# Bach "Toccata and Fugue in D minor"
(engines rev)
(cheering)
(announcer) Good evening. Welcome to Houston, the Energy City...
... home of the defending rollerball world champions.
This key international battle pits divisional champions Madrid...
... against powerful Houston.
(engines rev)
And here they come for a standing ovation.
On the track comes Houston!
Houston, led by captain Jonathan E...
... again their leading scorer this year.
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan!
OK. Let's go.
The controller indicates that he is ready...
... and our 30 Multivision cameras will bring you all the speed...
... thrills and excitement of this critical game.
(announcer #2) Ladies and gentlemen, our corporate anthem.
(organ music)
(cheering)
The controller tests his equipment, readies for the start of game action.
The traditional firing of the test ball will signal we're about set to go.
(klaxon)
(announcer #2) The controller for tonight's game...
... DA Niehaus.
(announcer #1) The officials approve play. Each team concludes its huddle...
... and now the crowd cheers once again as this Houston audience greets its team...
... led by the stalwart athlete Jonathan E.
Break off. That's it, boys.
Hook it!
(crowd chants) Houston! Houston! Houston!
Houston! Houston!
Now the play-by-play. Here's RD.
(RD) The computer counts down. The ball is fired.
First period is under way here at Houston tonight.
The first team to pick up the ball will be on offence...
... as they try for a score, and it's a pick-up by Houston!
BJ moves around the track...
... manoeuvring it in to the leading scorer...
- ... Jonathan E. - Go on! Go on!
Watch him!
Jonathan E holds the ball aloft. You must hold it in plain view at all times.
- Pick 'em up, pick 'em up! - I got it, I got it.
On your right!
Jonathan moves in behind and then out in front of Blue's bike.
Jonathan moves up the track and up onto the side.
Here comes Sanchez. Sanchez grabs Jonathan...
... but off the rail comes Moonpie and takes out four Madrid men.
The old swooper Moonpie...
... came right off the top of the rail and took out four Madrid men.
The remaining Madrid skaters defend the front of the goal.
Jonathan still has the ball.
Moving in, he'll try to shoot. He does! Jonathan!
He shoots, and it's just wide.
Regroup!
The Houston team will have to regroup.
Injured on the play is Belmonte and he's helped off the track for Madrid.
First period, no score, as we get set for the firing of the second ball.
Oh, and he misses and it hits the bike of Carter.
Knocks Carter down.
Gimme a hand. Move out!
Jonathan is there. It is handed off. The pass is complete to Jonathan.
(chanting)
He skates by and knocks him down dead!
Did you see that?
That should be a penalty. The official looking over.
Moonpie skates by as if nothing happened.
Keep up!
- Moon, on your left, on your left. - Right, right!
- Take him out! - I got him.
Break it up, break it up!
Go, Jonathan, go!
Can he give Houston the first goal of the game?
- He shoots, he scores! - Yeah!
And at the end of the first period...
... Jonathan's goal gives Houston a 1-0 lead over Madrid.
(announcer #2) Scored by Jonathan E! The time - first period, 12 minutes.
(klaxon)
(RD) The ball is fired for the start of the second period.
Madrid, trailing by one goal...
... try to go on offence to tie the score.
Go, Madrid!
- Here, latch on, latch on. - I'm with you.
Come on, Madrid, come on!
He skates up in front. Gonzales still has it for Madrid.
Hands off again, this time to Bodeus.
Bodeus, on offence for the Madrid team.
Here's the Houston defence.
It's a shot. It's low! And back down to the track goes Bodeus.
He's not injured, but his scoring attempt failed.
And the score is still 1-0 in favour of Houston.
The ball is fired again. Madrid is pressing now.
Putting the pressure on.
Move it! Come on, move!
Hold on. Come on, let's move it!
We got it now.
Hold on, hold on.
Watch it. Keep an eye out!
(fast handclapping)
Coming in now, Sanchez.
Moving to his left and right.
Has a full head of steam, still on offence...
... trying to tie the score. Sanchez moves around the bike...
... takes a long looping shot. He scores!
Sanchez scores for Madrid and ties the game...
... 1-1.
Second period.
The ball is in play again, and scooped up this time by Aston!
Three minutes. Get off!
- (klaxon) - Madrid penalty.
Three minutes. Biking misconduct.
On No.1 biker.
(klaxon)
Are you satisfied, Madrid? What game are you guys playing?
Take it easy. Take it easy. Relax, you'll be all right.
The crowd's going wild...
... loving this wide-open action in this quarterfinal game.
Skate! Skate! Come on, goddammit, skate!
Houston! Houston! Houston!
They all go down, a pile-up on the track.
The ball rolls free, and into the gutter. It's a dead ball.
(klaxon)
Here, here, here! Come on, come on! Off the track, off the track!
Come on, move out!
How is it, Jonathan?
- Give me a towel, will you, Bull? - Sure.
(coughs)
Come on, Dune!
Moonpie drop-kicks him!
(booing)
Three-minute penalty!
Don't give me any of that. Off the track!
Group up.
