"live and direct on Network 23." "Carter's the best known reporter we have on the air." "He satellites globally." "Where does all this stuff come from, Bryce?" "The components of Carter's mind." "M-M-Max, M-M-Max." "[Bryce] People translated as data." "It's computer-generated, whatever it is." "It looks like Edison." "Max." "Max Headroom." "Max?" "He's a computer-generated person based on you." "Two minds, but with one single memory." "[Male announcer] ...state's smog division subject to local atmospheric drift and soot precipitation." "Our ozone's looking good, but the plus-40 per main fluorocarbon count an ultraviolet penetration in the low millibars." "Now this word." "[Female announcer] Zik-Zak introduces the Neurostim Fantasy Bracelet." "It's new." "It's exciting." "It puts you in the picture." "Get one free with every purchase at your local Zik-Zak outlet." "[Edison] What do you mean you don't like scumball?" "Everybody likes scumball." "Get out and walk." "Hey, I know it's the biggest game of the year and all, man, but it's fake death." "It should be real death, you know what I mean?" "Theora, you put me in the chopper with a homicidal maniac." "Just kidding." "Hang in there." "You'll be in sector 11 in 5." "Roger, 23." "[Male announcer on TV] Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Scumball 11, brought to you exclusively by Zik-Zak." "And before t-t-tonight's scumball final, brought-- brought-- b-brought to you by those nice people, Zik-Zik-Z-Zik-Zak, a quick word of thanks to the real sponsors-- you." "Yes, y-you buy their products." "You give them their profits." "So you're sponsoring the game." "The game that is ac-actually a giant commercial for Zik-Zak-k-k." "Zik-Zak says thank you-- thank you." "And please buy more products, give them more profits, and sponsor more games." "Today, the Aztecs of San Menudo meet the Irwindale..." "Zik-Zak is spending a fortune on exclusive sponsorship, isn't it?" "That's right." "They're using the game to really push their new Neurostim promotion." "They're not going to like having Max Headroom trashing the spots." "Research shows that Max Headroom speaks for the young and dissatisfied." "He says what they feel." "The fact that Zik-Zak allows Max to mock their commercials allows his audience to identify with Zik-Zak." "It's images that count, Gene." "Right." "[Announcer] The star right rear scummer for that powerful formation." "And" "[Theora] Our consumer index indicates the downscale families in these sectors are buying 700% more Zik-Zak products." "Most have gone into debt." "[Edison] Let's find out what's suddenly so fascinating about burgers and Crunch Fries." "[rats squeaking]" "Theora, you know what's intriguing about all this?" "What, the fact that people are so untidy?" "No, the fact that it all looks so new." "[Woman] Who is it?" "Hi." "I'm from Zik-Zak Consumer Relations, and we're doing a survey." "Well, I guess you can come in if you want to." "We're just eating our dinner." "My, my." "You folks sure like Zik-Zak." "But personal hygiene is important." "Yeah." "Guess so." "Aren't you Edison Carter?" "Yeah." "Sorry about that." "it's, uh, journalistic license." "Oh, well, does this mean we're going to be live and direct" " on Network 23?" " If you like, yeah." "Oh, yeah." "Kids!" "[giggling]" "Yes." "You buy the burgers, you finance the game, and you have to buy a ticket to go watch it." "Ha ha ha." "It's a funny old world." "Ha!" "H-H-Ha ha ha ha ha ha!" "Ahem." "Give me a countdown, Theora." "Rolling in 10, 9, 8" " Wait." " Hold on, Edison." "What do you mean wait?" "We have a news window coming up." "Max is on." "Yeah, Max is often on." "But his ratings will hype the game." "He's better audience flow than Edison." "Oh, really?" "Hey." "I thought you said we were going to be live and direct on Network 23." "You bet." "Theora, come on." "My story's ready." "But at least the products are g-good, aren't they?" "Isn't that great?" "You s" " You s" " You see," "I'm not allowed to say that this food is bad for you, but since we're not talking about f-food," "I think I'm safe." "So, uh, when am I going to tell Edison?" "I was hoping you'd tell me." "All right." "[beep]" "Edison, this is Murray." "We can't clear you for live and direct, so we're rolling a backup tape." "[beep]" "There." "See?" "Nothing to it." "[Edison] Control, what's going on?" "You've cut me off!" "[Woman's