The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985–1992): Season 3, Episode 11 - The Veldt - full transcript
Two parents become increasingly concerned that their children are spending far too much time in the virtual reality playroom, which seems permanently set to the African veldt.
[theme music]
RAY BRADBURY
(VOICEOVER): People ask,
where do you get your ideas?
Well, right here.
All this is mine.
I'll never starve here.
I'm Ray Bradbury, and this is--
Africa, lions, and the great
modern safari explorers
have been part of my
life in or out of films,
or circus arenas, or libraries.
Here, in my work
room, motion picture
television machines and
hot African veldt lands
join and come alive.
What was Popular Mechanics
fancy when I was 9
can be built today or
written out in a few hours
to be let loose
from my typewriter,
as a story called "The Veldts."
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Good morning.
Systems check commenced.
Menu search in process.
Heating cycle complete.
Swiss decaffeinated ready.
Appointment schedule printing.
Ta-da.
Ta-da.
Some ta-da.
Hi.
Hi.
Where are Peter and Wendy?
Where indeed.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Incoming message, video wall
George, Lydia will
be late for supper.
Bye.
Bye.
Wait a minute, late for what?
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Transmission complete.
George, I wish you'd look
at the children's nursery.
Why, is it broken?
LYDIA: Or have our
therapist come look at it.
David McLean?
Why?
The nursery-- it's--
it's changed.
Lydia, the kids are older now.
No.
No, no, no-- it--
it's strange.
Come look.
GEORGE: Good lord, for
what we paid for that room?
What could possibly--
You'll see.
See what?
Sh.
Sh?
Open.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Nursery door open.
Oh, yeah.
[lion growl]
Oh, yeah.
Dolby sound, three-dimensional
tapes, laser images.
You know, I still
can't get used to this.
[zebra sounds]
So?
Wait.
[sigh]
There.
Vultures.
Filthy creatures.
But more.
(WHISPERING) There.
GEORGE: Oh, lord.
Look at that whole pride.
They just finished feeding.
But on what?
Zebra?
Baby giraffe?
Are you sure?
Too late to tell.
Wait-- George,
don't you feel it?
[gasp]
Did you hear that scream?
No.
It's a-- it's a hyena.
Incredible.
Absolutely--
electronic miracles.
George.
[lion growl]
Lord, what light!
And what sound-- listen!
And their fur-- like
a gold tapestry.
You could just reach out--
George!
Ah!
Close.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door closed.
We've got to lock it.
Lock!
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door locked.
Parental entry only.
Those lions can't get
out of there, can they?
Come on-- Lydia!
[lions growling]
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Dinner menu ready to program.
(SINGSONGY VOICE)
Something's wrong in there.
Lydia.
Right.
Then I dare you to
unlock that door.
No, not until you calm down.
Shut off the room, George.
Then I'll calm down.
Shut off the room-- what
are the kids going to say?
I say shut it off.
Shut the whole house off!
I've had it with all
this electronic junk!
Let's light candles-- do
things with our hands.
George, let's switch
off the whole house
and take a vacation!
I can't believe that a
room is doing this to you.
Didn't you feel it?
My god, George.
It's sick.
Wendy and Peter have
made it that way.
Lydia, walls-- crystal walls.
It's all three dimensional,
super actionary,
super sensitive colorful
film-- odor foam, sonics--
I'm afraid.
George, it's too real.
You've got to tell Wendy
and Peter that they can't
experiment in Africa anymore.
All right.
All right.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Incoming message--
video wall.
Hi, George.
Hi, Lydia.
We're going to be
later than we thought.
The new megamall is excellent.
You guys just go ahead
and eat without us.
Come home now.
PETER: But we--
I said now!
OK.
Sure.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Transmission complete.
You've got to lock the
nursery for a couple of days,
until my nerves get settled.
A couple of--
Lydia, Peter lives
for that nursery.
Wendy too!
It's got to stay
locked, George.
Unlock.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Nursery door unlocked.
Free entrance.
