"Open your eyes." "Open your eyes." "Open your eyes." "David, open your" "Well, I suppose the empty street meant loneliness." "You're a shrink." "You gotta do better than that." "I'm a doctor." "L et's not stereotype each other." "Not all rich kids are soulless and... not all psychologists care about dreams." "The question is howyou got here and whyyou've been charged." "What do you want to kknow?" "I was about to turn 33." "I ran three magazines and a worldwide publishing house." "Most days I fooled myselfinto believing it would last forever." "Isn 't that what being young is about?" "Believing secretly that you would be... the one person in the history ofman... who would live forever." "Where you going so early?" "." "Don't record any more messages on my alarm clock, okay?" "." " Why not?" "." " I'll start to think we're married." "Don't ever say that word." "I will never come over... and bring you chicken soup and fuck your brains out again." "How's your cold?" "." "Still there." "How 'bout yours?" "." "You definitely took my mind off it." "Really?" "." "Yes!" "." ""Juliana" here." "Hi, Rayna." "I missed my audition." "I lost my head!" "No, listen, I have to go." "I'm with David." "Help yourself to whatever." "Maria will clean up." "Set the alarm before you go." "And... you are the greatest." "Bye, honey." "Bye, honey." "I'll call you later." "When?" "." " When?" "." " Soon!" "Did you reserve the court?" "." "Easy." "I can't handle heavy conversation at this ungodly hour." "Sorry to do this early, but I gotta be done by 1 0..00." "You're not gonna makke the 8..45, areyou?" " How did you find me?" "." " DavidAames... you have to checkk the colors forthe new issue of Rise." "What are the colors?" "." "Yellow and red or traditional white." " Gotta think about it." " David, please." "Don't be late for the 1 0..00 with the board." "Don't tell anybody where I am." "I don't care if God calls." " I'm very, very busy." " Yeah." " Can't you get rid of that board?" "." " The Seven Dwarfs?" "." "No." "Those people drive you nuts." "And that was the desire of my father who hired them." "You fucked Julie Gianni again, didn't you?" "." "I know someone was there when I called." "You had that tone." ""No, I got a cold." "I'm hanging in tonight, you know."" "I had a cold." " I was alone." " Fine." "You do what you want with your life." "Thanks." "But one day you'll know what love truly is." "It's the sour and the sweet." "I know sour, which allows me to appreciate the sweet." "Julie Gianni is a friend." "Sometimes we sleep together." "What?" "." "What?" "." " What?" "." " My dream girl..." "Julie Gianni... is your fuck buddy." " What do you wanna listen to?" "." " Slow down, man." "What do we got here?" "." "Barcelona, Looper." "Radiohead?" "." "Look out!" "Look out!" "Fuck!" "We almost died." " I know." " Use your fuckin' head!" "My own death was in front of me, and you know what happened?" "." "Your life flashed before my eyes." " How was it?" "." " Almost worth dying for." "We're at the front door." "We're coming up now." " Good morning, sir." "Sleep well?" "." " Yes, I did." " Eaten yet?" "." " What's that?" "." "Good morning." "David, you were playing racquetball." "I've been covering you for an hour." "I'm saving your ass and you're playing racquetball." "Thankyou, Fritz." "We are now exiting the elevator." "The board is not happy." " Good morning, Beatrice." " Hello, David." "You're in the Post today." "Courtney Love called to see ifyou got her E-mail." "And Graydon Carter and Shelley Wanger called to see if dinner's still on." " Cool." " Art department needs the colors-  yellow and red or white?" "." " Good morning, David." "And did I mention the board is pissed you're late?" "." "Hey, David!" "Hold up!" "Which one?" "." "Wait." "This one?" "." "David!" "Okay, they're all waiting foryou." " You changed your hair." " Yes." "And David... opinions are expected." "Do you dream about the board-- the Seven Dwarfs asyou call them?" "Sneezy, Bashful..." "Sleepy..." "Happy..." "Doc..." "Dopey... and of course, Grumpy." "How was Aspen?" "." "Good." "Now, I want answers and I want them now." "How's it going?" "." "They still lookk at me as ifI was 1 1 years old." "He's going to inherit everything." "He gets it all." "You're scared ofyour dreams, aren't you?" "." "It's a nightmare either way." "Is that how you explain what's happened to you?" "." " What?" "." " What happened to your face?" "." " I'm not talking to you anymore." " You don't wanna show me your face?" "." "No!" " Do you know why you're here?" "." " Conversation, the coffee" "David, the part where we parry and joust... and get to know each other bit by bit" "No." "No can do." "We'll have to skip that because you've been charged with murder." "In four weeks, a judge will determine your fate... based on what I write." " So you will talk to me." " There is no murder." "There is no murder!" "It never happened!" " I don't have to talk to anybody!" " Want me to help?" "." " Get the fuck away from me." " You take it easy, sunshine." "Take it easy, Face." "Your whole story's full of holes!" "Stop." "Stop!" "Please leave right now." "I'll take responsibility." "Please leave right now." "I'll take responsibility." "Please leave right now." "He's got control." "I'm gonna get you, daddy's boy little freak." " My parents are dead, you fuck!" " Enough!" "Is that true?" "." " Good cop, bad cop" " That you're a daddy's boy?" "." "Primer on David Aames Senior." "My father wasn't built forthe 21st century." "He never went to McDonald's, not once." "He never watched television, andyet... his bi ggest magazine is still the TV Digest." "He and my mother threw the grandest parties ofthe literary world." "Ballooned." "Jumped out ofairplanes." "He sought adventure." "His autobiography is the manual... for every cutthroat publisher in New Yorkk City." "It's called Defending the Kingdom." "I've read it." "Page 1 27" "" David Jr. was a delight as a child."" "Did I miss something here?" "." "Was that all he wrote about you?" "." "I don't think he ever got over the fact... that I'm absolutely... terrified of heights." "The irony continues." "When he and my mother were run over by a drunken teenager... on New Year's Eve ten years ago... he left the keys... to the kkingdom... to me." "Fifty-one percent control." "Forty-nine percent going to a group ofseven board members... who all thought they were first in line." "Andyou believe the board-- the Seven Dwarfs-- put you here to take control of your company?" "." "What do you care?" "." "We're just talking." "And tonight's Wednesday night... and I go to Black Angus for dinner with my two daughters on Wednesdays." "So I'll have to leave soon." "You do understand that our time is limited, don't you?" "." "If I talk... you'll just think I'm crazy." "With all the possible respect I can offer a man... wearing a latex mask and spouting conspiracy theories, David... believe me, you've crossed that bridge." "Enjoy your dinner." "There are five basic emotions in life, David." "Tell me, what emotion gripped him... before he entered that cell?" "." "Was it guilt... hate... shame... revenge... love?" "." "I'm completely on the wrong track, aren't I?" "." "Who needs ice?" "." "David, happy birthday." "You have got the greatest taste in shoes, bar none