Jumping over the Madrid defence, gets up in front of the goal...
... and he jams it in for the score!
Jonathan jams it in and scores...
... to give Houston a 2-1 lead over Madrid.
Houston with the ball again.
- Here in the third... - It's a bike!
- Stop him! - (klaxon)
Jonathan E has it. Jonathan coming in low...
... with a great manoeuvre. He shoots, he scores!
I love this game, Moonpie.
- I love it. - Yeah!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
Two games left. Guess who we're playing first.
Tokyo. Ha-ha! Who'd have thought they'd make it to the play-off?
They're good. They've got the old Samurai spirit.
Yeah, but they're all about this tall.
Two or three little things make one big thing.
They're liable to climb all over you and eat your lunch!
I can't get on a man-to-man basis with a pygmy or an Oriental.
I don't know what it is.
You were fine tonight, all of you.
Mean...
...sharp! - Thank you.
- You fellas did well again. - Thank you, Mr Bartholomew.
And you, you rolled, you really rolled.
Yeah.
You play like our champion here. You take lessons from him?
No, we just give lessons to the other team!
(clapping)
How are you, Jonathan?
I'm, uh, feeling mean, Mr Bartholomew. It's good to see you.
Jonathan E, that's the name.
Houston players come and go, but the champion...
...plays on.
Hear, hear!
The Energy Corporation has a hard time figuring out ways to pay the champion.
We can't think up any more rewards for him.
You'd like us to have that problem with you?
Yes, sir!
You're like Jonathan, you play with abandon...
...but this is Jonathan's season.
Every season seems to be Jonathan's season...
...but this year we've got you on Multivision...
...a special show all about you.
No player ever had that before.
The whole world will be watching because this is your year.
(cheering)
You got it, babe!
- So, two games left. - That's right, Mr Bartholomew.
New York in the final!
The team seems healthy...
...the champion says he feels mean.
No problems here.
That's right!
What is this, fruit juice?
Very healthy, Mr Bartholomew. Very healthy.
Sweet dreams, Moonpie.
It's a bad habit you've got there.
You know what that habit will make you dream, Moonpie?
You'll dream you're an executive.
You'll have your hands on all the controls...
...and you'll wear a grey suit, and you'll make decisions.
But you know what, Moonpie?
You know what those executives dream about...
...out there behind their desks?
They dream they're great rollerballers.
They dream they're Jonathan. They have muscles.
- They bash in faces. - (all) Yeah!
Are we ready to go? Can't keep these boys here all night.
Jonathan...
...come and see me, tomorrow.
Good night, Mr Bartholomew.
- Ssh! Quiet, quiet. - This is a great team.
A great city.
Great stuff out there tonight.
(cheering)
(crowd cheers)
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
(screaming)
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
- Good morning. - How are you?
- Brutal game last night. - Thank you.
- So it's Tokyo in the semifinals? - That's right.
Continue to hold the calls, all right?
Come in, Jonathan.
Keep silence with me for a minute, won't you?
(chiming)
It's important to have a place to think things out.
You have your ranch. I know you take a lot of pleasure in it.
I, uh, cut my finger.
I'm sorry. Here.
You've had an amazing career, Jonathan.
You know how proud we are of the Houston team...
...and what we think of you... at Energy.
But now there are executives who want you out.
Sir?
You've had 10 years in this game, Jonathan...
...Ionger than anyone ever.
Retire... How can I do that?
On your special programme.
There are some who feel that this programme should now be used to...
...announce your retirement.
Who wants that?
When this special was first planned by us here at Energy...
...we saw it as a good thing...
...but now the Executive Directorate wants a change.
The programme is scheduled, the whole world is waiting for it...
...so this does seem the perfect time.
The, um, team...
They, uh, they depend on me.
Jonathan, let's think this through together.
You know how the game serves us.
It has a definite social purpose.
Nations are bankrupt, gone.
None of that tribal warfare any more.
Even the corporate wars are a thing of the past.
Yeah, well, I know that. It's just...
So now we have the majors and their executives.
Transport, food, communication...
...housing, luxury, energy.
A few of us making decisions on a global basis...
...for the common good.
The team is a unit. It plays with certain rhythms.
So does an executive team, Jonathan.
Now everyone has all the comforts...
...you know that.
No poverty, no sickness.
No needs and many luxuries...
...which you enjoy just as if you were in the executive class.
Corporate society takes care of everything.
And all it asks of anyone...
...all it has ever asked of anyone ever...
...is not to interfere with management decisions.
I, uh... I don't mean to resist.
I'm just trying to understand.
This is for your own benefit. You must know that, Jonathan.
All decisions concerning you are.
Well, I, uh...
I lost Ella.
The Corporation took my wife away...
...because an executive wanted her. - I won't review all that.
That was before I took over. I had nothing to do with it.
From what I hear your wife wanted to leave herself.
So, now, you're going to retire.
That shouldn't be too hard for you.
Stupid game, after all.
Awful game. You ought to be glad to be out of it.
I don't, uh...
I don't know, Mr Bartholomew. I just don't... know.