voice] Continued coverage of Scumball Classics is brought to you by Zik-Zak." "We make everything you need, and you need everything we make." "Now, live via satellite, back to action." "[Male announcer] It's number 45," "Dynamite Darryl Reeves taking a bash from George Fargo." "He's on a roll-- Oh!" "Wheel fire!" "I'm sure I saw a red light on that one." "No, no." "He got away with it." "These things can come back to haunt you." "Uh, Kelly's presentation on Operation Serendipity is now ready, Mr. Chairman." "Unless, of course, you would like to wait until end of period." "Period is over." " Ah." " Aye." "[speeded-up voices] Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "This, as many of you know, is a Neurostim bracelet." "It is the advertising and marketing breakthrough we've all been waiting for, utilizing direct neural stimulation of the brain to relay our message." "Hi, Lisa." "Good morning, Edison." "How are you?" "Great." "Patty and the kids gave me a little present for my trouble." "Figured I could use a little neuro stimulation." "Gee." "You didn't bring one for me." "I mean, I think that's bad politics." "Just tell me why." "All right." "We don't need to have an argument." "Is it something I said?" "No." " Is it something I did?" " No!" "Well, it sure can't be the scumball because we had a news window!" "It's Max!" "I'm under strict orders from Cheviot not to interrupt him for anything-- not news, not Cheviot himself." "Zik-Zak feels that he, uh, he's the best ratings getter we have." "What?" "I don't like it any better than you do." "You're right." "We don't need this conversation." "[Announcer] Hey, the Aztecs want to make this one up quick." "here they come in flying heat with the Aztecs" "Listen, Max, I have had it." "It was bad enough that Bryce, without my asking, took my memories and turned them into you." "I can live with the constant interruptions, with the invasion of privacy, all of that, but now you won't even let me do my damn job!" "I thought your job was telling the truth-th-th." "It is." "Squish the executive, did we?" "Well, maybe you should be telling it a little loud-loud-l-louder." "Listen, Max, I can't win every battle." "I want to win the war." "I can push, I can shove, I can scream, I can shout, but at the end of the day I need Network 23, and I can't always say what I want!" "F-Fine." "Then, if you can't-t-t, I will." "Not in my air time." "As long as it's the truth, does it matter which of us t-tells it?" "Yes, it does." "You're in my way." "You exist!" "That's what matters." "And that's the truth-th-th-th." "Oh, no." "It's over." "What?" "Who won?" "Huh?" " Who won?" " Oh." "Oh." "I forgot to turn up the sound." "Uh, let's see." "Last week, I projected the Druids to win by a field goal in overtime." "...confounding all the experts and overcoming all the odds, the Druids win on a marked mason field goal in overtime." "You tell anyone?" "No." "Why would I?" "Never mind." "I've got a project here for you." "This is a Zik-Zak Neurostim bracelet." "I've dabbled in direct neural inputs." "At school we used to use them for" "Never mind." "Uh, I'll be happy to take a look at this after I've thoroughly simulated this insect's escape patterns." "It's all part of a new artificial intelligence program." "Is that a real laser?" "Sure." "The test would just have no validity without it." "How about testing the bracelet?" "Okay." "Uh, I think you hit the button." "[speeded-up voice] Zik-Zak!" "What do you think?" " [door opens]" " Where are you going?" "I'm hungry." "Not only will Neurostim allow us to break the bonds of cost-per-pound advertising, but it will also be the tool by which we free ourselves from the stranglehold of network television." "Why have you chosen this name?" "Uh, Mr. Chairman... a wise man once defined serendipity as digging for worms and striking gold." "If Neurostim sells as planned, it will cause a panic among major network television." "Their stocks will plummet, they'll be vulnerable for takeover, and Zik-Zak will be ready-- ready to achieve total market penetration." "[chanting] Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "[Female announcer] And now the award-winning What I Want to Know show, starring Edison Carter." "[Edison] This is an ordinary family in an ordinary apartment in the city." "A family which buys Burger Pax," "Crunch Fries, and Zak Cola at their neighborhood