anywhere." " Emma, have you met Lynette?" "." " I fear what we may have in common." "David, did you invite the entire Olympic snowboarding team?" "." "Tonight is my birthday." " Say happy birthday to David." " Happy birthday." "Welcome to Graceland." "Happy birthday, you son of a bitch." "Happy birthday." "Hey, friends of me, hello." "Let the fun ensue." "Living Stereo will be on-line soon." "It is the great John Coltrane." "They would love an article on it." "Ifyou like it, it's an amazing prototype." " Excuse me." " No, no." "Thankyou." "That's okay." " Literary god, Brian Shelby." " Happy birthday." "And all the usual shit people say to each other" " How you doing?" "." " Living the dream, baby." " To what do I owe this pleasure?" "." " The pleasure of Sofia Serrano." "We met today at the library, ifyou can believe that." "Sorry about my coat." "It's too big foryour closet." "We were pretending to be intellectuals." "It's amazing." "I love your coat." "I overdressed." "I mean, I underdressed." "I'll continue like you're both actually listening to me." "Do you have another room to put it in?" "." "I have ceased to exist." "Madison Square Garden is nearby." "It might fit there." "Happy birthday." " We picked it out together." " Thankyou." "We picked it out together." " We." " You're welcome." "Stop flirting and open it." " Let's get a drink." " Yes." "I'll leave this upstairs." " I'll be right back." " Okay." " Listen." " Hey, Tommy." "No, no, don't blow me off." "I'm all packed." "I'm going back to London and I understand." "You put me up for the other attorney's job so you didn't have to fire me." "That's a classy move and your father would have done the same." "It's okay, Tommy." "I became incompetent." "Is there anything more unbecoming than an aging mascot?" "." "I cared foryour father." "I lived and breathed for him." "These guys, the Seven Dwarfs... they thinkyou're stupid-- a corporate hazard, a rogue." "They are gonna find a way to get you out, David." "They're lined up for your office, your life..." "They're lined up foryour office, your life... your position." "They're working day and night... to cheat you out ofyour 51 %% vote." "And they're gonna sell this tradition ofwords... so they can eat in a better cafeteria." "But what they don't know is this." "People will read again!" "I got it." "They even got a nickname foryou behind your back." "Citizen Dildo." "You got great instincts... but I say this with complete love." "Claim your life... learn to be an asshole" "Two's enough." "Forgive me." "I still believe in this family, David... even if it's only you." "Get Tipp out of here." "Drive him home, and in the morning... tell him he's rehired with a 50% raise." "Give him that big office across the hall from the Seven Dwarfs." "And set up a meeting with the other attorneys." "I'm gonna be in early tomorrow." "Well, earlier than usual." "Hello, handsome." "I've come to wish you a happy birthday." "Oh, man." "I didn't invite you,Julie." " That was a little weird." " That's how it works with parties-- you have to be invited." "I'm mad at you, you dick." "We made love four times the other night." " Is that good?" "." " Two's good." "Three is very good." " But four" " Four's pretty good?" "." "Four is" "Four is what?" "." "Hold me, and then I'll leave." "And you can go back and talk to that cute brunette." "Four is what?" "." "I don't wanna meet your fancy friends." "I knew them when I was fancy too." "Four is what?" "." "She looks like a moth." "A moth?" "." "Sometimes I worry about you, that some clever girl... in a big silly coat is gonna come along and play you just right." "Then I'll lose my friend." "And there won't be any chicken soup parties for me and you." "Bad." "When will you call me?" "." "Don't say "soon."" "I hate it when you say "soon."" "Danny Bramson gave him that for his birthday last year." "So this is what's become of rock and roll-- a smashed guitar behind a glass case displayed on some rich guy's wall." "It was a gift, actually." " I like it." " Whoa, whoa, whoa." "So how did you get all this stuff-- this apartment, this life?" "." "I see." "How 'bout ifyou help me, unless I'm horning in here." " You are, but the food's good." " I have a problem." "I got a stalker." "It doesn't sound life threatening." "I need foryou to pretend we are having a scintillating conversation... and you are wildly entertained." " I know it's tough." " I'll improvise." "She's across the room and burning a hole in my back now, isn't she?" "." "Red dress, strappy shoes?" "." "Wow." "She's really staring at you." " Shit." " And she seems to be crying." "Less happy." "I think she's the saddest girl to ever hold a martini." " Jennifer Kelly." " Hi,Jennifer." " You have another apartment." " Sort of a day office." "Come on." " I am not going in there." " I am." "Good night." " I hear her coming." " Really?" "." " Hi." " How are you?" "." "We're safe, but I've got nothing to drink." "Who did these paintings?" "." "This is Joni Mitchell." "This one is Monet." "And this one... was done by me." "It is a snowboard." "Well, two of them are geniuses." "That is the real thing." "His paintbrush painted the vanilla sky." "And his canvas." "My mother's." " I'm surprised you're surprised." " I can't keep this banter going." " Me neither." " I caught you." "Brian, come in here." " What's going on?" "." " Your friends are fun and I'm drunk." " Julie Gianni is stalking me." " She looked dangerous." "Nobody stalks me, so I drink." " We're all out up here." " Finish my Jack and Coke." " Stupid glass." " I got it." " It's the stupid guy holding it." " Don't worry." "No big deal." "I'll go get us something." "Jacks and Cokes?" "." "I better hit it." "I drank too much and I didn't eat." " The party's just starting." " Foryou it is." "You cannot go." "You are my guest of honor." "Fuckyou, David." "You're paying me to write my novel, so you own me." "I don't own you." "You are brilliant, good-looking, handsome." "But why'd you have to hit on Sofia?" "." " I wasn't hitting on Sofia." " Fine." "Whateveryou say." " I'm crazy." "I'm blind." " You're not blind." "You're drinking Jack and when you do you start in with that..." "Frank Sinatra, she shot me down... give me a cigarette king of sad thing." " That I do." "Give me a cigarette." " I'll find one." "Wait." "You're rich and women love you and I'm from Ohio and drunk." " Can I tell you the truth?" "." " Everybody does." "I dig her." "And I've never said this to you before about any girl... but she could be-- could be-- could be-- could be the girl of my fucking dreams." " You're not from Ohio." " I know." "But if she fucks up our friendship, she can go to hell." "I won't allow it." "We are bros." " I feel the same way." " Sure you do." " Hi." " How you doing?" "." " Thankyou." " You're welcome." "Where are you going?" "." "I am Frank, and Frank must go." " What?" "." " I good you bid evening." "Wait." "I'll go with you." " Stay, baby." " I'll give you a ride home later." " No, I have to work tomorrow." " You" "You are in great hands." "I'm just humoring myself that my opinion matters." "You will never know the exquisite pain... of the guy who goes home alone... because without the bitter, baby, the sweet ain't as sweet." "Have a good time." "The sweet and sour speech