The Outer Limits (1995) s05e03 Episode Script
Small Friends
1 (professor) Always too big, shrink a big circuit down there, that never works.
[electronic beeping.]
[exclaims.]
You can't just make 'em small.
You have to think small.
Dr.
Morton? Professor? Huh? It's time to call it a night.
Already? I'm not done yet.
I just have to adjust something here.
It'll be here tomorrow.
And so will you.
All right.
Think you can fix it? If it was designed better, I wouldn't have to fix it.
Yeah, Sure.
Kid's stuff.
I don't know how you do it, professor.
All right, Boys.
Shift's over.
Let's go.
(man) All right, we're shutting down.
[alarm buzzing.]
(man over P.
A.
System) All inmates return to your cells.
Lockdown in 15 minutes.
(Lawrence) Hey, look, professor's in the house.
Hey, professor huh? How much longer do you think it's gonna be? Aw, man, my tape deck.
Oh, yeah.
Uh, end of the week.
There's still two ahead of you.
[men chattering.]
(Gabriel) Warden.
Put 'em to bed.
êâª[man playing saxophone.]
(Gabriel) Knock it off, mozart.
(Gabriel) All present and accounted for.
(Taylor) What else is new? [door closes.]
[beeps.]
All right, children.
It's safe.
We're gonna try something new Tonight.
Something Magical.
[buzzing.]
Look at you.
Oh, no stragglers.
[buzzing.]
Make your Papa proud.
(male narrator) There is nothing wrong with your television.
Do not attempt To adjust the picture.
We are now controlling the transmission.
We control the horizontal and the vertical.
We can deluge you with a thousand channels or expand one single image to crystal clarity and beyond.
We can shape your vision to anything our imagination can conceive.
For the next hour, we will control all that you see and hear.
You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the deepest inner mind to the outer limits.
[birds cawing.]
(narrator) the longing for redemption can express itself in many forms.
And sometimes, indeed, the greatest obstacle we face is found within our own conscience.
(board member) Before the parole board makes its determination, Mr.
Black, do you have anything to add? (black) Yes, sir, I do.
Gene Morton is not a common criminal.
He's a man of ability and ideas.
A man who appreciates beauty.
A man of science.
And yes, Gene Morton is a man who made a terrible mistake.
15 years ago, in a moment of passion, he took the life of someone, who was trying to steal Credit for his pioneering research in micro-technology.
Dr.
Morton envisioned a day when tiny Machines would build microscopic computers, cure disease by Repairing individual cells, transforming the world as we know it.
He's earned the right to realize that dream.
We owe it to him, to ourselves, to set him free.
Dr.
Morton, is there anything you'd like to say? No, I think you've said plenty.
[birds cawing.]
[clears throat.]
Dr.
Morton.
I'd like to ask a question.
When you think about your crime, when you consider the life you took, indeed, what you took yourself away from, if the situation happened again, do you think you would do the same thing? Are you asking me if I think I'm capable of killing again? That's right.
I wish I knew the answer to that.
If the situation were truly the same? I just don't know.
You know, professor, if you were gonna sucker punch me like that, you could've at least let me know.
I'm sorry, Walter.
But don't worry, I'm sure they'll do the right thing.
(Phillip) Hey, Grandpa.
Look at you.
Every time I turn around, you've grown an inch.
I missed you.
Are you comin' home soon, grandpa? Well, uh, that's not up to me.
Dad.
You didn't even try.
Couldn't you have pretended that it mattered.
Becky Nothing changes with you, Dad.
We'll see you soon.
Bye.
[sighs.]
How did it go, professor? Same as usual, Lawrence.
Ah, look on the bright side.
You have more time for my saxophone.
(inmate) Hey, professor, you a free bird? [men chattering.]
(inmate 1) COME ON, TITO.
[men shouting.]
(inmate 2) PUT IT UP, MAN, PUT IT UP.
Oh.
(inmate 3) HEY, BROTHER! GET UP TOP! JUST LIKE THIS.
(inmates) Yeah.
Whoo! Hey, professor.
You got money on this game? If you really are a professor, you must be rich, right? Only in Spirit.
Well, either way, you should have money on this team, my team.
'cause it's got me on it or at least, you know, you ought to bet a big pile of chocolate bars, or a mess of beef jerky or somethin'.
What the hell is in Beef jerky anyways? I don't think anybody Knows.
Sure, they call it beef, but what is it? Mystery Meat.
Nobody knows.
I mean, not even you, professor.
And you're the smartest son-of-a-bitch in this place.
(tito) Hey, Lawrence! You gonna talk or you gonna play? Hey, hey, hey.
I'm up.
I'm up.
Cool.
Tito, do you know? What kind of meat is beef jerky? You don't even know how you're gonna get your sorry ass by me.
I'll tell you what I know.
I know you're meat, man.
Oh, it's all mystery meat to me.
The meat you can't figure out, you can't escape from, meat that just keeps on comin' and comin' and ohh! What, you want some of this.
Come on, come on.
Come on.
Ow! Damn it! [gasps.]
(Lawrence) aw, man, I'm I'm really sorry, man.
It it was a total accident.
I just got that.
(Lawrence) Ah, um.
Maybe I could I could buy you a brand new One or somethin'.
My brother gave me that.
It had my name on it.
