Hello Guenther. See you in a moment!
May I present: State secretary von Weinlaub.
My name is Hirse. I am the personal assistant of Herr von Weinlaub.
Hello Herr state secretary, my name is Lause, I am the head of security.
Herr Siskins is expecting you already.
Was that Professor Vollmer?
Yes, that's right.
To keep a long story short:
Simulacron is only conditionally operable.
Consider me as superficially informed.
In this context I am only interested in your definition of "conditionally".
Of course, Mr. state secretary.
Excuse me.
Actually we still have a prognostic blur of maximum 5,8 percent.
Oh, well. Yes, thank you.
Herr Vollmer may explain to you precisely the actual state of affairs.
As you know, it was thanks to him that we could develop this computer.
Yes we know that, Herr Siskins.
Please, go ahead, Professor Vollmer. If you please...
You are the state secretary?
Of course!
To be honest I am not very interested.
Excuse me, but do you have a pocket mirror?
A mirror?
Why?
Ok, take this one.
What do you see?
Please, please... what do you see?
I am going to help you. Herr.....?
von Weinlaub!
Well, ok "von Weinlaub"
What you are seing here,
is exactly the idea that people have got of you.
Nothing else.
I beg your pardon?
Thank you! And do you know who you are?
Vollmer!
And you also, Siskins!
Do you want to have a look in the mirror?
Go ahead. Have a look at yourself!
That is a very sad joke.
That's enough, Vollmer!
I agree, that is going a bit too far now!
Hirse, I think we should better leave.
This headache... it is knocking and knocking and knocking...
Do you know what is constantly knocking in my head?
I know it.
Lause, please.
You have a rest now Professor.
Lause is bringing you to your office.
Come on Henry.
This is no headache. It is much more.
It is so much, that my head will burst.
Come on.
I will, Guenther. They don't want to understand anything.
Poor worms.
Take good care of him, Lause!
Yes, sure Herr Siskins.
I have to apologise for Herr Vollmer.
Recently, he has been working without a break.
His nervous system has always been a bit fragile.
The border between genius and madness, you know...
Anyway, a peculiar kind of madness, don't you think?
Indeed Herr state secretary, very peculiar.
Please excuse me for a moment.
Of course.
Please! Look into the mirror! What do you see?
Myself.
Stiller wanted to be back already yesterday.
He will come soon, I am sure.
I am scared.
But I am here with you.
Yes, you are here.
Always this pressure in my head.
Did you ever hear of a head that exploded?
Just exploded into a thousand pieces?
No, never.
Well.
Do you remember, as a child, playing a game...
... called "I can see something that you don't see"
Sure, everybody did.
Guenther,
I know something, that you don't know.
And nobody must know.
Because it would mean the end of this world.
Henry...
Vollmer!
Sorry, but the bar is over there.
Ouu. Lala.
They aren't muscles, it's cotton wool.
Ach.
Yes, that makes the shoulders look wider.
But not everything is made out of cotton wool, is it?
If you are really interested: Stiller. Fred Stiller. My name is in the telephone book.
No success - with your drink?
I am obviously too small.
What a pity, but maybe you will grow?
Maybe.
Whisky?
With water.
Rainer, two whiskies. One on ice, one soda.
Alright, Herr Siskins.
Will we meet at the funeral?
I will be there, but...
...the dead shouldn't care too much?
Your whisky please.
Thank you.
You can operate the computer? Even without Vollmer?
I think so.
Good, because we cannot afford any delays anymore.
The ministry pressures us.
By the way.....
What?
...oh nothing.
What is your dream car?
Pardon?
Your dream car! That's a very simple question?
Oh dear! A Corvette!
Well, well. A Corvette.
275 PS
And about 40.000 DM.
That sounds a bit out of your bracket, doesn't it?
A bit. But you didn't ask me about my bracket,
but about the car I would like to have.
Which bracket would you like to have?
The next one!
Well, why not. If you are as good as Vollmer...
I am not but, I am tough! Hoppla!
I see that you are well informed about
the fundamental disagreements between me and Vollmer.
I think so.
There you are: pure stubborness, don't you think?
Well, you can think about it.
And don't take it wrong: that wasn't any offer, that was a hypothesis.
I did understand you, Herr Siskins.
