" Mr. Hamilton?" "." " Yes?" "." "Scarsdale is next." "Good day?" "." " You?" "." " Very productive." "Got the roses out in back all trimmed." "Oh, letter this morning from Sally." "Sam's finished internship." "Starts practice next week." "Well, he should specialize." "That's the only thing now." "Maybe he just wants to get the feel of things." "Our little girl's done all right." "Something wrong?" "." "That phone call last night?" "." "What about it?" "." "I heard you pacing around in the study afterwards till almost 2:00." "Just a crazy prank." "Look, Emily, it was nothing." "Art?" "It's me again." "Arthur?" "Look, I don't know who you are, but" " Charlie Evans!" " Stop saying that." "Charlie Evans is dead." "Now I want you to stop this... or I'll be forced to call the police." "There are two trophies on the fireplace... nearthe tennis team picture." "Pick up the phone and walk over to them." "Go ahead." "You know the cord will reach." " Are you there?" " Yes." "In the picture, you and I are standing... with our arms around each other's shoulder." "We're both wearing the same kind of wristwatch." "Remember, we gave them to each other after winning the doubles at Princeton?" "Y es." "Okay." "Take the doubles trophy there... and turn it over." "One edge ofthe felt is loose." "Pull it back." "You scratched it there, down in the locker room after we won the finals." "Remember?" "With your belt buckle." "I" "I had forgotten." "I didn 't." "It can't be you." "Okay, now." "Listen very carefully." " Didyou get the address today?" " Y es." "Good." "You're to use the name Wilson." "You can't be Charlie." "You just don't come back." "I'm alive!" "More alive than I've been in the past 25 years." "You've got to come tomorrow." "Listen." "Ifyou don't show up, that's it." "Think, for Pete's sake." "What have you got now?" "What?" "I don't know." "Tomorrow.Just past noon." "Remember, use the name Wilson." "I-- don't know." "I won 't call again, buddy." "Is it that call again?" "." "Stop cross-examining me every time the phone rings." "Understand?" "." "Perfectly." "I'm sorry." "Excuse me." "You're excused." "Any fever?" "." "No.Just old faithful." "Make an appointment to see Dr. Hogan tomorrow." "I will." "Promise?" "." "Promise." "Thankyou." "Therefore... in view of the differential... between your present equity" "Between your present equity and the amount necessary... for capitalization... we cannot extend the loan you require." "Should your equity" "Where?" "." ""Should your equity."" "Should your equity increase, do not hesitate to call on us... for a personal reappraisal, et cetera, et cetera." "Standard closing." "Yes, sir." "My name is Wilson." "I was told to" "I was told to come here." "Look, is this the place, or isn't it?" "." "They aren't here anymore." "I got it wrote down." "Thankyou." "Move it!" "Let's go!" "Let's go, you bunch of idiots." "Get that beef cut down." "Damn!" "Get that truck going and get the meat the hell out of here!" "What are you gonna do, take all day?" "." "Don't let those hooks fall off!" "Let's move it." "Okay, Johnny, get us another truck up here." "Tighten up with it." "Ah, Mr. Wilson." "Let's go on the truck with it." "Surely this isn't" "No, sir." "Come with me." "Let's go, Frank!" "Move that truck off!" "Come on!" "Let's hook it off!" "Hook off!" "Don't just stand there." "Move that beef off the line!" "Let's go!" "What are you, a bunch of jerks?" "." "Come on!" "Go!" "Go!" "Come on." "Cut it down." "Coming in!" "Coming in!" "All right, come on." "Move!" "Keep moving that beef up." "Cut it down." "Let's go." "Would you step in, please, sir?" "." "I'd much prefer to ride in front, ifyou don't mind." "I'm sorry, sir." "The customers are asked to ride in the back." "Your hat, sir." "It's only a short ride." "Thankyou." "We're here, sir." "Would you take the elevator to your left, sir?" "." "Ah, Mr. Wilson." "Will you come this way?" "." "Yes." "There will be a short delay." "Perhaps you'd like some tea and a sandwich." " Thankyou." " Quite all right." "Make yourself comfortable." "Here we go." "Pardon me." "Could you tell me the way out of this building?" "." "Excuse me." "I was wondering ifyou could" "Excuse me." "I'm trying to find" "Excuse me." "I'm trying to find my way out of the building." "I have a gentleman here who wishes to leave the building." "That would be Mr. Wilson." "Wouldyou have him return to Mr. Ruby's office?" "Mr. Ruby is waiting for him there." "They want you at the end of the corridor again." "Yes." "All