(professor) Hey, Marlon.
Maybe I could fix it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the professor, he fixes things.
No, no.
This is your problem, not his.
Let me take a look at it.
Walk away, professor.
Unless you want this to be your problem.
It's basketball, man.
People run into people.
But people don't run into me.
You son of a bitch.
[groaning.]
Come on, you just got out of the box! You don't wanna go back in.
Take it easy! (Gabriel) Marlon, just walk away! [grunting.]
Tomorrow morning, I want it fixed.
Or you're goin' down.
You know what I'm sayin'? You're goin' down.
It was an accident.
(inmate) How you gonna fix that, Lawrence? You're dead! Got it fixed yet, little man? Look hi-tech to me.
Ain't that right, professor? Professor! You gotta help me here! I don't know how to fix this damn thing! This ain't nothin' for you! Man, you could do it in your sleep! [inmate laughing.]
Please, you gotta help me! You know what he's gonna do.
He's gonna kill me, man! Do you hear me? He's gonna kill me, professor! You can't do this to me! How can you do this to me? [alarm buzzing.]
[men chattering.]
[crickets chirping.]
[buzzing.]
[zapping.]
[grunts.]
[humming.]
[whooshing.]
[buzzing.]
[inmates chattering.]
[man laughs.]
[birds cawing.]
(inmate) 15 laps, now.
(inmate 2) GOOD BALL, MAN.
(inmate 3) HEY, MAN.
(inmate 4) THROW THAT BALL RIGHT, SISTER.
(inmate 5) THROW IT, THROW IT.
(inmate 2) HEY MAN, what'S GOIN' ON? WHAT the hell is this? You pullin' somethin' on me? You said fix it by mornin'.
It's still mornin', ain't it? Yeah, well, this isn't over.
I'll see you later, little man.
[man shouting.]
Of course they denied your parole.
You didn't give them any choice.
They asked me a question.
I had to give them an honest answer.
You're not supposed to tell a lie.
Right? That's right.
Go get yourself a soda, ok? Ok.
Here you go, sweetheart.
[people chattering.]
Dad.
What's wrong? It's just we're not exactly having an easy time right now.
Look, Beck, they're talkin' about giving me a little raise.
I I know I don't send you much, but it's not about the money, Dad.
Phillip needs a man in his life.
Dad, he adores you.
Don't you want to spend some time with him outside of this place? Maybe it's for the best.
If he got to know me better, maybe he wouldn't like what he finds.
Hey, hey, I almost forgot.
I got something for you.
I made it.
Some little army Men.
That's not army men.
That's a tank.
I know! They're inside.
[rattling.]
Cool.
[men chattering.]
(inmate) one more.
Professor, you got a minute? Less every day.
You've been avoiding me.
That was one strange night last night, don't you think? Every Night here is strange, by definition.
You know what I mean.
Why don't you just leave me alone.
Because I like you, professor.
You remind me of my uncle Walter.
He was a weird old dude, just like you.
You must have made him very proud.
You wanna tell me what the hell that was in my cell? You got what you wanted.
Why don't you just forget about it? You start sendin' pixie dust across the tier and fixing things while I'm asleep.
I didn't want to see you get hurt.
And if you keep talkin' about this, I could get hurt.
Look, whatever it is, it won't go any further than me.
I promise you.
I should've never helped you.
You had to professor, because that's who you are.
Oh, you don't know squat about me.
But I know you, dumb-ass Punk.
Always lookin' for the angle.
Shootin' off your mouth.
Always lookin' for the easy way out.
Selfish, just like all the rest of 'em.
Well, I guess you got me figured out, huh, professor? Listen, now, you figure this.
If you wanna keep your little buzzy-assed magic things a secret, you better share that secret with me.
[blrds cawing.]
I save your Butt, and you threaten me? That's prison for you.
It's one ugly place.
All right.
Tonight in the clean room.
After the last shift.
You gotta be a trustee to get in there.
You leave that to me.
I'll fix it with the Warden.
And don't go shootin' off your mouth about this, or the Deal's off.
(Lawrence) There's cameras all over this place.
How come they can't see what you're doin'? Once this is on, [bleeping.]
it screws up the cameras completely.
All they can see in here now is snow.
They think I don't know.
All right.
I get it.
Now tell me, what what the Heck is this all about? I mean Shut up.
And listen, for once.
Those things you saw in your house, they're M.
E.
M.
S.
Micro electro mechanical Systems.
Machines.
Uh-uh.
No way.
They weren't machines.
It it was more like A swarm of fireflies.
I know.
They're that small? Smaller.
And this is what controls them.
[bleeping.]
[buzzing.]
Oh! Hello, children.
[whooshing.]
It's something I like to call them.
Made them from microscraps from the assembly line.
Stole fabrication time whenever I could.
It took me years.
But once I understood how, it got easier.
And the things they can do.
[M.
E.
M.
S.
whooshing.]
[humming.]
[buzzing.]
(professor) go ahead.
You can touch 'em.
Don't worry, they don't bite.
[chuckling.]
(professor) watch this.
They can even generate enough heat to boil Water.
Those little models in your house, you didn't make 'em? No.
They did.
Just like they fixed your C.
D.
Player.
Satisfied? Oh, yeah.
Now that you know about them, you have to realize this is a tremendous responsibility.