275 PS. You can't argue with that.
My name is Gloria.
Fine. Fancy a drink?
Champagne.
Of course.
Champagne!
Is it still 106-65-98 ?
99, afterall.
Endless sitting makes you fat.
Come on, every centimeter is precious!
Thank you.
How is the computer?
I think it is fine. And how are you with Siskins?
Oh no! I mean it.
I am really very interested in Simulacron.
Is it true that they constructed an artificial world with it?
"World" might be a bit exaggerated.
We are maybe ten thousand identity units.
That is enough for our purposes.
The world in a nutshell - you get me?
Ten thousand human beings?
They are human beings, aren't they?
That depends. For us, they are only circuits, of course...
but they, they do live, the same as we do.
They construct roads, listen to music, eat...
...and sleep with each other...
they do...
...sleep with each other, have fun...
...make children.
Exciting!
hmm?
excuse me?
this - making love with each other?
Yes, also that... but
I think a living world in an electrical box?
We are alive and they are like people in a television dancing for for us.
The way you talk is wonderful.
I think you are also wonderful.
Hello Lause.
Hello. Did you see Stiller?
Yes, a moment ago.
Come in!
No, no, I'm waiting. Go and get him please.
Sure.
Fred, would you please come with me?
Me?
Lause wants to talk to you.
Excuse me please, see you later.
What a pity.
Yes.
Lause!
God I am so happy that I finally got hold of you.
I have to talk to you.
You look horrible. What have you done?
I went to your country house instantly after Vollmer's death,
but you were already gone.
You found him.
But, where have you been?
I came back a bit earlier than planned.
What is going on?
I can't talk here.
Come.
Well?
It's about the death of Vollmer.
But....
....I thought...
...it was an accident.
I don't know, because I didn't see it.
Nevertheless, it was very strange.
But what was strange about it?
Vollmer.
Vollmer was strange.
Something unexplainable had happened to him.
Just before his death, I talked to him.
He was scared.
And then he told me something, very...
very crazy.
What?
I can't tell it, it is far too crazy.
Maybe he was crazy anyway.
Do you know...
what "fear" is?
Yes, Lause, I think so.
You don't know anything.
Well, but...
...tell me what Vollmer said.
Ok.
It sounds unbelievable, but maybe...
You have to decide for yourself, what you make of it all.
Oh god, I am so clumsy!
You got scared!
Just one moment please.
Disappeared without any trace.
Last night, at a party of the famous IKZ boss Herbert Siskins,
according to an employee of his institute,
the head of the security, Guenther Lause,
suddenly disappeared during a conversation.
The police started investigations.
What are you plotting, Stiller?
What is the whole story of Lause and Vollmer about? Please sit down!
I only told the police what I saw with my very own eyes.
I have the impression that you want to ridicule yourself and also the institue.
But everything happened exactly the way I declared it.
Well, as you wish.
Inspector Lehner, criminal investigation department.
Commissar Stuhlfahrt, homicide division.
And this is Dr. Stiller, who is substituting the technical director.
Mr Stiller, you seem to be the only person who actually noticed Lause yesterday evening.
What do you mean?
I have been interrogating every single guest.
Nobody has seen him.
You might have been drinking too much?
No, I wasn't drunk.
Maybe we should mention, that we didn't find Lause in his flat.
But this might also be a coincidence.
I would like to know what Lause said about the death of Vollmer.
He didn't say anything, he just had a weird feeling.
Where were you, when Vollmer died?
In my house, in the mountains.
Did you have any company?
No.
We would like to investigate the room, where Vollmer died.
Please accompany the two gentlemen to the computer lab.
Yes, Herr Stiller.
Good bye!
Until next time!
Adieu!
I'd like to forget about that story, Stiller.
But you already forgot about it!
Ok.
I wanted to talk about Vollmer's position.
Go ahead.
Well, I already explained it to you.
Vollmers' stubborness.
That really stressed a whole lot of my nerves.
I'm not stubborn.
That's exactly what I wanted to hear.
My knowledge of human nature.
I knew that we would come to an agreement.
Well.
Oh yes.
Tell me your dream car, and I tell you who you are.
Ah, ok.
Exactly.
I am going to sound out the directorate.
I don't think that it should be difficult.
Good bye.
