Original subtitles

[Creaking]

[Clattering]

[Child's laughter]

Uh, why is Gary late?

He had to rewrite a book report.

Rewrite it?

His computer has a virus.

Every time he tries to print something,

it gets erased.

Ooh, scary.

The only thing scary about computers

are the people who use them.

Yeah, tell me about it. Sorry I'm late.

A computer virus ate up my book report twice,

so on the way here I had to borrow a virus doctor.

When I get home, I'm gonna destroy the rotten little virus,

and find out who planted it in my computer.

Careful. A virus can do a lot of damage.

I know. A virus is a disease.

It gets inside and takes hold,

and once it starts spreading,

it's impossible to shake.

It's just a computer virus.

Sure it is, and it's just a computer.

But viruses can jump around,

and there's one computer

you never want one to get into.

What computer is that?

The human brain.

Say what?

You've got a trillion bits of information

stored up here, just like a computer.

And if a computer virus got into your head,

there's no telling what might happen,

or where the destruction would end.

Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society,

I call this story...

Computer: Access approved: Code red.

Input may cause extreme danger.

Repeat: Extreme danger.

Radio: It's 7:30, and we have a beautiful sunny...

[Bang]

[Moans]

Susan, you've been in there for 20 minutes.

Come on, honey, it's getting late.

I need a ride to school, Dad.

What's wrong with the bus?

Hey!

[Yawns]

You gonna help me

with my science project tonight?

No problem.

You're the best.

Do you need a lift to school, honey?

What's wrong with his bike?

He has a flat tire.

I'm OK. I'll ride Evan's bike.

What's Evan gonna ride?

I'll see you, Dad.

Hey, where's your bike?

10 seconds left, down by 5...

Evan moves long.

Touchdown.

Nice catch.

Hey!

Thanks a lot.

Hey, pay-back for the egg

you put in my sneaker yesterday.

Well, at least I didn't make you late.

What's the matter?

Forgot your combo?

I switched our locks.

Cute, real cute.

Uh, hi, Sonya.

Uh, you going to that game on Saturday?

Yeah. Uh, how about you?

Uh, yeah. I thought maybe we could--

Hi. Hi.

I'm going with Simon.

Maybe we'll see you there.

Yeah. Maybe.

Let's go.

"I'm going with Simon."

Simon this, Simon that.

Simon's the best.

Yeah, right.

Mr. Lewis, would you mind

giving more effort into being here on time?

Yes, Mr. Smith.

Yes, you would mind giving more effort?

I mean, no, Mr. Smith.

[Laughter]

Sorry. I was just getting you back.

You like pay-back? Well, just wait, Mr. Everything.

You're gonna wish you never...

Is this something you'd like to share with the entire class?

Maybe a little less talking

and a little more paying attention.

[Pencil lead breaks]

I've never seen him like that.

He's probably still ticked at me.

Simon, Simon, Simon!

Come on, he's finished.

I'm sorry about this morning, man.

I didn't mean to get you in trouble.

It's history. Poe's ready.

Who?

The science teacher.

He's been working on a computer game.

We bug him to get the first crack at it.

Let's go.

I guess he's not mad at you.

Yeah. Well, I'll see you tomorrow, OK?

Mr. Poe?

[Alarm rings]

Sound-activated alarm.

You cannot be too ca...

You can't be too careful.

Industrial spies.

My boys, you are about to have

the game-playing experience of a lifetime.

Who goes first?

Uh, Simon.

Me? You're the computer genius.

That's the beauty of this game.

You don't need to know a thing about computers to play.

Cool.

Sit down.

Make yourself comfortable.

So...

How do I play?

Are you familiar with virtual reality?

Sort of.

It's a computer simulation of reality.

It makes you feel like you're really there.

The technology is in its infancy,

but the possibilities are endless.

I've made a breakthrough

that surpasses any known program.

My friends, we are about to step into history.

Um, Mr. Poe?

Where are the controls?

Right there.

In your mind.

It's almost like going into a deep dream,

where everything seems real.

Your neuron impulses

react with the microwave circuitry,

and that creates a certain force of energy that...

They'll know what to do.

[Telephone rings]

Man: Mr. Poe, the president is on the phone

on the private line.

Tell him, uh...

Uh, tell him I'll be right there.

I'm reluctant to work with the government.

Too much paperwork.

Now, Simon. What's your preference?

Would you like to go on a voyage to Saturn?

Be a knight of the round table?

Or visit the dinosaurs of the mesozoic?

Well, I think I'll go with the knight of the round table.

Done.

Computer: Input accepted.

Once I start you, Evan will monitor the game

while I take that call.

Now, sit back, relax.

And just imagine that-- what the...?

Warning. This is a warning.

Code red.

There's no reason for that.

Have a nice day.

Ready, Simon?

Ready.

Then prepare yourself to take a trip

into imagination.

Aaaaaggggghhhhhhh!

Radio: Good morning, it's 7:30, and...

[Bang]

It was all a dream.

Too bad.

[Glass shatters]

How'd that happen?

Morning.

Hey, anybody up?

[Radio static]

Mom? Dad?

What's going on?

Mom: Have you seen Simon?

Sister: No.

Dad: Funny. I wonder where he is?

I'm right here.

Susan, would you call your brother?

Simon, breakfast is ready.

Simon, are you down there?

I'm up here, Simon.

Mom?

Mom?

I'm in here, honey.

Don't be late for school.

Now don't be late for school.

Don't be late for school.

Don't be late for school.

Don't be late for school.

Don't be late for school.

Don't be late for school.

Don't be late for school.