Nobody can know they exist.
The M.
E.
M.
S are not ready for the world.
Look ready to me.
How would you know? They have a lot to learn.
And nobody can teach them but me.
I won't let anyone else.
I won't let them.
Sorry.
So, um, how many are there in a swarm like that? [water bubbling.]
Dozens.
Here, take a look.
Here.
(Lawrence) oh! You gotta be kidding me! (professor) See that little turbine impeller on top? That's how they move.
Like dust.
Dust.
One jolt from that impeller, and they ride the winds.
There's a real advantage to being small.
Well, I gotta tell you, I don't get it.
Well, don't worry about it.
It's a very sophisticated technology.
No, that's not what I mean.
I mean, you know how to put these things together, and tell them to do whatever you want, and you're in this place? Let me give you some advice.
Never Let yourself think that you really know anyone.
Outside, I'd never be allowed to keep this a secret.
Somebody would take them from me and and and use them for war or to make money.
Because That's what people do, they use things.
They use each other! If that happened, I'd I'd never have a chance.
To do what? To atone.
(man over P.
A.
System) Lockdown in one minute.
Inmates return to your cells.
[inmates chattering.]
What do you want? Well, you know, professor, I got me a theory.
What the hell are you doing? Testin' my theory.
[alarm blaring.]
[gasping.]
Come on, old man, (Marlon) Show me what you got! You're g0nna die in there, professor.
Do what you gotta do.
[alarm ringing.]
[Professor gasping.]
[Professor coughing.]
[men shouting.]
(inmates) Fire! [coughs.]
[crickets chirping.]
(professor) Sorry I can't be more help, Warden.
The place was on fire.
I was desperate.
All I remember is pulling on the door as hard as I could.
You pulled open the door to your cell? (guard) Look at this? You gotta bundle that up.
(guard 1) EXCUSE ME, SIR.
Didn't happen to doctor the wiring on that lock recently? No, sir, Warden Taylor.
'cause that would cause a fire like this.
I wouldn't know.
People are saying you might have some kind of lock-picking Mechanism.
An electronic switch To open your cell any time you want.
You know my record.
I do, but I can't take any chances.
Gabriel.
It's clean.
[guard chattering.]
The work you do gives you certain privileges.
But you start abusing the privileges and they will disappear in the blink of an eye.
Don't be stupid.
[guard chattering.]
[alarm buzzing.]
[beeping.]
(professor) It's all right, children.
You can come out now.
That's it.
Don't be scared [buzzing.]
what's the matter? You're hurt.
[bleeps.]
How you doing, professor? I'm busy.
Any idea why Marlon did what he did? Yeah.
He's a psychopath.
He's seen them, Lawrence.
He knows.
(professor) Oh, poor little Guy.
His impeller's broken.
Motion Controller's almost Fried.
[slghs.]
I don't know if I can fix him.
If it's so hard to repair, why don't you just build a new one? Number 3 was one of my first.
I can't just throw him away.
When one dies, they're all affected.
They need each other.
W-w-wait a minute.
You're trying to tell me that these things actually talk to each other? They don't just talk, they learn.
I gave them neurochips, artificial intelligence, so that they could learn from their experiences.
Evolve.
Is that possible? Who's to say what's possible? Lawrence, there's so much in this world that needs mending.
So many broken machines, broken bodies, broken hearts.
So much waste and hurt and suffering.
When my children are ready, really ready, there's so much they could make up for.
[M.
E.
M.
S.
buzzing.]
[dog barking.]
(Becky) Hi, Sweetheart.
Hey, Where's my hug? Phillip.
What is it? I got in a fight.
Are you ok? A lot better than Spencer.
Why are you fighting Spencer? He's your friend.
He called grandpa a loser.
And you always said family sticks up for family.
Grandpa's family, too.
Yes.
Yes, he is.
[inmates chattering.]
Hey! We need to talk.
All right.
Alone.
Get lost.
Get lost! All right, we're alone.
What happened last night? You never said you were gonna mess him up.
Well, you play with fire, you might get burned.
Or didn't your mommy tell you that? This is way out of control, man.
I I think we should just forget about it a-a-and leave the professor alone.
Uh-uh, little man.
You were right.
He's got what I need.
We do like we agreed.
Come on, 3, you can do it.
[door opening.]
(professor) Attaboy.
What are you doin' here? You're not supped to be here! Oh, I agree.
That's why you and your little worker Bees are gonna get me out.
That's not what they're for.
I'm not gonna help you.
Really? Maybe you better talk that over with your daughter and your grandson first.
Because what I can do to you doesn't stop in this place.
You can't.
You know I can.
And you're gonna get me out of this place, and you're gonna do it tonight.
Tonight? Tonight.
You got that, professor? Tonight.
He said he was gonna kill me if I didn't tell him How his C.
D.
Got fixed.
I had no other choice.
Just get out of here.
I need to talk to the Warden.
You might want to take this call first.
Your daughter says it's an emergency.
Becky? (Becky) I have a little problem here, Dad.
What do you mean? Are you and Phillip all right? I'm scared.
I need your help.
(professor) Did somebody threaten you? If they did, I'll talk to the Warden.
I don't care what happens to me.
No, please don't do that.
Is somebody there with you? Yes.
God almighty.