I realise you had nothing to do with Ella leaving me.
- Jonathan, I... - But, um...
I... You're right.
I mean, uh, I ought to do...
I ought to be perfectly happy to do what you say.
Take your time. Take a few days.
You've just come through a game. You're tired.
Go to your ranch, but... think about it.
And understand it.
Do understand it.
Because I don't understand your resistance.
And I don't think anyone else will either.
- Was your flight OK? - Is Clete here?
- He's in the training room. - I'll go say hello.
Jonathan?
Look what I got for breakfast.
It's a notice from the Corporation.
What's it say?
Oh, that I should, uh, get out of here. You know, go away, vanish.
That kind of thing. You know anything about that?
Yeah, I kinda heard something about it.
You knew it was coming.
We've been together six months.
Didn't you even wanna say goodbye?
We'll talk about it later, OK?
You didn't, did you?
Hm?
You didn't even want me here when you got back.
I gotta go see Cletus.
What do you want me to do in the meantime?
I want you to take it easy.
Uh...
I want you to go in and, uh, fix us something to eat.
Clete's come a long way and, uh, I'm hungry...
...all right?
Jonathan?
I'm glad you're all right.
Huh! Huh! Huh!
(punches bag)
Huh!
Come on. All right, come on.
(pats bag)
Come on.
- I ain't tired enough. - Yeah!
Huh!
Huh! It caught you, didn't it, baby?
- Two games running? - What?
You did that the last two games. Shoulder forward left.
You're standing on your left skate.
You do that in Tokyo, they'll take your arm home for lunch.
You with me?
OK, you practise that for me a little, huh?
All right.
(laughs)
(Cletus) Hell, I forget which corporation is which.
Any ass knows that fire's energy.
Who wrote the music?
Where does the music come from?
Huh...
- OK if I have one of these? - Go on, have a holiday.
I forget what corporation's running what city.
Chicago's still the Food City...
...but what about Indianapolis? Whatever happened to that town?
Whatever happened to Mackie?
Everything was much simpler when I was a kid.
We still had three nations.
That was before the corporate wars, even before rollerball.
Before everything. Do you believe in kids?
I remember someone telling me about...
...the National Football League and the World Cup.
- Where are you going? - Indianapolis.
What do you know about that stuff, Clete?
I mean...
...you know, how the Corporations got started, about the corporate wars.
They were nasty... Phew!
Well, nobody talks about that.
- Well... except for friends. - Yeah... (laughs)
I remember your rookie year.
You were mean and tight.
The best player I ever coached.
Nobody could lay a hand on you that year. Remember?
Yeah. Uh...
Look, I gotta ask you something.
That figures. Go ahead, I'm listening.
Well, there's something going on with the game.
I don't know what it is. I don't think I'm supposed to know.
What's that?
They want me to quit.
Why... would they want you to do that?
I don't know.
That's what I'd like you to find out.
Well, I'll try.
I hear just about everything going on in the game, one way or another.
That's what I mean. I can't think of another executive who'd tell me a thing.
Like I say, I...
I'll try.
But I don't think there's much I...
Look, uh, no troubles for either of us, Clete.
Just... find out what you can.
Trust me, Jonathan. You know you can.
Sure.
Well, sit down.
Well, yeah.
Thanks, boys.
Good show, Johnny.
That's the Houston stride.
You boys wanna make this team, play for Houston, you'll have to learn it.
We, uh, pride ourselves on being a power team.
- That's right. - We're power, we're mean.
And that doesn't mean to say...
...we like to have you hanging back there on a rail...
...in a fist fight, just fighting in section A, when you should be in section B.
I'm coming up to score and you ain't in the right section...
...it won't do us no good. - That's right.
Who's the, uh, two new catchers here?
Right, uh, give me that ball.
Don't, uh...
...stick your hand in that gutter too quick.
Wait till this ball comes down on the track.
Don't get too anxious. That thing'll take your arm off.
Now the bikers.
A biker...
...might sacrifice a little three-minute penalty...
...run over the top of a skater...
Uh-huh. Whoo!
...if he feels that he's skating a little too good.
So, we have a few methods here in Houston. There's hundreds.
One, of course, is to use this shield here. Use your pads. Use what you got.
Drive that arm in there, keep your feet forward.
Hit, move, you get away from the wreck. Always keep your feet here.
Don't come across in here. You get all twisted.
Or if a biker's sitting up nice and high - a lot of guys like to ride high...
...drag one off in midair. I hurt you, Blue?
I wouldn't hurt him for the world.
Now a... third method, and the one perfected by a little friend of mine...
...the swoop.
Whoo! The swooper, that's me!
Hang up on the rail, use all the speed of the track...
...come down and drop-kick a biker.
Say... Excuse me...
...you're, uh... you're not paying a whole lot of attention, are you?
What's this dude's name?
That's our new speedball from Manila.
Yeah, you know. That's Toughie.
Come on up, Tough.
- Oh, he's a big honker. - (laughter)
Say, why don't, uh...
...you do me and the boys a favour?
Since you know all there is to know, we'd sure appreciate it.
