Sliders s02e09 Episode Script

Obsession

Have you had enough of my back, Your Lordship? Aye! Now have some of mine.
You cannot catch me, sir unless I choose it.
Then so choose forevermore.
Choose me, and I'll defy my father and have you for my wife.
How can I? I mean no disrespect, but your father is a dangerous man.
Never would he countenance a servant's daughter in his family.
You misjudge him.
And you misjudge my love if you think I'd allow my father to keep us apart.
If I dare say yes, you must swear to stand by me in all circumstance and you must protect my family.
We would have no recourse but you.
With all my heart, I swear no harm will come to you, nor anyone you hold dear, so long as I draw breath.
Just say yes.
Hey, Wade, you awake? Yeah, I'm up.
- Come on, girl.
- I'm up! Blessings upon you and all your friends.
Yes, blessings on you, too, my friend.
Thank you again for your hospitality.
Yes, thank you.
exasperating ninny.
Come on, Professor, he's just trying to be polite.
"Thank you and goodbye" is polite, Mr.
Brown.
Half an hour of servile nattering is sheer insanity.
Oh, Lord, I hate these early morning slides.
Are you kidding me? Just take a nice deep breath of that bracing pre-dawn air.
I could tell you what to do with that "bracing pre-dawn air.
" All right, enough with the bickering, kids.
And as for you, I have but one word- "hamburger.
" How much longer must we endure the dubious merits of New India, Mr.
Mallory? Oh, about five minutes.
What do you say we go to the park? Maybe we'll get lucky and find soft grass for you to land on for a change.
Very considerate of you, my boy.
Hey, you all right, sweetheart? Hmm? Yeah.
I had the weirdest dream.
Come on, we don't want to miss the slide.
- Hey! - Oh, oh, oh, oh! Soft landing there, hard path here- and where do we land unfailingly? Oh, my God.
Just say yes.
What's going on? Hello, Wade, I've been waiting for you.
What if you could travel to parallel worlds? The same year, the same Earth, only different dimensions? A world where the Russians rule America? Or where your dreams of being a superstar came true? Or where San Francisco was a maximum security prison? My friends and I found the gateway.
Now the problem is finding a way back home.
SLIDERS 2x09 "OBSESSION" Who are you? The name's Bond- Derek Bond.
It's kind of hard to resist saying it that way.
You're wondering how I knew you were coming? I'm a seer.
I have visions of things before they happen.
And I've experienced this night a thousand times- ever since I was a child.
I know you're skeptical, Professor, and you, Quinn- you have your own reasons for denial- but you'll accept the possibility, won't you? Me? Your friends can't conceive the continuity of the spirit, but you can sense this is a reunion, that we found each other again.
What the devil do you mean by that? Are you implying that you and Miss Wells have met each other before, somewhere? From another time, Professor.
We were lovers in a past life.
I'm sorry.
I've been anticipating this moment my entire life but this is all happening much too quickly for you.
I'll go now, and let you regain your balance.
But please have dinner with me tonight- so we can talk.
- I don't know.
- I think you do.
I'll pick you up at 7:00.
The Dominion Hotel.
How did he know our hotel? And our names? This is weird, girl.
It gets weirder.
I was dreaming about him when I woke up for the slide tonight.
Despite Mr.
Bond's claims, there must be another explanation.
For instance, he would know our names if he'd met our doubles previously.
Maybe with the right technology, he could detect the timer's energy and figure out when we'd be here, but how the hell did he get in Wade's dream? Well, it looks like they do have pretty good technology here.
Good heavens! If these people are mining the moon, there could be any number of possible explanations.
Wade-! - Are you all right? - "Oracle 1.
" Are you all right? Yeah, I'm fine.
Oh- I'm fine.
I'm fine.
He's hurt.
Ow- my foot's not too good.
How was that, sir? What's wrong with you people? Do you believe that? I think he stopped just to taunt us.
What kind of world have we landed on? I got their plate.
Come on, let's get him to a hospital.
- Can you walk? - I think so.
What am I supposed to put for "local address"? You might as well put the Dominion Hotel.
JFK died.
Huh.
Nobody keeps magazines longer than hospitals.
Not on this world.
He died two months ago- complications of Addison's disease.
Attendees at his funeral included his brother Robert and Martin Luther King.
Let me see.
Here, they were not assassinated.
First things first, Mr.
Brown.
Let's take a look at the damage.
Uh, excuse me- shouldn't you take off his shoe and sock before examining him? Why? So you can see what's wrong.
