Narrator: In the depths of enigma and imagination, therein lies the truth of how compelling it may be to live in a

simulation, where the human mind is none the wiser than the world it lives in.

Nurse 1: Well, hello, colonel. How are you feeling?

George: I'm fine. I'm... I'm fine. Is Major Williams here?
Nurse 1: Well, of course he's here. Go on in. He'll be glad to see you.
George: Thank you.
Nurse 2: Isn't that one of the space pilots--the ones that crashed?
Nurse 1: Yeah, that's Colonel Carter.

Narrator: But the shrouds that cover mysteries are not always made out of a tarpaulin as this man will soon find out on
the other side of a hospital door.

*Cut to room 15 at the hospital*

Bruce: Well, the prodigal Colonel! Welcome. Hmm, you don't look so good.
George: How do I look?
Bruce: A little hungover maybe. [chuckling]
George: Bruce, something has happened. S-s-something I just don't understand.
Bruce: Well, go on.
George: First, I want to get oriented. I want you to answer some questions, All right?
Bruce: Yeah, all right.
George: When did I leave here?
Bruce: Well, don't you know?
George: Look, I don't know anything anymore! Look, all I need...All I need is somebody's help, all right? Look, at 9:30
yesterday morning, I walked out of here, didn't I?
Bruce: Yeah, about that time, I guess.
George: Who did I walk out with?
Bruce: Nobody was with you.
George: That's what I mean. Why'd you say nobody! [grabs newspaper] What's that say? Go ahead, tell me, what's it
say?
Bruce: Well, it says "Two intrepid voyagers returned from the space in a slightly dented aircraft."
George: What about the picture? Who's in the picture?
Bruce: "Colonel George Carter and Major Bruce Williams" Taken just before their historic flight that ended in a
mysterious disappearance and crash."
George: That's what you remember, huh? You and me and the spaceship taking off. About four hours up we black out
and hours later, we end up in a crashed aircraft in the desert. We don't know where we've been or what's happened. Is
that right?
Bruce: That's right. What's the matter? Isn't that, right?
George: Bruce, there were three of us in that aircraft--you and me and a colonel named Frederick Pierce.
Bruce: No there were only the two of us.
George: Nonsense! He's my best friend! And you've known Pierce for five years!
George: That ship took a crew of three, and we were the three. And there were three of us when they brought us to the
hospital after picking us up in the desert-- you and me and Pierce.
Bruce: George, I don't know anybody named Pierce. He wasn't on the crew with us. The spaceship carried two men,
you and me--nobody named Frederick Pierce, nobody else at all. I think you should get some rest; you seem unwell.
George: Please. I knew you'd say that, Bruce. B-but... let me... let me describe to you what I remember. Yesterday,
you said goodbye to us from that bed and then you said, "Pierce, Look after Carter. He drinks too much." Those were
your exact words! I swear to God it happened!

*Cut to flashback at the hospital yesterday*

Frederick: The colonel and I are gonna call you from whatever pub we happen to be in at the time,
George: Can we go on already? I just can't stand these long goodbyes.
Bruce: Would you both get out of here and leave me alone?
Frederick: I'm quite the good-looking guy in middle in this newspaper here. [looks at newspaper]
George: Oh, you wish!
Frederick: Well, Brucey, we'll drop by and see you tomorrow.
*Cut to bar*
Bartender: Hey! You're Carter and Pierce, aren't you? You're the guys that was up in space?
Frederick: Yeah. Can we buy a couple of beers for 30 cents?
Bartender: I got you. Don't worry the drinks are free. I don't get to serve many celebrities. Now drink up, boys.
Woman: What's it like up there in outer space?
George: Well, it's... it's like, uh... way out of Earth.
[Woman giggles]
George: Fred, what's the matter? [Looks at Pierce]
Bartender: Is something wrong?
[Pierce drops his beer on the floor]
George: You sick, Fred?
Frederick: No... No, I'm not sick. I just got a very funny feeling. I never felt anything like this before.
George: What kind of feeling?
Frederick: It's like I didn't belong here. Like if I was to let myself go, I'd...
George: You'd what?
Frederick: Like I'd disappear.
George: Huh, wow.
Frederick: Well, excuse me I'm going to go call my family.
George: All right then.

