Original subtitles

Aurora is power.

Aurora is life.

It will take you to the future.

It's what you want.

The answer Aurora is on.

Aurora is coming.

Welcome to Good Morning Fairview. We have a wonderful show in store for you

today. My first guest is Kurt Cobain. He's not a pipe.

Now, Kurt has just finished his latest album of children's holiday favorites.

And he'll be singing for us a very special rendition of Frosty the Snowman.

And later on, we'll be joined by Marilyn Monroe, who is sharing some homemaking

secrets with us.

and telling us all about her new movie with Leonardo DiCaprio. So don't go

We'll be right back.

Morning,

Dale. How about this weather?

Not too shabby, huh? I can't complain, Dick. But I'm in the mood for something

new. Well, you're in luck. New 2000 models just come in.

Moving along.

No time, Mom. Just came by to drop these off for you. If you find yourself a

nice girl, you wouldn't have to bring your laundry home. But I would never get

my shirt so sunshine -y fresh.

At least have some cappuccino and a pop tart.

All right.

Talk me into it.

Anything in the paper?

Same as usual.

Trouble all over the world.

Why even read about those foreign places?

Everything I could ever want is right here in Fairview.

Hey, look.

Did you work on this one, Dale? I wish. They make it pretty damn tough for

junior execs to climb the ladder. You keep it up, son.

Patience is a virtue. I'm tired of being patient. Don't push yourself too hard

so soon after the accident, dear.

Nah, but the accident opened my eyes, Mom.

Life's too short to sit around daydreaming. You gotta make things

good things come to those who wait.

I'd better run.

I don't want to be late my first day back at work.

Oh, no. Easy does it.

Slow and steady wins the race. Rome wasn't built in a day.

You know, I had a weird dream last night about the accident.

Remember that thing I kept saying when I was unconscious, this is not a pipe?

Do you guys have any idea what that means?

It means you had a pipe dream.

Just moving, moving along.

Just moving, moving along.

Same without you. How's life in the ad mind, John? Oh, you know, a product like

Aurora sells itself.

I know, right? So what the hell are we here for?

You all right?

Oh, never better.

Welcome back to the team, Hunter.

Feeling better?

Yeah, thanks, Natalie. I took some time off to brainstorm a few ideas.

I was wondering if I could run them by you later. Not now, Hunter.

Corporate's in a titty and I've got a deadline to make.

Call my girl for a time.

Ideas.

Sounds dangerous.

Another day, another dollar, eh, buddy boy?

Uh, yeah.

Hey, Bob, um, this is not a pipe.

What's that phrase from?

Doesn't ring a bell. Why?

Ah, it was in a dream I had last night.

Ah, so, a lot of dumb things in dreams.

Yeah, you're right.

Forget it.

I'll see you tomorrow, Bob.

Later.

West.

Hello?

Anyone here?

What do you want?

There's something I want to look up.

There's a phrase I can't get out of my head. This is not a pipe.

Okay. Go ahead. Look it up.

Okay. Sure.

Where do I start?

Haven't you been in a library before?

Yeah, once when I was a kid.

Forget it.

There's obviously a lot of demand for your time. Hey.

Wait a minute.

Come with me.

It's by Rene Magritte.

Don't ask me why, but he's my favorite.

This is not a pipe.

But this is a pipe. No, it's a picture of a pipe. Oh.

Do you like them?

Yeah, they don't make much sense.

Okay, but do you like them?

Yeah.

Yeah, but I haven't seen any of these pictures before.

I must have picked up the phrase in a commercial jingle or something.

A jingle?

Like those advertising geniuses have a frame of reference broader than Leave It

to Beaver.

You are absolutely right.

And I should know.

Oh, don't tell me.

Advertising genius.

I should have guessed.

That's okay.

I like my job.

Do you like yours?

Sure.

I have plenty of time to read. No one ever bothers me.

Well, hardly ever.

What do you get out of all these books?

Everything. History.

Ideas.

Romance. Adventure.

The whole world's in here.

Everything I could want's right here in Fairview.

Why does everyone say that?

Look.

I'm sure you're like everyone else. You probably think I'm nuts, spending my

time reading books, but I know things they don't know. Like?

What's a killdeer?

Don't know.

Guess.

A hunting rifle.

It's a shorebird.

Who's the Nobel Peace Prize named for?

Nobel? Alfred Nobel.

A munitions tycoon.

You know Marilyn Monroe?

Sure. You know she killed herself?

OD'd on pills? What? When?

38 years ago.

1962.

What are you talking about?

It's right here.

It's impossible.

I'm like the White Queen.

I always try to believe at least six impossible things before breakfast.