Herr Director!
What are you doing here?
You hurt me!
Thanks Fred Stiller.
You are Fred Stiller, aren't you?
Indeed.
Anyway, what are you doing here?
A supervisor brought me here.
You are not...
I am Eva Vollmer.
Eva
I didn't recognise you.
Of course not.
And I am here,
because they told me to get father's belongings.
I thought you would be still in Montreux.
I came back a month ago.
You have been with your father, when...
Did you notice anything strange?
Was he especially nervous?
I didn't notice anything, why?
Because....
I think he discovered something very important.
He couldn't tell me anything about it.
He was a bit depressed. But nothing else, I am sure.
You know, I would be very happy if you would come and visit me.
Yes.
Do you know
if your father met up with Guenther Lause recently?
Guenther Lause?
Your uncle. Guenther Lause.
I don't know any Guenther Lause.
You don't remember your uncle?
I remember my uncle very well.
His name was Jakob.
Jakob Meichsner.
He died four years ago.
Eva.
Yes?
Can I...
can I help you somehow?
I will be ok.
Father left me some money.
And there is also the house.
Sorry Fred but I had prejudices.
I thought that you just wanted to take over father's position.
But I should have known, that this is not the case.
I would like to have a piece of cake.
Cake has to be chosen from the buffet.
You are arrested.
Please follow me inconspicuously.
God, Franz you really scared me off!
I will have this one.
And two whiskies!
What do you want, Stiller?
I would like...
I would like to show you a rebus.
Imagine a drawing with a greek soldier, who carries a spear,
who looks to the right and makes a step.
In front of him a tortoise is moving into exactly the same direction.
First: Does that make any sense to you?
Second: Did you see anything like that recently?
Hello? What are you on about?
Professor Vollmer left me this drawing.
If it means something, what would it be?
Uncanny, if you ask me.
Uncanny, well.
Can you think of any interpretation?
Maybe.
So what?
Zeno.
Zeno?
Yes.
Zeno's paradoxes.
Achille and the tortoise.
Achille who follows the tortoise.
He can never catch up with her,
because everytime when he gets halfway towards her,
she had already advanced a respective distance.
Can you think of any meaning that this paradox might have for our work?
Well, I am only responsible for the psychology of our creations.
But as far as I remember,
the meaning of this paradox is
to show that movement is illusion.
I can't see any connection to our work.
Vollmer had been quite strange before he died.
Cheese cake? Who ordered this cheese cake?
Maybe he had a reason. What did he say?
Did you order this cheese cake?
No no,
Yes, it was me, I think. Thank you.
What was so strange?
Three days before he died we played chess.
But actually, he wasn't quite himself anymore.
He was constantly philosophising.
Indeed, he was talking about a fundamental discovery.
What kind of discovery?
He didn't want to reveal it.
It would be something like a secret.
Why are you so interested in that Fred?
Because I don't believe, that Vollmer's death was an accident.
What do you mean?
I know the argument between Vollmers and Siskins
about the application of the Simulacron model, but...
I didn't mean anything like that.
Well.
By the way...
... I can imagine what Vollmer's fundamental discovery might have been about.
I am sure that it was closely related
to his attitude towards the programmed identity units in his computer.
You know,
He liked to call them "my children".
But that was just a joke.
You cannot feed a computer year after year with information
in order to simulate human behaviour
without taking into account,
that you might have eventually created human consciousness?
Lause talked about a fundamental discovery.
Lause, who is that?
If I wouldn't have believed Lause's story about the secret of Vollmer,
I would have never gone to the police!
Lause? Police? What are you on about?
Lause! Guenther Lause!
Head of Security at the Institute of Kybernetik and Zukunftsforschung
At our Institute!
Calm down. Calm.
Stiller, do you see the man over there?
That is Hans Edelkern.
Hans Edelkern has been head of security at the IKZ for the last five years.
Do you remember now?
Stiller!
Yes?
Gloria.
Yes?
Do you have something to write?
Yes.
Please note:
Vereinigte Stahl AG, management.
Dear Herr Hartmann
I appreciate and accept your invitation
but I prefer, due to the circumstances,
if you would take my visit as a personal one.
I am sure you will understand,
that I have to insist on high confidentiality.
Yours sincerely, Herbert Siskins.