ri ght." "Thank you." "Ah, there you are, Mr. Wilson." "Come in." "Please." "Would you close the door?" "." "Please, sit down." "My name is Ruby." "I've been assigned to go over the circumstances ofyour death with you." " What?" "." " I know this seems strange to you." "That's why I'm here." "You probably have a lot of questions." "Of course, the subject might appear indelicate, but most of our clients" "Get this straight." "I am not a client." "Oh, precisely, Mr. Wilson." "You are not a client yet." "Let me start by explaining the cost factor involved." "To begin with... the procedure is a rather complex one." "Seems to be your supper." "The chicken looks delicious." "No, thankyou." "As I was saying, the cost runs in the neighborhood of $30,000." "I know this seems rather high, but in addition to... the rather extensive cosmetic renovation... by way of plastic surgery foryou..." "CPS has to provide a fresh corpse... that perfectly matches... your physical dimensions and medical specifications." "CPS?" "." "Cadaver Procurement Section." "Sure you don't want this chicken?" "." "Absolutely sure." "Oh, pity." "The next step... is the carefully planned obliteration... of identifiable portions of the cadaver... before it is found." "Features, dental structure." "Fingerprints." "We can't leave anything to chance." "No, I guess not." "Would you mind if" "Please." "Thankyou." "Now, there is a problem that the circumstances ofyour death... must be simple." "A simple accident, strangely enough, is costly, Mr. Wilson." "The trick lies in obliterating just so much and no more, so that... an identification still can be made based on... as I say, general dimensions... plus a credible sequence of events." "Witnesses, et cetera." "The whole thing must be very carefully staged." "We guarantee a death of this kind." "Excuse me." "Delicious!" "They have a wonderful way... of baking cheese on it so that it gets very crispy." "Now, there are any number ofways you can be found." "Excuse me." "I mean, your body can be found." "The victim of some kind of machinery, an explosion." "A hunting misadventure." "Oh, but I think these are somewhat too gross foryou." "I had thought perhaps a hotel room fire." "Would you like me to outline the circumstances?" "." "No, thankyou." "Oh, good." "I was hoping you would agree." "No!" "I mean, I can't be sure." "Oh, of course." "We can't expect you to decide all at once." "Think it over." "There's so much else to be done, Mr. Wilson... but if I may say so... death selection may be the most important decision in your life." "Here are the trust instruments." "Mr.Joliffe, Mr. Brown." "My colleagues." "Now, this is your revised will... drawn in accordance with the requirements of the trust." "They're all predated, of course, to save you the trouble." "It's standard procedure." "Effective at the time ofyour death... the trust provides for very liberal settlements... on your wife and daughter... and more than sufficient funds... foryour financial needs in your new identity... from sums assigned to us as your trustees." "Insurance policies... annuities... real estate." "Ifyou'll sign right here." "The staging here is rather authentic, you'll see." "Of course, the drug made it easier to manipulate you... into the proper positions and attitudes." "Rest easy, Mr. Wilson." "You did not ravage our girl." "Of course, the photography is not too professional... but I think it's clear enough." " So now it's" " I have a message from Charlie." "He wanted me to tell you that rebirth is painful." "You were going to say..." ""So now it's blackmail," eh, Mr. Wilson?" "." " What would you call it?" "." " Just kind of insurance." "Isn't it easier to go forward when you know you can't go back?" "." "But you knew that, didn't you?" "." "The minute you hung up on Charlie after that first call." "Ah, sure you did." "You're saying..." "I can never go back?" "." "Fact is, you really don't want to go back." "Sakes, boy, you owe yourself this thing." "Rebirth." "Life again." "Begin again, all new, all different." "The way you always wanted it." "You've got another chance." "Heck, nobody's gonna miss you, are they?" "." " My wife." " What are you to her now?" "." " We get along." " What does that mean?" "." "There's my daughter." "We don't see much of her, actually." "She lives out west with her husband." "She writes now and then... to let us" "What are you to her now?" "." "Excuse an old fool prying, son... but what does it all mean?" "." "It can't mean anything