Alice in Wonderland through the looking glass.

I haven't seen that movie since I was a kid. It wasn't in the movie. You just

said Alice in Wonderland. It was a book before it was a movie.

Before they were movies.

Okay, well, this has been fascinating. Thank you.

Thank you a lot.

Take the McGreek book.

No, no. I saw what it... Go ahead.

Thank you.

Oh, and I don't think it's nuts if it's what you like to do.

Don't be afraid.

You can do it. I'm right here.

Tip -top, thanks.

I need something to do, though. Get the old blood pumping. Oh, well, this is the

latest one from the boys in Detroit.

You know Greg Jones lives next door to you? Yeah. He bought two of these

Nice. How much?

Well, with the trade -in, we can do it for $7 .99.

Okay.

$2 .29.

But you're killing me.

from the city this morning. They want a complete rundown of all our advertising

plans from now until the product's release.

Now, the product's due out in four weeks. We can't afford to screw around.

Pardon my French.

So, we need a new marketing approach.

Sex is out.

Let's go more family -oriented.

Link the product with all American values.

Thoughts?

Actually, I was thinking along those lines this morning.

A toddler standing at the top of a big slide.

He's looking down. It's like a mile high.

He's scared, but he's determined, like it's his first skydive. And he braces

himself and summons up all his courage.

And wham, we follow him down faster and faster. The ground's coming closer. The

moment of truth approaching, he shuts his eyes real tight.

And there are these big, strong hands there to catch him. He opens his eyes.

It's his dad, smiling.

Picks the little guy up, smiles, and says, See?

I told you you could do it. And they hug, and the kid feels proud, secure,

loved.

And the tag.

Aurora.

Yesterday.

Tomorrow.

Always.

It's, uh, maybe kind of corny.

Well, it is kind of soft.

I mean, a slide ride.

Come on, big deal.

I was picturing a giant spiral slide curling around like a giant helix. You

know, the kid's going around and around, the wind's roaring in his ears. Down

and down, we've got his POV careening towards the ground, and the whole world

sort of spinning like a huge vortex.

I kind of like the spiral part.

Right, that is soft.

Yeah, maybe we could... Well, let's...

Run it by corporate.

Well, there's the man himself.

Hey, Hunter, where'd you get the idea for the spiral from, eh? You've really

been wearing the old thinking cap, haven't you, Hunter?

You're not going to forget your old friends have become a big shot, are you?

When I get the corporate, I'll send you a postcard.

Just moving, moving along.

Just moving, moving along.

Right out of my mind. I'm leaving my cares and worries behind.

But I'm on my way. I'm leaving town today.

Morning.

What

happened

to my things, my desk?

They're gone.

Oh, yes. Mr. Hunter, you've been moved.

What?

How do you like it, Hunter?

Uh, it's awesome.

Yeah, well, the city loved a new spot, especially the spiral slide.

They want to start work on it right away. All right.

Hey, hey, way to go, Hunter.

Way to go for it. And, Hunter, they want to know, where did you get the spiral

idea?

Uh, actually, uh, it was, uh, it was in a dream I had. A dream?

Mm. Oh, interesting.

You know, Hunter, maybe we should meet one on one.

And you can tell me more.

What did he have for lunch? What do you say, Hunter?

Uh, excuse me.

Uh, Bob, you, uh, you need a doctor?

Oh, that's fine. Aren't you, Bob? He's all right.

He's just fucking for the afternoon, huh?

So, Hunter?

I'm sorry.

Excuse me.

Mr.

Huddo, what's wrong?

Mr.

Huddo?

Okay. Open.

Mm -hmm.

Mm -hmm.

Wow. Temperature normal.

Blood pressure, heartbeat, good.

I don't see anything out of the ordinary.

What do you mean?

Well, to use the medical terminology, you're as healthy as a horse.

Aren't there any other tests you can run? I've checked everything.

Maybe you're...

Just working too hard. Listen, Doc, things are just starting to go good for

I... I can't afford to get sick or anything.

I understand.

Take two of these every three hours.

What are these?

Cetatol. It's a fat -acting placebo.

Think it'll work?

Stop worrying. I wish all my patients were as healthy as you.

Hello.

Another jingle? You want to look up?

No.

Do you want to go get something to eat?

I really don't think I'm your type.

I really want to talk to you.

What about?

Impossible things.

Pop. It's all gone. The little words, the weird A's.

Everything's back to normal.

Wow.

Yeah, the doctor has no idea what it is. He gave me these because they'd help.

Those? I wouldn't count on it.

I don't know.

Maybe it's all in my mind.

Maybe I'm just going crazy.