Was it easy to find, dear Siskins? Please come in!
A clean couple.
Rupp, Tagesanzeiger. A short question Herr Stiller:
Does the new computer really exclusively serve for state research assignments ?
Please do understand, that I am not allowed to give any official declarations.
Especially not out of the car window.
Please contact the press department of the IKZ.
Yes we know that. Just one question:
Is there a special institute that gets any information about the results of the experiments?
Just one statement, Herr...
Rupp.
Herr Rupp.
I would be very grateful, if you would teach your readers
the differences between a computer and our simulation model.
I will tell my colleagues from the science department.
We are dealing with an entire new generation in computer technologies.
And whom does it serve?
I would say it would serve each one of us!
May I see your identification?
Regulations, you know?
I know.
Thank you director Stiller.
What would you like to inspect?
For personal dossiers we need a special authorisation, of course.
No, no that's not of my interest.
Just the filing department.
Well, which letter?
"L", for example.
There you are. "L". What next?
Ask who it is.
Guenther Lause.
Guenther Lause is unknown.
Pardon?
Please!
Well, "Edelkern".
Ask for "Edelkern".
Well, what does it say?
The truth of course.
Hans Edelkern is the head of security of the IKZ.
Hmmm Frau
Meyer
Meyer, do you have...
... any special information concerning Hans Edelkern?
About Edelkern?
Not as far as I know, but why don't you ask him directly?
Hello Fred.
Any complaints about me?
You can tell me the truth.
No, no.
Ok then!
I was already afraid.
No no, really. I...
Don't worry Fred.
No need for explanations.
You know what you are doing.
Well, why don't you come and visit us one day?
Laura is still raving about our last dinner
with you being far and wide the most charming entertainer.
Am I?
Laura says so.
If Laura says.
There you are.
Give us a call!
We would be really glad.
I haven't met a woman called Laura in my whole life!
Laura.
Can I help you with anything else?
Thank you.
Your welcome.
Hello Fred.
It is about Lause.
Lause?
Which Lause?
Don't worry Fritz, it's ok.
Fred! Did anything happen?
Good morning, Maja!
Good morning Herr Stiller.
I am a present.
Siskins thought you would be happy.
Of course. Of course I am happy.
A view that makes men hearts beat faster, isn't it?
Yes indeed, that's true.
Where is Fraeulein Schmitt-Gentner?
Fraeulein Schmitt-Gentner is ill. Probably for a while.
By the way,
It wasn't easy for Siskins to give me away to you.
Thanks. I appreciate the honour.
Would you like a cup of coffee?
No thank you.
It's great to work with you.
Well I don't feel too uncomfortable about it either.
Please connect me with the criminal investigation department,
with Inspector Lehner.
At once Herr Stiller.
Inspector Lehner, please.
Thanks.
Hello Inspector. I wanted to ask you about Lause,
if you found out anything.
Who is speaking?
Stiller. Institut fuer Kybernetik und Zukunftsforschung.
I call you about Lause. Guenther Lause.
Excuse me, but I don't know anybody called Guenther Lause.
God damn inspector, but you must remember!
Siskins' Party. A man disappeared.
It was I who made the report!
No Herr Stiller, I don't know any case called Lause.
Siskins is expecting you for a meeting at 14.30 in his office.
Thank you Fraeulein Fromm.
How are you?
I don't know. Bad.
What does the doctor say?
They did everything they could.
They tested the blood, urine, everything.
But they still don't know what it is.
General weakness.
And what about you?
How are you?
I have a date with Siskins at 2.30 pm.
Well?
Hmmm.
So who do you have now?
Where?
In your office!
In my office I have Gloria Fromm.
116 65 98?
99!
Too much sitting, you know.
Yes.
I will better go now.
Get better!
Thank you.
You know...
Well?
I still like you.
Please sit down, Dr.Stiller.
Would you like anything to drink?
No thanks.
Maybe a coffee?
No thanks, nothing.
Allright.
So let's start then.
If you please?
As you might already know,
I am engaged in the commision "Perspective 2000",
specialised in the steel sector, setup by the government.
Also as the president of the Vereinigte Stahl AG?
Of course. Obviously.