Zik-Zak." "Now, it seems, Zik-Zak researchers have discovered a way to feed advertising messages directly into your brain, using neural stimulation." "[Edwards] This is terrible." "It's just typical Edison Carter." "The people love him." "I'm talking about the implications of Carter's report." "Ben, if enough people buy Neurostim, they won't need television to sell their products." "Come on." "Don't you think you've overreacting a little?" "As always." "[Edison] The message, as usual, is let the buyer beware." "This is Edison Carter." "This isn't a side bet on a scumball game." "The stakes are too high." "Zik-Zak will never undermine this system." "It works too well for all of us." "[Announcer] Try one today." "[speeded-up voices] Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Zik-Zak!" "Edison Carter's report on Neurostim threatens the whole project." "Marketing anticipated this, Mr. Chairman." "We knew that the promotion would generate a certain amount of negative feedback with news organizations, especially from Carter at Network 23." "Our research staff has custom built an extra-strength Neurostim especially for Edison Carter." "Sounds like an expensive way to eliminate one troublemaker." "According to our studies, Mr. Chairman," "Edison Carter is, in fact, perfectly representative of the rocketing upward professional." "He typifies the audience, which accounts for his popularity with it, but more importantly, if Edison Carter is against us," "Neurostim will fail." "Mr. Chairman, look upon this as a stringent field test for the Operation Serendipity software that has the added advantage of eliminating our most dangerous critic." "Well, I" " I call that perfect amortization." "Very good." "Very good." "This is good stuff, Bobbi." "Uh, do those rewrites that we talked about and then let me see it again, all right?" "Edison." "Good job on that Neurostim story." "Thanks a lot." "I think there's more to this thing than we originally thought." "What do you mean?" "Has it occurred to you that Zik-Zak's stupid little bracelets could put Network 23 out of business?" "I don't understand." "Suppose these things are as seductive as they seem." " Right." " They're easy," " they're cheap" " Right." "and they're pure." "They're better than network television." "You think the boys upstairs are worried?" "Don't bet on it." "They're probably sitting on their hands" " counting the creds." " With their heads in the clouds while down here the advertising rug's being pulled out from under them." "Edison, view-phone line 4." " Right." "See you later." " Yeah." "Max." "You can speak to Edison." "Something like, uh, sorry?" "Pfft." "That makes a lot of sense." "He yells, I apolo-pologize?" "Max, uh, people get irrational when their jobs are threatened." "You know, you should be a little worried, too." "If Network 23 disappears, where's that going to leave Max Headroom?" "Pittsburgh?" "[Kelly] We just don't think you've given Zik-Zak a fair shake." "You haven't tried it yourself." "This is beginning to sound like a very crude attempt to try and influence me." "Oh, I was hoping it would sound like a very slick attempt to influence you." "Edison Carter, who takes no one's word for anything, trusts someone else to do the real work?" "Hmm." "Sounds like fear to me, dear boy." "That's a cheap shot." "But an effective one." "Look, Kelly" "It is Kelly, isn't it?" "Yes." "Why don't you save that garbage for your next Zik-Zak presentation, huh?" "I know Neurostim is important." "You'd be pretty damned amazed at just how important I think it is." "And I intend on trying it... my way on my terms... while I still have a job, of course." "Carter will not cooperate." "Oh, he'll try Neurostim, all right." "We just don't know where or when." "Then how will we reach him with our special program?" "We've, uh, already had this modeled, Mr. Chairman." "Please watch." "So you're actually going to try Neurostim yourself." "Sure." "Millions have." "Besides, how else am I going to know what it's like?" "You don't set yourself on fire when you do a story on a burning building." "I had no idea you cared so much about my torrid flesh." "[imitating Humphrey Bogart] Besides, blue eyes," "I got to do what I got to do." "Then why are you so nervous?" "[Male announcer] And introducing Neurostim!" "It's fun. it's exciting." "It puts you in the picture." " Try one today." " [Chairman] Mr. Kelly, how