What's the big deal if you are?

I've been crazy as long as I can remember.

Ask anyone in town.

But you know what?

I think they're all crazy.

And I'm the only one who's sane.

So maybe your problem is.

You're going insane.

Don't look so happy.

It sucks to be sane in this town.

You hate it here, don't you?

Everyone here is a total product of their environment.

They think the same. They act the same.

I bet they go to sleep at night and have the same dreams.

And if you're the slightest bit different, they treat you like a loser.

I just want to leave.

It's the same everywhere.

Do you know what?

It's your fault.

My fault?

It's advertising that turns people into such poor people.

I hate all those lies.

Cigarettes that make you feel young.

Sneakers that make you a superstar.

Deodorants that get you laid. People actually think that's how life should

don't want to hear it. It's my job. And I happen to be good at it. At what?

Selling people useless things? No. And those Aurora ads are the worst.

Aurora is sexy.

It's traditional.

It's the future. It's the past. It's Miss Bell, for God's sake. I mean, I

even know what Aurora... What?

What what?

What were you going to say?

I don't remember.

So what, I'm one of these robots?

You?

You're kind of interesting.

You just seem normal at first.

Well, I hate to break it to you, but I actually am normal.

Oh, really?

Do normal people see little words floating in the air?

I'm sorry if that's not cool.

No, no, no. At least you're honest.

I like it.

You remind me of someone.

An old flame?

An old friend.

A guy who used to work in the office, George Dewey.

What was he like?

Kind of weird.

Oh, thanks a lot.

No, no, no. I liked him. I didn't know him very well. We talked. He was kind of

a loner.

Real smart, though.

Lots of ideas. He had a way of looking at things, through things, the way you

do. What happened to him?

Here's the weird thing.

He transfers to the Honolulu office.

He sends me a postcard.

It reads something like, uh, life's a dream. Wish you were here.

It was over a year ago. I haven't heard from him since.

I can see you work close, but it sounds like you miss him.

Yeah.

There's not too many people I can really talk to.

It's late.

I better be getting home.

Uh, let me give you a lift.

I can walk.

I hope you feel better.

Thanks.

But if any more weird stuff happens, let me know.

Okay. I think I'm going to be fine.

I see, sir. And did you ask these men what they were doing?

No.

Understandable.

And your name again, please?

Hunter. Dale Hunter.

Very good, Mr. Hunter. We'll get right on it.

Don't you need me to show you where this place is?

Won't be necessary. We'll put our best men on it.

Don't you find all this stuff kind of bizarre?

I'm sure there's an explanation. We'll get to the bottom of it.

Mr. Hunter, have you been taking your medication?

What? The acetatol prescribed by Dr. Haber?

Just checking.

Did you hear about Bob?

What about him?

Bob Anderson?

Lucky bastard. Made a complete recovery.

Not only that, the corporate promoted him. Transferred him to Honolulu.

Lucky bastard.

I told you that.

So, Dale, the city's hot for more ideas.

They want to know if you've had any more interesting dreams.

Um, my dreams?

Um, I had one where there was an eye.

With clouds in it.

An eye with clouds. Interesting.

Kind of a heavenly image.

Sort of the all -seeing father.

Spiritual angle. Nice.

And what kind of tagline do you see?

Aurora.

Seeing is believing. How about Aurora?

The sky is the limit.

What is Aurora?

What is Aurora?

That's intriguing.

It's very open -ended and provocative.

No, I mean it.

You mean what? What is the product? What is it?

I'm not sure I followed you.

What is it for? What does it do? I mean... I just realized I don't know

is. How can we not know what we're selling?

How can you not wonder?

This is a marketing division.

It's not a philosophy department.

Hey, man, what is reality?

If a tree falls in the forest, can anyone hear it?

It's not a joke.

Hey, Hunter, have you ever noticed that Aurora is spelled the same backwards as

forward?

Damn it, Dale.

Would you pull yourself together? We've got work to do.

Dale, you're just in time. The self -roaster's just done.

When was the last time you toured in the city?

The city?

Do you know what the traffic's like? It's so dirty and all the crime.

So when were you there?

We tried to go once. Too much traffic.

We just turned back.

Do you know anyone who's been there?

Sure. Who?

Why all this fuss over the city?

Home is where the heart is. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The grass is always

greener on the other side of the fence. Everything I could ever want is right

here in Fairview.

Huh?

It's a beautiful morning, isn't it?

You in the market for some new vehicular transportation?

Well, you come to the right place.

Look at this Jaguar.

$499 plus that.

Uh, no, I don't think so. Okay, okay.

Look, I'll let you have it for a hundred, but I'm not making a thing off

deal. No, I don't want a new car.