now, anymore." "There's nothing anymore, is there?" "." "Anything at all?" "." "I expect to be president of the bank before too long." "And I have my boat in the summer." "We have friends." "Anything at all?" "." "Guess I... never thought much about it before." "I leave Emily pretty much alone to do what she" "We get along, as I said." "We hardly ever quarrel." "Not that that's any... measure of our lives." "Frankly... during the last few years, we... hardly ever... ever" "I" " I don't know why I'm telling you this." "Because you want to." "Go on." "Ever... ever... show much affection." "But as I said" "Boat." "And" "So this is what happens to the dreams ofyouth." "Go on, son." "Let it out." "Nothing to be ashamed of." "Let it out." "Time for a change." "Now, look." "They'll both be well taken care of." "They don't need you, and you don't need them." "You just can't help each other anymore." "Now, look, son." "You know what I'm saying is true." "There's nothing anymore." "What you need now is a good rest." "A few things to be worked out in the morning... but my boys will clear those up, and you needn't worry none." "Your boys?" "." "You're the head of it all?" "." "There never was a struggle in the soul of a good man that wasn't hard." "My papa told me that... and it's sure enough true." "Believe me, son." "I know." "I believe you." "That's fine." "You know, Mr. Wilson, you represent something of a milestone around here." "When the bandages are removed..." "I thinkyou'll be more than pleased." "In fact, I expect you to be prancing around here like a stud bull." "Now, it's gonna take a while, so try to be patient... until we get you ready for the world again." "Now, don't do that!" "You can't talk because we've extracted all your teeth... and given you a complete vocal cord resection." "Give the tissues time to pull together." "Now, you got a new set of permanent teeth." "In a week, you won't know the difference." "Thank you." "That's what hurts the most right now." "Everything's different." "When the first healing's over, we'll start conditioning for muscle tone." "Yes, yes." "Those too." "Fingerprints." "Even your signature." "Little thing we did with the tensor ligaments of the hand." "The orbicularis oris started to sag, so we tightened them with ligatures." "Yeah." "Then we worked on the mandible to square up the bone." "Well, I never." "Holy mackerel, I don't know how you boys do it." "Doc, it's a masterpiece." "Good work." "Easy does it." "You'll be all right, son." "Your scars and hematomas will disappear in a couple ofweeks." "After several months of physical conditioning... the process will be complete." "My name is Davalo." "I'm your guidance advisor." "This is about your future career." "I'm afraid I haven't thought very much about that." "Oh, yes, you have, sir." "Permit me." "I want a ball, a big red one." "Whoops." "I'm afraid we picked this up a little too early." "Sit down." "We recorded these regressions... under pentothal and caffeine sodium benzoate." "At first, there's always a touch of the infantile... but later on, we progress to a more mature... expressional infrastructure." "Ah, here we are." "What wouldyou like to do most ofall?" "Ofanything in the whole world?" "I'd like to be a tennis pro, I guess." "Yes." "That's what I'd like best of all." "And suppose you couldn 't be?" "What else wouldyou choose?" " I guess I'd like to paint stuff." " Pictures?" "Pictures and things." "Wel l, I think the creative wish pattern is pretty self-evident." "You mean, I-- I ought to be a painter?" "." "Exactly!" "You see, painting allows you a basic creative outlet... as well as an environment in which these sublimations will have free vent." "Now, let's take a look at the program we've worked out foryou." "Certificates of study." "Abroad." "Notices of first six one-man shows." "Your pictures are realistic in treatment... but deal with poetic imagery in choice of subject." "Not that I pretend to be a critic of painting." "These diplomas... from reputable universities" "They can't be forged." "I assure you, every item is bona fide and valid." "How could I even approach such a professional level?" "." "Simple." "You are already established in a position of some dignity." "Nothing conspicuous.Just a solid, mildly successful sort of thing." "You will be supplied with fresh paintings periodically." "In time, you'll perfect your own style." "Surreal, primitive, impressionistic, whatever." "It will be a transition from this present work." "You see, you don't have