In this context we are a bit worried,
especially regarding the current tendencies in new traffic and transport systems,
which wouldn't be, concerning the demand for steel of the eighties and nineties,
without consequences.
I don't know how much you know about economies.
Little.
Well, Let me explain to you shortly:
Investments in our section, are not only extremely long-term,
but also extremely expensive.
Please let Hartmann finish, Stiller!
Of course,
indeed,
you can also call it expensive.
In other words,
an investment in the size of several hundred millions,
executed today
would probably be amortised in more or less 20 years.
If your decision was right.
If our decision was right. Yes.
Of course we do calculate very precisely.
But we take advantage of a lot of scientific decision helpers.
cyclical analysis, market analysis, trend calculations
input - output relations, all these things
But you should know best
how limited the capacity of these prognostical instruments still is,
which work with conventional computer technologies,
and how high the risk factor of these kind of calculations is
compared to your simulation model.
Yes.
And why do you tell me all this?
I don't understand.
But he does.
Dr. Stiller,
This is not about opening a sausage stall
but about a decision of fundamental, economical importance.
And Herr Hartmann, as a member of the commission "Perspective 2000"
Well, the commission has to apply properly.
Do you really insist on that bureaucratic mechanism?
Anyway, this programme is not made to access special data.
It would question the whole programme,
and would throw us back about at least two monthes.
I am not going to ridicule myself in front of my colleagues, technically
Thank you Stiller, I am not going to argue!
You are going to extract
the basis data for "Stahlbedarf" for the following 20 years,
and deliver them here to my office by the...
23rd.
I don't know.
But you can't promise an association...
What I can or can not, dear Stiller,
is none of your business.
Well, than you won't need me anymore!
Oh god, Siskins!
I would have thought, that at least inside the institute everything would be united.
It is, Eberhard, it is.
Look, Stiller is a scientist.
And in every scientist there is little bit of an idealist.
But, I can deal with Stiller's little idealist.
Hello Stiller.
Hello Hahn!
Would you like to control the psychological structures of the new reaction units ?
No, it is not ready yet.
Ok.
Do you feel better, today?
Yes, I just felt a bit sick yesterday.
I guess, I have to apologise officially for my behaviour.
Come on...
I am really sorry.
Excuse me, but...
Don't worry.
I have to go to the computer lab. Until the next time...
We have exactly 9700 identity units.
That would be almost a small town.
I would like to have a connection.
For you?
Yes.
I would like to breathe some small town air.
Sure, anytime.
Hey look at her! She beamed herself into the consciousness of a millionaire's wife.
Yes? He is here.
Ok, well.
Ok, I will tell him.
The police are waiting in your office.
They want to talk to you.
Police?
Please come with me!
Ok, boss!
Hello Dr. Stiller.
Thank you. Too much honour.
That is Stiller.
Pardon. I am very sorry.
Hello Dr. Stiller.
Hello.
I would like to talk to you privately.
Is it necessary?
Indeed.
Ok, I am off! I'll be with the computer. See you later.
Please come in.
Well?
There are some questions, Herr Stiller.
Questions adressed to you.
Questions concerning Henry Vollmer.
You have been the assistant of Vollmer?
You know that anyway.
Of course. Routine only.
It's my job. You learn it, to never forget.
I want to be frank, Herr Stiller.
It is possible, that Vollmer's death was not an accident.
You have been on holiday.
I have been in my house in the mountains,
but I already told you everything.
What does it mean?
You have told me already?
Nothing. Only that I have been in my house in the mountains.
I am sure there is someone who could testify that?
No.
Well.
Vollmer was my best friend.
You don't have a bad position,
now as the technical director of the IKZ, do you?
No, not at all.
If there is anything else, I can reach you here?
If there is anything else.
Good bye, Herr Stiller.
That was someone from the homicide department?
I will always look after you!
The police are on the case, and that's fine.
Lause already mentioned that Vollmer's death probably wasn't an accident.
Lause? Which Lause?
That Lause, Gloria, who vanished at Siskins' Party without any trace.
Really? Somebody vanished at Siskins' party?
I am sure that was just an innocent joke of Siskins.
Of course Gloria, of course.
I make a simple contact connection with one identity unit.
Is that ok?
I chose 4388. A lorry driver.
I hope you have a nice ride.
Ok, let's go.
