War of the Worlds (1988–1990): Season 2, Episode 16 - Video Messiah - full transcript

♪♪

There's rioting breaking
out throughout the city.

Fires continue to
burn everywhere.

Troops are shooting people.

My God, I... I don't know why.

There's a woman dying in front
of me, and no one's helping her.

There are conflicting reports
about who or what started the chaos.

Will someone tell
me what's happening?

This is madness.

What is this world coming to?

To the people of wealth,



he provides guidance.

And soon they won't be
able to make a decision

without consulting
Dr. Van Order.

And Dr. Van Order's
clone will turn to us.

Hi, there.

Finally.

Oh!

Don't move.

Are you all right?

My vid box...
where's my vid box?

- What?
- My vid box.

Hi, there.

Thank God.

So, uh, what about
this Van Order guy?



John, he is the most
fabulous teacher.

He understands everything
about me, you know, my goals.

And he talks to you
on that little TV set?

It's an interactive program,

psychologically
customized for me.

See, Van Order teaches you

to take control of your life

and stop looking for
other people to blame.

If you would just
try Van Order, John,

maybe he could help you...

Help you sort out your life.

No, thanks. For all you know,

he could be a bunch of impulses
in a memory bank somewhere.

- Okay.
- Like The Wizard of Oz.

Okay, you're still
defensive. That's okay.

I'm not going to
let it bother me

because I'm in
control of my life,

and I have Van
Order to thank for that.

Meet me later...

After you finish
work for dinner.

You owe me a meal.

Oh... God, Kincaid,
I don't know.

Hey,

I might not be perfect...

but I am human.

7:00.

I've been observing
the advertising company

Hardy Galt Industries.

You're certain of
his cooperation?

Oh, yes. Hardy Galt's
been a longtime disciple.

Will he question the
change in your program?

No. Hardy never
questions my advice.

I've made him millions.

Subliminal messages
buried in advertising

can influence the population,

but we need to bury
the right message.

We're concerned that Hardy Galt
is too weak to carry out our plans.

We feel that he needs...

a new partner.

Have you got that
remote operational yet?

Yeah, I just connected
up the circuitry.

Now, I've altered the frequency
of the electromagnetic field.

Hopefully, this will be able to
stun that alien watching device

long enough for us
to get our hands on it.

Here we go.

Okay, that's got it.

Now, for the road test.

I'm pleased to see you, Doctor.

When you have a problem, I have
a problem. Speak to me, Hardy.

Well, my biggest client,
Lange and McDougal,

are threatening to take
their business elsewhere.

Hmm. Well, Lange and
McDougal are not the problem.

They're a symptom,
a key indicator

of a flaw within HGI.

A flaw?

What flaw?

Why look further
than yourself, Hardy?

Your future is
what you make of it.

As your company has
grown, have you grown with it?

What do you mean?

If you want to
expand your horizons,

and I believe HGI will expand,

you'll need someone
you can trust, Hardy,

someone to share the load.

- Share?
- Of course.

If don't diversify, there
won't be any profits

and there won't be any HGI.

Van, I need your help.

- Have you heard?
- Heard what?

You should pay more attention
to the gossip around here.

The Lange and McDougal
account is ready to walk.

- What?
- Their CEO was in for a meeting

with Mr. Galt yesterday.

By the way, Mr. Galt wants
to see you this afternoon.

How can I help you, Mindy?

I've never had to
do that before, Van,

and I'm not sure it's right.

The important question is will
this move be right for Hardy Galt?

Will a rise in market shares,

profits, multinational
expansion be right for HGI?

Do you believe in what
I'm telling you, Hardy?

Yes. Always.

What messages am I to
bury in these commercials?

I'll give them to you myself.

It's your world.

You can't hurt others
by loving yourself.

Simple, isn't it?

Suzanne!

It's in the same location.

It hasn't moved
at all. This is good.

- I think we're ready.
- I hope so.

We've been working
on this for weeks.

Kincaid thinks we're crazy.

Yeah, but Kincaid doesn't
believe in the scientific method.

We're going to prove him wrong.

- There.
- Okay, here goes.

Got it.

First, think of what
you want to achieve.

Then focus and just
be yourself, Jane.

I know you. I expect
great things of you.

Remember, Jane,
you reap what you sow.

Think of what you
want to achieve

and just be yourself, Bob.

First, think of what you
want to achieve, Mindy.

I just want to keep my job.

You really want more.

You're right, I do want more.

I want to be a VP.

I know you have it in you.

Thanks, Van.

Once you control the
mind, you control the world.

That, we know.

Hardy Galt will alter his commercials
according to our specifications.

How does this sound?
Instead of Hardy Galt Industries,

it'll be Hardy Galt Worldwide.

We'll direct the destiny
of the human race.