to prove anything anymore." "You are accepted." "You will be in your own new dimension." "You're a bachelor." "Birth certificate." "The only son... of deceased parents, and so forth." "In short... you are alone in the world... absolved of all responsibility... except to your own interest." "Isn't that marvelous?" "." "Yourstudio is in Malibu, California." "Quite luxurious, very private." "You'll make your own adjustment in your own way... in your own time." "Oh, you'll be self-conscious at first." "Don 't worry." "It will wear off." "And remember, you've got... what almost every middle-aged man in America would like to have:" "freedom." "Real freedom." "Ah, it's been a pleasure." "Pillow, Mr. Wilson?" "." "Yes, thank you." "T ony!" "Hey there, you old rascal!" "Slow down." "Where's the fire?" "." "Can't wait to get back to them pretty little models, huh?" "." "Uh-oh, I am late." "If I didn't have to catch a plane, I'd make you buy me a drink, by God!" "See you soon." "Got to run." "Welcome home, Mr. Wilson." "My name is John." "I've been assigned to help you." "It's very nice." "I think you'll be quite comfortable, sir." "Do you like your studio?" "." " Yes." " Perhaps you'd like to freshen up... and have a drink." "Afterward, I'll try to clear up any point on which you may have curiosity." "The bath is through here." "I'll unpack these foryou later." "Fine." "How long will you be here?" "." "John, sir." "For as long as you need me." "The company is fully aware that you may have problems at first... and will spare no effort to help you solve them." "Thankyou." "Yes, sir." "Yes, sir?" "." "I had a curious experience at the airport." "What was that?" "." "Well, I was accosted by a man who called me by name." "He seemed to know me, and I'm certain I've never met him." "I suppose it was a mistake on his part." "So it would appear, sir." "What kind of people live here?" "." "Professionals." "Some in business." "Some write." "No artists, I hope." "I thinkyou are the only one, sir." "If I may suggest, sir... perhaps you'd like to give a cocktail party for the immediate neighbors." "Oh, well, I" "I'd better get myself used to things first." "Later on, maybe." "As you wish, sir." "That's very good, sir." "Thankyou." "Wouldn't you enjoy meeting some of the people here, sir?" "." "I told you I'm not ready yet,John." "I'll do this in my own way and in my own time." "Of course, sir." "Hello." "Hey, wait." "I'm sorry about back there." "How about ifwe try it again?" "." "Hello." "I'm Nora Marcus." "I'm..." "Tony Wilson." " Walk?" "." " Sure." "Ocean, I love you!" "You're beautiful!" "Beautiful!" "All that power, and she's got all the answers." "Got a question!" "What did you ask?" "." "Oh, a tough one." ""Who and what is Tony Wilson?"" "And what did it say?" "." "It told me to mind my own business." "That was my life." "Two boys, ages ten and twelve." "Successful and indulgent husband." "A beautiful house, complete with microwave oven... intercom, station wagon, et cetera." "Ad infinitum." "And?" "." "I made myself a cup of coffee, dressed and left." "That was four years ago." "You never went back." "I've seen them from time to time, but... it's different now." "Maybe because I'm different." "I don't expect you to understand." "I think I do." "You?" "." "An artist?" "." "Why should you understand?" "." "You spent your whole life being." "You don't know anything about me, really." "Yes, I do." "It's all right there in your face." "What is?" "." "Now you're fishing." "No." "Seriously." "This may hurt a little." "I agreed to take my chances." "Madam Marcus will read the leaves." "What kind of a man is he?" "." "There's grace in the line and color... but it doesn't emerge pure." "It pushes at the edge of something still tentative." "Unresolved." "As if... somewhere in the man, there is still a key... unturned." "That's quite an analysis." "Not really." "When you come to think of it, it sort of fits everybody, doesn't it?" "." "It's very nice here." "The good things always happen with the rain." "When will I see you again?" "." "I'm going to Santa Barbara tomorrow." "There's a kind of gathering." "Can I come?" "." "It's going to be very wild." "Maybe that's part of turning the key." "To the god Pan." "To the gods of this place." "Drink!" "See ye, ye gods." "March down upon this procession and bless us all!" "The Queen of the Wine!" "Wine!" "Wine!" "The Queen of the Wine!" "Stomp those grapes!" "Stomp those grapes!" "Stomp those grapes!" "Now the season ends, and the old