Other than a slight bruise to the base of his fifth metatarsal bone and a slight strain of his internal annular ligament he seems to be in pretty good shape.
Well, shouldn't you take an x-ray or something? An x-ray? Never mind.
Where are you two from, anyhow? San Francisco.
Look, I don't know what your story is, but it doesn't take a fifth-degree psychic to know you two are hiding something.
What gives? What took so long? The nurse wanted to know where we really come from.
- You told her? - No choice- she's like a walking lie detector.
She calls herself a "medical oracle.
" She could see everything wrong with Rembrandt's foot without x-rays and she could sense when we were lying.
What? I had a compound fracture of the leg when I was a kid.
She knew exactly where it was.
Apparently, 10% of the population has psychic abilities.
They're trained to specialize in things like medical diagnosis, mineral exploration, criminology.
She's in heaven.
A world of people who think like she does.
That's them.
She's really nice, too.
She's going to take me shopping so I can get a new dress.
What for? I can't go out to dinner in a pair of blue jeans.
Come on, Wade, you're not really going out with this guy? Why not? What's the worst that can happen? Wade, how many times do we have to tell you, no involvements? Look who's talking.
Against the wall! - Are you mad? What for? - We haven't done anything.
Not yet you haven't.
This is a preventative arrest.
"Preventative arrest"? What the hell is that? Police Oracle says you're going to kill someone.
A "police oracle"? You blistering idiot! Who are we supposed to kill? A woman named Wade Wells.
Let's go.
Officers, with all due respect, the man that you are accusing of intending to murder Wade Wells saved her life a few hours ago.
A man tried to run her down with his car, okay? We got the license plates and everything.
What's the plate number? "Oracle 1.
" You want to file a complaint against the Prime Oracle? - You're damn right we do.
- Listen, friend if the Prime Oracle tried to run down Wade Wells, it was probably a matter of national security.
National security? What is this? It says here that we "acknowledge having received our Miranda warning.
" - We've received no such thing.
- What are you, a moron? What do you think we've been doing the past hour? Listen, just sign the forms and you're free to go.
Then I'm able to get home before midnight.
You just booked us- you took our pictures and our fingerprints, now you're letting us go? We don't incarcerate you until after you commit the crime.
So if you're smart, you keep your noses clean and if anything happens to Wade Wells, we'll be on you before she hits the floor.
Now sign them and get the hell out of here! "In 1865, a young seer from San Francisco is purported to have prevented the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln was so impressed he created a special cabinet post, "Prime Oracle," with the responsibility to foresee potential disasters.
The rest of the country soon came to believe in psychic powers.
" So from one coincidence, they set up this crazy social order? Unbelievable.
Under the apparent guidance of Prime Oracles this society has averted nearly every major conflict of the last century.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, assassinations, all are predicted here.
People have weeks to adjust.
Before you start cheering for the Prime Oracle, remember it was him that nearly ran Wade down.
I know and that's maddening.
Why would he do such a thing? Every indication here suggests that this Prime Oracle is a remarkable and benevolent man.
These are the same people who think you and Rembrandt are about to murder Wade so don't believe everything you read.
I can't believe this is happening.
I don't feel I'm ready.
I've always known it would be today.
I've been ready for years.
How can you be so cold? He's been like a father to us.
That's a poor choice of words, Melanie.
No, it's not.
You hold onto your anger from a past lifetime, you'll poison this one.
What I'm holding onto from the past lifetime is love.
Sit, sit.
No need to stand on ceremony.
Clearly, you both received the vision I sent you.
Oh, I still can remember the first time I saw both of you.
So young, yet, so gifted.
As you know from the vision, I will succumb to a cerebral hemorrhage by this time tomorrow.
So now, I must choose my successor.
Melanie Wallace, declare yourself.
In fairness to Derek, I know that he is a more powerful seer than I am.
But he lacks discipline, and compassion.
And a Prime Oracle without these qualities would be a disaster.
I admit I would have preferred a few more years of training.
but I still believe I am the better choice.
Derek Bond, declare yourself.
The Prime Oracle is responsible for seeing every potential calamity that might befall this country or its leaders.
I've devoted my life to expanding the range of my powers.
Even Melanie admits that I'm further along than she is.
I remind you, sir, that you were in your early 20s when you first took over and your early years were not without controversy.
Both of you are right.
You have more power.
You have more discipline.
But, while events can teach Mr.
Bond greater balance, they cannot give Miss Wallace greater power.
There is a woman Derek wants and I believe she can teach him what he needs to know to be my worthy successor.
He is my choice.
I really appreciate this after working all day.