*Cut to seat near the telephone*

Frederick: George! Would you come here quick?
George: Why? What's troubling you?
Frederick: I just called home, and my mom answered the phone. I told her who I was and she said she didn't have any
son named Frederick Pierce. That's what she said, George!
George: Well, what does this all mean?
Frederick: Well, I don't know.
George: It's just a funny gag, maybe.
Frederick: No, it's not. It's all part of this feeling. This feeling that I shouldn't be here, that none of us should be here.
It's as if...
George: As if what?
Frederick: As if maybe... we shouldn't have come back from that ship at all. Maybe something else should've
happened, and it was a mistake that we survived.
George: Fred, you stay there. I'm gonna get you drink, take it easy.

*Cut to the bar counter*

George: Can I get another drink for my friend?
Bartender: Who?
George: My friend's drink. Colonel Pierce.
Bartender: I don't know what you mean. You came in here alone.
George: Are you kidding me?
[George goes to the telephone where Pierce was]
George: What... What happened? Where'd he go? He was just right here a minute ago!
[George shouts to everybody at the bar]
George: You're crazy! You're all crazy!

*Cut to George's house*

George: Martha dear, I'm so glad to see you!
Martha: Oh honey, I'm delighted that you're here!
George: Now, look, I'm in trouble, Martha. I know you won't understand this, but I think I'm In bad trouble.
Martha: What's the matter? What kind of trouble are you in? Please tell me. I want to know.
George: I don't know how to begin to tell you this. But, well, remember I sent you a message because I was getting
discharged from the hospital this morning. I told you that Fred and I were going to wait for you, right?
Martha: Well, yes, but who is that Fred you're talking about?
George: You know him, Martha! Fred! You met him a hundred times. We've been to dinner together! We've been to
dances together! Fred!
Martha: George, what's happened to you?
George: Why doesn't anybody remember him? I know. This is a joke, Isn't it? That's what it is, Isn't it, Martha? It's all a
big earthshaking, highly complicated and fantastically conceived practical joke, isn't it?
Martha: No! What on earth are you talking about?
George: Oh, he's still at the bar, isn't he, Martha? That's where he is.
‘

*Cut to the bar*

George: Fred? Frederick? Pierce! Frederick Pierce!! [whimpers] Fred! Fred! [weeping] Please, Fred. Please come
back. Please come back.

*Cut to present at the hospital, in Room 15*

George: I don't know what I did then when I found he was gone. I just ran I guess, all the way down the street like a
crazy man. I just left Martha standing there.
Bruce: George, I really don't know Frederick Pierce. I never heard of him before. I think he must be an illusion or
something.
George: Oh, I know he's not an illusion. I know. He's been yanked out of here. He's been taken away. He told me,
remember? He told me maybe... Maybe something-- maybe something else should've happened, and it was a mistake
that we've survived. They've got to come back to get us-- Somebody up there!
Bruce: Aw, George... This is weird, just plain weird.
George: I feel as if I just don't belong... Just like I... I don't belong.
[George screaming]
George: Aw, no! I don't want this to happen! Bruce, I don't want it to happen! I don't want it to happen!
[George runs away to the door]
Bruce: Somebody get him! Somebody!
Nurse 1: Major, you shouldn't be out of bed!
Bruce: Somebody's got to help him. Colonel Carter--somebody's got to help him right away.
Nurse 1: Who?
Bruce: Colonel George Carter! [sighs] You know him. He was brought in here with me.
Nurse 1: I don't know who you're talking about, there is no Colonel Carter in here.
Bruce: Oh, my dear god!
Nurse 1: Major, let me help you get into bed. Come ahead. And I'll... I'll call the doctor.
[Bruce looks over at the newspaper with only his face left in it]
Nurse 1: Are you alright? [shouting] Major! Major Williams!

*Cut to hospital corridor*

Man: How are we fixed in this ward here?
Nurse 1: Room 15 here can take three patients, sir. It's absolutely empty. Let's take a look.
Man: Mm-hmm, that will do for the malaria patients. Order some beds up, will you?
Nurse 1: Yes, sir.

Narrator: Once upon a time, there was a man named Frederick Pierce, a man named George Carter, a man named
Bruce Williams. They used to exist, but don't any longer. Someone or something took them somewhere. At least, they
are no longer a part of the memory of man.