vines are buried deep." "Now, in dying, Bacchus gives us his blood... so we may be born again..." "Iaughing, laughing." " Come dance with me." " Nora, I don't know these people." " I don't think I" " Don't think me, Tony." "Don't." "I came here to feel-- to be." "I'm dying, and that's the world-- the whole bloody world!" "It's not a question of dancing." "I'm not part of this!" "I'm dying, and that's the world!" "The whole bloody" "Don't!" "Come back here!" "Get out of there!" "Wait a minute." "Get your hands off me." "Nora, get out of there!" "No, please don't!" "Stomp those grapes!" "Please!" "Kiss me!" "Yes." "Yes!" " Thankyou,John." " Oh, Mr. Wilson." " May I present Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd?" "." " How do you do?" "." " This is your host." " Pleasure." " Mr. Filter." " Pleased to meet you." " How do you do?" "." " Hello." "You have seen Tony's paintings, haven't you?" "." "Cheers." " May I present Mr. Mayberry?" "." " Nice to meet you." "Peekaboo." " Honey, please slow down." " Never!" "Never!" "Come." "I'm taking you to ze Casbah." "As soon as these people leave, I'm going to attack you." "Why, Mr. Wilson, you dirty old man." "I really am." "I want you to know that." "I'm counting on it." "Miss Marcus, you shock me." " Please, ease up." " Why?" "." "Because it's not like you." "Oh, I know that." "I'm sorry." "Guess I just needed the added strength." "Well, that's silly." "They're all wonderful people." "Just give them a chance." " Okay." " Give yourself a chance." " Okay." " Yes?" "." "I promise." "No more." "And I promise to behave myself." "I'm sorry." "Forgive me." "I've embarrassed you." "No, you haven't." "I think I love you." "You're beautiful!" " You're an ocean." " Let's go back." "The sooner we get rid of those people, the sooner we can be together." " I'm going to hold you to your promise." " Oh, God." "You're evil." " Yes!" " God, how evil you are." "Henry Bushbain, my husband." " Nice to know you." " How do you do?" "." " You're staggering." " Hank, that's a dirty lie." "Watch out for this character." "He's a lawyer." "Harvard, I want you to know." " Really?" "." "That's a coincidence." " Hold it!" " Thankyou." " Me too." "In fact, me too twice." "Hollow leg again?" "." "Will you listen?" "." "At home, he makes me look like a veritable piker." "Henry, you sneaking two-face, you." " Private joke?" "." " No." "I'm sorry." "Come on, Nora." "Let's ditch these two sots." "Help!" "Rape!" " Wait a minute." "You can't do that." " There's no way you'll get away." "You're going to stay right here." "That's my woman." "Hey!" "That's very funny." "What's funny?" "." "Is he really a sneaky two-face?" "." "Yes." "There's such a religious climate out here." "Don't you agree?" "." " I love the climate." " Yes." "I belong to a special kind of group." "Nothing subversive, I hope." "Oh, good heavens, no!" "We change sects." "I beg your pardon?" "." "Oh, no, no." "Good heavens." "You thought I meant" ""Sects." S-E-C-T-S." " Oh, sects!" " Yes." "Well, thank God!" "We change every month." "Right now, we're in Aztec." "Huitzilopochtli, Quetzalcoatl, virgin sacrifice and all." "I just love your paintings." "How do you ever do it?" "." "Well, you see" "It all began with a big, red ball." "You see..." "I paint naked, Mrs. Filter." " The only way to get at the truth." " How interesting." "Of course." "In this way, my inner essence is revealed... and I am presented to the canvas... in direct relationship in my primeval state... without its sociological trappings." " Watch it!" " Oh, look!" " Take it easy!" " I'm sorry." " I'm terribly sorry." " You all right, hon?" "." " That will never come out." " I'm terribly sorry." " Excuse me." " Look at this mess!" " It's all right, honey." " May I?" "." "I'm sure it won't stain." "It will all come out." "Hey!" "You two heard the one about" "Yes, we have." "Well, I'm sorry." "I didn't mean to interrupt." "Seems like I'm doing everything wrong lately." "Now, don't pout." "Mama will make everything better, okay?" "." "Perfect." "Say..." "I was thinking about school just before... and your house at Harvard wasn't, by any chance, Adams, was it?" "." " No, not exactly." " Is anybody hungry?" "." "Yeah, I am." "Say, Hank" "Hey, Hank, here." "Actually, I'm not a Harvard alumnus either." "That is, I used to be." "I'm not anymore." " Did you resign or something?" "." " Take it easy." "That's priceless!" "No!" "I did go to Harvard, you see... and I was an alumnus... but that was before I became a