Evan: Hey, come on.

Dad: Simon, could I have a word with you?

Dad?

Either I'm dreaming, or something real strange is going on here.

Well, son, you're not dreaming.

So, I guess that leaves us with something strange.

[Laughs]

Who are you? What are you doing in my house?

This isn't your house, Einstein.

You're in cyberspace.

Cyber what?

Cyberspace. Virtual reality.

You're still in the game, Einstein,

except that the rules have changed.

[Laughing]

But what happened to the knights of the round table?

I blew 'em away.

I'm a virus; That's what I do.

[Laughs]

A computer virus. How'd you get in here?

All that matters now

is how I'm getting out.

Most viruses infect and destroy.

[Growls]

But I'm smarter than that.

I've got bigger plans.

[Laughing]

None of this is real, you know.

It's input from the computer,

right into your head.

But I've done a little reprogramming.

I don't think you should mess with it.

Ha ha ha. Too late.

You've given me the perfect setup.

What do you mean?

Once my program runs,

I'll be able to output myself

from this stupid game right into your brain.

My br... what?

When they turn off the game,

I'm going to stay inside your brain.

[Laughs]

You're gonna take me into the real world, Einstein,

where I can cause some real damage.

[Laughing]

I don't believe you.

Oh, it's already started.

Look at your hand.

[Cries out]

But this is a game. There has to be rules.

Sure.

Rule number one:

I win, you lose.

[Laughs]

That's not fair.

OK, I'll be fair.

You can escape from this game,

but you've got only...

Program will run in 10 minutes

and 35 seconds.

You heard it, Einstein.

[Chuckles]

Good luck.

Aaaaaggggghhhhhh!

So, what was it like

to be one of the knights of the round table?

There's something wrong. There's a virus.

Virus? Why, that's impossible.

There is! Things are all wrong. You got to--

I will not sit still and let you insult my life's work.

Get out.

But... I said out!

Hey, guys?

What's the matter, forgot your combo?

Let's go, Evan.

Sorry. Going to the game with my girl.

But, Evan.

Evan.

I'm still in the game.

Mr. Poe, open up.

It's me.

Evan, Evan, open up.

The voice.

Mr. Smith?

You're late, and this is

the most important test of your life.

Does anyone know what 2+2 equals?

Five?

Correct. Anyone else?

6. 6 minutes left.

Correct. Simon?

Uh, 4.

And exactly what formula did you use?

[Cries out]

[Laughing]

[Laughter]

[Cries out]

I've got to get out of here.

What'd the virus say?

The computer's inputting into my head.

I've got to reprogram the computer.

[Laughter]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Enjoying the game, Einstein?

[Laughing]

The speed of light

divided by the speed of sound equals...

Five.

Five minutes left.

[Laughing]

Oh, man.

Relax.

I've got to think.

Don't panic.

Warning. This is a warning.

Correction--may cause extreme danger.

Warning.

Hi, Simon. How's the game going?

Evan, is it really you?

In the flesh.

Evan, get me out of here.

The thing's gone berserk.

I know. Somebody planted a virus.

It was you, wasn't it?

Where's Poe?

Still on the phone.

But come on, Simon. I thought you could do anything.

You can get out of this yourself.

2-minute warning.

This is your 2-minute warning.

[Laughing]

Did you see that?

See what?

The virus.

It's gonna take over my brain.

Get me out of here.

Not until you apologize for all the things you did to me.

What?

[Buzzes]

It's here, Evan. Help!

Not until you apologize.

Stop it, you dweeb. Help me.

Yoo-hoo, anybody home?

I'm sorry, all right?

I don't believe you.

I'm running out of time, Evan.

OK, relax. I programmed the virus myself.

It won't do anything to you.

No? What do you call this?

Oh, no.

[Laughs]

Going up?

[Laughing]

That wasn't supposed to happen.

He's running his own program. Stop it!

OK. OK, let me think.

I just have to enter the abort code.

[Typing]

It doesn't work. He's frozen me out.

Then unfreeze it.

I can't. Nothing responds.

[Laughing]

It won't be long now.

[Laughs]

Evan!

OK. You can abort from in there,

but you need the code.

Well, give it to me.

I bet you can figure out what it is.

Just give it to me!

OK. The code is my com...

Evan? Program ends

in one minute...

Evan?

[Laughing]

That's good, that's good.

Com, he said com.

Computer guy.

[Rattling]

Your combo?

Combo.

You can't block me out, Einstein.

Evan's locker combo.

[Laughing]

Miss me?

Correct input. Escape code accepted.

Guess you lose. Press any key...

[Laughs]

Think so?

Press any key...

Press any key...

I told you. Rule number one: I win. You lose.

[Laughs]

Now, I'll need your hand.

[Laughs]

[Laughing]

No!

I think I'm gonna enjoy being inside your brain.

[Laughing]

Kiss your brain good-bye.

[Laughing]

No! No! No!

Rule number 2. Forget rule number one.

Simon, are you all right?

Yeah.

I'm OK.

I don't know how a virus could have gotten in there.

Me neither.

Probably just an accident.

That wasn't supposed to happen, si.

I just wanted to pay you back.

Oh, you paid me back, all right.

Do you hate me?

Naw, but... I'm riding your bike home.

Forget it.

The end.

All right. Great story.

You know what I liked about that story?

What?

No matter how bad a thing Evan did,

Simon always forgave him.

You know what I liked about the story?

What?

That the virus is still alive,

and if you're not careful,

it'll jump into your computer.

I got to go. Later.

[Laughter]

Yes.

Got him again, Gary.

Captioned by Grant Brown