There you go. Behave yourself. No troubles!
Go!
What a weird weather we've created for them. Very strange.
Why is there no traffic? I don't understand.
Maybe it's a Sunday. I completely forgot to ask.
Come on boy, if I kill you there won't be even a short cut.
Damn, what the hell is this supposed to be?!
Stiller come back.
You are very lucky young man. It's just a light shock.
You could have been dead.
How could this happen?
I don't know.
I haven't examined the box, but...
but?
Go ahead!
You suspect something.
Something exploded.
Think about it. The only possibility is sabotage.
Sabotage?
That's impossible, Herr Siskins. We control everything.
Eva?
You frightened me!
Why? What's up?
Nothing.
I was just thinking of my father.
May we go out for a ride? Just drive?
I need some distraction.
On the table are some papers of my father.
Have a look, maybe you find something important.
I'll get ready.
Did anything change here after your fathers death?
Pardon?
I just asked, if something changed after your fathers death or not.
Is that an interrogation?
Come on let's drive.
Did you ever see that drawing again?
Which drawing?
The one with Achilles and the tortoise.
I have never seen anything like it.
Achilles and the tortoise.
I will try and find out how your father really died.
Do you think...
Possibly.
I don't want that anything happens to you.
What is happening?
Nothing, I feel sick and I didn't feel very well the last days.
I have nausea, I imagine a lot of things.
It's possible that I just have been working too much.
Shall I drive?
No, no.
I just wait a bit, and then I bring you home.
Come in!
Hello Fritz.
Hello Fred.
What's that?
It's a circulation drink.
Circulation?
Yes, I have this strange nausea recently.
Be careful.
Ok.
Your doll's are dancing again.
I also have contacted 0001.
Einstein?
Mhm. The catastrophy the other day did worry him a bit.
Anyway he does make some difficulties in general.
You know, I think that this was Vollmer's only big mistake.
What?
The contact unit Einstein!
But it would have never worked without him. We tried everything.
There had to be a unit for a direct contact.
But that already prepared the conflict.
Why?
Because it's unbearable to know that you are artificial.
That is true.
But if it is true, that they are already suffering psychological disturbances
That would be a great succes for us.
Well, that depends.
Einstein reported an attempted suicide.
Damn. Who?
7326. Christopher Nobody.
I am going to kill him, otherwise he is going to mess up our system.
We are not very human, are we?
But we don't have any choice.
Ok, delete him, this...
Christopher Nobody.
True, Christopher Nobody.
See you later Fred.
Zeno's Paradox.
That is not a coincidence.
That is exactly what Vollmer wanted to express with his drawing.
Christopher Nobody.
I have to talk to Christopher Nobody. Please connect me.
There is no Christopher Nobody anymore, Fred.
He is already in heaven.
No jokes please.
I decoded him, he is gone.
Shit.
Why?
Christopher Nobody knows something.
Knew.
He knew something interesting for me.
I don't think so, Fred.
I programmed nearly everything.
It is a completely regular unit.
I really don't know what you are on about.
Nothing, Fritz, nothing. It was just an idea.
I would like to talk to Einstein. Maybe he knows something.
Please provide me with a projection-connection immediately!
Ok, I will let you know!
Where can I meet Einstein?
In a hotel lobby.
You have only five minutes. Ok?
I had to wait a very long time for you.
Hello Einstein.
Hello.
What's up with you?
It's not everyday that you meet somebody from upstairs.
Look, right now, even I am nothing else than a bundle of electronic circuits.
A projection, if you wish.
Let's sit down.
I just have a few minutes. Therefore it doesn't make much sense.
I would like to find out something about Christopher Nobody.
You have been talking to him.
Do you know why he wanted to kill himself?
Whisky!
He was close to a breakdown.
Why?
He knew everything.
What did he know?
He somehow found out what he really was.
It is impossible to find that out.
Did you blab?
You know very well, that my circuits won't permit that.
He is running out of time.
He has to be back soon.
120 seconds.
We give him a sign in 30 seconds.
I have to go now. Goodbye Einstein.
Zadek, come on Zadek!
I can't stand it! Please take me with you.
You know, that this is absurd.
I will come back.
Don't bother me!
And then, Gerda, we will meet at the restaurant....
What is up with you, young man.