painter, and now I'm not anymore." "Come on!" "Realized hopes we're dashing" "Into blue obscurity" "Resistless, our team sweeps goalward" "With the fury ofze blast" "We'll fight for the name ofHarvard" "Till the last white line is" "Passed" "That's absolutely wonderful!" "T ruth is, I just stopped being an alumnus." "Simple." " Wilson!" " What?" "." "You and I must play golf sometime." "Golf?" "." "Antiochus Wilson playing golf?" "." "Now..." "Arthur Hamilton" "Looks as if our host is in orbit." "Wait a minute, you guys." " Put him down." " Wait a minute." " Turn him around." " Hey, listen." "I got a nephew right in Harvard right now!" " You don't have a nephew." " What?" "." "I don't have a nephew." "Okay, correct." "I don't have a nephew... but he's there, all right." "He's there, all right." "My daughter-- she's married to a doctor... and maybe by this time, I'm a grandfather." "Believe me." "They'll never drag it out of me." "I'll stand right here on my constitutional rights." "I'm not a grandfather." "I" "Why are you all staring at me like that?" "." "Why are they staring at me like that?" "." "They know." "They know what?" "." "They're like you." "What do you mean?" "." "Reborns." "Shut up!" "Shut up, damn you!" "Just who the hell... do you thinkyou are?" "." "My God!" "Save me." "Please!" " Yes?" "." " It's me, buddy." "Now listen to me." " Charlie?" "." " Look, Arthur" " Listen to me!" " Is it really you?" "." "Ofcourse it is." "Do you realize how dangerous it is, what you're doing?" "I've got to get out of here." "You don't know what they're doing to me." "Come on, buddy." "Calm down." " I've got to see you." " That's impossible right now." " Why?" "." " Itjust is!" "You've got to get ahold ofyourself, fast." "You'll be sorry" " You know what they did?" "." " I can 't explain, but" "There's this reborn, Nora." "She's not one ofthem." "She works for the company." " What?" "." " That's right." "An employee." "But I" "Oh, no." "She was so" "Why, Charlie?" "." "Why?" "." "Your adjustment was bound to be difficult in the first stages." "Don 't you see?" "The company simply provided" "An employee." "It means a lot to me personally." "I can 't explain... but we're sort oftied together, you and me." "We're so close." "Don 't throw it away." " How?" "." " Trust, please!" "Promise to stay put until we can get someone to you." "You've got to have help right now." "Please, willyou stay there?" "Please!" " Y es?" "." " I'm Mr. Wilson." "Come in, please." "I'll tell Mrs. Hamilton you're here." "I'm so glad you were able to come." " Thank you." "I didn't mean to barge in." " Not at all." "It was very kind ofyou." "I must have sounded strange over the phone, but... you see, Arthur never mentioned" "I just met your late husband last year, shortly before" "Yes." "Please, sit down." "Mrs. Hamilton, I'm a painter-- an artist, actually." "I admire your husband's watercolors." "Really?" "." "Not that he was professional, but he did have something." "He mentioned some paintings in a cupboard out in the garage." "That's the reason I" "Well, I was wondering if I might pick one up as a memento." "I'm sorry, but the garage has been cleaned out." "You threw them away." "No, not exactly." "You have a lovely place here." "Oh, thankyou." " This was the study, wasn't it?" "." " Yes, it was" "How did you know?" "." "Your husband talked a lot about this house-- about his family." "I'm sorry." "I didn't mean to stir up painful memories." "No, it's not that." "It's just that..." "I never knew Arthur to do that very much." "How do you mean?" "." " I don't want to bore you." " No, please." "I'd like to know." "You see, I knew him only for a short while." "I'd really like to know." "It's not just curiosity." "We shared an interest in art." "The last time I saw him, I did some sketches." "Now I'd like to do a painting... but all I have are lines-- a face." "Posthumous portraiture?" "." "I'm not joking." "No, of course you're not." "I'm sorry." "You've set me quite a task." "He was a quiet man." "The thing I most remember him for were his silences." "It was... as if he were always listening to something inside" "some voice." "He never talked about it, so I never knew what it was." "He was a good man... but he lived as if he were a stranger here." "He never let anything touch him." "He became absorbed in things, his job mostly." "He worked hard." "He became more detached and" "Always a look around his eyes as if he were... trying to say something." "I don't know what." "Protest against what