If they hurt you or Phillip That's what they said they're gonna do, unless you do what they want.
Dad, please, (Becky) Do whatever they say.
[phone clicks.]
[whispers.]
Sorry.
[keys bleep.]
[door opens.]
That was some trick with the locks.
Yeah, shh.
You get your end done? Yeah, I got the guards cleared all the way to the clean room.
After that, you're on your own.
But if I don't get paid Oh, I I got your payment right here.
You kill him, and and I'm out.
I swear to God.
You got no choice, remember? I always got a choice! Let Let go! [officer groans.]
You touch me again, and your grandson dies.
And I'll do worse Than kill your daughter.
Knock out all communications in this place, then figure out a way to get us to the east Fence.
From here, I Don't tell me you don't know how.
This is Kid's stuff for you.
Get the flashlights, little man.
[buzzing.]
[electricity surging.]
(professor) That's the quickest way out.
We'll end up just outside the fence.
Well, make 'em open up the security locks all along the way.
Now! [bleeping.]
(Marlon) It's just where he said it would be.
It's done.
Ok, come on! Hurry.
[door closes.]
[grunts.]
[chains rattling.]
[grunting.]
Come on, old man, move it.
I'm moving.
What are we gonna do now? We're 10 miles from the city! I got it covered.
Car's over the hill.
(guard) hold it right there! [guns firing.]
[groans.]
[alarm blaring.]
Go! Go! Go! [alarm blaring.]
[dogs barking.]
[thudding.]
(Marlon) Keys are under the seat! [engine starts.]
[door opens.]
(Jimmy) Damn, Marlon! Grandpa! Are you all right? What happened? What happened? What the hell do you think? Find me some bandages! [panting.]
[screams.]
Show me! Don't touch her! Son of a bitch.
There's no need for that, man! It's gonna be all right.
Ok, professor.
Now I want you to show me what those things can do.
You better do what he says.
Now! [buzzing.]
What are they, grandpa? (professor) Just some friends.
Gimme that.
Oh, it's come to Marlon now.
It's not working.
It's not working.
What's wrong? I'm not sure.
Well, fix it.
All right.
In the box.
Looks like your family is a little bigger than I thought, professor.
(Marlon) from here on in, it's easy.
When we move we use your car.
I thought we went our separate ways from here.
What you thought doesn't matter.
You got what you wanted.
Yeah, and now I want some more.
I told you I'd help you if you left my family alone.
Well, the way I see it, we're partners now.
Your little friends got us out of jail, which means they can get me into banks.
You show me how to do that, and I'll leave your family alone some more.
I don't believe you.
I just saw you kill a man.
[gasping.]
(Marlon) So what makes you think I won't do it again? These are mine.
I control them, I control you.
You work 'em how and when I say.
Do you understand me? (Lawrence) you can't be serious about this.
Be careful, little man.
You're not looking real necessary to me right now.
Why don't you take the happy little family upstairs, make sure they can't get away, then go down and load up the car, huh? Come on, professor.
Come on, now.
[Professor groaning.]
All right, bro! Are they gonna hurt us, grandpa? No.
I won't let 'em.
[grunts.]
Becky, I'm sorry.
I wish, I could've been a better father, given Phillip a family he could be proud of.
Then why did you keep yourself in jail? I killed a man, Beck.
Took him away from his family forever.
Nothing can change that.
I had to try to make up for it.
Dad, being there for the ones who love you can make up for a lot of things, too.
Gotta do this quick, while they're outside.
Finders Keepers.
Marlon left your little friends on the table downstairs.
You know, I've always been good with my hands.
I never should have let it get this far.
I had a responsibility.
[grunts.]
Thank you.
Thank me by gettin' the hell outta here.
Professor, just want to let you know, I'm sorry.
And just how sorry are you now, huh? I thought you were a lot smarter than that, little man.
[grunts.]
[both grunting.]
Go! Get out of here now! Go! [police siren wailing.]
(Marlon) no, they are mine! (Jimmy) Where the hell do you think you're going? Marlon, we gotta do something! The Streets are crawling with cops! You! Let her go.
You don't have a prayer! Then neither does she.
You're gonna have to go through her to get to me.
Ahh! You bitch! No! [Professor groans.]
Dad.
Becky.
Dad, it's ok.
I know.
Here I go, leaving you again.
Dad, no.
You saved me.
You saved us both.
I wanted to do so much more.
You're free.
You're ready.
Go.
[buzzing.]
Dad? Dad! [M.
E.
M.
S chattering.]
What're they doin'? Marlon, they're gonna be in here.
Shut the hell up! [grunting.]
[Marlon groaning.]
(Becky) don't look, baby.
[explosive rumbling.]
[grunting.]
No, you don't understand, man! They're like fireflies! But they went right through him, man! (Jimmy) You gotta believe me! I I'm really sorry.
Your Dad was a good man.
Come on, let's hey! There's no need for that.
He didn't hurt us.
[man chattering over walkie-talkie.]
He tried to help us.
[sirens wailing.]
Hey, baby.
How are you doing? I can't believe he's gone.
I'm gonna miss him.
Me too.
Are we gonna be ok? We absolutely are.
Come here.
I love you.
Me too.
[door closes.]
[buzzing.]
(narrator) it is said that our lives are measured by what we leave behind.