can you be sure that Edison Carter will get the Neurostim we've designed for him?" "We've stationed one of our imaging sat cams over the city, and have programmed it to follow Carter exclusively." "No matter where he goes, we'll be there." "And, uh, as you can see, Mr. Chairman," "Carter is diverting, but we're already far ahead of him." "[Woman's voice] Attention." "There is a reward for the arrest of any Blank who answers the description of any known criminal." "See your Metropolice for details." "Repeat." "There is a reward for the arrest of any Blank who answers the description" "[Edison] All right, Control." "I'm out far enough." "Find me a Zik-Zak stand." "[chatter]" "[Theora] Edison, I have a Zik-Zak franchise around the corner at 20 feet to your right." " Here goes." " Good luck." "[Man] The guy says, "Don't I know you from last night?"" "I says, "Who was looking, Dracula?"" "[Woman] Charlie, get a move on." "My order's getting cold." "Hi." "Welcome to Zik-Zak, home of the Burger Pak and the new free Neurostim." "How may I serve you today?" "Uh, give me a bacon and soy Burger Pak, uh, Crunch Fries, and a Neurostim bracelet." "Yes, sir." "[twittering]" "Uh, your order will be right up." "Thanks." "Congratulate your modelers for me." "They said this would be Carter's most likely stop." "Let's try a take, 23." "Finally." "Rolling, Edison, in 5..." "I'm standing in an ordinary Zik-Zak restaurant, much like any other in the city, waiting for my order and waiting for my first experience of Zik-Zak's Neurostim promotion." "One bacon and soy Burger Pak with fries, and one free Neurostim." "Thank you for buying Zik-Zak." "Come again." "Without a doubt." "He's got it." "Ha ha!" "[cough]" "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Chairman." "I" "Now, like any Zik-Zak customer," "I've got my lunch, and I've got my..." "Zik-Zak Neurostim bracelet, which I'm going to try right now." "[speeded-up voice] Zik-Zak." "Well, I'm not getting anything so far." "I know what you need." "I know what you want." "I know just what you need." "Uh" " See" " No." "Edison?" "Edison!" " Edison!" " Bring it back up to 1." " Edison." " We have an emergency." " Sector 11." " We're" " We're sending help." "Come on, come on, come on." "Come on!" "[Theora] Edison!" "[Woman's voice] It's the Rumorville program." "All the hottest and latest dirt." "Our top tidbit-- as the very famous Edison Carter walked away from his show." "We'll look into that and more after this word from Zik-Zak." "I want you to check body banks now." "Well, I've checked all available sat cams, and so far there's been no trace of Edison." "Okay." "We're monitoring, uh, Metro Transport, hospitals, body banks." "If he shows up anywhere like that, we should know." "I have tried for six years to get Edison to do things my way." "I have tried threats." "I have tried bribery." "I have tried reverse psychology." "Nothing works." "Bull-headed to the point of idiocy." "That's what makes him a great reporter." "Yeah, I know that." "Might I be of some assistance?" "What?" "What?" "May I help you?" "Uh, I suppose I've come here for a reason." "[whimpering] Tell me why." "[speeded-up voice] Zik-Zak!" "I know what you want." "Yeah, you can help me." "Come on." "This is 100% silk." "This is" "That's very nice." "I like it." "With your permission, Mr. Chairman, now that Edison Carter has been neutralized and Neurostim firmly established in the marketplace, we can stop the hemorrhaging of creds on Network 23 and proceed to the next phase of Operation Serendipity." "You have my approval." "Kelly, what will happen to Carter?" "Well, he's been exposed to an extra-strength Neurostim message, so he's now compelled to buy and buy and buy, effectively forever." "Uh, Carter must be rich." "He does make very good money, Mr. Chairman, but he pays little attention to it, and compulsive shopping will lead him into the most unusual of situations, including...physical danger." "For years, I've wanted to say "Goodbye, Edison Carter."" "Today's that day." "This is English calico." "Very, very rare and very, very comfortable." "Nice color." "This is a popular" "This is a popular synthetic blend." "I like that." "This is also a synthetic, not it's not as" "No." "That doesn't hang well." "Hmm." "That." "This." "I want this." "Oh, this is our most expensive ensemble." "I'm afraid you cannot afford this." "Many, many