What?

Hunter?

Dale, this is Andrew Blake from the city.

We're all very excited about the work you've been doing.

Thanks. Wait till you hear this, Hunter.

You earned yourself a promotion and a transfer to the Hawaii office.

Congratulations, Dale.

Pack your things, son.

They're waiting for you.

Well, don't jump up and down or anything.

No, no, no.

It's great.

I gotta tell you, you look like you could use the sun, Hunter.

Happy birthday to you.

It's not my birthday. We heard the great news.

Thank you, darling. We're so proud of you.

Honolulu, that's fabulous.

Were you surprised?

We're going to miss you. Birthday, you'll be in paradise.

Congratulations, son.

For he's a jolly good fellow.

For he's a jolly good fellow. For he's a jolly good fellow. For he's a jolly

good fellow.

Are you all right?

Oh, God, no.

Are you

all right?

What are they doing here?

We can see it.

We gotta take it now.

No. Wait till the others are gone.

Let's get this party started.

Oh, I'm out of bourbon.

I'll get some.

Can I help you?

I gotta talk to you.

I'm sorry. Have we met?

What?

What are you talking about?

You don't know who I am?

I gotcha.

I had you going. You can see the look on your face.

Um, you all right?

There are people after me.

I saw them.

They're trying to transfer me to Hawaii, whatever that means.

I mean, I saw them at my parents' house. And I know I'm not paranoid.

You don't believe a word of it, do you?

Of course I do.

I totally believe you thought I was saying that. Not just that I saw it.

real. It's as real as anything.

I need not a story in a book. This is really happening.

I'll show you.

I wonder what that's used for.

Home box office, maybe?

Annoying, isn't it?

What is?

Can't hear it?

What do you think's down there?

Bodies?

Maybe.

It's all junk.

Del Monte cilantro ratatouille?

Did you know that Del Monte makes cilantro ratatouille in a can?

Look. Wolfgang Puck's old -fashioned and I test of bizarre look these have words

Look at the date March 10 2037

Who was that?

I have no idea.

Let's get out of here.

So where are we going now?

You ever been to the city?

Everything I've been seeing is coming from there.

I don't know what they want from me.

Who?

I don't know.

Corporate headquarters in the city. They want to know my drink.

I want to know why.

Dale?

Dale?

Dale? Gloria, it's me.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to...

Waking up.

They're waking up. Hey there. Don't move.

Stay there.

They're coming soon.

You okay?

Can you talk?

You all right?

My head hurts.

My arm, I think it's broken.

Ain't as good.

It keeps them out of your head. Pain keeps you sane.

Look.

Who are you people?

Who are we?

Who are you?

Tell Hunter what's that. That's nothing.

You know, I'd just be just like you.

I didn't know who I was, where I'd been, or what time it was.

House in the burbs, two point four kids. My name was John, Jim, Joe.

We all used to be like you.

Until we started to see. You know what I see?

It's called reality.

And it's not 2000.

Welcome to the year of our Lord, 2098.

Once you start seeing through the DVVR, there's no way you can live back there.

You become an outcast.

DVVR? Direct Broadcast Virtual Reality.

That's how they do it. A direct signal to the brain.

Keeps everyone peaceful and happy.

Seeing what they want them to see.

Make their fluff on their face look like prime rib of beef.

The noise keeps it out.

The pain's even better.

Who's they?

The fascist scum up in the city, sitting in their nice, clean dome, controlling

everything, ever since the war.

So there was a war? Oh, yeah. A big one.

Chemical weapons, nuclear weapons. Laser beams, machine guns, spears, clubs,

clean shots. But who fought?

Why?

It was us versus them, or them versus us.

Something like that.

Everyone fought, and nobody won.

Until there was nothing left to fight over.

Nothing left to fight with.

And they couldn't rebuild.

Because there was no money left.

They blew it all into killing. So they said, let's just wallpaper the whole

thing over with a nice virtual reality.

And everyone will think it's just like the good old days.

Why should we believe you?

You've seen the truth.

Think what it would be like if we could turn it off.

Even for five minutes.

We'd get inside the dome, find the DBBR central control, and smash it organic.

People would see the truth, and that'd be enough.

Can you do it?

No, we can't get into the dome. Why are you even wasting your time? We can't.

How?

Look here.

I wasn't set to kill you.

Just knock you out.

They want you there, in the city.

Why? Something to do with Aurora.

What is Aurora?

Who knows? Some new steaming pile of virtual crap they're cooking up. I mean,

who cares?

They need you.

What for?

Your dreams.

The fat cats want to know about those dreams. I don't know why, so don't ask

But they want you in there.