But for rich man and poor, the most valuable legacy of all is love.
[electronic beeping.]
[exclaims.]
You can't just make 'em small.
You have to think small.
Dr.
Morton? Professor? Huh? It's time to call it a night.
Already? I'm not done yet.
I just have to adjust something here.
It'll be here tomorrow.
And so will you.
All right.
Think you can fix it? If it was designed better, I wouldn't have to fix it.
Yeah, Sure.
Kid's stuff.
I don't know how you do it, professor.
All right, Boys.
Shift's over.
Let's go.
(man) All right, we're shutting down.
[alarm buzzing.]
(man over P.
A.
System) All inmates return to your cells.
Lockdown in 15 minutes.
(Lawrence) Hey, look, professor's in the house.
Hey, professor huh? How much longer do you think it's gonna be? Aw, man, my tape deck.
Oh, yeah.
Uh, end of the week.
There's still two ahead of you.
[men chattering.]
(Gabriel) Warden.
Put 'em to bed.
êâª[man playing saxophone.]
(Gabriel) Knock it off, mozart.
(Gabriel) All present and accounted for.
(Taylor) What else is new? [door closes.]
[beeps.]
All right, children.
It's safe.
We're gonna try something new Tonight.
Something Magical.
[buzzing.]
Look at you.
Oh, no stragglers.
[buzzing.]
Make your Papa proud.
(male narrator) There is nothing wrong with your television.
Do not attempt To adjust the picture.
We are now controlling the transmission.
We control the horizontal and the vertical.
We can deluge you with a thousand channels or expand one single image to crystal clarity and beyond.
We can shape your vision to anything our imagination can conceive.
For the next hour, we will control all that you see and hear.
You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the deepest inner mind to the outer limits.
[birds cawing.]
(narrator) the longing for redemption can express itself in many forms.
And sometimes, indeed, the greatest obstacle we face is found within our own conscience.
(board member) Before the parole board makes its determination, Mr.
Black, do you have anything to add? (black) Yes, sir, I do.
Gene Morton is not a common criminal.
He's a man of ability and ideas.
A man who appreciates beauty.
A man of science.
And yes, Gene Morton is a man who made a terrible mistake.
15 years ago, in a moment of passion, he took the life of someone, who was trying to steal Credit for his pioneering research in micro-technology.
Dr.
Morton envisioned a day when tiny Machines would build microscopic computers, cure disease by Repairing individual cells, transforming the world as we know it.
He's earned the right to realize that dream.
We owe it to him, to ourselves, to set him free.
Dr.
Morton, is there anything you'd like to say? No, I think you've said plenty.
[birds cawing.]
[clears throat.]
Dr.
Morton.
I'd like to ask a question.
When you think about your crime, when you consider the life you took, indeed, what you took yourself away from, if the situation happened again, do you think you would do the same thing? Are you asking me if I think I'm capable of killing again? That's right.
I wish I knew the answer to that.
If the situation were truly the same? I just don't know.
You know, professor, if you were gonna sucker punch me like that, you could've at least let me know.
I'm sorry, Walter.
But don't worry, I'm sure they'll do the right thing.
(Phillip) Hey, Grandpa.
Look at you.
Every time I turn around, you've grown an inch.
I missed you.
Are you comin' home soon, grandpa? Well, uh, that's not up to me.
Dad.
You didn't even try.
Couldn't you have pretended that it mattered.
Becky Nothing changes with you, Dad.
We'll see you soon.
Bye.
[sighs.]
How did it go, professor? Same as usual, Lawrence.
Ah, look on the bright side.
You have more time for my saxophone.
(inmate) Hey, professor, you a free bird? [men chattering.]
(inmate 1) COME ON, TITO.
[men shouting.]
(inmate 2) PUT IT UP, MAN, PUT IT UP.
Oh.
(inmate 3) HEY, BROTHER! GET UP TOP! JUST LIKE THIS.
(inmates) Yeah.
Whoo! Hey, professor.
You got money on this game? If you really are a professor, you must be rich, right? Only in Spirit.
Well, either way, you should have money on this team, my team.
'cause it's got me on it or at least, you know, you ought to bet a big pile of chocolate bars, or a mess of beef jerky or somethin'.
What the hell is in Beef jerky anyways? I don't think anybody Knows.
Sure, they call it beef, but what is it? Mystery Meat.
Nobody knows.
I mean, not even you, professor.
And you're the smartest son-of-a-bitch in this place.
(tito) Hey, Lawrence! You gonna talk or you gonna play? Hey, hey, hey.
I'm up.
I'm up.
Cool.
Tito, do you know? What kind of meat is beef jerky? You don't even know how you're gonna get your sorry ass by me.
I'll tell you what I know.
I know you're meat, man.
Oh, it's all mystery meat to me.
The meat you can't figure out, you can't escape from, meat that just keeps on comin' and comin' and ohh! What, you want some of this.
Come on, come on.
Come on.
Ow! Damn it! [gasps.]
(Lawrence) aw, man, I'm I'm really sorry, man.
It it was a total accident.
I just got that.
(Lawrence) Ah, um.
Maybe I could I could buy you a brand new One or somethin'.
My brother gave me that.
It had my name on it.
(professor) Hey, Marlon.
Maybe I could fix it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the professor, he fixes things.