creds." "Saying I can't afford this?" "It is very" "What do you call this, this?" "Is that what you want?" "Both those?" "Yes, sir." "Very good, sir." "This is somewhat out of season, but with the proper tailoring, it would be made quite, quite presentable." "We could take it in a little" "Get your hands off me." "Do you like padded shoulders?" "We could keep the padded shoulders for you, or we could take them out as you wish." "It looks very elegant on you, I might say." "It looks very distinguished on you." "I'll take it." "Will there anything else, Mr. Carter?" "As some accent points, we have some very" "No." "No." "No, thank you." "What's this?" "Some of our accessories." "These can come in" "This." "These can come also in different colors." "We can have them in any color you wish." "Oh, yes." "Oh, yes." "These are definitely you." "You look very" "When's the suit going to be ready?" "Our tailoring program will have your jacket ready in five minutes." "Too long, too long." "Uh, I need a car, and I need the girl." "I need the girl." "Psst." "Edison." "Max, you have to follow me everywhere?" "Edison, you need help-p-p." "From you I need nothing." "Nothing!" "Ehh." "I'm afraid I've got terrible news." "From Ped Xing," "Zik-Zak just pulled his company's advertising, effective immediately." "He can't do that." "We've got a deal." "He certainly can do that." "There are option points throughout the whole contract." "Did he say why, Ben?" "His Neurostim program has been so successful, he decided to bypass network TV." "Apparently, those little bracelets, which we thought were just a gimmick, are going to start giving customers advertising and entertainment." "With almost total effectiveness." "And Zik-Zak's exclusive contract accounts for over 70% of our gross revenues." "We can replace some of it, but not enough and not quickly." "I'm well aware of that." "Under the circumstances, we can no longer operate independently." "I never thought I'd say this." "It's the end of the world." "[chatter]" "[speeded-up voice] Zik-Zak!" "Man, are you lost." " Car." " A car?" "I know the perfect place." "Auto World." "Nice shades." "And the girl." "Step this way." "[Female announcer] Financial news leads our broadcast today." "Giant Zik-Zak Corporation stuns the network TV community by canceling its multi-billion cred contract with Network 23." "The announcement sent Network 23 stock plummeting." "We have a report from Frank Knight." "It's total conflict here at the Ad Market, where the shocking news of the Network 23 disaster spreads." "Brokers are convinced that Zik-Zak's Neurostim process makes network television obsolete." "[brokers shouting]" "I've been covering the Ad Market for three years, and I've never seen anything like it." "[both] Hey!" "Auto World!" "What makes you think that anybody here has a 30-year-old black Ferrari?" "Who's asking you, huh?" "I'm asking, your friend." "Hey, friend, call me an optimist, huh?" "Yeah!" "Sully, my man." "Sully!" "Hey, Sully." "Sully." " Sully." " Hmm." "Yo, Sully." "What's happening?" "Terrible news about that TV network, huh?" "Same thing happened to my business-- uh, cars." "Nobody makes nothing new anymore." "We just recycle the old ones." "Sully, it's perfect." "Tell you why it's perfect." "You're in luck." "I'm after something old." "I want an old Ferrari." "What can you do?" "Well, that could cost." "Sully, come on, come on." "Hey, come on." "My credit's good here." "What do you call those, huh?" "[Man] Hey, my man." "Well." "Money talks, Sully tries to walk." "Step this way, my friend." "[laughing]" "Sully tries to walk." "Yay, yay, yay." "Take a look at this one." "Ha ha ha ha!" "There." "Sully, what is this?" "What do you think I am, stupid?" "Hey, that's a-- that's a Ferrari." "What is this?" "Come on." "I thought you were my friend." "This isn't a Ferrari." "This is garbage." "Hey, hey, hey, hey." "[Sully] Get that S.O.B.!" "[Man shouting]" "His vidicam shows him leaving the restaurant, and then we just lose him." "What about sat cams?" "No, their resolution isn't good enough to pick him up in a crowd without a transponder." "I mean, he usually carries his vidicam." "This may be a waste of time." "Bryce, this is not just another experiment." "Edison was testing the Neurostim bracelet, and-- and he just disappeared." "He could be in real trouble." "All right." "Gosh." "If Edison is involved with