Open.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door open.
Close.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door closed.
Go away.
[lion noises]
All right, room.
Let's have Aladdin and his lamp.
Come on, roo-- come on, room.
I demand Aladdin.
[growling]
LYDIA: It won't
respond, will it?
No.
[sigh]
LYDIA: Or it can't, because
Wendy and Peter have
been thinking about
Africa, and lions,
and killing for so long--
Come on, Lydia.
You don't really believe that.
Or Peter set it that way.
Set it?
Well, he's awfully
clever for a 12-year-old.
You remember when David
McLean tested his IQ.
We're home!
Race you.
- Beat you.
- Tie!
Peter, Wendy, please.
What's wrong, George?
Don't call your father George.
Dad?
How long have you and
Wendy been playing in Africa?
10 days?
Two weeks?
- Two weeks?
- Africa
Yes, Africa.
Who says?
You've been living
there 40 hours a week.
You've spoiled the nursery.
Africa?
There's no Africa
in the nursery.
Right, Wendy?
Why, no.
Come, look.
We'll show you.
Wendy, Peter-- Pe--
George, stop them!
Open.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Nursery door open.
Hey, Wendy, what'd you find?
Why, this.
Now, hold on.
Nice, huh?
You changed it.
How would she do that?
Go to bed.
Dad.
You heard your mother.
[sigh]
They're insufferable.
Let's admit it.
This house is spoiling them.
It's spoiling us.
What's this?
That's an old purse of mine.
What's that doing here?
Open.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Nursery door open.
[elephant noises]
Close.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door closed.
[LION GROWLING &
ELEPHANT NOISES]
Heating cycle complete.
Careful.
Plates are hot.
You unlock up the
nursery for good.
Well, uh, that depends.
On what, George?
Dad.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Heating Cycle.
complete.
Son, you've got to promise
me to think up more scenes,
more variety--
London, Tokyo, Rome.
What's wrong with
Africa, father?
I thought we were free
to play as we wished.
Well, of course you are.
Of course.
But, but-- but within bounds.
Can we, then?
All right.
But please try some changes.
You're not thinking of
shutting off the house?
Well, yes.
We were.
We were considering it
for a break or a vacation.
Well, I don't think you
should consider it anymore.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Cafe latte ready.
David.
George, Lydia.
Please sit down.
I came by, as soon
as I got your call.
David, you saw
the nursery when
we had our last family session.
Sure.
Why?
Did you notice
anything unusual?
No, not really.
Ha.
The usual occasional
violences, tendency
towards slight paranoia.
Uh-- I mean, it's quite common.
Children constantly feel
persecuted by their parents,
and so this behavior
tends to manifest itself
in their fantasy environments.
It's nothing, really.
Kids inevitably grow out of it.
I think you better have
another look at it, David.
So the problem is sick kids.
Sick nursery, David.
Open.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Nursery door open.
[stampeding noises]
Martinis ready.
One extra dry, with a twist.
Well?
My god.
All your kids must hate you.
Hate us?
But we've done nothing.
Right.
When was the last time
you did something yourself
for your kids?
But we do things all the time!
No!
I don't mean
switching on the video
or the digital disk player.
Ever play tennis,
badminton, kick the can,
hide and seek out there?
I mean, there is a world
outside this house.
I know.
But what about the nursery?
Turn it off.
Lock it up.
As a matter of fact,
turn off the whole house.
Go jump in the lake.
Go climb a mountain.
Go!
Just as I've been saying.
It's rotten, isn't it?
Just turn it off.
I wonder, will the room
hate me, if I do it in?
[laughs]
George.
How could I have been
such a damned fool?
With so many servants, easy.
Room?
What room?
- What do you mean?
George, not now.
Now.
Now!
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Access code please.
Thank you.
George!
Don't call your father George!
Media and nursery areas.
No, wait.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Terminated.
GEORGE: Climate support systems.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Terminated.
Recreation and sleeping areas.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Terminated.