again." " Why are you scared of heights?" "." " Many people are scared of heights." "It's not the height that bothers me." "It's the impact that terrifies me." "I won't stay long." "Hey, Paolo." "Hello." "I have to take you for a walk." "I'm glad he protects you." "He's a lethal canine." "I love living here, and I refuse to clean up." "No problem." "I have to work around the clock to keep this place." " You really are a dancer." " For 1 4 years." "But I don't dance like you dance." "Do you want something to drink?" "." "Sure." "Hey, beautiful, beautiful boy." "What do you want for dinner tonight?" "." "Do you want fried chicken?" "." "I like your life." "Well, it's mine and you can't have it." "I don't wanna know the story behind this photo." " Who's Sergio?" "." " It's a nickname." " Your nickname is Sergio?" "." " It's a long story." "And we don't know each other." " So many secrets." " That's because I'm an arms dealer." " I've never known an arms dealer." " You do now." "What about you?" "." "What's your nickname?" "." "Citizen Dildo." "You are not staying over." "Never run a company." "Stay an artist." "Stay an arms dealer." "Oh, please." "Somehow I can't play the violin foryou." "Although, it must be difficult controlling all those people's lives." "Everyone at that party is connected to you for survival in some way." "It seems." "Ever been married?" "." "Did you ever accept any ofyour 1 2,000 proposals?" "." "Twelve thousand and eight." "No." "And you moved to New York to dance, paint, act and deal arms?" "." "Right." "Do you wanna hear Jeff Buckley or Vicki Carr?" "." "Jeff Buckley or Vicki Carr?" "." "Both simultaneously." "Everyone said, " Don't go to New York."" "I just think good things will happen... ifyou're a good person with a good attitude." "Don't you think?" "." "You think I'm naive?" "." "No." "I really don't." "I dug her completely." "Somehow I'd found the last semi-guyless girl in New Yorkk City." "I have to get to sleep." "Truthfully, I also work mornings as a dental assistant." "Boy, am I going to the wrong dentist." "Andyou didn't immediately wanna sleep with her?" "Well, you kknow, I'm a pleasure delayer." " How does that work?" "." " Pleasure delayer?" "You don't know?" "." "You keep a relationship casual... until the absolute breakking point." "And then one evening or afternoon or morning-- it could be months from now." "You know how it works." "No, actually I don't." "I've been married for 22 years." "You've got dinner with your daughters." "That's right, I do." "Back then I had intricate systems with women... you wouldn't believe." "Like what?" "." "Hey, Doc, don't get melancholy over the 30 seconds you were single... a long time ago." " That's what you think I'm doing?" "." " Oh, yes." "You might be right." "Let's continue." "Time is not our friend." "Just our shortcomings, that's all we're allowed to draw." "I've never drawn such a true likeness before." "Mine's finished." "Already?" "." "Done." " That's how you see me?" "." " Maybe I didn't add enough money." "No, something you'd see on a wall in a steak house in hell." "It's wonderful." "Sign it." "Let's see yours." "Give me that." "I feel bad." "You said to draw a caricature." "I know." "I couldn't." "I saw you like that." "It's very good." "I'll sell it to you." "You monster." "How much for it?" "." "One kiss." "That smile is gonna be the end of me." "And what happens when your friend calls you tomorrow?" "." "He just met you a few hours before me." "He'd do the same." "I see that friendship is important to you." "It is." "It is." "And as his best friend..." "I know he's trying to finish a novel about inadequacy and rejection." "So the longer that I stay, the better it is for his career." "Your career is the one I'd worry about." "Sorry." "No." "No, you're more right than you even know." "I used to be one of those guys that just... snowboarded through his life... with no focus... whatsoever." "When did you change?" "." "About five minutes ago." "Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around." "And to those who thinkk thatyou're a charlatan?" "I understand." "The perception ofa head frozen somewhere... waiting for reanimation sounds likke science fiction." " What are you watching?" "." " It's the greatest show." "It's called Sofia." "It is at the frontier ofa new science." "Life Extension." "How do you accomplish such a thing?" "I've seen this 30 times." "Life is full ofsurprises." "But the greatest surprise ofall is that this doesn 't have to end ever." "We did a story on this guy." "He owns half of Arizona." " Is he a fraud?" "." " How would you ever know?" "." "Good point." "Can you unfreeze a human life?" "Takke the case ofBenny the dog." "Benny's a dog." "He was frozen for three months and thawed out to live a normal life." "That's comforting?" "." "It's safe for Benny." "I'm in." "We'd better watch out." "Raymond Tooley, creator ofLife Extension." "The bookk is Life.." "The Sequel." " Where are you going?" "." " I left my number on your fridge." "Come here." "I want to tell you a secret." "I meant that to be your forehead." "Thank you for the inspiration." "I will now attempt to run my company showing compassion... for the seething throng of my partners... who root quietly for me to fail." "And for things you don't even know." "Thankyou." "I'm gonna go to work." "I have a company to run." "Pleasure delayer." "Hey, handsome." "You're following me." "Just a little bit." "I wanted to finish what we were talking about." "And?" "." "How did it go with our moth girl?" "." "She turn into a butterfly foryou?" "." "Yes, she did." "She did." "I can tell by the way you were walking you didn't sleep with her." "Let me guess." "You haven't slept with her because... it's more fun when you can draw it out." "Sex just isn't as good if a woman hasn't told her friends... she'd never sleep with you." "Right on the money,Julie." "She must be exhausted from trying to be witty foryou all night." "Hey,Julie." "Sorry." "It's okay." "You never seem to be there foryour friends until they've given up on you." "I'm not blowing you off." "I just" "I wanna be alone for a little bit." "Trust me." "I have a lot of things I have to take care of." "And ifwe're friends, which we are... okay, then you'll understand that." "I'm sorry." "I got weird." "I missed an audition and... it just made me feel bad you didn't invite me to your party." "You wanna make it up to me?" "." "I won't tell a soul." "Would you do a story on me if I made a CD?" "." "Sure I would." "Do you like my music?" "." "It's vivid." "Well, if I weren't me, I would buy a CD by me." "Well, you know, ifyou can reach one person" "Wow." "What's happiness to you, David?" "." "What's happiness to me?" "." " What is happiness-- - 'Cause for me... this is happiness-- just being with you." "There's one thing that bothers me." "Why did you tell Brian that I was your fuck buddy?" "." "I didn't tell him that." "I didn't say that." " When did you stop caring, David?" "." " Caring about what?" "." "About the consequences of the promises that you've made." " Promises?" "." " Yeah, the promises." "I thought" "Get the fuck-- What are you talking about?" "." "Do you understand how hard it is to pretend to be your buddy?" "." "David, I love you." "I fucking love you!" "I fucking love