Neurostim, he may be" "He may be what?" "He may be doing some compulsive buying." "I'm initiating a wide spectrum credit search." "That's all I can do at the moment." "Okay." "Thanks." "God." "I mean, if we find Edison, how are we going to get him back?" "Well, it occurs to me one way to restore Edison's original personality and override this Neurostim compulsion is to reinput his original synapses matrix." "Get to the point, Bryce." "The point is I can reprogram one of those Neurostim bracelets with Max' memories, which are identical to Edison's, and then feed them back into Edison." "A jump start." "Bryce, you're brilliant." "[scoff] What else is new?" "[Man] He's going down again." " Hey." " Oof!" "Hey." "They say that landing is the worst, my friend." "Make sure you have your, uh, flaps down." "Aah!" "[laughter]" "Yes, Neurostim will-- will make you see everything differently-- differently." "You bet your life." "Grab his creds, wise guy, and leave him to die." "[Male announcer] Now this late-breaking update." "[Female announcer] A further bombshell from Zik-Zak." "The biggest corporation in the world has announced that it is buying the number 1 TV network, a move made possible by the sudden drop today in the price of Network 23 stock." "Industry analysts now see Zik-Zak's Neurostim promotion as a clever ploy to allow the company to gain control of its most effective advertising outlet." "This is Sergeant Compton of Metro South." "We've found Edison Carter alive." "Thank God." "Where is he?" "He's been beaten up and robbed, too, from what he says." "Bryce, you getting this?" "We ran him through med check and were going to bring him in for observation," " but he refused." " Typical Edison." "We did get him to his apartment." "You might want to have somebody drop in on him." " Murray." " I know." "You're going to Edison." " I'll do what I can from here." " Okay." "I'll be with Bryce." "Help him?" "[coughing]" "I can't get near him." "Max, Edison is sick." "You're the only one that can save him." "[Ped Xing] We have reason for much celebration today." "Ahem." "May I have your attention, please, gentlemen?" "Thank you, gentlemen." "Our honored chairman would like to speak." "Since its invention, network television has proved to be the most effective means of mass persuasion ever invented." "Even when its audience fragments, rates continue to go up and up." "But no longer." "Zik-Zak has purchased enough shares in Network 23 to place our representatives on a skeleton board." "From now on, we control our own destiny." "[applause]" "I'm going to fall over dead the day I actually understand what you're doing." "Well, I'm literally pumping Max' memory banks back into Edison's brain." "[growling]" "I have to move this." "Can I make some impro-ovements while I'm in there?" "I w-was thinking is ch-charm, dress sense, that kind of thing." "You are to restore Edison to an original program and get out." "Max, you're going to have enough to worry about without improvising." "Listen, I don't know what that Neurostim program will do to your binaries." "Remember, at this level, you and Edison are identical." "Bryce, is this dangerous?" "It could kill him." "Okay, everybody ready?" "Here goes." "Aah!" "Edison!" "Edison!" "Edison!" "Edison!" "Edison." "Ohh." "Bryce, is it still running?" "Yeah, but Max is locked onto Edison." "He has to handle it now." "New c-car?" "New clothes?" "F-F-F-Fancy eyewear." "Where's the real Edison Carter gone?" "He's right here, enjoying himself." "Whatever you say." "Listen." "List-Listen." "Copying a program isn't as easy as it looks-s." "So don't look." "Just hold still." "This will take a while." "Take your time." "Chairman Xing has designated me as his Zik-Zak representative on the Network 23 board." "Uh, you may refer to me as Fortuna," "And it is our intention to encourage you to operate with greater efficiency." "We, however, have no plans to dismantle the Network 23." "That's a relief." "Gene, he's lying." "Ohh." "Of course I am merely one member of the board, so my comments should be taken for what they are." "Nevertheless, it is quite apparent from recent events that Network 23 is vulnerable." "Therefore, we must take immediate steps to cut unnecessary overhead and configure for greater efficiency." "Why doesn't Ben do something?" "He's still chairman, isn't he?" "Zik-Zak research shows that none of Network 23's