Now this is our chance.

You get inside.

You find the controls and shut it down.

Let's say I do get inside, then what am I supposed to do? You can't do it.

It has to be you.

You think all this happened by accident?

You were chosen.

It's fire.

We're not torturing you. We're decontaminating you.

That's a hyperoxygenated gas.

Killed all the germs from the outside.

Who the hell do you think you are? Calm down, Dale.

Everything's okay.

We need to take a look at that arm.

Just relax.

I'm just going to take a look.

George Dewey. Good to see you again, Dale.

Come on.

Get dressed.

What the hell's going on here, George? Listen, I went through this too when I

got here. You've got to get rid of all the poisons from out there. The

thing is you're here. You made it.

It's about time, too.

I've been trying to have you brought in for a long, long time.

Where are you taking her?

Her injuries need attention.

She'll be okay, Dale.

Medical care is outstanding here.

Right now, you and I have some urgent matters to discuss.

You all right?

Come on, pal.

It's time you saw the city.

But I don't think you want the city to see you like that.

Cities like the monastery and the dark ages, preserving the knowledge that

society has lost.

Lots left of leadership live here.

Scientists, socialists, military and political experts, regulating the DBVR

working like hell to fix things.

What do they want from me?

Complicated question, Dale. I'm not the best person to explain.

You see, the war may be over, but...

We're not out of the woods, but by a long shot.

Like I said, I'm not the guy to explain it all to you. That's up to Stanford.

Who's Stanford?

He's the man around here.

Extraordinary guy.

He's anxious to meet you.

It's a very big deal. I've never even met him myself.

So let's concentrate on analysis of efforts to discontinue the delusion

Any feedback?

Thank you, Andrew.

We'll review this later.

My God!

He's here at last.

Dale, it's nice to finally meet you.

I'm Stanford.

This is Stephen, Tobias, Andrew.

Dale. Margaret and Emily. Please, sit down. We have to talk.

So you're the ones in charge of it.

In charge of what? The brainwashing.

What's he talking about?

He's talking about the DBVR.

You think we like the DBVR? You've got it wrong, Dale. You don't understand.

when did you start it? Whoa, whoa, whoa, not us.

The generation that started it are long gone, and they had damn good reasons for

doing what they did.

You've got to understand, Hunter, the DBVR was never meant to be permanent.

So shut it off.

We can't do that.

It's been tried in Miami, and we don't want a repeat of that, believe me.

What happened?

You just take my word for it. You don't want another Miami.

Now you think about it, Dale. All your friends and neighbors back in Fairview.

Your parents living their lives happy in their illusion.

Then all of a sudden, in one cruel blow, it's all stripped away.

Now you know what their reality really is like. Do you think their sanity could

survive it? Is that really what you want?

It could be anti -gradually.

Yes, exactly.

That's exactly what we're trying to do here.

Not even, but we'll wean the suburbs off of the DPVR.

If there's time.

What do you mean?

Stanford, tell him about Aurora.

What is Aurora?

We, uh, we don't know.

What?

Aurora is a pirate signal.

A ghost in the system. It wasn't generated by the DPVR. It just appeared.

From where?

We've investigated every imaginable scenario. The Arabs, the Chinese, the

Russians, domestic terrorists, hackers, and it's none of them. So, whoever is

behind Aurora, they're masterful at concealing themselves.

I still don't understand it. What is it?

Aurora has two manifestations.

First is in the activities of the company that you work for.

People in Fairview spontaneously created the Aurora Corporation.

Without any precedence, without any prompting from the DBVR.

The only action of that company has been an advertising blitz to drum up an

enormous desire for Aurora.

Maybe it's nothing bad, maybe it's good.

Well, how do you know? That brings us to the second manifestation of Aurora.

The dream images reported by you, Dale. We believe these are coded icons in the

Aurora program.

My dream?

We think that whatever enables you to see through the DBVR also lets you see

through into the Aurora ghost signal. You're serious.

My dreams are just chaos.

Your conscious mind may be, but your unconscious holds the key to Aurora.

We've had all the images that you described at work analyzed by computer.

An iconic pattern is emerging.

An encrypted linguistic code. Extremely sophisticated.

So far, we've decoded this partial message.

With Aurora due to come out in a few weeks, you could see how urgent this is,

Dale.

It was another dream.

It was a birthday.

There was no one there, but there was a present, a package. It was labeled

Aurora.

What was in it? I don't know. I woke up before I could find out.

Big. This is very big. Come on, people. Let's go.

We have to find out what is in that package. How? Come with me. I'll show

Just relax, Dale.

We're going to induce a dream state.