You will take Galt's disciples

and push them beyond their
natural abhorrence of human suffering

until their perception
of what is right...

is flexible.

My people, my soldiers,

we've got to talk.

Deb!

You busy?

What?

Kincaid!

- Which tie?
- That one.

You look terrific.

Thanks.

She must be pretty special.

- Yeah, she is.
- Who is she?

- What's she like?
- Mindy Cooper.

She's almost as cute as you are.

- Hmm.
- Hmm.

You look great. Now
go and have a good time.

I'm planning on it.

- Bye.
- Bye.

♪♪

In art,

creative concept...

- Whiplash...
- copy writing and photography...

We have failed our clients.

Please open your folders.

When I conceived
of the new direction...

I asked myself...

"Who are my soldiers?"

Hardy Galt Industries

is not just a job.

It is a lifetime mission.

And I want commitment!

I want motivation!

It is all or nothing.

You are either on a holy crusade

with me...

or you'll be looking for
somewhere else to go.

I have retained Dr. Van Order

as motivational
consultant to HGI.

All of you

will take this seminar.

And the results

of your performance

will determine who
is to be my partner.

It worked, Suzanne! It worked!

For a minute there, I thought
we were going to lose it.

- What happened?
- We caught it.

We got an alien
surveillance device.

Good. Where's Kincaid?

- Toot toot.
- He went out on a date.

He was real nervous.

Sounds serious, who was she?

- Mindy Cooper.
- Mindy Cooper?

I thought that was
over months ago.

Yeah, well, I
think he's in love.

Uh, excuse me.

Oh, can I help you?

Yes, you can tell Mindy
Cooper that John Kincaid is here.

Mr. Kincaid, huh?

Miss Cooper said she was sorry,

but she's been selected to
attend a seminar this weekend

at the Van Order Foundation.

Right. Thanks.

I have compiled this tape

of messages and images

and implanted them into the
test subjects' commercials.

They flash every 10 frames,

register on the retina,

and the information is
automatically processed by the brain.

As the tapes run,

the subjects will
begin to develop

reactions to the messages.

By morning, they'll accept
our version of reality.

If they respond as
I believe they will,

we can implant every
commercial Galt makes.

♪♪

I could get real
accustomed to this.

Is that a Louis Seize?

That particular chair
is a genuine Louis XVI

authenticated by
Sotheby's auctioneers.

Now, if you'll
follow me, please,

you'll be given your
uniforms for your stay.

Okay, Deb, hook
up this terminal.

Yeah.

What, did somebody die?

Never mind. What are you doing?

Brought down a
surveillance device,

it's right over there.

How?

We jammed it and
redirected the impulses.

It came right to us.

- What's all this?
- This is an image converter.

- We're going to know what it knows.
- If it knows anything.

Now, this may act like
one of our own satellites.

It may record messages
as well as transmit them.

I'm ready.

Good.

Come on, Kincaid. Join in.

Okay, let's do it.

Try to focus it

and lay on a grid pattern.

I'm going to enhance
quadrants 10 to 25.

Blocks C to F...

Magnifying.

That was Hardy Galt.

HGI...

And that video
messiah, Van Order.

- You sure?
- Of course, I'm sure.

My friend Mindy
Cooper works for Galt.

Why would they be
under alien surveillance?

I don't want to think about it,

but I was meant to
have a date with Mindy.

Then she was
suddenly sent to some

executive weekend to
the Van Order Foundation.

Yeah, I know about
those weekends,

they wind up replacing
your personality.

I'm going out there.

I'm going with him.

I'm going to find out what
I can about Hardy Galt.

So, will the great man himself
show us a new direction?

- I think Hardy's losing it.
- I'd change my tone, if I were you, Kurt.

This isn't exactly
your territory.

You're awfully quite, Mindy.

Well, I just want to
get started, that's all.

I hate waiting.

Welcome to the Van
Order Foundation.

This weekend will be
devoted to an extraordinary

motivational seminar
developed for you...

The top executives of
Hardy Galt Industries.

Kurt, you're skeptical.

You will have changed
your thinking by Monday.

You will find this seminar
more than just challenging.

Your weaknesses will be exposed

and then eradicated.

You'll discover just
what you're made of.

In the entire universe, there
is nothing more important

than the individual human being.

You are the foundation.

You are what counts.

Our first session
begins immediately.

You will repeatedly watch and
assess a particular commercial.

At the end of that time, you
will submit your analyses,

confidential of course,

in an individual interview.

The exercise will run
for the next 10 hours.

Good luck.

All night? That's criminal!

Stop whining, will you?

Please. Come on, guys.

We've got work to do.

I expect great things of you.

♪♪

It's your world.

Your destiny is
what you make of it.

Think of what you
want to achieve.