you!" "Fuck!" "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" "Don't do this." "Don't do this." "You fucked me four times the other night." "You've been inside me." "I swallowed your cum." "That means something." "Slow down." "Four times-- it means something." " Four times." " Stop the car." "Twenty-four hours a day, I live with this aching possibility... that you might call me to do something." "Let's go to your house." "I wanna see where you live." "Just slow down." "I want you to stop the car!" "Don't you know when you sleep with someone... your body makes a promise whether you do or not?" "." "Tell me something, David." "Do you believe in God?" "." "What are you doing?" "." "Okay, I love you." "I love you." "Don't do it!" "You're amazing." "Did you get to work all right?" "." "No, actually, I had a horrible dream." "You dreamed you'd never . see me again." "I left your apartment, I went downstairs to the car... and my friend, the stalker, had followed me there." "Yes." "And she wanted to talk to me." "And I remember I had this buzz, you know... that buzz from you and me." "I think my mind was still on that terrible drawing of me." "But she was upset... about" " I don't know." "I got in the car and... she drove off a bridge... and committed suicide with me in the car." "I thought you were going straight to work." "But I survived... with my arm and my face... reconstructed." "And what's worse... is that I can't wake up." "And how was your house after the party?" "." "Party?" "." "What party?" "." "The party." "Remember?" "." "Red dress, strappy shoes." "I spilled something on your shirt." "Sweet and sour." "And the saddest girl to ever hold a martini." "My dreams are a crueljokke." "They taunt me." "Even in my dreams, I'm an idiot... who kknows he's about to wakke up to reality." "IfI could only avoid sleep." "But I can 't." "I try to tell myself what to dream." "I try to dream that I'm flying." "Something free." "It never workks." "Is that the only thing you dream?" "." "I don't" " I don't remember." "Do you dream about the car accident?" "." "Here's whatyou remember from a coma." "Nothing." "What happened next?" "." "What really happened?" "." "What, didn'tyou read the file?" "I was out for three-and-a-halfweeks." "My face and my arm shattered and my jaw was broken in four places." "No surgery could be performed because ofthe coma." "You can't feel the darkness... or numbness." "You can't even feel." "And then..." "I came back to life." "Just like that dog." "Benny." "You know, Benny the dog." "Benny." "Benny the dog." "Only my life was no longer normal." "There are blinding migraines now-- nerve damage." "Why?" "This is how big business operates-- random accidents... a lifestyle mishap." "They are not coincidences." "How do you think airtight contracts are broken?" "." "These are power upheavals." "I'm from Ohio." "We don't have power upheavals." "They are in the news every day right between the lines." "Someone did this to me." "My father wrote about this in his book." "Chapter one, page one... paragraph one" ""What is the answer to 99 out of 1 00 questions?" "." "Money."" "David, lookk, I don't wanna worryyou." "I'm holding them off, but we got a situation here." "The bylaws of the board protect your 5 1 %% vote... only ifyou're mentally acute." "I'm sorry that poor girl died... but you've handed the board a real gift with your mishap." "They'd likke to declare you incapacitated." "But you're backk." "You sound good to me, so let's fight the fuckkers... and have a full recovery." "And maybe you should let people see you, yeah?" "The last time we were together . you were in a coma... and you were very fucking rude to me." "You didn't say a word." "Yes, well, the rumors of my death have been mildly exaggerated." "Who could I trust?" "The ants were takking over the anthill." "Who could I trust?" "The cranial structure was based on 30 pins... and fastened by micro-panels and bits of bone from the mandible." "It appears the cartilage graphs have maintained your cheek structure." "Unfortunately, because you were in a coma" "Doctors." "Theirpower is injargon, so you study up." "Is that the procedure for all bilateral periorbital hematomas... in a LeFort Three fracture of a comatose patient?" "." " In a LeFort Three?" "." " You do your best." "Absolutely." "The potential for intracranial brain damage was too great." "Beyond the cheek grafts, Dr. Pomeranz... are the pins fastened with any kind of aluminum which could ionize... and cause that pressure in my head?" "." " I'm ready for another operation." " We are working on processes." "But you're specifically not at the stage where we can experiment." "Experiment." "Use me." "The headaches will go away." "These are more than headaches." "These are like steel plates slicing through my every thought." "We're not cowboys." "We can't just wing it." "Because I can't think straight most of the time." " We can increase your medication." " Oh, yes, medication." "And there are things that we'll continue to investigate." "However, there are so many others who've not had the aesthetic benefit... of plastic surgery as you have." "This isn't about vanity, Dr. Pomeranz." "This isn't about vanity." "This is about functioning in the world." "It's my job to be out there functioning." "I've got the money." "I'll pay any amount." "Just invent something." "Just play jazz." "You say you're the best face man in New York." "Fucking prove it." " We could do something about your arm." " Fuck my arm!" "Nobody here takes your feelings for granted." "We did prepare something foryou based on the preliminary examination." "Tell me." "Bring it on." "It's sometimes useful in the early stages of rejection." "It's a facial prosthetic." "It was two weeks in the making." " Thankyou, Carly." " You're welcome, Doctor." "A facial prosthetic." "The aesthetic replacement does work... emotionally and actually." "The plastic in the aesthetic shield also blocks out abusive rays... and assists in the regeneration of cells." "So it's an aesthetic regenerative shield." "That's correct." "Exactly." "The ergonomics of the plate barrier allows it to interact reflexively... with the movements ofyour own face." "I see." " It's a helpful unit." " Good." "Because for a minute there, I thought we were talking... about a fucking mask!" "It's only a mask... ifyou treat it that way." "It's great." "This completely takes care of Halloween." "But what about the other 364 days of the year?" "." "A new form ofme began to takke shape." "I planned my reemergence... likke the Normandy invasion." "Sofia." "Sofia." "Sofia Serrano." "I'lljust say it." "I did my homeworkk." "I read every memo." "Thomas Tipp was right." "People will read again." "I attended the monthly board meeting with the Seven Dwarfs by video hookkup." "Because people aren't buying books." " Let's invest." " Oh, baby, this was war." "I grew stronger in ways I'd never kknown before." "And on December 5... my planes filled the skky." "The return ofDavid Aames,Jr..." "Citizen Dildo." "You won't believe this... but this is me smiling." "It's been a long time." "I tried to see you, but your people wouldn't let me." "I didn't want to see me, okay?" "." "But then..." "I woke up today and finally... a good hair day." "You wanna get together?" "." "Sure." " What?" "." " Let's