World on a Wire (Welt am Draht)

WORLD ON A WIRE

- Günther! - I'll be right in.

Secretary of State von Weinlaub.

I'm Hirse, Mr. von Weinlaub's assistant.

Hello, my name's Lause, I'm chief of security.

Please, Mr. Siskins expects you.

- Wasn't that Dr. Vollmer? - It was.

To get right to the point:

Simulacron is almost fully operational.

I may seem ill-informed

but what interests me is your definition of "almost".

Of course, Mr. Secretary.

I apologize.

The margin of error for our prognoses

currently reaches as high as 5.8%.

I see, thank you.

Yes. Professor Vollmer can tell you exactly

about the state of things.

He's overseen development of the computer.

We know that, Mr. Siskins.

Professor Vollmer, please...

So, you're secretary of state?

Naturally.

I really don't care, to be honest.

Do you have a mirror on you?

A mirror?

Why?

Here, take this.

What do you see? Come on, what do you see?

Let me help you, Mr...?

Von Weinlaub.

Alright, von Weinlaub.

You are nothing more than the image others have made of you.

- That's all. - Enough!

Thank you. And the rest of you?

Vollmer!

You too, Siskins.

Want to look in the mirror? Go on, look at yourself.

It's a sad joke.

That'll do, Vollmer!

This has gone far enough. Hirse, let's leave.

Headache. it pounds and pounds and pounds.

Do you know what's pounding in my head?

I know.

Lause...

Please come in.

Why don't you lie down? Lause will take you to your office.

Come on, Henri.

It's not a headache.

It's much, much more.

So much that my head's about to explode.

Come on.

I'm coming, Günther.

They refuse to understand...

those poor worms.

- Take care of him. - Yes, Mr. Siskins.

I must apologize for Professor Vollmer.

He's been working day and night.

His nerves have always been delicate.

The line between genius and madness, you know...

Strange kind of madness, wouldn't you say?

Of course, Mr. Secretary...

very strange.

One moment, please.

Go ahead.

Please...

- But I... - Look at yourself.

- What do you see? - Me.

Stiller was due back yesterday.

He'll come, Henri.

I'm scared.

I'm with you.

You're here.

The constant throbbing in my head...

Have you ever heard of a head exploding?

Like that, into a thousand pieces?

No, never.

Really? Anyway...

Do you remember? As a boy

you must have played

"I see something you don't".

Sure, all kids do.

Günther...

I know something you don't.

Something no one must know.

It would mean the end of this world.

Henri...

Vollmer!

Sorry, the bar's over there.

It's padding, not muscles.

To look manlier.

It's not all padding, is it?

If you're interested... Fred Stiller.

I'm in the phone book.

Can't you get a drink?

Guess I'm small fry.

Too bad, but maybe you'll grow.

Maybe.

Whiskey?

Yes, with water.

Rainer, two whiskeys: one ice, one water.

Yes, Mr. Siskins.

Coming to the funeral?

I'll be there, although...

the dead don't really care, do they?

Your whiskeys.

Thank you.

Can you debug the computer without Vollmer?

I think so.

We can't afford further delays. The Ministry's impatient.

By the way...

What?

Oh, nothing. Tell me, what's your dream car?

Pardon me?

Your dream car. It's a simple question.

Oh, God... A Corvette.

I see, a Corvette...

275 HP.

And about 40,000 marks.

Beyond your wage bracket?

Somewhat, but you asked about my dream car, not my wage bracket.

- What bracket do you want? - The next one.

Why not, if you're as good as Vollmer.

I'm not, but I'm tough.

I see you're aware Vollmer and I had our differences of opinion.

I believe so.

He was pigheaded, don't you agree?

Well, I...

Think about it. Just so you don't misunderstand...

it was simply a hypothesis, not an offer.

I understood you, Mr. Siskins.

275 HP. Quite something.

I'm Gloria.

Great. Care for a drink?

Champagne.

What else?

Still 42-26-39?

391/2. You get fat, just sitting around.

But every inch is precious.

Thanks. How's the computer coming?

OK, and how's working for Siskins?

No, I mean it.

I'm very interested in Simulacron.

Is it true you've created an artificial world?

"World" is an exaggeration.

Currently we've some 10,000 identity units.

That's all we need for now.

The world in a nutshell, you see?

10,000 people. They're people, aren't they?

As you like.

To us they're merely circuits. But to them...

They live just like we do...

build roads, listen to music, eat...

And make love?

That, too.

Make love, enjoy life...

have kids.

Exciting.

Pardon me?

Making love?

Yes, that too. But I mean, a living world...

in a box full of microchips?

We're alive. They're like people on TV dancing for us.

The way you describe it is fascinating.

You're fascinating.

Hi, Lause!

Hi. Have you seen Stiller?

Yeah, a minute ago. Come in.

No, I'll wait here. Bring him to me.

Sure.

- Fred, come with me. - Me?

Lause wants you.

Excuse me. See you later.

Pity.

Lause!

My God, finally! I have to see you.

You look awful. Where have you been?

After Vollmer's death, I drove to your place in the country.

You found him?

Yes, but... where were you?

I came back earlier than planned.

What's up?

Not here.

Come...

Well?

It's about Vollmer's death.

But...

I thought it was an accident.

I don't know, I didn't see it.

But it was very strange.

What? What was strange?

Vollmer was strange.

Something had happened to him.

I spoke to him shortly before he died.

He was afraid.

Then he told me something that was so...

that was... absolutely crazy.

What?

I can't tell you, it's too crazy.

Perhaps he was crazy.