It's your world.

♪♪

You can't hurt others
by loving yourself.

You have no one to
blame but yourself.

There's no one to help you.

You are born
alone into the world

and you live according
to your own ability.

You can't hurt others
by loving yourself.

Nobody but you is on your side.

Do you want to make it?

- I expect greater things of you.
- I need to smoke.

Fine, you go blow.

That'll be one less
problem for the rest of us.

Just let him do as he likes.
Concentrate on your own objectives.

Boy, you have
been indoctrinated.

It's your world.

Why'd you come?

Because I hate thought control,
Kincaid. It makes me nervous.

Yeah, Mindy's really
changed, Harrison.

Well, if she spends any
more time with Van Order,

you're not going to be
able to reach her at all...

no matter how much you dress up.

So how far do we have to go?

We won't get there till morning.

You have no one to
blame but yourself.

This is your brilliant idea?

The shape of the
container is wrong.

It looks like you'll have to rethink it.
That's if you still have your job by morning.

You're full of it, Clark!

Why should I listen
to you anyway?

- What's the matter with the Hardy Boys?
- Shut up!

Why should I? I'm free to
say anything I like, Clark!

Shut up or I'll shut you up.

Try it! Hey!

What do I want to achieve?

Then remember, take
care of yourself first.

You can't hurt others
by loving yourself.

It's your world. Your
destiny is what you make it.

In the final analysis, you have
no one to blame but yourself.

Take responsibility.

What's happening to us?

I'm not sure.

We're all going berserk.

I just hope the rest of
the weekend isn't like this.

Good morning,
ladies and gentlemen.

We will be calling
you individually

to discuss the evening's work

with Dr. Van Order.

Clark, if you'll come
with me please.

God, I'm not going
to survive this.

Mr. Galt, your next
appointment is here.

Dr. Van Order has instructed me
to deliver this tape to you, Mr. Galt.

- Yes?
- There's a Miss Hope here

to see you, Mr. Galt. She
says she has an appointment.

Who? Uh, please
tell her to wait.

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry, you were saying.

I was saying Dr. Van
Order has asked me

to remind you that
these new versions

of commercials will
increase sales dramatically.

Ah-ah...

He tested them himself.

I'll show you.

Sit down, please.

Dr. Van Order?

Hi there, Mindy.

We have some
business to discuss,

serious business.

Yes.

You are burdened with
some character flaws.

They're holding you back,

keeping you from
attaining your goal.

We're going to pinpoint these problems
and remove them from your personality.

Yes, that's...
that's what I want.

Remember, there's
no time like the present.

There is a box to the right of your
chair. Please put your hand on it.

You must trust me,
Mindy. Trust me.

Look at me.

Trust me. Look at me.

Look at me. Look at me.

There is no snake, Mindy.

You must learn to look beyond
your initial emotional responses.

Fear has tricked you into seeing
something that isn't really there.

Look again.

Go on.

There, you see?

Control the mind.

There's only that part of
yourself that responds to reason,

to logic, to whatever
enhances your survival,

your position.

Yes, Van.

Thank you.

There are a few ahead of
you in the testing, Mindy...

Clark, Jane, Kurt.

You'll have to do better.

You'll do that for
me, won't you?

Yes, Van.

Anything.

I'm counting on you to show
me that you can succeed.

There's no cost too great

if it means your survival,

your success.

You won't let me down, will you?

No, Van.

I won't let you down.

- Miss Hope?
- I only need

a moment of your time, Mr. Galt.

Dr. Van Order suggested
I come to see you.

Well, then, do come in.

Please, have a seat.

So,

what can I do for you?

I own a medium-sized
manufacturing concern.

We make silk and
cotton clothing.

I've never advertised before,

and Dr. Van Order pointed out
that this was a grave mistake.

He suggested that I come to see
you about possibly representing us.

I see.

Will you be interested

in looking at print? Television?

A combined assault, I think,
based on our market research.

I'm glad to see you
came well prepared.

I'd like to know some
more about HGI, Mr. Galt...

- The breadth of your client base.
- Sure.

Let me show you what we do.

Mr. Galt has expressed the wish

that his new partner
be in top physical

as well as mental and
emotional condition.

Everybody ready?

Begin.

No guts, no glory.

There's no one else to help you.

You are born
alone into the world

and you live according
to your own abilities.

The choice is yours.

Want to make it? Do you?

Or will you fail?

Become one more piece of
human flotsam on the sea of time?

I expect greater things of you.

You will not fail me.

You must earn your rewards.

Work harder. Convince me.

Show me how you want it.

Rise. Rise to
consciousness and power.

The world is yours if
you want it. It's up to you.

Nobody but you is on your side.

Take power.

Take responsibility.

Your destiny awaits you.

It's your world.