Are you kidding? The truth is I actually have an ulterior motive.
I know you're only here for a couple of days- I'm not thinking of anything long-term.
Is Rembrandt committed to anyone back home? Nope.
He's great, isn't he? So tell me - what's it like sliding from world to world? Well it has its moments, that's for sure.
Well, I don't have any dinner plans tonight.
I'd like to hear all about it.
Gosh, I don't think I've worn a dress since the Lottery Winners' Ball.
Anna's a genius.
She always envisions the perfect outfit.
What do you think? You look absolutely stunning, Miss Wells.
She had it waiting for me in the window.
It's kind of like the one I wore in my dream.
Quinn? Nice dress.
Hi.
You look like something out of a dream.
Don't wait up.
This is amazing.
I can't believe this place is so deserted on a Friday night.
I didn't want a lot of strangers staring at us.
I should have warned you I'm famous.
Oh, no, that's okay.
Just a little famous? I'm getting a promotion soon.
Then I'll be very famous.
Oh.
You don't have to be so impressed.
I'm the lucky one here.
Why is that? Just to be with you.
I've been in love with you a very long time.
So, what did your father do after we got married in our last lifetime? You don't know? No, I woke up for the slide.
The dream was interrupted.
What's wrong? - A blind spot.
- Excuse me? I thought you already had the whole dream.
No, the alarm woke me.
Are you all right? Derek? The Prime Oracle just died.
Cheer up, my boy.
We're only here for a couple of days.
Not long enough for her to form a permanent attachment.
You don't know her like I do, Professor.
She's a sucker for all this "past life" stuff.
Ah, well regardless of any passing infatuation, she's got a good head on her shoulders.
And she won't do anything to jeopardize her chances of going home.
- Already, thousands of mourners - What's going on? gathered outside the gates to pay their respects.
Regent Douglas Hagen has assured me the Prime Oracle knew his death was imminent and earlier today, chose Derek Bond to succeed him.
Good heavens, it's him! Mr.
Mallory, there's a loop between the old Prime Oracle, his successor, and Miss Wells.
Somehow it must be connected with the attempt on her life.
Yeah, I guess.
Who knows, maybe it's connected with the fact the police think you and Rembrandt will murder Wade.
Let's assume the Prime Oracle really could predict events.
He could interfere with cause and effect.
He could set events in motion- a whole series of events initiated by a single action.
Hi.
Hi.
Where's Rembrandt? Oh, he's out with his nurse.
You're not going to believe what just happened.
Oh, yes, we've just seen it on television.
No, not just the Prime Oracle.
Look.
Derek's asked me to marry him.
- You are Kate? - I am.
Who are you? - A messenger.
- Is Richard all right? His father has learned of your plans, and has taken steps to prevent them.
Richard begs that you flee to the bridge at Hampstead.
There he will meet you as soon as he is able.
Are my parents safe? - Are they? - I cannot say.
Richard swore to protect them.
If harm comes to my parents, it falls on me that I gave in to selfish passion.
That choice cannot be taken back.
But things may yet be right.
As you love Richard, trust in him.
Ride to Hampstead and await better news.
I will away.
Tell Richard I have done as he asked.
Hello? Derek? Yes, of course I've thought about it.
Now? I guess I can.
Okay.
Whoa, now slow down.
He did what? He gave her an engagement ring.
- This is unbelievable.
- Not as far as he's concerned.
- After one date? - Bear in mind she hasn't said yes, yet.
Okay, is she wearing the ring? She didn't want to take it.
He insisted.
Don't you guys know anything about women? Once they put the rock on the finger, it's all over.
Well, I hear you had quite a night, last night.
Derek called, he wants an answer.
Good.
Pick up the phone and tell him to get lost.
- No.
- No? What are you talking about, "no"? - You heard me.
- What are you saying? You're really thinking about marrying this clown.
He's not a clown.
If you want to know the truth, Derek's everything I could possibly ask for.
You know this after one date? I told you, she's infatuated with this guy.
I'm not infatuated.
But the least I can do is explain it to him in person.
Yeah, well, we're coming with you.
No.
I can handle this myself.
You guys could have said something.
No need, Mr.
Mallory.
You said more than enough for all of us.
Good morning.
Thank you for coming.
We need to talk.
Yes.
But you haven't eaten.
We'll talk over breakfast.
You're having doubts about me.
It's not fair.
If there was more time, I know we'd resolve them.
Derek, I-I can't marry you.
You've had the rest of the dream.
I knew that would be a problem.
Look, it's not that I don't feel a connection between us.