Why not give us a demonstration? Show us how you made that big rep.
Just skate around and, uh, just... take me out, huh?
Go get him, Toughie.
Now...
...eyes, use 'em.
Don't lock your eyes in one spot. This game isn't all in the muscle.
Use your head.
Lock your eyes on the target and keep...
(laughter)
Ears. Now, they're real important, too.
(laughter)
# Tchaikovsky "The Sleeping Beauty"
Mm, if there's anything I love, it's luxury centres.
And when I get my privilege card, I know what I'm gonna get me, too.
- A secretary. - What for?
Are you planning on becoming an executive?
Oh, I just need one. About this tall. Hee-hee!
Yeah?
Why don't you give it a rest?
Hello.
- Can I help you, please? - Yeah. I, uh, tried to order some books...
...and they said I had to appear at the centre personally.
That's right, this is our circulation unit. Make your choice here or by catalogue.
There must be some mistake. The books you've ordered are classified...
...and have been transcribed and summarised.
Who summarises them?
I suppose the computers summarise them.
- What do you need books for? - I just want to study up on some things.
You could go to the computer centre where the real librarians transcribe them.
But we have all the edited versions here. Anything I think you'd want.
Well, let's see, then.
This is not a library and you're really not a librarian?
I'm only a clerk, that's right. I'm sorry about it, really.
The books are really in computer banks being summarised? Where is that?
There's a computer bank in Washington.
The biggest is in Geneva. That's a nice place to visit.
I guess that's where all the books are now.
Thank you.
Ah, it's not that exactly.
Yeah, but books, Jonathan?
I mean, anything you wanna know, you could hire a corporate teacher.
You could call somebody up, use your privilege card.
I can't. That's just it.
I think there's something going on. Somebody's pushing me.
Who? Bartholomew?
You're Jonathan E. Everybody knows you. You've got everything.
You know you'll be treated right. You always have been.
Yeah. I don't know.
Well, I do know. We're living good. You know we are.
# Albinoni-Giazotto "Adagio"
I found this to wear.
Is it all right?
That's the uniform of the house.
I'm Daphne.
Yeah. That figures.
It's all right.
Here. Wear these, too.
No penalties. Limited substitutions. You can handle it!
You can beat Tokyo!
All we gotta do is change our tactics.
There've always been rule changes. Now, look, you know that!
It gets more people to watch the game, that's all there is to it.
You all signed contracts to finish out the season...
...no matter what the alterations in the game.
- Now, every last one of you signed. - See, now we all signed a contract.
It doesn't matter! There's no way we're gonna lose...
...no matter how they change the game.
That's right.
All it means is a change of strategy. We knock out their bikers early.
We take care of their skaters. Don't try to score...
...and the game's yours.
Now, watch yourselves out there. They're playing the same rules we are.
It's gonna be rough. But it's still basically the same game.
And the team with the power wins.
That's easy to say, man!
Hey, Rusty.
Hey, wait... Wait a minute.
Hey, Rusty, come on.
Listen, uh, you were talking about them contracts.
How come everyone else is being asked to play with the no-penalty rule...
...and, uh, they're pressuring me to quit?
I don't know.
But can't you do what you're told?
For your own good, get out.
I, uh...
I don't want to leave the guys to play Tokyo with the rules breaking down.
Jonathan, it doesn't matter what you want!
You think about that.
(man) These we did in slow motion to show the impact of your blows...
... on opposing players.
Yeah, fine.
We want you to approve the sequences.
It's, uh... It's all fine with me. Uh...
Anything.
I really... don't see why I'm needed here.
Well, the Energy people want you to be satisfied.
There, now. Isn't that a marvellous shot?
Sure.
I'm a stat freak myself. Isn't that perverse?
Have you got anything I can take?
Just, uh, just take one, huh?
Statistics, huh?
Yes, the greatest number of points scored in a single game, 18.
The highest velocity of a ball when actually fielded by a skater, 120mph.
Most deaths...
- (feedback) - Uh, please...
... don't do that.
Ah.
Most deaths, 9. Rome versus Pittsburgh, December last year.
The greatest number of players...
...put out of action by a single player in a single game...
... 13.
A world record, courtesy of your dear self.
There have been studies of stat freaks in rollerball.
Some go to the track, but they never take their eyes off the big board.
What's this?
I've always wondered if a rollerball player...
... sees himself as a class apart.
"Hello."
"Pause."
"I'm Jonathan E. Smile."
"I would like..." This, uh, this for me?
Very astute. Yes.
It's your retirement announcement.
Your special is already scheduled and announced all over the world.
You're supposed to read this as part of the programme.
What sort of pill did you give me?
Pure aphrodisiac, Daph. Enjoy yourself, dear.
(Daphne) Can't we finish up here and go home?
You are being recorded.
- Feeling woozy? - Just try to read the announcement.
I'm all right.
Why don't you... read...
...the...
Oh, yeah, you want that, do you?
You are making things difficult.
How many, uh, how many assignments you been on, Daph?
Oh, you're good at what you're good at...
...so you must have been around some.