go out and do something." "This weekend." "I'll cancel an operation or two." "We'll have fun... because I am all about fun." "Okkay, folkks, ourfirst guest tonight is an amazing survival story." "Please welcome Benny the dog." "So welcome to the show." "Thankkyou very much for being here." " You bet." "My pleasure." " I have so many questions." "To start off, tell us all what has happened to Benny." "What's Benny been through?" "Well, Benny fell into the water near our home." "And he was frozen in the Skkykkomish River." "In Washington." "I went fishing, thinkking he'd been gone now for three months." "And I see him in a blockk ofice." "He is thawed out now." "Is that correct?" "He's not moving a lot." "I'm worried." "Should I get out some tongs?" "I'm worried about the dog." "No, he's fine." "He'sjust lost a little bit ofhis friskkiness." "I would thinkk so, yeah." "It's David." "I'm back in your life." "I saw you earlier today." "I was just watching our old friend Benny the dog... on Conan... and I thought ofyou." "Whatever." "I loved seeing you today." "So I will see you soon." "You're a great dancer." "Bye." " What you drinkin'?" "." " Nothing." "I'm in the mood for a cheap, sugary, overpriced rum and Coke." " So you want one?" "." " Is there any other kind?" "." "I'll get us some." "Where is the bathroom?" "." "It's behind-- over there by the place... by the girl who looks like Bjork." " I'll be right back." " Maybe I should" "Hey, man, you look good." "How's your book?" "." " Take it off." " No, this is a facial shield." "It's an aesthetic prosthesis these fucking doctors" "Take off the mask, man." "It's freaking me out." "I can't." "It's my face." "This is my face." "Trust me." "It's a little different." "Ifyou're embarrassed, just go." "Nobody asked you to chaperone." " Sofia asked me." " What?" "." "She didn't want to be alone with me?" "." "That's bullshit!" "Because I think I'm being pretty fucking cool about this whole thing." "Talk to a shrink." "Oryou can call me sometime instead of hiding in your apartment." "Don't take it out on a girl you only met once." "Did she say that-- once?" "." "Did she say that I met her once?" "." "Just cut it out, okay?" "." "I miss the old you." "We all miss the old you... because the new guy is shit." "That came out wrong." "I love you." "Period." " How's your arm, man?" "." " Fuckyou, Brian." "How 'bout... no sympathy." "How 'bout that's the deal we make, okay?" "." "Give me a Budweiser and a shot of tequila." "What kind of tequila?" "." " What did you say to me?" "." " I said, what kind of tequila?" "." "Why don't you ask me to my face, bitch?" "." "Patron, if you have it." " This is on the house." " Why?" "." "It just is, bitch." "Patron!" "Dude, fix your fucking face." " Hello again." " Hello again." "Idea." "Let's start over." "How 'bout ifyou help me?" "." "Unless I'm horning in here." "Oh, you are, but the food is good." "See, I've got this little problem." "I've got a stalker." "Doesn't sound life-threatening." "I need a cover." "I need foryou to pretend that we're having a scintillating conversation... and you are wildly entertained." "I know it's tough." "I'll improvise." "I don't talk like that." "She's right across the room." "She's burning a hole in my back now." "Red dress, strappy shoes." "That's right." "I think she is the saddest girl... to ever hold a martini." " Are you okay?" "." " No." "Why?" "." "What's wrong?" "." "Is it me?" "." " Is it me?" "." " I'll tell you later." " I'll tell you later." " Something's wrong." "Tell me now." "Talk about it all right now." " Talk about it." "Get it all out." " I'll tell you later!" "Say everything now." "Just say everything now." "Now!" "Now!" "Now!" "I'll tell you in another life, when we are both cats." "I can't believe you just said that." "That is the greatest thing that I've ever heard." "That's hilarious that you said that." "See, that" " You said that." "That is what I love about you." "That's hilarious." "I'll tell you in another life, when we are both cats." "Cats!" "Cats!" "Well, this is where I leave you." "I'll walkyou to your door." " I live just around the corner." " I've got my bike here." " I'd rather walk." " Don't be a drag." "Can't you see she wants to go on her own?" "." "Shut up." "You're drunk." "I may be an idiot, but I'm not drunk." "Seriously, I don't need you to walk me home." "Thankyou." "Okay, then." "So we'll call you." "We'll go catch a movie or something." "So we'll meet up soon." "We'll meet up soon." "We'll call you again to go out with me!" "We'll call you." "It's been a real blast." "I bid you good evening." "Wait, wait." "Where are you going?" "." "My bike-- it's back over there." "We'll hang soon." "And bring your mask ifyou want." "I'm getting used to it." "Wait a minute." "What?" "." "I don't know." "You drank a little too much." "Call me tomorrow ifyou want." "Tomorrow I'll wish I was dead." "No, you won't." "You just need to sleep." "What?" "." "What did you say to Julie Gianni the night of the accident?" "." "What?" "." "You told her she was a fuck buddy." "Never." "She was a little more than pissed about it." "Have you been harboring this shit all along?" "." "I never talked to her." "Whatever." "Anyway... who am I if I can't be the one to tell you you're not ugly?" "." "Come on." "Give me a courtesy laugh." "Oh, Brian, I'm so fucked up." "I'm just so fucked up." "Hey, Brian, come on." "We're best friends!" "We're bros!" "Come on, man, we're bros." "Open your eyes." "This is a cheap ploy for sympathy." "I'm okay." "I'm okay." "And it worked." "Get up." "I agree." "This is a joke." "I'm not gonna lie to you." "I liked the way you looked." "But... you have to pull it the fuck together." "Because if not, I'll forget the other guy." "You know that other guy?" "." "You." "I'm still that guy." "I'm still that guy." "I don't have a mother-savior bone in my body." "It's not about that." "You are coming inside." "But if this turns out to be a big mistake..." "I do have the ability to fall out of love with you... like that." "We created our own world together." " I am still that guy." " Shut up." "Us versus them." " Where's Brian?" "." " Brian?" "." "He went with you, didn't he?" "." "I thought you guys hooked up." "I wish you hadn't gotten in the car with that girl." "Sofia, I" "Your eyes apologize better." "Come on." "Holy God, this is going to change my life... in a zillion different ways." "I must be nuts." "And we were quite a pair." "Herbelieving in me, me believing that..." "I actually deserved it." "I see you haven't been wasting your time." "Do you ever draw anything else?" "." "Did you sleep last night?" "." "No, I did not sleep." "Got to leave early today, so you'll have to be brief." "Now, what can you tell me... about the name "Ellie"?" "." "Ellie." "Is that a girl you knew, a girl you were in love with?" "." "I've only been in love once." "Apparently, you kept repeating it last night." "You did sleep, David." "Your advisor said you cried out." " You had a nightmare." " Everything's a nightmare." "You cried out for Ellie, David." "Do you rememberwhat happened?" "." "Dig deep, David." "Dig deep." "You cried out for Ellie." "What do you remember about Ellie?" "." "Show me your face, David." "Help me open the door." "It's true you