I do.
But I can't base the rest of my life on what happened in a dream.
It's not a dream.
Those events happened.
Even if you're right, I can't place as much faith in it as you can.
It's not about faith.
It's like sliding- each new world is a new lifetime.
But I remember all of the worlds that I've been to.
Just as I remember my past lives.
Even the old Prime Oracle knew of our connection.
He told me you'd be the most powerful influence in my life.
You would teach me to be a great Prime Oracle.
- Me? - Yes, you.
But the Prime Oracle tried to run me over with his car after I met you.
- What? - It's true.
He would have killed me if Rembrandt hadn't pushed me out of the way.
No, the Prime Oracle would never have done that- unless he knew Rembrandt was going to save you.
He must have had something else in mind- some plan he was setting in motion to bring us closer.
Wade, please- don't make your decision now.
You don't slide for a day and a half.
Give me that time.
And if you choose to turn me down I'll accept that.
I'll honor that.
It's easy, just tell him, "Here's your ring back.
" No, no, no, don't hang up- She's off the deep end.
Listen, Q-Ball, you're only making it worse.
- He's manipulating her.
- That's right, and she knows it.
Last thing she wants is to hear that from you.
Just makes her feel like you're manipulating her, too.
When the hell did you get to be such an expert? I'm "The Crying Man.
" You think that just happens? I'm sorry.
We've got to get her out of there, Rembrandt.
It's not our call.
It's hers.
She doesn't know what she's doing right now.
Look, I would miss her more than anyone.
But this may be the best world we've ever seen, and this guy could give her anything that she wants.
It's got to be her call.
We're the only friends- the only family she's got.
We have to do something.
Not until she asks.
My childhood room.
I had workmen here around the clock to get it ready.
It's not possible.
Mugsy-? How could you- how could you know everything in my room? Every detail like this? You read my mind? To make you happy.
How dare you? You went into my mind without even asking me? God, I feel totally violated.
My thoughts are private! What you did, it's like rape.
All I did was recreate the room so you could have a piece of home.
- I've got to go back to my hotel.
- I can't let you do that.
I said, I want to leave now! I'm sorry if this upset you.
I didn't mean it to.
Wade, I won't sacrifice our happiness just because of one little mistake.
I just- I need some time to think and I don't feel comfortable here right now.
You and I both know if I let you leave, I'll never see you again.
Okay okay, look.
I'll stay here tonight and we'll talk about it in the morning.
Okay? - Okay.
- All right.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Sleep well.
Are you sure that this is the right place? This is my world, sweetheart.
Remember? Well, the first law of adventures is Murphy's law- "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.
" What a strange law.
It must be very hard to get along on other worlds without a Prime Oracle.
If she doesn't show up soon we should just go in and get her.
Mr.
Mallory, this place is designed to stop people from breaking in.
Let's play a waiting game, eh? Let her make her move and then help her to break out.
If this is the right place, then where is she? There.
God, am I glad to see you.
The feeling's more than mutual, girl.
Hurry, there's bound to be security cameras.
Come on.
Did you think I wouldn't know? If you cared at all for me, you'd let me go.
You violated my trust, Wade.
Say goodbye to your friends 'cause you're not going to be seeing them again.
No! Testament to my foolishness.
My love, I swear it, the woman who came to you was sent by my father, not by me.
He boasted of it, knowing that no horse could carry me swiftly enough to save you.
Then oppose him no more, for you will only come to harm.
He is an evil man, and his power is too great.
By all that is holy, I swear myself to attaining more power than his.
Swear it not, my love.
The pursuit of such power is the source of his corruption.
You can't die! The choice is not mine.
No no, no No.
No-oo! Don't you get it? When I died as Kate, you wished for power greater than your father's.
Now you've got it, and you're using it just as ruthlessly as he ever did.
Wade, I'm not keeping you here to be cruel.
I know in time you'll change your mind.
You have so much power.
How can you have such little insight? I can't predict the future, but I know if you don't let me go, I'll never be able to forgive you.
Do you want to know the truth? I can't see the whole picture when it comes to you and that scares the hell out of me.
The old Prime Oracle called you a " crossroads" in my life- a nexus - everything changes based on what happens with you.
Derek, no matter how much power you have, you can't force people to love you.
Not even God can do that.
The president will be here soon.
I have a busy day.
What the hell's taking them? Maybe they had more luck than we did.
Rembrandt's companion is well-connected in this world.
Perhaps she had some influence.
What a miserable world.
It's not the world, Mr.
Mallory.