That is really very bad!
Impertinance!
Light?
Thanks.
Everything ok?
Everything ok.
Just.
Just?
I have seen Guenther Lause.
Who?
Please come!
I would like to do a little experiment.
Do you have some time?
Sure.
Listen, I am looking for an identity unit.
Take the listings!
No, I would like to try it the other way round.
I give you the characteristics and you ask for the names.
Ok.
Age?
55.
male, celibate,
University of technology
psychological characteristics?
I would say well tempered,
but avaricious,
drinks quite a lot.
Ok, two minutes.
Eva, it's Fred.
Fred!
Yes?
There are too many! Do you have some more details?
Well, strong smoker, gold sports medal
and collects old watches.
Ok, that should be enough.
Sorry, but, no nothing...
I'm just into an experiment,
but could you come and pick me up?
I would like to see you.
Ok, see you at 6 pm.
I have five! Is that enough?
I hope so. What are their names?
Teiler
Strunz
Kittel
Erdhofer
Lause.
First name?
Guenther.
Guenther Lause.
Didn't you?
Yes.
Which number?
7683.
Who programmed him?
Vollmer himself!
There you are.
Thanks a lot.
Strange.
Guenther Lause?
Tagesanzeiger!
The mystery about the Super Computer!
In your own interest. Please forget everything you experienced so far.
Otherwise your life won't be worth a penny anymore.
Do you have any problems?
One could say so.
Is it about Zeno?
Or maybe about a man called Lause?
Yes, also.
I'm sure you know about the sabotage of the contact connection.
But you don't know, that the police inspector who once interrogated me,
and then, the second time, he didn't even recognise me at all.
And you also don't know, that yesterday night,
the streets, the lights...
... everything in front of me just vanished for some seconds.
You also can't imagine my nausea and my depressions, right?
Well, well.
A street disappeared, and then it reappeared again?
Yes!
Yes.
Ice or soda?
Nothing, thanks.
I have been thinking a lot about you, Stiller.
I think because of the special responsibilty for the simulation model,
because of the specific pressure of your work,
you are overextended, mentally ill.
Look,
every day you rule over a miniature world, that you created, just like a god,
and which seems to convert slowly into your real world.
You can decide to switch entities on and off.
Therefore you develop feelings of guilt, depression, fright.
You need to relax, you need distraction.
I will make a telephone call.
What shall I do?
You have done already the most important step.
You detected it and you realise its characteristics.
You are aware of your problem.
If you continue to work on yourself, you will soon get better.
and also your impaired consciousness will stop.
The best would be to take a holiday.
No way! Not now!
I have to prevent our computer getting taken over by a certain Herrn Hartmann.
I think I had better go now.
Maybe you should try to distract yourself at least sometimes.
And don't brood too much. It's better for you.
Believe me.
I will try it!
Would you like to get in?
That is a very surprising coincidence, isn't it?
It's no coincidence. Dr. Hahn called me.
He had the idea I might be able to distract you a little bit.
And I don't mind.
Me neither.
Gloria!
Now I feel better!
But I won't let me twist around!
Who wants to twist you around?
Siskins.
What do you mean?
Nobody will terrorise me!
I can be as stubborn as Vollmer has been.
Vollmer would have never been allowed to make business deals with his computer.
And I will also refuse it!
Siskins can do what he wants!
Don't you think that Siskins can get dangerous for you?
No, because he needs me.
Come on let's go and play cards.
Good morning Fred.
Good morning Fraeulein Fromm.
Post?
No.
Do you need a headache pill?
No.
Any important telephone calls?
No.
Apart from the fact, that Siskins is urgently waiting for you.
Fraeulein Fromm?
Yes please?
I might have talked quite a lot of weird stuff yesterday night.
You won't take it seriously, will you?
Was really everything weird stuff?
Well, what's up?
I need your help.
We have to do something.
The press is getting a bit impatient.
Just one question, purely profilactic:
Could you explain, in the interest of the entire society, the simulation computer to a layman?
Certainly! I have my convictions which I can explain convincingly.
There you are. I didn't expect anything else!
Let them come in!
Me and my colleague Dr. Stiller
have to give a declaration concerning the simulation model.
Afterwards we have prepared some refreshments for you.