Our computers will monitor your brain activity and analyze the patterns.

What do I do?

What do I look for?

Well, whatever I tell you might influence you unduly, so you just do

been doing.

Tap into the purest signal. That's worth more than any of our theories.

It's okay. This will help. Wait.

Wait, where's Wendy? Can I see her?

Of course.

I'll be time for that later.

Oh, Dale.

Dale, you're here at last.

I got an itch. I know him, but you can help me scratch it.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday.

Oh, it's close.

have to see you.

Wendy.

What?

I can't understand you. We'd better get back to work. No, wait a minute. She's

trying to tell me something. Time for her surgery.

What?

Surgery for what?

Wait. Wait a second.

We know your dream.

We can't send him back in right away. He needs a break. Out of the question.

There's no time.

We could lose him.

All right.

All right, we'll make a few adjustments to the program.

Hard work trying to save the world, huh?

Well, here it is.

Thanks, George.

Anytime.

How are you?

I'm fine.

What about you?

You don't look so good.

I'm just tired.

I can't stand this. I feel like a prisoner.

We're not prisoners.

Did you find the controls?

I have an idea, but it's not so simple. We can't just shut it off.

What do you mean?

I mean, it's complicated. They tried it in Miami.

Let's just say we do shut it off, right?

Then what?

What are you saying?

So we don't want to make things any worse. There's reasons things are the

that they are. I can't believe this.

You're making excuses for the fascists? No, I'm not making excuses. I'm just

saying that things are more complicated than we thought.

They're not really fascists. They want to end the DBVR, but it has to be done

gradually. That makes sense, doesn't it? We can be part of that, part of a real

solution. You're losing touch.

With what?

With yourself.

Don't you remember what you've been through?

All the lies and the tricks. If they have you talking like this after a few

days, what are you going to be like after a year? You don't understand the

reason. If you saw it from another point of view, it makes sense. They're

brainwashing you. No. These are the people who have lied to us our whole

You can't trust them, Dale. Wendy, you don't know everything.

This is not book. This is real life. It's not so clear and easy.

They don't have to brainwash you, do they?

What's that supposed to mean?

You don't care about people who are victims.

You just don't want to be one of them.

This is just like your advertising career.

All you want to do is climb the ladder.

You want to get into the club. You want to play with a big boy. Do they promise

you a quarter office?

I don't care about that. You care so much you can't even tell right from

Hey, guys.

I'm sorry, but visiting time's over.

Tomorrow's big day.

Give us a few minutes. Rules are rules. You need your rest.

Look, Wendy.

You know, I have to admit, Dale, I really envy you.

Santa really respects you.

When this whole Aurora thing is leaked, you're going to be right in the middle

of things, working on the DBVR phase -out.

Because you get it now that it has to be done responsibly.

Anyway, listen, after we crack this thing, you'll be able to get some rest,

a decent meal.

It's great stuff, too.

Not like the slop you have to eat back home.

Think how far you've come, Dale.

A few days ago, your greatest dream in life was to run marketing for Aurora.

Now you're in the big time.

With some real power.

God, that could even change a course of history.

They decoded the images from yesterday's session.

We're making good progress.

What is this? Nobody move. Come on, take it easy. Say, I mean it.

Dale. Calm down. You can work this out. Let's talk about it. I'm down, Hunter.

This is absurd. Where is it? What are you talking about? I'm serious. I will

kill you. The DBVR. Tell me where it is. I really think that you should...

He's

going to destroy the DBVR.

Dave.

Please, for God's sake, you don't know what you're doing. Yes, I do. How long

has it been since the war ended, Sanford?

My parents never mentioned it. 40, 50 years and all this time you haven't been

able to phase this thing out? Why?

That's very complicated, Jake.

We've had a war to deal with. Before that, there was Miami. Before that?

then there was the South American crisis.

You're never going to end things. Why should you?

There'll always be another crisis, another reason to keep things going the

they are with yourselves in power.

Dale, don't.

You'll be responsible for terrible suffering.

Countless ruined lives, pointless deaths.

I'm not listening to you.

My God.

It's all a lie.

What are you talking about?

This place is as fake as the suburbs.

There's nothing here.

You don't control anything.

Dale, put the gun down. You're just reacting to the strain.

So why can't I do this?

Stop it, Dale! It's over! It's enough for this!

Come on, look!

Don't you see? Look!

Look at it! Come on, are you blind? Don't you see?

Strength of a man.

Amazing. He's useless to us now.

You don't know what you're doing.

You're going to be fine, Dale. We pushed you too hard. We realize that. Go to

hell.

Where's Wendy? You cracked under the strain. We all feel terrible about it.