A lot of girls have stayed with me. You know that.
Never seemed to mind.
But odd thoughts...
...I've had about you, Daph. Odd thoughts.
Wondered if you'd been briefed on me.
I'll ask you to read...
Yeah, a lot of things occur to me, Daph. A lot of things occur to you?
You look terrible.
You do look terrible.
Come on.
(soundtrack)
You shouldn't take anything offered to you just like that.
What was in it?
Nothing to hurt you. You're too trusting. Ever think of that?
(crowd cheering)
Hook 'em deep now!
They're good boys, but they're a bit rough.
Thank you.
As you know, the Tokyo game is coming up.
And you will remember that the Tokyo team...
...uses various karate and Hapkido techniques.
We will review these techniques...
...with special attention to the use of death blows.
- Same lecture every year! - (laughter)
There are certain body areas...
...that the skilled opponents will endeavour to strike.
What we got for our skilled opponents is the Houston fist-in-the-face technique!
(laughter)
Especially in a game with no penalties and...
You gotta get mad, all right? Play hard. It don't matter if they're all tiny little men.
Especially in a game with no penalties and limited substitutions.
Get mad and fly!
Please...
There are certain body areas that I know about, too.
What we gotta do is hit those guys in the ganglia.
Where?
In the ganglia. That's a mess of nerves right here under the ear.
You gotta drive the jawbone up in that mess of nerves, and it rings a bell.
(laughter)
You must understand...
...the Tokyo team has a very eccentric playing style.
And no penalties! If I go down, I know my team is with me, right?
Please.
Brute speed!
Familiarise yourself with the basic fighting-art techniques.
Nobody's gonna take us, rules or no rules.
Go on.
This is the Houston team!
- Rules or no rules. - We fight for each other.
(chant) Houston! Houston! Houston! Houston!
Houston! Houston! Houston!
Houston! Houston! Houston! Houston!
Houston! Houston!
Houston! Houston! Houston!
Houston! Houston! Houston! Houston!
Houston! Houston! Houston!
They're really quite beautiful, in a wild kind of way.
I can almost smell the lions.
Don't be silly. They're made in Detroit.
Yes, they're android. They're all programmed.
That's right, the whole game is played by robots.
They look like men, and they bleed!
Not so loud. They'll hear you.
(laughs)
It'll ensure stability, expansion and high profits for the planetary enterprise.
- What do you think about that? - You make it sound absolutely romantic.
Oh, he's gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous.
I know, but he's so intelligent. I'm practically living on bright pills.
Hey, here he is.
Hey, Johnny boy! Hey, kid!
Come on, let's hear it. Come on!
Give me a hand. I got too much to handle here.
Behave yourself.
Hello, Mackie.
Well, how have you been?
You know it's your night tonight, Jonathan.
You having a good time?
I'm glad you're here.
I'm here with an executive.
He asked all about you.
Wanted to know if I enjoyed you.
Hey, Rockie, hey, give her your hand.
- It's getting heavy. - It's too much.
- Well, what about the new game? - I haven't heard much about it.
The rule changes were announced a week ago.
- Who changed them? - That's what I'm trying to find out.
Look, rules or no rules, it's still the same game.
- I'm looking forward to the programme. - When you see that screen replay...
Excuse me.
- Did you hear about Evans? - What?
He's out. Gone.
No kidding!
The old man?
Who got him?
What?
I said, who got him?
The crocodile.
- You like poetry? - Mm-hmm.
Let's go upstairs. I got a poem for you.
(brass band)
(applause)
(announcer) Welcome, sports enthusiasts everywhere.
Tonight Multivision trains its cameras on the amazing career of Jonathan E.
In those years...
... that Houston began to mould itself into a world championship team...
- ... the attacking style of Jonathan E... - Jonathan, you're on, come on!
... has always been the team's strongest asset.
Yes, the game seems invented for him.
(audience cheers)
(brakes screech)
(cheering)
(crowd cheers)
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
(crowd chants) Houston! Houston Houston!
Houston! Houston! Houston! Houston!
(applause)
Look, I talked to everybody I could.
And, uh, there is something going on. Yeah, you're right about that.
But nobody will talk about it, I mean nobody!
It's hard finding anything out, Jonathan, you know that.
Hell, nobody even knows the names of the men on the directorate any more.
Look, I'm sorry.
- They want you out. You know that? - Yeah.
But do you know who they are?
- Bartholomew, I guess. - Mm-mm.
Above Bartholomew.
It's the Executive Directorate.
- Why would they worry about me? - Well, they do.
They're even after the old man because he didn't get your retirement announced.
How come they put the programme on without it?
I think they had to. They didn't want to. It's very tricky.
Jonathan, there's one thing you ought to know.
Look, nobody's said it, but I'm sure of it.
Hm?
They're afraid of you, Jonathan.
All the way to the top, they are.
What are they afraid of me for?
Oh, no, don't go yet. We're showing some replays.
Let's see 'em then!
(crowd roars)
Mr Bartholomew would like to see you now.
He's in the study.
Come on, hurry up, over there!