It's your world.

It's your world.

- Tough break.
- Poor guy.

He never had a chance anyway.

A born loser, wasn't he?

You stop it!

All of you! You make me sick!

Kurt worked with
us for seven years.

Van says only
the strong survive.

I wonder who that's going to be.

♪♪

I'd like to view some
other material, Mr. Galt.

One ad does not tell the story.

Well, it should.

But you're the client.

Let me show you something.

Excuse me for a minute.

I'm starving.

I wouldn't load up
if I were you, Bob.

Who knows what
we'll have to do next.

I can't eat.

Oh, Kurt's dead,
Mindy. Just let it go.

Doesn't this seem strange to
you? Nobody's come to investigate.

Van Order's handling it.

Quit trying to rattle us. Just
stick to your own agenda.

- Where's Jane?
- Probably looking at herself in the mirror.

Oh, Mindy, I
wouldn't if I were you.

It might be a test.

I'm not you, Clark.

I think I'll have some dessert.

- How about you, Bob?
- Hmm?

What... what is that?

Buried messages.

They go by so fast, you
don't even know they're there.

They're designed to alter
behavior and personality.

Wh... what do you mean?

From what I'm seeing, it's
designed to induce violence

or at least make a
person very receptive to it.

Jane!

Jane!

Yeah, that's okay,
Suzanne. I got it.

Thanks.

Well, we're dealing with more
than subliminal advertising here.

- I'm going to find Mindy.
- Kincaid!

I've got to do this, man.

Okay.

I'll check over here.

Clark, what are you doing, man?

Just getting the best
of the competition...

Just like we were taught
in business school, Bobby.

Clark, we can cut some
kind of a deal, can't we?

Sure, we can make a deal.

Clark, you've got
to let me go, please.

Look, you can have the top spot,

and I'll be your second
in command, okay?

- Okay.
- I don't need you, Bob.

Oh my God.

It's you... you killed them.

You killed them all.

I had to. I'm the strongest.

It's my world. I
want to succeed.

I must think of myself...

Only myself.

No one is to blame.

I take responsibility!

It's my world, Mindy.

No. No, Van's sick.

Control, reason...

It just has to be this way.

It's okay, it's me... John.

It's all right. It's okay...

It's all right! It's
okay! It's all right!

It's all right. Shh.

It's over. It's over.

I need to see Van.

Look at... look at me.

I want you to make your
decisions about your own life.

You understand?

Okay? Hmm?

Let's go.

Kincaid, get out!

I'm a survivor. That, too,
is part of my philosophy.

My house, my game, gentlemen.

Your weapon.

Sorry, Harrison.

- Get back!
- Ah, Mindy.

Another survivor... the winner,

the new partner in
Hardy Galt Worldwide.

Yes, Van, the new partner...

My new world.

Remember what I told you.

Trust me.

Don't listen to
him, he's trying to...

- Trust only me, Mindy.
- Coop, look at me.

Think about who
you are, how you feel.

Think past your
emotions, past your fears.

You're not afraid of me, Coop.

Take responsibility.
Think for yourself, Mindy.

Do it for me.

Yes, Van. Anything for you.

I am in control.

Good.

Take his gun.

Coop...

Your gun, John.

Very good, Mindy.

Now...

kill him.

Kill...

him?

- I'm sorry.
- No, remember

how you wanted
to save the world?

If you want to
achieve everything,

you must eliminate
what stands in the way.

I...

- want...
- To be free.

That's what you
always said... free.

You decide your future.

Kill him!

I love you, Coop.

First, think of what
you want to achieve.

Then, take responsibility.
It's your world.

Will you take the job?

John, so many people will be affected
by those commercials, just like I was.

Unless there's someone
there to stop them.

Oh. Do you think I can do it?

You can do anything
you set your mind to.

I know 'cause it's my world.

It is now.

The watcher outside Hardy Galt's
is missing. There's no trace of it.

And we've lost the clone.

We have thousands of
hours of Van Order on tape.

We can create the altered
commercials ourselves.

In fact, it's more
convenient this way.

What about the original?

We'll maintain him

for a while.

I've been trying to reach
Dr. Van Order for two days.

- Where the hell could he be?
- I don't know, sir, but I'll keep trying.

And Miss Cooper has arrived.

Send her in.

How does it feel to be the new
partner in Hardy Galt Worldwide?

I feel great.

You know what I've
always loved about you?

Your tenacity,

your creativity.

Thank you. I want us to
be the biggest and the best.

That's the spirit.

Do you mind taking
a look at something?

Not at all. What is it?

It's a commercial.

I think you should see it.

It seems to promote
psychopathic behavior...

Even murder.

What?

Whose is it?

It's ours.

One more thing... thank you

for the seminar.

I learned a lot.