It's our fault. This place is as funny as Fairview. Don't you even care?

We're going to get a fresh start. They're sending you home.

Home? Back to Fairview. What do you mean?

Oh, don't you worry. You'll be as happy as a clamp.

You won't remember anything you learned in the last week.

We can make sure of that.

We need to find out more about those dreams of yours.

You have to be unaware, unselfconscious, as you were before.

We haven't forgotten the good work you've done.

You'll have everything you wanted. No, I don't want to forget the truth.

Let me out of here, George.

George. George, help me. Everything's going to be fine, Dale.

Goodbye, Dale.

Don't you worry about it. No, I don't want to forget!

I don't want to be lied to anymore! I won't forget!

George!

Let me out!

You're still here.

Still dreaming, darling?

I'll go make you breakfast, okay?

You wouldn't want to be late for work on your birthday back.

business to run here.

Product release is set for the 30th.

Now, the units will be brought into the regional distribution center just

outside of Fairview.

Now, we're expecting a big rush on the product as soon as it hits the market.

So, trucks must be ready to deliver. This is all very interesting, Natalie,

this is a marketing branch, so let's start to get the final advertising push

ready.

Any ideas?

Well, we have some notions, but they haven't been worked out to convict.

Natalie, just make the air buys, and I guess I'll have to dream up something

myself. We'll meet here first thing tomorrow.

Sir, tomorrow's fourth.

The parade's first thing.

Okay, go see your parade. We'll meet here as soon as it's over.

People, there will be other holidays.

There is only one Aurora.

What do you want?

I just want to open it. For me.

No, Daniel, it isn't.

Do I know you?

Dale, what's wrong?

Are you okay? What? What?

What is it, Dale?

It's a gas congestion. What?

Can I help you?

Wendy, thank God you're here. I thought they took... Come with me.

What is it?

It's me, Dale. Don't you remember?

Oh, that's a good line.

It's not a line, Wendy.

You know me.

They erased your memory. Think.

Look, I don't know what your problem is. I first saw you right here. You didn't

want to talk to me then either. I asked about the painting. The painting. This

is not a pipe.

Please, look at me.

Look at me.

Don't you feel anything?

No. You look familiar from around town. No, no, no, it's more than that. Try and

remember. I'd like you to leave now.

I know you, Wendy.

I understand what you were talking about now. The Nobel Peace Prize is named

after a weapons maker that Marilyn Monroe on TV is not real. None of this

But you are, and I am.

Look, you said Magritte's your favorite painter. He told me you don't know why.

I'll tell you why. It's because his paintings are true. They don't make any

sense, but they're true.

Look, I know this is hard to believe, but you always try and believe six

impossible things before breakfast.

Am I going crazy? No, no, no, no. You were never crazy. It's the world that's

crazy, remember?

But now you're not the only one who knows.

Look, I know this is frightening. I'm sorry, but I need you.

I really need you.

What do you want?

Just listen.

Mr. Hunter's office. This is Andrew Blake from the city, calling for Dale.

Oh, he's not here, Mr. Blake.

Where is he?

Well, it's the strangest thing. He just ran off during the festivities.

And when I saw you in the street, it all came flooding back.

So, why does reality look like?

Not as horrible as it did at first.

I guess that was an illusion, too, to keep people from wanting to see. Truth

the real truth is, everything's just banal.

People are dying. Things aren't as bad as they think in the city. They're also

not as perfect as the people here think.

So, you say there's a code on everything.

Is there a code on the table?

Yeah. Yeah, watch.

Watch this.

See? There's a dent there. See that?

No. Here.

You feel that?

No. It feels smooth to me.

I guess the code interacts with the DBVR, making you think that it's smooth

mahogany. It smells good. It sounds solid when you hit it.

I wonder what I look like.

What?

Beautiful.

So, if the signal isn't running from the city, then who's running it?

Now that, I don't know.

But who made this table?

All this stuff here, where does it come from?

Just outside of town, there's a distribution center.

Doesn't look like anyone's here.

Hold it right there!

Put your hands up!

Jail hunter, you're under arrest.

For what?

You have the right to remain silent.

You have the right to an attorney.

Are you crazy? Come on. Fire! Fire! Come on.

what are you doing what you're holding your skirt down

watch out

This way.

I was wondering if you two was ever going to find this place.

What is this place?

This is regional broadcast center number three.

I'm the CISR, the system operator.

I'm in charge of the signal.

The DVVR, you control it all from here? I don't control squat.

I just maintain the system.

Then who does?

Nobody controls it. It's all in the program.

I guess you could say everyone controls it. The program reads what you folks

want, feeds it back to you. It's interactive.