had an accident." "It's true you were disfigured." "But not anymore." "Do you remember?" "." "They did fix your face." "Take off that mask, David." "You'll see your face is perfect under there." "I never trusted the doctors." "What happened next was surreal." "That same arrogant bastard, Dr. Pomeranz, called me." "Suddenly he was my new best friend." "David!" "Hey, my brother." "I felt really bad about our last conversation." "He said he'd discovered a new form of reconstructive surgery... with the help of a doctor from Berlin." "Hello." "Next thing I knew, they shot me full of drugs I'd never heard of... and away we went." "What ifGod was one ofus" "Just a slob likke one ofus" "Trying to makke his way home" "He's got a good voice." "Fifty-five." "The odds, they said, were one in three... that the headaches could be reduced by 50 percent... and facial tissue could be regenerated." "The first to incorporate the concept of endoscopic periorbital fiber optics." "Where are we gonna eat later?" "." "I can't even tellyou what they did." "It seemed likke science fiction to me." "Madonna had that song, " Borderline."" " That was a hell of a song." " And another snip." "This is gonna be one good-looking guy when I'm done." "Obviously, I was suspicious." "Wouldn't you be?" "." "Suspicious ofwhom, ofwhat?" "." "Doc... once you've been driven off a bridge at 80 miles an hour... somehow you don't invite happiness in without a full body search." "At the risk of boring you..." "I can present the alternate argument." "I once knew a guy... who was a real loner." "One day he woke up at 40... with two daughters that lit up his life with purpose... and he suddenly goes to endless school plays... and he gets home at 9:20 for the evening discussion... and he has the time of his life." "His favorite Beatle was once John, and now it's Paul." "I always liked George." "It all depends on the individual, doesn't it?" "." "Tell me, what's happiness for you?" "." "What's happiness to you, David?" "." " How 'bout another question?" "." " You won't show me your face." "Will you?" "." "So back to the time line." "Hurry." "Let's move through this." "What?" "." "You've got to take the plates off." "I don't want to know what's under here." "It's gonna be fine." "You'll see." " I'll go tomorrow." " Today." "I already called Pomeranz and switched it to Wednesday." "What?" "." "I hope that woman at the front desk gave you shit about it." "Another day won't matter." "Besides, the Mustang will be fixed." "The plan was going in the Mustang." "The Mustang's not ready." "So we'll go tomorrow in the Mustang." " Good." " We'll go when it's fixed." "I know that the problem... wouldn't be you delaying something you were dreading." "Couldn't be that." "Couldn't be that." "I mean" "I mean, I agree." "I think it's very important... to have... the right car... to take you... where you want to go..." "24 hours a day." "How bad is it?" "." "Well, your ears are in the right place." "And the rest of it... is not too bad at all." "It's perfect." "Do you love me?" "." "I mean, really love me?" "." "Because ifyou don't..." "I'll just have to kill you." "You see, my next life?" "." "In my next life..." "I'm gonna come back as this mole right here." "Seriously, this mole." "You'll have to wear bikini tops to work and loose-fitting shirts... so that I can breathe." "I love you." "Love you." "I love you." "I can live right there." "Is this a dream?" "." "Absolutely." "We talkked about the big things, the little things... and the big things." "But in truth, with Sofia... it was the in-between times." "What did she say?" "." "I have no idea." " How's things, Brian?" "." " Fine." " How's things?" "." " Don't flatter yourself." "I'm fine." "Besides, Sofia is great but by no means one of a kind." "She was a proximity infatuation." "And don't use that." "It's mine." "Thanks." "Where'd you get this camera?" "." "I'm into things." "You have no idea, my friend." "Just as long as you're okay." "And anyway, we're friends, aren't we?" "." " Always." " That's right." "What's up with your face?" "." " Fuck!" " What?" "." "There's a seam opening!" " David Aames." " You fucking asshole." "I know." "Was I snoring?" "." "I think it was me." "I was thirsty, that's all." "I'm dreaming about you." "I could listen to you say "mmm"... for the rest of my life." "Baby, what's wrong?" "." "Where is she?" "." "Who?" "." "Who?" "." "I'm Sofia." "Now, I'm gonna make sure that I tie it four times." "You know why, Julie?" "." "Because four times really means something." "David, don't hurt me." "I'm freaked out." "It worked." "You kknowyou're not gonna get away with this... so tell me now, where is Sofia." "I am Sofia." " Where's Sofia?" "." " I am Sofia!" " Where is she?" "." " I am Sofia!" "I'm calling the police, and you can tell it to them." " You survived the accident." " What accident?" "." "Whose body was it?" "." "It was the Seven Dwarfs." " I wasn't in an accident." " You're trying to steal my life!" "Of course you weren't in an accident." "Now it's fucking attempted murder!" "I'm Sofia." "Please." "Tell it to them." "This is David Aames." "I need help." "I have an intruder-- I've captured an intruder... who's entered my home." "God." "Wake up, man." "Are you for real?" "." "Kept me waiting here for three hours." "They won't even tell me any news." "These guys think that I had something to do with this." "Give us a minute here, yeah?" "." "Detective Larson, Detective Andrews, thanks very much." "They think that I had something to do with this." "I'm gonna handle this exactly the way your father would." "I've got it solved." "You got it solved?" "." "Where is she?" "." "She's gonna be fine." "Now, this whole file is gonna" "Thank God you're here, man." "It's okay." " I love her." " Yeah." "Right now I want you to look at these photos, then I'm gonna destroy them." "Sofia's testimony is also in here." "It won't exist." "She's not gonna press charges." "Press charges against me?" "." "David, wake up." "Now, as a friend..." "I thinkyou should see what you did to Sofia." "The press won't get hold of this ifyou get away quickly." "The press won't get hold of this ifyou get away quickly." "Tommy, this is Julie." "This is not Sofia." "This is Julie Gianni." "I didn't do this to her." "Tommy, someone's setting me up." "David, the board and I have taken care of everything." "Okay, they've been really great, really great, actually." "All this is gonna disappear." "We're all behind you, even the board." "Get out of here." "This is a revolution of the mind." "You're in fuckin' sad shape!" "Don't fucking ever hit a girl." "Hit me, but don't fucking ever hit a girl!" "Listen to me." "It wasn't Sofia." "It was Julie." " It was Julie." " It was Julie Gianni." "Yes." "So Sofia was abducted by Julie... and now Julie is posing as Sofia." "You're in O.J. land, man." "Julie Gianni is fucking dead!" "I don't care what they told you, I can assure you Julie Gianni is alive." " She is alive." " I didn't talk to them." "I talked to Sofia." " Where is she?" "." " I just dropped Sofia off." "I saw everything you did to her." "Let me tell you something." "I did not do that to her." "Look at me." "Look me in the eye." "You tell me that's the girl you brought to the party." "You tell me that that's your dream