programming, especially news, is properly targeted for efficient advertiser flow." "I've been saying that for years." "Action!" "Jeopardy!" "Stakes!" "This is what you have failed to deliver." "And this is what the audience wants." "How the hell do you know what people want?" "We've been at this for years, and we still don't know." "Sure, there's a place for action." "There's a place for soaps, Edison Carter, too." "We know our job is to sell." "We like to inform, educate, and entertain along the way." "You're going to find that even Zik-Zak can't sell yesterday's Burger Pax, although I'm sure you're going to try." "You want stakes?" "The future of network TV is at stake here." "Right now, it doesn't look good." "Good for you, Ben." "Where's Edison Carter anyway?" "He's good at taking care of people like this." "Well, what is happening?" "Well, if Edison's still alive," "I'd guess he's almost back to his old self." "Look, I'm terribly sorry you have to be put through all this." "I don't have to, you know." "Oh, yeah, I forgot." "Mind of your own." "You really don't understand why I got like that, do you?" "I" " I know it's nothing to do with me grab-- grab-- g-grabbing your air time." "As a famous person once said-d-d" "I think it was me-- [tires screech]" "You see?" "That's just what I'm talking about." "You can't be serious!" "You crowd me." "People look at me, and-- and they-- they can't look at me without seeing you over my shoulder." "You're like a-- You're like a twin brother that came to stay for a week and never left!" "You follow me around." "You're always there, waiting to happen like a damn headache!" "You block me." "You're always in my way." "You get too close to me!" "I can't help being that cl-close and being a threat to you." "A threat?" "You?" "Yes." "Not" " Not-- Not because of what I say, not because I grab air time, but-- but because I exist." "You said it yourself." "I exist, and that's enough-gh." "That does not make you a threat!" "It does if you can't accept me." "Accept us-s." "Have you any idea what it's like having a part of me competing against me?" "And have you any idea what it's like just being a part?" "[chuckle]" "And not a very serious one." "Yeah, well, you know me." "Always goes straight for the jocular." "[Bryce] He's okay." "Synapses restored in optimum." " You okay?" " Yeah." "Who died?" "Network 23." "You're my agent, Dorothy." "You can probably find something for me." "I'll talk to you later." "You okay?" "Yeah." "Great." "I take it you've heard." "Zik-Zak has wormed its way onto the board, and Cheviot has given up the ship." "Very noble of you coming back aboard just as we're about to go down." "Murray, I'm disappointed." "Oh, come on." "You've tackled big stories before, but this is-- this is different." "I mean, you can fight Zik-Zak, but you-- you're not going to beat them." "Huh." "Maybe we can beat them without fighting them." "Ultimately, there's a limit to how much we can consume." "Sooner or later, our money runs out." "Sooner or later, our luck runs out." "Sooner or later, we find out our eyes are too big for our own stomachs." "The same rule applies to giant corporations that buy TV networks." "Having eaten Network 23," "Zik-Zak is probably feeling its first pangs of indigestion right about now." "Uh, Mr. Chairman." "Uh, Mr. Chairman." "I can have him off the air in five seconds if you just give me the word." "Let's not be too hasty." "We have other problems." "What is the word from Ad Market?" "We are getting much resistance promoting our products." "Ad Market reports that we're finding it increasingly difficult to place spots on other networks, since they now see us as potential rivals." "Our ratings for Porky's Landing, Mr. Chairman, have flattened." "It might have been a new low if not for the Max Headroom interruptions." "However, the Edison Carter" "Enough!" "The market forces are now at work." "It's obvious we cannot be advertisers and programmers." "In digging for gold, we found worms." "We await your orders, Mr. Chairman." "Sell the Network 23 stock." "Operation Serendipity is over." "For now." "Hi." "Huh." "Thank you." "Now that was a bit more like the Edison Carter I know." "Yeah." "A bit more like him." "Where's Max?" "Max?" "I don't know." "I'm surprised he didn't interrupt." "Yeah, I kind of had a feeling he wouldn't." "Closed-Captioned By J.R. Media Services, Inc." "Burbank, CA"