You.

I don't get many visitors.

Not in the last 40 years, anyway.

Since the war?

What war?

Wasn't there any war?

What happened?

Nothing.

War's just a story to keep the city folks happy.

Make sure everybody's got a place.

Most folks like the suburban life.

Making money, keeping up with the Joneses.

And there's some who need to feel they're running things in the city.

And always a few weirdos, like those rebels you met out there, who need

attention. All are part of the program.

Wait, wait.

Okay, so if there wasn't a war, then how did things get like this?

Simple economics, sir. Had to have it.

Sandwich.

No, thanks.

No.

Look.

A hundred years ago, this guy, Dreiser, I think his name was, invents a virtual

reality machine.

He sells it to a builder who realizes he can make a cheap claptrap look like the

Taj Mahal.

Soon everyone wants virtual houses, not just houses.

Soon it's cars, lawns, trees, plastic surgery, whatever.

The government got in on that, too.

You got an environmental problem?

A virtual clean -up is much cheaper than a real one.

Why do they make this ham so tough?

That's disgusting. Do you, maybe?

Most people like it fine.

How can you say they like it?

They don't have a choice.

Sure they do.

How can they when it's a secret?

What secret ain't a secret?

Yes, it is.

People don't know.

Well, you two know. I know. Anyone who wants to know can find out.

Was my door locked?

People just stop caring what's real and what isn't. What's the difference,

anyway? Things look, feel, taste, smell just the same.

Better. The difference is reality bites back. If you ignore it, it just gets

worse. Well, that was your problem.

The more run -down and shabby real life got, the less folks wanted to hear about

it. So they programmed all the machinery to keep it going so they wouldn't have

to know.

And our problem, a world with a minimum of pain.

Is the whole world like that?

I guess.

Oh. That is, unless you count the wilderness up north.

What's there?

Nothing.

Wilderness. There's pain anyway. When I was a kid, I had everything, but there

was always horrible pain. The pain of knowing. Knowing deep down that

something that means everything is missing.

Maybe. But Aurora takes care of that problem.

You know what Aurora is? It's genius is what it is.

Which I thought of it. The credit for that has to go to the computer.

Its programs continually keep the system more efficient to respond to everyone's

needs. And Aurora makes sure that everybody, regardless of race, physical

handicap, gets exactly what they want. What is it? I'll show you.

Aurora.

Finally, a solution to man's age -old problem.

The vice grip to bitter reality over our lives.

With Aurora, our spirit, our soul, our loftiest dreams, and our bestial desires

will be free to do anything and everything without violence to other

The ultimate in total fulfillment.

Plug into Aurora and never have to leave the room again.

No need for all this fakery. Your life is anything you wish.

Really?

I thought the way people have always lived, it's that.

Seems to me this is the first sensible thing that's happened.

Oh, God, what are you doing? No!

Stop it!

Stop it!

No!

Now you've done it!

No, Daddy, don't!

I've done it!

Maybe we shouldn't go back.

What if it's chaos and violence like you said?

Well, I'm responsible, so I gotta go back.

Have you started to remember anything from last week?

No.

Just as well.

I don't think you like me very much.

Well, thanks for coming back to get me anyway.

It's amazing.

It looks the way I always felt this town would like.

My poor parents.

Dale, come in.

Dale, that product goes up. Wow, it's Hawaii.

Dad, I didn't go to Hawaii.

Aren't you going to introduce your friend, dear?

Yes, this is Wendy.

She's lovely, Dale. Just lovely.

Bagels, anyone?

Careful, they're piping hot.

What the hell did you say after the big wave?

Mom, Dad, do you notice anything, anything different today?

What do you mean?

What do I mean?

Look.

Look at this cheap junk. Look around you. Look at yourself.

Dale, stop it. What's wrong with you?

Dale, I am trying to watch the TV, if you don't mind.

So did you get to any laws?

You know, I envy you, son.

Enjoying your promotion?

You bet, Dad.

How about all of you guys?

Oh, for sure.

Bye, Mom. Dad?

Nice meeting you, Wendy.

Take good care of our boy. I will.

Don't forget to write, Dale.

Remember, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Blood is thicker than water.

I don't understand.

Is the signal still being broadcast?

No.

No, I guess after all these years, they don't need the signal anymore.

Maybe... Maybe this is how they like it.

I wonder how long it will last.

I wonder what's out there.

You heard the old man.

There's nothing.

Just wilderness.

I'd like to see that.

Which way is north?

Sun rises in the east.

So... Wait a minute.

Does the sun rise in the east?

I mean, that's what we've always been told.

But... Well, there's only one way to find out.