No, no.
This is your problem, not his.
Let me take a look at it.
Walk away, professor.
Unless you want this to be your problem.
It's basketball, man.
People run into people.
But people don't run into me.
You son of a bitch.
[groaning.]
Come on, you just got out of the box! You don't wanna go back in.
Take it easy! (Gabriel) Marlon, just walk away! [grunting.]
Tomorrow morning, I want it fixed.
Or you're goin' down.
You know what I'm sayin'? You're goin' down.
It was an accident.
(inmate) How you gonna fix that, Lawrence? You're dead! Got it fixed yet, little man? Look hi-tech to me.
Ain't that right, professor? Professor! You gotta help me here! I don't know how to fix this damn thing! This ain't nothin' for you! Man, you could do it in your sleep! [inmate laughing.]
Please, you gotta help me! You know what he's gonna do.
He's gonna kill me, man! Do you hear me? He's gonna kill me, professor! You can't do this to me! How can you do this to me? [alarm buzzing.]
[men chattering.]
[crickets chirping.]
[buzzing.]
[zapping.]
[grunts.]
[humming.]
[whooshing.]
[buzzing.]
[inmates chattering.]
[man laughs.]
[birds cawing.]
(inmate) 15 laps, now.
(inmate 2) GOOD BALL, MAN.
(inmate 3) HEY, MAN.
(inmate 4) THROW THAT BALL RIGHT, SISTER.
(inmate 5) THROW IT, THROW IT.
(inmate 2) HEY MAN, what'S GOIN' ON? WHAT the hell is this? You pullin' somethin' on me? You said fix it by mornin'.
It's still mornin', ain't it? Yeah, well, this isn't over.
I'll see you later, little man.
[man shouting.]
Of course they denied your parole.
You didn't give them any choice.
They asked me a question.
I had to give them an honest answer.
You're not supposed to tell a lie.
Right? That's right.
Go get yourself a soda, ok? Ok.
Here you go, sweetheart.
[people chattering.]
Dad.
What's wrong? It's just we're not exactly having an easy time right now.
Look, Beck, they're talkin' about giving me a little raise.
I I know I don't send you much, but it's not about the money, Dad.
Phillip needs a man in his life.
Dad, he adores you.
Don't you want to spend some time with him outside of this place? Maybe it's for the best.
If he got to know me better, maybe he wouldn't like what he finds.
Hey, hey, I almost forgot.
I got something for you.
I made it.
Some little army Men.
That's not army men.
That's a tank.
I know! They're inside.
[rattling.]
Cool.
[men chattering.]
(inmate) one more.
Professor, you got a minute? Less every day.
You've been avoiding me.
That was one strange night last night, don't you think? Every Night here is strange, by definition.
You know what I mean.
Why don't you just leave me alone.
Because I like you, professor.
You remind me of my uncle Walter.
He was a weird old dude, just like you.
You must have made him very proud.
You wanna tell me what the hell that was in my cell? You got what you wanted.
Why don't you just forget about it? You start sendin' pixie dust across the tier and fixing things while I'm asleep.
I didn't want to see you get hurt.
And if you keep talkin' about this, I could get hurt.
Look, whatever it is, it won't go any further than me.
I promise you.
I should've never helped you.
You had to professor, because that's who you are.
Oh, you don't know squat about me.
But I know you, dumb-ass Punk.
Always lookin' for the angle.
Shootin' off your mouth.
Always lookin' for the easy way out.
Selfish, just like all the rest of 'em.
Well, I guess you got me figured out, huh, professor? Listen, now, you figure this.
If you wanna keep your little buzzy-assed magic things a secret, you better share that secret with me.
[blrds cawing.]
I save your Butt, and you threaten me? That's prison for you.
It's one ugly place.
All right.
Tonight in the clean room.
After the last shift.
You gotta be a trustee to get in there.
You leave that to me.
I'll fix it with the Warden.
And don't go shootin' off your mouth about this, or the Deal's off.
(Lawrence) There's cameras all over this place.
How come they can't see what you're doin'? Once this is on, [bleeping.]
it screws up the cameras completely.
All they can see in here now is snow.
They think I don't know.
All right.
I get it.
Now tell me, what what the Heck is this all about? I mean Shut up.
And listen, for once.
Those things you saw in your house, they're M.
E.
M.
S.
Micro electro mechanical Systems.
Machines.
Uh-uh.
No way.
They weren't machines.
It it was more like A swarm of fireflies.
I know.
They're that small? Smaller.
And this is what controls them.
[bleeping.]
[buzzing.]
Oh! Hello, children.
[whooshing.]
It's something I like to call them.
Made them from microscraps from the assembly line.
Stole fabrication time whenever I could.
It took me years.
But once I understood how, it got easier.
And the things they can do.
[M.
E.
M.
S.
whooshing.]
[humming.]
[buzzing.]
(professor) go ahead.
You can touch 'em.
Don't worry, they don't bite.
[chuckling.]
(professor) watch this.
They can even generate enough heat to boil Water.
Those little models in your house, you didn't make 'em? No.
They did.
Just like they fixed your C.
D.
Player.
Satisfied? Oh, yeah.
Now that you know about them, you have to realize this is a tremendous responsibility.
Nobody can know they exist.
The M.
E.