Power and water systems.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Terminated.
GEORGE: Kitchen areas.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Terminated.
Parental access only.
Done.
PETER: Open!
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: (FADING VOICE)
Nursery door open.
They're dead!
They're dead!
Wendy, no.
They're not dead.
They're-- they're just
electronic images.
They're three
dimensional holograms.
It's only lasers, honey.
You killed them!
You killed them all!
Badly Badly done, George.
Wait a minute.
Whose side are you
on, the vultures?
Maybe he's right, George.
[sighs]
Well, we're on vacation.
Tomorrow, Sun Valley.
Snow, skiing, all of us.
Now, serenity.
Everything is turned off.
[sighs]
Listen to that silence.
Rest in peace.
One hopes.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: All systems--
all systems operational.
Parental access override.
WENDY: Mommy, daddy!
In Mommy, daddy!
PETER: Dad, help!
Mom!
Dad!
Help!
WENDY: Mommy!
My god!
They've broken
back into the room.
WENDY: Mommy!
GEORGE: They wouldn't dare.
PETER: Help!
Dad!
Help!
Father!
He's never call
you father before!
Wendy!
Peter!
Wendy!
Peter!
WENDY: Mom!
Dad!
PETER: Over here.
Oh my god.
WENDY: Help!
Help us!
[lion growling]
Wendy!
Peter!
Where are you?
WENDY: Mommy!
Daddy!
PETER: Help!
Over here!
Where?
Where are you?
Where, Wendy?
Where?
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Door closed and locked.
Wh--
Kids.
Peter, open this door!
- Open!
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Code incorrect.
Please!
Open!
Peter, open!
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Children access only.
Oh my god.
Peter, unlock this door now--
now!
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Code incorrect.
Request denied.
[lion growling]
Ah!
[screaming]
[lion growling]
[alarm beeping]
George?
Lydia?
Kids?
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Good morning.
All systems operational.
Nursery door open.
[growling]
Kids?
Where are your parents?
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door closed.
[growling]
Where?
A cup of tea?
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Door closed and locked.
[music playing]
RAY BRADBURY
(VOICEOVER): People ask,
where do you get your ideas?
Well, right here.
All this is mine.
I'll never starve here.
I'm Ray Bradbury, and this is--
Africa, lions, and the great
modern safari explorers
have been part of my
life in or out of films,
or circus arenas, or libraries.
Here, in my work
room, motion picture
television machines and
hot African veldt lands
join and come alive.
What was Popular Mechanics
fancy when I was 9
can be built today or
written out in a few hours
to be let loose
from my typewriter,
as a story called "The Veldts."
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Good morning.
Systems check commenced.
Menu search in process.
Heating cycle complete.
Swiss decaffeinated ready.
Appointment schedule printing.
Ta-da.
Ta-da.
Some ta-da.
Hi.
Hi.
Where are Peter and Wendy?
Where indeed.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Incoming message, video wall
George, Lydia will
be late for supper.
Bye.
Bye.
Wait a minute, late for what?
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Transmission complete.
George, I wish you'd look
at the children's nursery.
Why, is it broken?
LYDIA: Or have our
therapist come look at it.
David McLean?
Why?
The nursery-- it's--
it's changed.
Lydia, the kids are older now.
No.
No, no, no-- it--
it's strange.
Come look.
GEORGE: Good lord, for
what we paid for that room?
What could possibly--
You'll see.
See what?
Sh.
Sh?
Open.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Nursery door open.
Oh, yeah.
[lion growl]
Oh, yeah.
Dolby sound, three-dimensional
tapes, laser images.
You know, I still
can't get used to this.
[zebra sounds]
So?
Wait.
[sigh]
There.
Vultures.
Filthy creatures.
But more.
(WHISPERING) There.
GEORGE: Oh, lord.
Look at that whole pride.
They just finished feeding.
But on what?
Zebra?
Baby giraffe?
Are you sure?
Too late to tell.
Wait-- George,
don't you feel it?