girl... your proximity infatuation." "Yes!" "And you stole her from me." "The one girl I really wanted, and you took her from me." "You're insane." "You're losin' it, man." " You have revealed yourself." " Oh, yeah." "I'm with them." "Where'd you get the coat, Brian?" "." "Where'd you get the camera?" "." "How much did they pay you?" "." "Listen to me, 'cause this is the last time we're ever gonna speak." "I was your only friend." "You have revealed yourself to me." "Problems?" "." "I'm in no mood to be fucked with, so do yourself a favor" "There's an explanation for all this, David." "You and I know each other." "You found me on the Internet." "I'm here to help you, David." "Who the fuck are you?" "." "Why are you following me?" "." "First of all, it's very important that you calm down." "Calm down?" "." "Calm down." "You must overcome your fears and regain control." "Take ahold ofyour life again, David." "It's as easy as holding that glass." "What if I were to tell you that you can take control... of all of this, everything?" "." "Even me." "Look, I'm straight." "Okay?" "." "David, look at all these people." "Seems as though they're just all chatting away, doesn't it?" "." "Yeah." " Nothing to do with you." " No." "And yet... maybe they're only here because you wanted them to be here." "You are their god." "Not only that, but you can make them obey you or even destroy you." "Well, what I'd love for them to do is shut the fuck up." "Especially you." "You see?" "." "You and I signed a contract, David." "Who is the man in the restaurant?" "Who is it?" "I can't" "Can you tell the difference between dreams and reality?" "." " Of course." "Can you?" "." " Think about it." "Think with your head." "You signed a contract... did you not?" "." "I signed something." "Was the man in the restaurant there?" "." " Fuck" " Accept your body's resistance." "Let your head answer." "Sign the contract, David." " Yes." " That's right." "Who is Ellie?" "." " I don't know what's real." " What happened that night?" "." " Somebody died." " I don't want to remember." "You hold the keys to this prison." " It wasn't Sofia." " Who was it?" "." " No." " Who was it?" "." "I'm afraid of howpowerful this is." "You wanna let it out, don't you, David?" "." "You're about to tell me." "Tell me... what your heart and soul will not allow you to forget." "Did you kill Sofia?" "." "I thought you were a vandal." "Who are you?" "." "I'm Sofia." "You are not..." "Sofia." "I'm Sofia." "Whatever." "We're gonna be together again." "You're gonna forget about Juliana and we're gonna be together." "I'm not gonna be afraid ofyou anymore." "I'm gonna get you a cold towel." "I'll be right back." "I love you." "Pleasure delayer." "Sofia?" "." "I am Sofia." "I love you." "Oh, I missed you so much." "Where were you?" "." "Forget it." "I don't need to know." "It doesn't matter." "Just tell me that you love me." "I love you." "What is happiness to you, David?" "." "For me... it's being here with you." "What the fuck... is happening?" "." "What is fucking happening?" "." "David was a real delight as a child." "Oh, God!" "I'm so afraid ofhow powerful this is!" "Oh, David!" "That is the greatest thing I've everheard." "In another life when we are both cats." "What's happening?" "." "Hey, man, what's happening?" "You bitch!" "I don't wanna see your face!" "I did it, didn't I?" "." "But I don't feel like I killed someone." " David..." " I feel like..." " who was the man..." " I'm in a dream." "at the restaurant?" "." "Sometimes... the mind behaves as if it were in a dream." "Faces change." "People become other people." "The subconscious is a powerful thing." "You treated Julie carelessly, didn't you?" "." "Your feelings of responsibility or guilt over Julie... might have easily turned Sofia into Julie." "Do you know what derangement is?" "." "I need your help." "All I know is, you killed your girlfriend... and I don't know what's in your mind." "I need your help." "I would work on this case forever if I could, but we're out of time." "What will you plead?" "." "Temporary derangement." "That's your best chance." "I don't think they'll believe me." "What do you believe?" "." "Believe it or not, I care about you." "You've become like family to me." "I don't want to give up on you, David, but I needed more." "I needed" "I needed an answer." "I mean, I even thought there was more than a good chance... somebody was playing a trick on you." "Maybe it was the board." "But I can't exceed my duties." "I'm just a psychologist." "And I have to go now." "Will I see you at the trial?" "." "No, I'm" "I'm just the opening act." "Reassurance is our specialty." "That is the Life Extension credo." "Benny is a dog who was frozen for three months... and thawed out to live a normal life." "Life Extension can translate to the human form too." "How do you accomplish such a thing?" "Seventy-two cryonized patients... are currently held at our facility in New Brunswickk." "And we feature the finest scientific technicians on the planet." "McCabe!" "Come back!" "Life Extension Corporation, please." " Can I help you?" "." " LE." "We hold a court order." "I think I've been here before." "Her name is Libby." "Good morning, Mr. McCabe." "I'm Libby." "I'm here to assist you." "He's my son." "He's very shy." "You're not with the media or a part of any legal consortium, correct?" "." "No." "Welcome to Life Extension." "Take a look at our proposal." "Please follow me." "You can wait out here." "You'll be meeting Rebecca Dearborn... my personal role model." "I didn't need the pain anymore." "I already experienced that." "They want you to lay down and die." "Life Extension wantsyou to live." "I don 't thinkk that God disapproves ofthis." ""Cryonization:" "a journey ofreawakkening... after the preservation of the human body at extremely low temperatures."" "They laughed at Jules Verne too." "You are not" "Mr. McCabe, how are you?" "." "I'm Rebecca Dearborn." "Life Extension, or LE as we like to refer to it... is a glimpse of the future." "It's a ticket." "Not in the juvenile sense, but in the deeply meaningful sense... that can only be born in the human heart." "The DNA codes of the human body have been broken." "Soon, heart ailments, cancer... so much more will be a thing of the past." "Very simply, your anguish, your discontent... even your death is no longer necessary... in a traditional sense." "Whatever malady hides behind that mask, it's temporary." "Within an hour ofyour passing..." "LE will transferyour body to a vessel... where you will be sealed and frozen at 1 96 degrees below zero." "Power outtages, earthquakes-- nothing will affect your suspension hibernation." "Did you sign a contract with these people, David?" "." "What's the Lucid Dream option?" "." "Good choice." "The Lucid Dream is Life Extension's newest option." "For a little extra... we offer the cryonic union... of science and entertainment." ""Cryo-tainment."" "Some find this presentation helpful." "I have a universe" "Inside me" "Portrait ofa modern human life." "American, male... birth and death." "Imagine that you are suffering from a terminal illness." "You'd likke to be cryonized, but you'd rather be resurrected... to continue your own life as you kknow it now." "LE offersyou the answer." "Upon resurrection... you will continue