You're kiddin' me.
Is he all right?

He's in intensive care.

They're not sure when
he'll regain consciousness.

This guy
says you did it.

Yeah. Stansfield told me
after you left him for dead.

What're you talking about?
That's absurd.

Mmm-hmm. But just for
the record, though, uh,

where were you last night,
around 10:30?

I was here, working late.

Um, professor stansfield
stopped by to check in on me.

We--we--we talked about
my research,

and then he left.

I--I went home
Shortly after that.

No, no. You are lying,
he's lying.

Stansfield told me,
I am almost Certain.

So, now you're
almost certain?

I saw someone in the--

yeah, but,
you didn't recognize.

Can I see your hands, sir?

Hands?

Yeah, well, when someone
beat up someone

as bad as stansfield
with their bare hands,

They would have cuts, bruises,

all kinds of marks
to show for it.

These are clean.
They're clean.

I don't understand, I...

maybe saw something, Jim.

You--you probably
saw something.

But it couldn't
have been me, Jim.

You know that.
You know me.

I could never beat a man
senseless, almost to death.

No, no, I guess not.

He's been under
a lot of pressure lately.

Yeah, well, if any of you
think of Anything else

that might be helpful,
give us a call.

Let's go.

No hard feelings, Jim.

No.

Thanks.

Hey, listen, I just want
to say I'm really sorry.

I understand, you're upset,
you're afraid.

If you need somebody
to talk to--

no, it's ok. I have to go
to the hospital.

Martin needs me.

(Arthur)
now that the alpha

has proved his fitness
to lead...

[breathing heavily]

...he feels the need
to transmit his genes

to the next generation.

The female best suited
for this, however,

is uncooperative,

but that can be fixed.

I never really liked
giving flu shots by myself.

I really appreciate you
helping me out, Dr. Zeller.

You didn't have to.

No problem.

Just like reliving my days
in medical school.

Saw you talking
to Dr. Feind earlier.

I think he likes you.

[laughs]

I'm, I know he likes me.

He's, uh,
just a little, uh...

a little what?
A little too eager?

That, my dear,
is ambition.

He is movin' up
in the department,

he's going places.

You really think so?

Oh, I definitely think so.

All done.

Hey, Arthur.
Hi.

How you doin'?

Good.

Did you get contacts?

No, no, I did not.

Are you ready for this?

Yeah, I guess.

Needle phobic?

A bit.

Don't be afraid.

I'm very good at this.

Look that way.
Close your eyes.

Think of faraway places.

Ow.

That doesn't hurt.

You're all done.

Thanks.

Didn't feel a thing, did you?

Good night, Dr. Zeller.

Good Night.

Good night.

Feind.

What? I didn't do
anything. What'd I do?
Shut up.

Shut up. Shut up.
Over there.

Yep, any time.

(Arthur)
Ask her out
and she'll say Yes.

How do you know that?

Because I take care of
the people who work for me.

Understood?

Yeah. Ok.

How you doin'?

um,

a bit tired.

Yeah?
I guess, yeah.

I haven't been getting
much sleep lately.

Oh, no?

No. I've been spending
most of my time with Martin.

Oh, yeah.

How's he doin'?

he's, uh, he's Better.
He's out of I.C.U.

He's just, he's still not
sure about, um,

what happened to him
that night.

Ohh.

You ok? You ok?

Yeah.

Probably just a reaction
to the flu shot.

We should go outside.
Get you some fresh Air.

Come on. Come on.

You--you smell Beautiful.

Thank you.

I've always thought about
what it would be like

to be with you like this.

You know, I've thought
about it a lot.

I've thought about--
I've thought about you.

Arthur.
I know you and Martin

are together,
but that can change.

I think it should change.

It's none of
your business.

I feel so weird.

This isn't right.
I shouldn't be here.

Yes, you should.

This is exactly
where you should be.

Trust your instincts, Laura,
follow your instincts.

People can change.

I've changed.

I'm not like I was before.

I'm sorry, Arthur,
I don't feel Well.

Can you take me home?

Of course.

Of course I can
take you home.

This isn't where I live.

It's ok. It's my place.
It's closer.

Come here.
You need to sit down.

[groans]

There you go.

There you go.

[pants]

[mumbling]

It's ok. It's ok.

It's ok.

I feel so strange.
What's wrong with me?

[growls]

Stop. Stop.

Stop.

Stop it! Stop!

Get off me!

[growls]

[sobs]
What...

[door opens]

[door closes]

Wait, Laura, wait!