[gasp]
Did you hear that scream?
No.
It's a-- it's a hyena.
Incredible.
Absolutely--
electronic miracles.
George.
[lion growl]
Lord, what light!
And what sound-- listen!
And their fur-- like
a gold tapestry.
You could just reach out--
George!
Ah!
Close.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door closed.
We've got to lock it.
Lock!
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door locked.
Parental entry only.
Those lions can't get
out of there, can they?
Come on-- Lydia!
[lions growling]
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Dinner menu ready to program.
(SINGSONGY VOICE)
Something's wrong in there.
Lydia.
Right.
Then I dare you to
unlock that door.
No, not until you calm down.
Shut off the room, George.
Then I'll calm down.
Shut off the room-- what
are the kids going to say?
I say shut it off.
Shut the whole house off!
I've had it with all
this electronic junk!
Let's light candles-- do
things with our hands.
George, let's switch
off the whole house
and take a vacation!
I can't believe that a
room is doing this to you.
Didn't you feel it?
My god, George.
It's sick.
Wendy and Peter have
made it that way.
Lydia, walls-- crystal walls.
It's all three dimensional,
super actionary,
super sensitive colorful
film-- odor foam, sonics--
I'm afraid.
George, it's too real.
You've got to tell Wendy
and Peter that they can't
experiment in Africa anymore.
All right.
All right.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Incoming message--
video wall.
Hi, George.
Hi, Lydia.
We're going to be
later than we thought.
The new megamall is excellent.
You guys just go ahead
and eat without us.
Come home now.
PETER: But we--
I said now!
OK.
Sure.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Transmission complete.
You've got to lock the
nursery for a couple of days,
until my nerves get settled.
A couple of--
Lydia, Peter lives
for that nursery.
Wendy too!
It's got to stay
locked, George.
Unlock.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Nursery door unlocked.
Free entrance.
Open.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door open.
Close.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door closed.
Go away.
[lion noises]
All right, room.
Let's have Aladdin and his lamp.
Come on, roo-- come on, room.
I demand Aladdin.
[growling]
LYDIA: It won't
respond, will it?
No.
[sigh]
LYDIA: Or it can't, because
Wendy and Peter have
been thinking about
Africa, and lions,
and killing for so long--
Come on, Lydia.
You don't really believe that.
Or Peter set it that way.
Set it?
Well, he's awfully
clever for a 12-year-old.
You remember when David
McLean tested his IQ.
We're home!
Race you.
- Beat you.
- Tie!
Peter, Wendy, please.
What's wrong, George?
Don't call your father George.
Dad?
How long have you and
Wendy been playing in Africa?
10 days?
Two weeks?
- Two weeks?
- Africa
Yes, Africa.
Who says?
You've been living
there 40 hours a week.
You've spoiled the nursery.
Africa?
There's no Africa
in the nursery.
Right, Wendy?
Why, no.
Come, look.
We'll show you.
Wendy, Peter-- Pe--
George, stop them!
Open.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Nursery door open.
Hey, Wendy, what'd you find?
Why, this.
Now, hold on.
Nice, huh?
You changed it.
How would she do that?
Go to bed.
Dad.
You heard your mother.
[sigh]
They're insufferable.
Let's admit it.
This house is spoiling them.
It's spoiling us.
What's this?
That's an old purse of mine.
What's that doing here?
Open.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Nursery door open.
[elephant noises]
Close.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door closed.
[LION GROWLING &
ELEPHANT NOISES]
Heating cycle complete.
Careful.
Plates are hot.
You unlock up the
nursery for good.
Well, uh, that depends.
On what, George?
Dad.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Heating Cycle.
complete.
Son, you've got to promise
me to think up more scenes,
more variety--
London, Tokyo, Rome.
What's wrong with
Africa, father?
I thought we were free
to play as we wished.
Well, of course you are.
Of course.
But, but-- but within bounds.
Can we, then?
All right.
But please try some changes.
You're not thinking of
shutting off the house?
Well, yes.