in an ageless state... preserved but living in the present... with a future ofyour choosing." "Your death will be wiped from your memory." "Your life will continue as a realistic workk of art... painted byyou, minute to minute... andyou'll live it with the romantic abandon ofa summer day... with the feeling ofa great movie... or a pop songyou always loved" "with no memory ofhow it all occurred... save for the kknowledge... that everything simply improved." "In any instance of discontent... you'll be visited by technical support." "It's alljust around the corner." "The day after tomorrow, another chapter begins seamlessly." "A living dream." "Life Extension 's promise to you." "Life, part two." "A living dream." ""Your death will be wiped from your memory."" "I guess I missed that one in USA Today." "A dream." "What if there was a mistake?" "." "What if the dream became a nightmare?" "." "Of course your subconscious can always play tricks on you." "The subconscious is a very powerful thing." "Did you sign a contract with these people, David?" "." "But this is a serious business." "The Lucid Dream is worth the risk." "And what is any life if not the pursuit of a dream?" "." "The dream of peace... the dream of achievement... the dream of hearing someone say these words... when they really, truly mean them." "I love you, David." "I love you." "Roam free, David." "Most of us live our whole lives... without any real adventure to call our own." "It's hard to comprehend." "But they laughed at Jules Verne too." "This... is a revolution... of the mind." "I wanna wake up!" "Tech support!" "Hey!" "Face!" "It's a nightmare!" "Tech support!" "Tech support!" "David Aames." "I think it's time we had a proper reintroduction." "I'm Edmund Ventura from the Oasis Project." "Formerly Life Extension, LE." " Tech support." " Yes." "Yes, I'm your tech support... and we first met 1 50 years ago." "Oh, shit." "You sold me the Lucid Dream." "What the hell happened?" "." "I tried to warn you in the bar." "I told you you must exercise control, that it all depended on your mind." "All of this... everything is your creation." "And now we're heading toward your true moment of choice." "True moment of choice?" "." "Yes." "When did the Lucid Dream begin?" "." "Remember the day of the nightclub?" "." "We'll meet up soon." "That night, afterSofia leftyou and you fell asleep on the pavement... that was the moment that you chose for the splice." " Splice?" " Splice." "The end ofyour real life and the beginning ofLE's L ucid Dream." "A splice ofmany, manyyears which passed... while you were frozen and dreaming." "From the moment you wokke up on that street... nothing was real in the traditional sense." "Open your eyes." "Your L ucid Dream is monitored by Life Extension... and a panel of experts who are followingyour every thought... even at this moment." "Forgive me." "I'm blowing your mind." "I'm not a big fan of heights." "I know." "We erased what really happened from your memory." " Erased?" "." " Replaced." "By a better life... under these... beautiful, Monet-like skies." "My mother's favorite." "A better life because you had Sofia." "You sculpted your Lucid Dream out of the iconography ofyouryouth." "An album cover that once moved you." "An album cover?" "." "There are some things... that you're not old enough to understand just yet." "A movieyou saw once that showedyou what a father could be likke... or what love could be likke." "This was a kind woman... an individual... more than your equal." "You barely knew her in real life, but in your Lucid Dream... she was your savior." "What happened in my real life?" "." "Something happened." "What did you erase?" "." "Do you really want to know?" "." "Tell me everything." "The morning afterthe nightclub, you wokke up on that street... hung over and alone." "You got up, walkked away." "You never saw Sofia again." "I didn't kill Sofia." "You battled your board for control of the company..." "You battled your board for control of the company... and in the end it was Thomas Tipp, yourfather's friend... the man whosejob you saved... who wrenched the company backk into your control." "T ommy." "But then... somebody died." "You longed forSofia." "You shut yourselfaway for months." "You were alone." "You couldn't stand the pain anymore, the headaches." "You could barely function." "I foundyou on the Internet." "I signed a contract with you, and then" "I remember." "Somebody died." "It was me." "And on a day in late December... you gave yourselfto us." "You're now in a suspended state." "Your friend Brian Shelby threw a three-day memorial in your old home." "He was a true friend." "You were missed, David." "It was Sofia who never fully recovered." "It was she who somehow kknewyou best... and likke you, she never forgot that one night... where true love seemed possible." "Consequences, David." "It's the little things." "The little things." "There's nothing bi gger, is there?" "." "Your subconscious did create problems." "Your dream turned into a nightmare." "The glitch has been corrected." "So all I have to do is imagine something." "Like, if I wanted..." "McCabe to come back right now" "Listen to me." "These people are dangerous." "We're in trouble." "We need to get off this roof now." "We're now on pause... and you're about to return to your Lucid Dream." "With all the upgrades... you won't remember any of this... nor will you be charged for technical support." "It's now your moment of choice." "You can return to your Lucid Dream and live a beautiful life... with Sofia or whomeveryou wish... oryou can choose the world out there." ""The world out there."" "And you can bring me back... just like Benny the dog?" "." "Yes." "Just like Benny the dog." "Your face and body can be fixed now, of course." "But things are very different now... and your finances won't last long." "Your panel of observers are waiting foryou to choose." "There are no guarantees... but remember... even in the future... the sweet is never as sweet... without the sour." "How do I wake up?" "." "The decision is yours." "And I chose this scenario, didn't I?" "." "Yes, to face your last remaining fear of heights." "David, don't listen to him." "You were right." "This is the seven dwarfs." "It's a setup!" "You can't trust him." "Don't feel bad for him, David." "This winning man is your creation." "It's in his nature to fight for his existence, but he's not real." "I'm real." "I'm real." "I have two daughters... and you know that." "What are their names?" "." "I'm real." "I'm mortality as home entertainment?" "." "This cannot be the future!" "Can it?" "." "Can it?" "." "Good-bye." "It's been a brilliant journey of self-awakening." "And now you've simply got to askyourself this" "What is happiness to you, David?" "." "I want to live a real life." "I don't want to dream any longer." "Any last wishes?" "." "Let them out there read my mind." "I wish you well, David." "Look at us." "I'm frozen, and you're dead." "And I love you." "It's a problem." "I lost you when I got in that car." "I'm sorry." "Do you remember what you told me once?" "." "That every passing minute... is another chance to turn it all around." "I'll find you again." "I'll see you in another life... when we are both cats." "Relax, David." "Open your eyes." "Open your eyes."