Wait, Laura!

[groaning]

Help me, Laura, help me.

Please help me, Laura.

What happened to you?

It looked like you've
turned into something.

Treatment. Gene therapy.

It wasn't supposed
to go this far.

You took the therapy
on yourself?

Why?

Because I am nothing.

Because my life is Nothing.

Because all my life,
I've been weak.

All my life,
I've been afraid.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry I hurt you.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.
Come on.

I'm sorry.

(Laura)
Arthur, your cerebral cortex
is shrinking.

You're also showing
significant bone growth

and skeletal Anomalies.

That's bad?

Arthur, your treatment
has changed your body.

And when you get
mad or excited,

those changes
seem to accelerate.

But I feel better
than I ever did before.

I'm unlocking my potential.

Try to understand.

An area of your brain,

the most primitive part
of your mind, is growing.

And your body is devolving,
it's becoming less human.

But I am better
than I ever was before.

I am stronger.
People like me now.

You like me now.

Arthur,

I liked you
the way you were.

Your treatment might've
made you stronger,

but it hasn't made you
any better.

But stronger is better.

I know you think that.

But the same things
you think you lack,

aggression and dominance,

those things can hold you back
as much as they can help you.

If you really want to change,

you can, but you don't need
a genetic treatment to do it.

But I-- but I do need it.

We need to find
a way to counteract

what your treatment
has already done.

I think we can do it,
but only if you help me.

You'll have to give me

whatever treatments
you have left.

You're still afraid of me,
aren't you?

A little.

Then why are you
wasting your time?

The world has enough
animals in it already.

If it had more people
like you,

it'd be a better place.

Meet me at the lab tonight.

10:00, ok?

We'll have the place
to ourselves.

Just try to get some rest.

Words.

[glass breaking]

[screaming]

[chaotic noises]

Arthur, where were you?
I was worried.

The physical changes
are happening.

Even without the injections.

They're not going away.

Here. Take these.

What are these?

Those are my Videotapes.
Don't look at them now.

Watch them later,
just in case.

Come on, we have
a lot of work to do.

It's an awful lot of work
for a few milliliters.

This retrovirus should
reverse the effects

of your genetic treatment.

You ready?

Time to bring you back.

[gulps]

[growls]

[Arthur growling]

âªâª[MIDI music playing]

Souvenir.

Are you all right?

Hmm.

How do you feel?

[grunts]

Almost like I used to.

That's not a bad thing.

You have to start
believing in Yourself.

Well, you didn't
believe in me

until after I took
my treatments.

Y-you believed in
who I became.

That's not True.

Yes, it is. That's why I had
to make you...

make me what?

Arthur, what did you
make me?

I made you
part of my experiment.

What?

That day that we went
for a walk,

you--you said that
you didn't feel like yourself,

that's because
you weren't yourself.

The vial of
submissiveness traits?

The flu shot?

You injected me
with your treatment?

I'm sorry. It was the only way

I thought I could get you
to care for me.

And you wait
until now to tell me?

Till after I help you?

I'm sorry,
I never meant to hurt you.

You son of a bitch!

[unIntelligible screaming]

[screaming]

[shouting]

[breathing heavily]

[in gruff voice]
I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry,
you can't help me.

You can't help me.
I'm an animal!

You can't help me!

(man on radio)
Unit 12, we're getting reports

about some nut job
near life sciences.

Could be that maniac
that beat up stansfield.

Check it out.

I'm on it.

Arthur? Arthur?

Oh, my god!

Arthur, we have to
get you back to the Lab.

No.

Back to your books
and music and science.

No.

I don't wanna go back.

Too hard.

I don't wanna
think anymore.

[groans]
I just wanna feel...

feel you could
be with me.

You could be like me.

It feels Good.

Arthur, let me help you.

Be with me.

It is not too late
to reverse this.

Be like me.

I promise you.

You don't need to do this.
You never needed to.

I need you.

âªâª[MIDI music playing]

That's it.

Come back.

Come back
to this world.

Yes.

No.

No.

Come on.

No.
Come on.

No. No.

Hey, hey, you, you, you!

Whatever you have
in your hand,
you drop it right now.

No, no,
I don't want to.

Hey! Turn around!

No! No!

Drop it now or I'll shoot.

[gun firing]

No!

[grunting]

[birds chirping]

[snorts]

(narrator)
Perhaps we can
never fully escape

the animals we once were.

But with our minds
and our hearts,

we can always fight
to remain human.