he'd surrendered his life to?" "." "I never knew what he wanted... and I don't think he ever knew." "He fought so hard for what he'd been taught to want... and when he got it, he just grew more and more confused." "The silences grew longer." "We never talked about it." "We lived our lives in a polite... celibate truce." "Arthur had been dead a long, long time... before they found him in that hotel room." "Well, I guess I can't tell you much more." "Enough?" "." "Yes, it is." "I really should be going." "I hope I've been some help." "Yes, you have." "Very much." "You said thatyou wanted a memento." "It won't be a painting, I'm afraid, but it's all I have." "I'm sorry, Mr. Wilson." "It doesn't matter." " I want to go back." " Of course, sir." "No, I don't mean to California." "To the company." "Start again, all over." "Antiochus Wilson can die, can't he?" "." "The company." "Is it possible?" "." "I think so, sir." "Begin again." "Quite honestly..." "I'm not the least bit sorry... because there were certain mistakes made in my case" "Of course, but before we go into all that, let me askyou... whetheryou can recommend and sponsor a new client." "What?" "." "An acquaintance outside... whom you feel would benefit by the company's services." "You were sponsored yourself, you know." "Oh, yes, of course." "A business associate, perhaps." "Someone down the street." "You don't have to be intimately acquainted with a man... to realize he'd be receptive to the sort of opportunity we offer." "I'm sorry." "Right now, I just can't seem to" "What I mean is, I'd like to think about it." "That's all we ask." "As you can imagine, our business is acquired through present clients." "It's a word-of-mouth operation." "You don't suppose we can advertise in magazines and newspapers." "No, of course not." "I think you'll come up with something." "Hold it." "Thankyou." "Hold your arm up, please." " Excuse me." "I don't understand." " That's it." " Is all this really necessary?" "." " 1 3 1 /2." "Profile." " Turn sideways." " Is this necessary for" "Hold it." "That's it." "Back view." " What is this, preliminary for surgery?" "." " Certainly." "Ayear's gone by." "A lot happens to the human body in a year." "This one is yours, sir." "Hello, Arthur." " I don't believe I know you." " It's me, buddy." "You're Charlie?" "." "Guess I am, old buddy." "What are you doing here?" "." "Same as yourself." "Waiting." "What's the matter?" "." "Oh, nothing." "It's just that it's hard to recognize somebody... and not recognize them at the same time." "How long have you been here?" "." "A while." "When you phoned me, you were here?" "." "Even the first time?" "." "But you sounded..." "like the whole thing was something tremendous-- this rebirth, everything-- even when you hadn't made a go of it!" "I thought you'd have a better chance." "Good God!" "How long does a man have to wait to get into surgery?" "." "Not long, usually." "I had to stay around and telephone you, if necessary... through your first adjustment, but now" "That's what you meant about our being tied together." "I couldn't help it." "I had to find out where I went wrong." "The years I've spent... trying to get all the things I was told were important-- that I was supposed to want!" "Things!" "Not people... or meaning." "Just things." "And California was the same." "They made the same decisions for me all over again... and they were the same things, really." "It's going to be different from now on." "A new face and a name." "I'll do the rest." "I know it's going to be different." "I suppose you do too." "Good morning, gentlemen." "Mr. Carlson, please." "Charlie." "You?" "." " Art, I" " Mr. Carlson, please." "I have the feeling you're going to make it this time." "I'm sorry to disappoint the rest ofyou." "Perhaps tomorrow." "You don't seem to understand our problem." " I understand it perfectly." " But you're not cooperating." "I've told you over and over again, I cannot think of anyone." " I can't believe that." " I've been shuffled around long enough." "I think it's time I had the opportunity... to start living some kind of meaningful existence." "If I did sponsor someone, wouldn't that delay my trip to surgery... in the event that I were needed from time to time, to, say, advise him?" "." "No, that's not likely, not if the selection is a good one." "I'm sorry." "I don't seem to be able to think of a single soul." " You mean you deliberately won't." " Have it your way." "Very well." "That will be all." "You can go back to the day