Due to a misunderstanding, there has been some public confusion,
and we would like to take advantage of this oportunity
to clarify this misunderstanding.
Dr. Stiller has, together with Dr. Vollmer, developed the simulation model.
Dr. Stiller is going to give you some explanations
about the new simulation computer.
This computer is not a regular computer,
but an electronic simulation system with an extreme storage capacity.
According to Professor Henry Vollmer
we managed to make a big step towards an autonomous computer.
We created a unique artificial miniature world out of
circuits, electrical impulses, reflexes,
which in the case of functionality, would be able to live its own life,
following our commands of course but with its own dynamics.
Concretely, Dr. Stiller, what is the purpose of that thing?
Obviously, Dr. Stiller is thinking more in the scientific sense,
but if you would like to have some details in the practical sense,
I am at your disposition.
I think what Hahn said about my condition, has helped me.
Now I finally know what is going on with me.
I am sure you will be soon better, Fred.
I am really sorry for the other day.
I was quite trashed.
Hahn says paranoid.
I guess he is probably right.
God I am really glad, that everything is going to get normal again.
Yes, and you know,
after all these stories with the press, television etcetera
I can only hope, that he has built his own trap.
What do you think?
I hope you are right.
Excuse me for a moment.
Of course.
We are going to see each other someday.
Eva?
Say something!
She is not there.
Can I have a lighter please?
Now she has disappeared, just like Lause.
Lause also disappeared.
And everybody forgot about him. Just me,
I have him in my head,
and he doesn't want to get out of my head!
My Eva.
My dear little Eva.
They are going to forget about her too.
But in my head she will stay.
Anyway, my head is quite weird,
It contains things that wouldn't fit into any other head.
Good morning Herr Stiller.
Good morning Fraeulein Fromm.
Headache pills.
One moment.
Yesterday evening I was trying to get hold of you.
Me?
Siskins asked for you.
Siskins?
Where have you been?
Did you meet Eva Vollmer?
In any case, Siskins is expecting you urgently. It is important.
Stiller is here.
He shall come in.
Good morning Stiller.
You look as if you would have been up all night, have you?
Sit down.
What's up?
I would like to present you a new assistant for your technical team.
You know him already from the past.
A really good man. He applied for the position
and I had to take him before somebody else would...
Ahh, that should be him. Come in.
Mark Holm.
Hello.
Hello Mark.
Herr Holm is from now on at your disposal.
Where have you been working until now?
At the TRAU Institute, Fred, but...
Well, isn't that a daughter association of the Vereinigte Stahl AG?
Of course, Fred.
Thank you, I just wanted to confirm that.
1 6 1 2 6 6.
Eva?
God Eva, where were you yesterday night?
I was looking for you everywhere in the house and I couldn't find you.
One moment.
Thank you.
Where were you?
I was in the house, of course.
I must have fallen asleep immediately on the sofa. You just didn't see me.
I searched every corner..
That doesn't matter, Fred.
I apologise that I run away.
I love you. I am happy.
I have been thinking and I am not worried anymore.
I need you, Eva.
Yes, ciao.
Hello Fred.
I've been looking for you.
How are you?
Cigarette?
Oh god, not at all!
Damn, since today, this Mark Holm seems to be everywhere.
I am going to make a connection to Einstein.
I really have to know now, what is going on with him.
Will you join me, Fred?
No, not today.
Ok, see you later.
Hey Fritz!
Fritz! What's up?
Nothing, Herr Stiller.
You are not Fritz Walfang.
You are Einstein.
Oh god, what does it mean?
Let me go.
I don't want to go back.
This is my only chance.
I want to be a human being.
And I will make it.
That was the first step, and I am going to make the next one, too...
... into the real world!
What do you mean with "the next step" ?
You are here in the real world.
Are you going to finish your beer?
No.
That is what you think, Stiller.
But the truth is, that your presumed reality
is equally a simulation model for the real world.
Fred Stiller, the great Computer boss.
You yourself are nothing else than a bundle of electronic circuits.
Identy unit Fred Stiller.
You are a number.
Just as everybody here.
A number in a test station.
Although I must admit in an especially advanced one.
Professor Vollmer knew that.
And that is why he had to die.
Now you know it, too.
That's not true.
Say, that this isn't true.