All language subtitles for virtual_nightmare_2000_tvrip_cosmos

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.