We were.
We were considering it
for a break or a vacation.
Well, I don't think you
should consider it anymore.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Cafe latte ready.
David.
George, Lydia.
Please sit down.
I came by, as soon
as I got your call.
David, you saw
the nursery when
we had our last family session.
Sure.
Why?
Did you notice
anything unusual?
No, not really.
Ha.
The usual occasional
violences, tendency
towards slight paranoia.
Uh-- I mean, it's quite common.
Children constantly feel
persecuted by their parents,
and so this behavior
tends to manifest itself
in their fantasy environments.
It's nothing, really.
Kids inevitably grow out of it.
I think you better have
another look at it, David.
So the problem is sick kids.
Sick nursery, David.
Open.
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Nursery door open.
[stampeding noises]
Martinis ready.
One extra dry, with a twist.
Well?
My god.
All your kids must hate you.
Hate us?
But we've done nothing.
Right.
When was the last time
you did something yourself
for your kids?
But we do things all the time!
No!
I don't mean
switching on the video
or the digital disk player.
Ever play tennis,
badminton, kick the can,
hide and seek out there?
I mean, there is a world
outside this house.
I know.
But what about the nursery?
Turn it off.
Lock it up.
As a matter of fact,
turn off the whole house.
Go jump in the lake.
Go climb a mountain.
Go!
Just as I've been saying.
It's rotten, isn't it?
Just turn it off.
I wonder, will the room
hate me, if I do it in?
[laughs]
George.
How could I have been
such a damned fool?
With so many servants, easy.
Room?
What room?
- What do you mean?
George, not now.
Now.
Now!
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Access code please.
Thank you.
George!
Don't call your father George!
Media and nursery areas.
No, wait.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Terminated.
GEORGE: Climate support systems.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Terminated.
Recreation and sleeping areas.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Terminated.
Power and water systems.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Terminated.
GEORGE: Kitchen areas.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Terminated.
Parental access only.
Done.
PETER: Open!
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: (FADING VOICE)
Nursery door open.
They're dead!
They're dead!
Wendy, no.
They're not dead.
They're-- they're just
electronic images.
They're three
dimensional holograms.
It's only lasers, honey.
You killed them!
You killed them all!
Badly Badly done, George.
Wait a minute.
Whose side are you
on, the vultures?
Maybe he's right, George.
[sighs]
Well, we're on vacation.
Tomorrow, Sun Valley.
Snow, skiing, all of us.
Now, serenity.
Everything is turned off.
[sighs]
Listen to that silence.
Rest in peace.
One hopes.
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: All systems--
all systems operational.
Parental access override.
WENDY: Mommy, daddy!
In Mommy, daddy!
PETER: Dad, help!
Mom!
Dad!
Help!
WENDY: Mommy!
My god!
They've broken
back into the room.
WENDY: Mommy!
GEORGE: They wouldn't dare.
PETER: Help!
Dad!
Help!
Father!
He's never call
you father before!
Wendy!
Peter!
Wendy!
Peter!
WENDY: Mom!
Dad!
PETER: Over here.
Oh my god.
WENDY: Help!
Help us!
[lion growling]
Wendy!
Peter!
Where are you?
WENDY: Mommy!
Daddy!
PETER: Help!
Over here!
Where?
Where are you?
Where, Wendy?
Where?
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Door closed and locked.
Wh--
Kids.
Peter, open this door!
- Open!
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Code incorrect.
Please!
Open!
Peter, open!
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Children access only.
Oh my god.
Peter, unlock this door now--
now!
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Code incorrect.
Request denied.
[lion growling]
Ah!
[screaming]
[lion growling]
[alarm beeping]
George?
Lydia?
Kids?
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Good morning.
All systems operational.
Nursery door open.
[growling]
Kids?
Where are your parents?
AUTOMATED VOICE
RECORDING: Door closed.
[growling]
Where?
A cup of tea?
AUTOMATED VOICE RECORDING:
Door closed and locked.
[music playing]