M.
S are not ready for the world.
Look ready to me.
How would you know? They have a lot to learn.
And nobody can teach them but me.
I won't let anyone else.
I won't let them.
Sorry.
So, um, how many are there in a swarm like that? [water bubbling.]
Dozens.
Here, take a look.
Here.
(Lawrence) oh! You gotta be kidding me! (professor) See that little turbine impeller on top? That's how they move.
Like dust.
Dust.
One jolt from that impeller, and they ride the winds.
There's a real advantage to being small.
Well, I gotta tell you, I don't get it.
Well, don't worry about it.
It's a very sophisticated technology.
No, that's not what I mean.
I mean, you know how to put these things together, and tell them to do whatever you want, and you're in this place? Let me give you some advice.
Never Let yourself think that you really know anyone.
Outside, I'd never be allowed to keep this a secret.
Somebody would take them from me and and and use them for war or to make money.
Because That's what people do, they use things.
They use each other! If that happened, I'd I'd never have a chance.
To do what? To atone.
(man over P.
A.
System) Lockdown in one minute.
Inmates return to your cells.
[inmates chattering.]
What do you want? Well, you know, professor, I got me a theory.
What the hell are you doing? Testin' my theory.
[alarm blaring.]
[gasping.]
Come on, old man, (Marlon) Show me what you got! You're g0nna die in there, professor.
Do what you gotta do.
[alarm ringing.]
[Professor gasping.]
[Professor coughing.]
[men shouting.]
(inmates) Fire! [coughs.]
[crickets chirping.]
(professor) Sorry I can't be more help, Warden.
The place was on fire.
I was desperate.
All I remember is pulling on the door as hard as I could.
You pulled open the door to your cell? (guard) Look at this? You gotta bundle that up.
(guard 1) EXCUSE ME, SIR.
Didn't happen to doctor the wiring on that lock recently? No, sir, Warden Taylor.
'cause that would cause a fire like this.
I wouldn't know.
People are saying you might have some kind of lock-picking Mechanism.
An electronic switch To open your cell any time you want.
You know my record.
I do, but I can't take any chances.
Gabriel.
It's clean.
[guard chattering.]
The work you do gives you certain privileges.
But you start abusing the privileges and they will disappear in the blink of an eye.
Don't be stupid.
[guard chattering.]
[alarm buzzing.]
[beeping.]
(professor) It's all right, children.
You can come out now.
That's it.
Don't be scared [buzzing.]
what's the matter? You're hurt.
[bleeps.]
How you doing, professor? I'm busy.
Any idea why Marlon did what he did? Yeah.
He's a psychopath.
He's seen them, Lawrence.
He knows.
(professor) Oh, poor little Guy.
His impeller's broken.
Motion Controller's almost Fried.
[slghs.]
I don't know if I can fix him.
If it's so hard to repair, why don't you just build a new one? Number 3 was one of my first.
I can't just throw him away.
When one dies, they're all affected.
They need each other.
W-w-wait a minute.
You're trying to tell me that these things actually talk to each other? They don't just talk, they learn.
I gave them neurochips, artificial intelligence, so that they could learn from their experiences.
Evolve.
Is that possible? Who's to say what's possible? Lawrence, there's so much in this world that needs mending.
So many broken machines, broken bodies, broken hearts.
So much waste and hurt and suffering.
When my children are ready, really ready, there's so much they could make up for.
[M.
E.
M.
S.
buzzing.]
[dog barking.]
(Becky) Hi, Sweetheart.
Hey, Where's my hug? Phillip.
What is it? I got in a fight.
Are you ok? A lot better than Spencer.
Why are you fighting Spencer? He's your friend.
He called grandpa a loser.
And you always said family sticks up for family.
Grandpa's family, too.
Yes.
Yes, he is.
[inmates chattering.]
Hey! We need to talk.
All right.
Alone.
Get lost.
Get lost! All right, we're alone.
What happened last night? You never said you were gonna mess him up.
Well, you play with fire, you might get burned.
Or didn't your mommy tell you that? This is way out of control, man.
I I think we should just forget about it a-a-and leave the professor alone.
Uh-uh, little man.
You were right.
He's got what I need.
We do like we agreed.
Come on, 3, you can do it.
[door opening.]
(professor) Attaboy.
What are you doin' here? You're not supped to be here! Oh, I agree.
That's why you and your little worker Bees are gonna get me out.
That's not what they're for.
I'm not gonna help you.
Really? Maybe you better talk that over with your daughter and your grandson first.
Because what I can do to you doesn't stop in this place.
You can't.
You know I can.
And you're gonna get me out of this place, and you're gonna do it tonight.
Tonight? Tonight.
You got that, professor? Tonight.
He said he was gonna kill me if I didn't tell him How his C.
D.
Got fixed.
I had no other choice.
Just get out of here.
I need to talk to the Warden.
You might want to take this call first.
Your daughter says it's an emergency.
Becky? (Becky) I have a little problem here, Dad.
What do you mean? Are you and Phillip all right? I'm scared.
I need your help.
(professor) Did somebody threaten you? If they did, I'll talk to the Warden.
I don't care what happens to me.
No, please don't do that.
Is somebody there with you? Yes.
God almighty.
If they hurt you or Phillip That's what they said they're gonna do, unless you do what they want.