Just one man.
and the First Lady arrived a half an hour ago.
The president was delighted in the unusual "Just one man.
" The trouble is he's the most powerful man on the planet.
Sorry we're late, guys.
We finally found a lawyer who would at least talk with us, but not without a $10,000 retainer.
You have any luck? Wade called.
She's going to try and talk to the regent.
We slide in less than six hours and there's no damn way to get her out of there.
So, what are we going to do? Oh, my God-! It's Maggie! Who's Maggie? My roommate from college.
She's the president's speechwriter.
You actually know someone in the president's entourage? I should have realized.
She must be in town for the ceremonies.
Can she get us to the president? At least talk to him for us? Well, there's a chance.
Come on, guys.
Maybe we can still stop this thing.
No, wait.
You've got to stay here just in case Wade calls.
- I'm not staying- - If she calls and you're not here and we're not here, we're lost.
Let me have another.
Come in.
I don't have very much time, Miss Wells.
We're very busy with the inauguration.
Please, sir, you still have authority over Derek.
At this point, my authority is little more than a formality.
Yeah, but it's legal.
And he's keeping me here against my will! That's kidnapping! Miss Wells, the Prime Oracle is our guardian of the future.
No one, no one has the authority to challenge his vision of it.
If he says that you should be here, we must trust that he is right.
Are you all blind? Derek is acting like a spoiled child.
I can't believe that you would put the future of your country in his hands.
I'm very sorry.
I can't help you.
Your prescription arrived.
Prescription? The pharmacy just delivered it.
An hour and 10 minutes.
Where are they? - Hello? - He won't let me go.
- Wade? - He won't.
Gonna die, Quinn.
It's the only way.
Wade, hang on, okay? Remember me? Shh- just listen.
If you get home, tell my mother don't wanna I'm coming right over.
I'll be right there! Call someone in the Prime Oracle's mansion! Call someone in the Prime Oracle's mansion.
The Prime Oracle's fiancée has poisoned herself.
I've got to get in there.
Make the damn phone call! She's dying, man! I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Get off her! Get off of her! She was all I had.
I loved her.
"Love"? She had to kill herself to get away from you.
- You call that love? - I didn't understand.
A lot of good that does now.
It's time, sir.
You have to go to your ceremony.
- What do I do? - Same as me- you go on without her.
The President is waiting.
May God forgive me.
Why did I have to take you with me? I didn't know what I was doing.
God, I'm so sorry.
I can't do this.
I can't be Prime Oracle.
You have to.
You were chosen.
Don't you understand? I abused my power.
I used it to get what I want and ignored everything I should have seen.
She killed herself, but I might as well have put the poison on her lips.
I have to stall.
We have a crisis.
Where are you people going? This isn't the hospital.
- What's going on? - Out of the way! What is going on? Hang in there, Q-Ball.
It's going to be okay.
Once you've been installed, you can choose whoever you want to succeed you, if that's what you really want- but if you don't go through with this, it will be chaos.
My God, she's alive.
Get me my car.
And I'm going to need a police escort! Do you have any idea what you put me through? We couldn't tell you anything.
The guy could read your mind.
In order to convince Bond Wade was dead, we had to convince you.
So that thing about "Dominique's friend's cousin"- Ah, that was just a sham.
We had to make sure that you were alone when Wade called.
I could kill you guys.
Thank God.
The weird thing is it was the Police Oracles who said we were going to kill Wade that gave me the idea.
That, and Miss Wells' passion for "Romeo and Juliet," where the same ploy is used but not with the same happy result.
So Dominique wrote the prescription and had it delivered.
We put the note in the bottle that gave Wade the plan.
How's it going in here? We haven't got much time.
Uh-oh.
How much time, Q-Ball? Almost two minutes.
Dominique? Come on, sweetheart.
Bad guys are coming.
We gotta run.
She's in no shape for that.
Hi, guys You scared the crap out of me.
Stop! You stay away from her! I came to say goodbye- and to beg your forgiveness.
You're letting me go? I'm going to miss you more than you'll ever know, but I thank God the Prime Oracle spared you.
- The Prime Oracle? - You were right.
He knew the only way I'd ever let you go is if you were dead, so he introduced you to Dominique and a whole chain of events which unfolded thereafter.
He knew we'd trick you? Now we're both free.
Maybe we'll meet again- in another lifetime.
I hope so.
I'd like a fresh start.
You take good care of her.
Come along, Mr.
Brown.
New worlds await.
I've got to go.
I'll never forget you.
What's wrong? I've just seen where they were going.

Previous EpisodeNext Episode