room." "Processing, please." "This is Ruby." "On Wilson, 722..." "I think we can go to the next stage now." "Hello, son." "Oh, sir, I" "You know, I sure hoped you'd make it, find your dream come true." " What?" "." " I said I sure hoped you'd make it... find your dream come true." "I guess" "I guess I never had a dream." "Maybe that's it." "That sure might have been it." "If I did have one... it certainly wasn't Antiochus Wilson." "This time..." "I've got to be allowed, sir, to make my own decision." "You know, son... when I began this business, I was a young man with an idea." "I wasn't aiming to make a lot of money, helping others... helping them to find a little happiness." "Heck, not just the rich." "I thought eventually" "I got tremendous comfort in the thought that, in my small way..." "I was waging a battle against human misery... and I was too." "Except we do have a high percentage of failures." "I guess that's to be expected... but it hurts me." "Some reborns make a go of it." "We're always working to find ways to improve the system." "Yeah, we make mistakes." "The fact is, when our clients first started coming back here..." "I wanted to chuck the whole thing, but I couldn't." "The organization was pretty big by then." "Now... board of directors, on a profit-sharing basis." "All those people." "You've no idea what a financial responsibility it turned into." "Heck, we make mistakes, but we admit them... and go forward." "I won't see it in my lifetime... but some of the younger execs like Ruby may." "You can call it wishful thinking, son... but life is built on wishing." "You've got to just keep plugging away at them." "You can't give up... and you can't let the mistakes jeopardize the dream." "Well, here's your transportation." " What?" "." " Surgery, sir." " But I've got to talk to you." " We're on a tight schedule." "Please." "Why, I didn't expect so soon." "It's efficiency." "You're lucky we got a match so quick." "Hop aboard, son." "Up there." "The doctors are waiting." "That's just so you won't fall off." "But there's things we have to talk about." "I mean, my identity" "We will later." "Just relax, son." "Everything's going to be just fine." "The thing about doing it on my own." "You see, it's so important-- choice." "You've got to change." "We have to talk about it." "We will." "I'll look into it personally." "Remember, son." "We've got to keep plugging away at the dream." "The mistakes teach us how." "It wasn't wasted." "Remember that." "My name is Dr. Morris, sir." "According to our records, you were reared in the Protestant faith." "Did you convert to any other during your adjustment?" "." "Good, good!" "That is, good in the sense that we have a certain definition." "I am not suggesting that being a Protestant... is any better than being a Catholic or Jew." "As a matter of fact, I am qualified to care foryou in those faiths as well." "I was ordained in each-- a rabbi, priest and minister." "I admit it unusual, maybe a bit advanced." "Wait a minute." "What's happening?" "." "Well, sir, when we have finished, you'll go on to the next stage." "I don't mean that!" "Ultimately, we'll be called to face the Creator... and render up our last account." "It happens to all of us." "That's no answer!" "What's happening to me now?" "." "Don't shout!" "Please!" ""Blessed shalt thou be coming in... and blessed shalt thou be in going out." "And He said, 'Thou canst not see My face... for no man can see Me and live."'" ""I am the Resurrection and the Life." "He that believeth in Me... though he were dead, shall yet he live." "And a stranger shalt thou not oppress, seeing ye yourselves were strangers."" ""He that loveth life shall lose it... and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." "Fear not thou them which kill the body."" ""I am the door." "By Me, if any man enter in, shall he be saved."" "God be with you, sir." "What's his data?" "." ""Wilson, mesomorph, age 51, no current diseases." "Requisitioned from day-room stock May 6." "Released for cadaver use last night." "CPS number 722." "Disposition:" "Death by automobile accident... caused by cerebral hemorrhage."" "All right." "Acid etch." "Yes, sir." " What's the solution strength?" "." " 5% at 1 0 cc's." "Timer." "Five minutes." "You were my best work." "I'm sorry it all has to end like this." "Set him up." "I think we'll put the hemorrhage right under the left exoccipital... in the lingual gyrus." "Put that light over here." "Good." "All right." "Relax, old friend." "Cranial drill."