Dad, please, (Becky) Do whatever they say.
[phone clicks.]
[whispers.]
Sorry.
[keys bleep.]
[door opens.]
That was some trick with the locks.
Yeah, shh.
You get your end done? Yeah, I got the guards cleared all the way to the clean room.
After that, you're on your own.
But if I don't get paid Oh, I I got your payment right here.
You kill him, and and I'm out.
I swear to God.
You got no choice, remember? I always got a choice! Let Let go! [officer groans.]
You touch me again, and your grandson dies.
And I'll do worse Than kill your daughter.
Knock out all communications in this place, then figure out a way to get us to the east Fence.
From here, I Don't tell me you don't know how.
This is Kid's stuff for you.
Get the flashlights, little man.
[buzzing.]
[electricity surging.]
(professor) That's the quickest way out.
We'll end up just outside the fence.
Well, make 'em open up the security locks all along the way.
Now! [bleeping.]
(Marlon) It's just where he said it would be.
It's done.
Ok, come on! Hurry.
[door closes.]
[grunts.]
[chains rattling.]
[grunting.]
Come on, old man, move it.
I'm moving.
What are we gonna do now? We're 10 miles from the city! I got it covered.
Car's over the hill.
(guard) hold it right there! [guns firing.]
[groans.]
[alarm blaring.]
Go! Go! Go! [alarm blaring.]
[dogs barking.]
[thudding.]
(Marlon) Keys are under the seat! [engine starts.]
[door opens.]
(Jimmy) Damn, Marlon! Grandpa! Are you all right? What happened? What happened? What the hell do you think? Find me some bandages! [panting.]
[screams.]
Show me! Don't touch her! Son of a bitch.
There's no need for that, man! It's gonna be all right.
Ok, professor.
Now I want you to show me what those things can do.
You better do what he says.
Now! [buzzing.]
What are they, grandpa? (professor) Just some friends.
Gimme that.
Oh, it's come to Marlon now.
It's not working.
It's not working.
What's wrong? I'm not sure.
Well, fix it.
All right.
In the box.
Looks like your family is a little bigger than I thought, professor.
(Marlon) from here on in, it's easy.
When we move we use your car.
I thought we went our separate ways from here.
What you thought doesn't matter.
You got what you wanted.
Yeah, and now I want some more.
I told you I'd help you if you left my family alone.
Well, the way I see it, we're partners now.
Your little friends got us out of jail, which means they can get me into banks.
You show me how to do that, and I'll leave your family alone some more.
I don't believe you.
I just saw you kill a man.
[gasping.]
(Marlon) So what makes you think I won't do it again? These are mine.
I control them, I control you.
You work 'em how and when I say.
Do you understand me? (Lawrence) you can't be serious about this.
Be careful, little man.
You're not looking real necessary to me right now.
Why don't you take the happy little family upstairs, make sure they can't get away, then go down and load up the car, huh? Come on, professor.
Come on, now.
[Professor groaning.]
All right, bro! Are they gonna hurt us, grandpa? No.
I won't let 'em.
[grunts.]
Becky, I'm sorry.
I wish, I could've been a better father, given Phillip a family he could be proud of.
Then why did you keep yourself in jail? I killed a man, Beck.
Took him away from his family forever.
Nothing can change that.
I had to try to make up for it.
Dad, being there for the ones who love you can make up for a lot of things, too.
Gotta do this quick, while they're outside.
Finders Keepers.
Marlon left your little friends on the table downstairs.
You know, I've always been good with my hands.
I never should have let it get this far.
I had a responsibility.
[grunts.]
Thank you.
Thank me by gettin' the hell outta here.
Professor, just want to let you know, I'm sorry.
And just how sorry are you now, huh? I thought you were a lot smarter than that, little man.
[grunts.]
[both grunting.]
Go! Get out of here now! Go! [police siren wailing.]
(Marlon) no, they are mine! (Jimmy) Where the hell do you think you're going? Marlon, we gotta do something! The Streets are crawling with cops! You! Let her go.
You don't have a prayer! Then neither does she.
You're gonna have to go through her to get to me.
Ahh! You bitch! No! [Professor groans.]
Dad.
Becky.
Dad, it's ok.
I know.
Here I go, leaving you again.
Dad, no.
You saved me.
You saved us both.
I wanted to do so much more.
You're free.
You're ready.
Go.
[buzzing.]
Dad? Dad! [M.
E.
M.
S chattering.]
What're they doin'? Marlon, they're gonna be in here.
Shut the hell up! [grunting.]
[Marlon groaning.]
(Becky) don't look, baby.
[explosive rumbling.]
[grunting.]
No, you don't understand, man! They're like fireflies! But they went right through him, man! (Jimmy) You gotta believe me! I I'm really sorry.
Your Dad was a good man.
Come on, let's hey! There's no need for that.
He didn't hurt us.
[man chattering over walkie-talkie.]
He tried to help us.
[sirens wailing.]
Hey, baby.
How are you doing? I can't believe he's gone.
I'm gonna miss him.
Me too.
Are we gonna be ok? We absolutely are.
Come here.
I love you.
Me too.
[door closes.]
[buzzing.]
(narrator) it is said that our lives are measured by what we leave behind.
But for rich man and poor, the most valuable legacy of all is love.