You know I've always considered your situation, Jonathan...
...and your needs.
Now you have to consider mine...
...and ours. - I'm considering it, Mr Bartholomew.
No player is greater than the game itself.
It's a significant game in a number of ways.
The... velocities of the ball, the awful physics of the track.
And in the middle of it all, men, playing by an odd set of rules.
It's not a game a man is supposed to grow strong in, Jonathan.
You appreciate that, don't you?
More and more, Mr Bartholomew.
(laughter)
Shoot that statue!
That's the one! Shoot that!
Hey, the tree!
You must take good advice.
You're not to play against Tokyo. You're not to play again.
- I want some concessions. - Concessions?
Believe me, I'd be happy to talk a deal, Jonathan. I love deals.
But this situation is much, much simpler.
This Multivision event tonight was very embarrassing.
For me and for others.
Yeah.
It might be I won't ever find out why I've been asked to leave the game...
...but I do know I can get some concessions, and I want 'em.
You missed!
I wanna see Ella, my wife. Arrange it so I can see her again.
That's not easy, Jonathan.
I want other concessions, too, Mr Bartholomew.
Oh! Oh-ho! Look at that!
(laughter and chatter)
I've never seen anything like that in my life! That's incredible!
That's terrific.
Look at all the flames!
Specifically, you're bargaining...
...for the right to stay in a horrible social spectacle.
It has its purposes. You've served those purposes brilliantly.
Why argue when you can quit?
And you say you want to know why decisions are made.
Your future comfort is assured.
You don't need to know.
Why argue about decisions you're not powerful enough to make for yourself?
Energy will treat you well, you know that.
If the rule changes stay the same, Mr Bartholomew...
...I'm playing with my team.
Too late. The rule change is scheduled and announced.
There's no going back. You've seen to that.
I'll see you in Tokyo.
You could be made to quit! You could be forced!
You can't make me quit!
Don't tell me I can't.
Don't ever say that! I can!
- (crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan! - You can be stopped!
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
- (laughter) - You are silly!
You could have killed someone!
- It's all going too fast. I'm not packed... - Forget it, you're not going, Daph.
Those bags are ready. Here. Take this extra hat.
Sir...
...I've had a call. I have to go over to Energy.
- You're not going to Tokyo? - What do you mean I'm not going?
I hope this isn't inconvenient.
No, no, it's no... no problem.
I'm supposed to go with you.
Well, what's that mean?
Who, uh, who told you you're supposed to go with me? Hm?
Nobody told me.
Listen, Jonathan, I really wanna go with you. I do really.
You'll need me.
Get yourself another assignment, will you, Daph?
Everybody's an assignment. Life's an assignment.
Get going.
You'd better do as you're told, Jonathan. That's all I have to say.
Are you threatening me?
Don't be here when I come back.
You won't be back, Johnny boy...
Don't try to frighten me, Daphne, you don't know how.
Look...
...you go tell them people that I'm going to Tokyo and you're not, huh?
You tell 'em that.
Ciao.
Oh!
Keller.
Make sure my gear gets to the track in Tokyo.
I'm gonna travel with the team this trip.
You, uh, call transportation and tell 'em.
Yes, sir.
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
What chance does Houston have of defeating Tokyo tonight?
Well, uh, both teams have fine players, and, uh, different styles.
What do you say, Moonpie?
Yeah, yeah, but it's not an even match, see...
...because the Tokyo team has all these little short guys.
(crowd chants) Tokyo! Tokyo!
Tokyo! Tokyo! Tokyo!
What about the rule changes?
Well, at Houston, uh, we kinda play a wide-open system.
Will you comment on a game where the rules are always changing?
The game's always had rule changes. They don't affect the good teams.
You're a great new player. What's the secret of your success?
Oh, it's no secret, I just imitate him...
...and, uh, plastic surgery keeps me beautiful.
There are rumours that the last game of the season will be played...
...without time limits. Uh, any comments?
I don't think it'll come to that. It's still a game.
There are also other rumours. Some say you retired.
Here I am.
(crowds chant) Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
(Bartholomew) Corporate society was an inevitable destiny...
... a material dream world.
Everything man touched became attainable.
I've been touched all my life.
One way or the other.
Either caressed or hit.
Don't much seem to matter which any more.
I guess that's why I want to see Ella again.
To see if I still feel things now.
You know what I mean?
Yeah...
There are some other things, too.
They took Ella away from me.
Now they're trying to push me out.
I'd sure like to find out why.
I think I'll go to one of them computer centres.
See what I can find out.
Yeah...
Finding out things, that's, uh...
...that's the thing, Moonpie.
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
(announcer) Welcome to Tokyo, and tonight's dramatic semifinal match...
... for the world's rollerball championship...
... between hosts Tokyo and the defending champions Houston.
Big rule changes tonight.
There will be no penalties called and there is limited substitution.
(announcer #2) Ladies and gentlemen, please stand...
... for the playing of our corporate hymn.
(organ music)
(crowd cheers)
(crowd chants) Houston! Tokyo! Houston! Tokyo!
(klaxon)
(ball released)
The name of the controller for tonight's game...
... CC Nakamura.
- You all right? - (chuckles) Yeah, I'm all right!
I just wanna get out there and hit them little fellas.
(engines rev)
Listen, stay close now, all right?
Yeah. OK, Johnny. Let's go, let's go!
Attention. Your attention, please.
Rule changes for tonight's game...
... limited substitution and no penalties.
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
(booing)
(crowd chants) Tokyo! Gambare!
Tokyo!
Gambare! Tokyo! Gambare!
Tokyo! Gambare! Tokyo! Gambare!
(crowd chants) Houston! Houston! Houston!
Haaaaaargh!
(all) Haaaaaargh!
(klaxon)
The controller checks the computer, ready to fire...
... and the first ball is fired. The game is under way.
Remember, there'll be no penalties...
... and limited substitution. This will be a punishing game...
... for both teams.
- Here they come! - Next time around.
Spread! Spread out!
All right, boys, go ahead.
Tokyo! Gambare!
Stay close now, stay close.
Stick with 'em!
Go, go, go!
There's a scramble in front of the goal. They all go down.
Kubo, on his knees, scores!
Kubo scores from his kneeling position...
... in front of the goal.
And Tokyo takes a 1-0 lead over Houston.
This is a fast-paced game tonight with Tokyo leading 1-0.
Houston being pressured by the faster Tokyo team.
The second ball is fired.
Spread out!
Slow 'em down!
Spread out!
Now the faster tactics of the Tokyo team.
And now, Houston, their bikers and skaters form a wall.
Tokyo! Gambare!
- Watch the ball! - Get 'em out!
Bike, bike!
Bike him! Bike him!
You got him, baby...
...you got him.
(crowd roars)
The ball is fired, and the second period is under way...
... with Tokyo leading.
Houston forced to come from behind tonight. Houston.
Here you go.
Watch the man behind me! Watch the man behind me!
(klaxon)
The ball is in play again.
It is scooped up by Carter for Houston.
Houston on the offensive attack.
Whoo!
(booing)
Come on!
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Go!
Right in the slot, through three men and he scores!
Houston goal...
... scored by Jonathan E!
The time - 12.05, second period.
- I love this game! - Yeah!
Some injuries here as three players are helped off the track.
- Sprint! - Yeah, right!
Come on, Moonpie, Moonpie!
Over here! Over here!
- What the hell are those guys doing? - I don't know. Come on, stay close.
I told you to stay close.
All right, turn loose next time around, all right?
All right? Go on, go on, go on, go on!
Moonpie!
I got him!
Let me have him!
(klaxon)
Tokyo! Gambare!
Take it easy. Everything will be all right.
Sit down over here.
Sit right here. Everything's gonna be all right.
Medic, hey, medic, come over here! Come on!
- Moonpie! - (klaxon)
- Come on, Moonpie. - Come on, get some help!
Set him down, set him down!
Just a bit more.
Breathe.
Come on now, Moonpie.
Come on, Moonpie!
Come on, Tokyo! Go get 'em! Go, go, go, Tokyo!
Jonathan, watch yourself out there! Now, watch them!
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Keep behind, Blue.
(crowd chants) Houston! Houston! Houston!
(crowd chants) Tokyo! Gambare! Tokyo!
(klaxon)
(speaks Japanese)
Look out!
Jonathan E!
Time in the third period, 11.35.
(klaxon)
Sprint! Sprint!
Tokyo! Gambare!
Tokyo! Tokyo!
Roll off! Roll off!
Blue!
This way, please.
May I say first, please, that you played a superb game in our city.
Thank you.
A simple problem, yet I know it is difficult for you.
Your team-mate has no family we can contact...
...and permission is required now before, uh, before consummating matters.
So, he's, uh, technically dead?
Yes, unfortunately.
His heart and lungs will function, but his brain is, uh...
It has expired.
From the first minutes we had him, it was hopeless.
- I believe this was explained to you. - He's warm.
Yes. But if you will, please, you must sign a release form.
It is required.
Does he, uh...
Does he dream?
No, there is no brain wave at all, no sort of consciousness.
Just a deep coma, a vegetable.
No dreams, nothing.
But even a...
...a plant, uh, feels something.
Who can say? Please.
It, uh...
...senses life. I mean, it, um...
...turns towards the sun.
It's alive, isn't it?
You must sign.
You, uh...
You just leave him the way he is.
Just leave him as he is.
Someone must sign. There's no other way.
- Arrangements will be made. - Please...
...there are hospital rules that... - No, there aren't.
There aren't any rules at all.
Let me know if you have any problems.
You won't find any answers in Geneva.
Take care of your arm.
In my opinion we are confronted here with something of a situation.
Otherwise I would not have presumed to take up your time.
Once again it concerns the case of Jonathan E.
We know we don't want anything extraordinary to happen to Jonathan.
We've already agreed on that.
No accidents, nothing unnatural.
The game was created to demonstrate the futility of individual effort.
Let the game do its work.
If the Energy Corporation has done all it can...
... and if a champion defeats the meaning for which the game was designed...
... then he must lose.
I hope you agree with my reasoning.
Thank you all.
Will you follow me, please?
Hello! Hello! Yes, it is!
The famous Jonathan E. Oh, hard to believe!
Ah, sorry things are in a mess.
The rollerball champion. Hah, wonderful.
Not many people come to see us, you know.
We're not easy to talk to, Zero and I.
We're a little confused again here today.
This is embarrassing.
It's embarrassing to misplace things.
You've misplaced some data?
Mm, the whole of the 13th century.
Misplaced the computers, several conventional computers.
We can't find them.
We're always moving things around, getting organised...
...my assistants and I. But this, this is Zero's fault.
Zero, he's the world's file cabinet.
Yes, pity. The poor old 13th century.
Well, come along now. You want to get started, don't you?
Yes, sir.
- Ooh! - Hm?
This way.
Now...
...we've lost those computers...
...with all of the 13th century in them.
Not much in the century, just Dante, and a few corrupt popes.
But it's so distracting and annoying.
You've unlimited restrictions here, of course...
...but, uh, you'll have to come so... so many times.
It all takes such... such effort.
Do the, uh, executives still come here?
Oh, they used to, some of them.
- What about the books? - Books, books? They're all changed.
All transcribed. All information is here.
We've Zero, of course.
He's the central brain, the world's brain.
Fluid mechanics, fluidics.
He's liquid, you see.
His... waters touch...
...all knowledge.
Everything we ask has become so, ah, so complicated now.
Each thing we ask...
This morning we wanted to know something about the 13th century.
He flows out into all our storage systems.
He considers everything. He's become so...
...ambiguous now...
...as if he knows... nothing at all.
Um, could you tell me something about the corporate wars?
Wars, wars? Oh, yes, of course, we have them all here.
Punic War, Prussian War, Peloponnesian War.
Crimean War, Wars of the Roses. One doesn't recall them in sequence...
...but, uh, corporate wars?
Hm. Well, Zero will or can, I'm sure, tell you anything.
A memory pool, you see.
He's supposed to tell us where things are, and what they might possibly mean.
Look, Zero. A visitor.
Jonathan E, the rollerball champion.
You've filed away a lot of data on him.
Do you remember?
- Does it answer you? - Oh, yes, it speaks.
It finds things...
...and loses them...
...and confuses itself.
Ask anything, he'll find it for you, section and lot...
...won't you, Zero?
Well, all right, uh, I'd like, uh...
I'd like, uh, some information about corporate decisions...
How they're made and who makes them.
Zero...
...you heard the question.
- Answer him. - (beep)
Negative.
You don't have to give him a full political briefing.
Answer.
Negative.
This is Jonathan E.
He has to know.
Make it simple.
Answer.
Corporate decisions are made by corporate executives.
- Corporate executives make... - We have the answers. We do have them.
- Knowledge converts to power. - We're the waters of history.
Energy equals genius.
- Power is knowledge. - I don't want to bully you.
Genius is energy.
- Corporate entities control elements... - You have to answer!
... of economic life, technology, capital...
... labour, and markets. Corporate decisions are made by...
- You have to, Zero! - ... corporate executives...
The 13th century...
- Negative, negative, negative... - It's so... embarrassing!
Negative, negative, negative...
... negative, negative, negative, negative.
# Albinoni-Giazotto "Adagio"
Hello, Johnny.
How are you, Ella?
Nervous.
How are you?
I'm, uh... I'm all right, I guess.
What are you doing?
Oh, looking at you.
Counting your scars.
Seeing how you've changed.
Oh, you mean, that's, uh...
That's how I've changed, huh? Just a little more beat-up.
Oh, no!
You're just not...
Yeah, well.
Come on.
You, uh, want a drink or something?
No, thank you.
You have a lovely place.
Oh, thank you. Well, I've seen your house.
You have?
Yeah, uh, when we, uh...
...played in Rome, I, uh, stood a block away...
...and, uh...
...watched your front gate for a couple of hours.
(clears throat) I was just, uh...
...standing there... wondering, uh...
...what your furniture looked like...
...what you said to each other in the mornings.
Yeah. What's he like? Uh...
What's he do, this, uh...
- Oh, he's a city engineer. - Ah!
We have a... jet-copter...
...a son...
...two cats and a place in the Alps.
Well, you don't really want to hear all of this.
A son, huh?
Yes.
We have a lot of friends.
And he has a lover. We have furniture a lot like yours.
Same taste in furniture. How about that?
You know, Johnny...
...all they want is a kind of incidental control...
...over just a part of our lives.
They have control economically and politically...
...but they also provide. You know they do.
Provide, huh?
They were responsible for taking you away...
...and I started to hate 'em.
But they weren't.
It was the game, Johnny.
I mean...
...it was so important to you.
It was as if I wasn't even there.
The play, there was nothing else.
I'm sorry.
You know I wanted you here.
Well, I mean...
...this might sound all wrong, but, um...
Well, I was just trying to...
...remember myself then.
Yeah.
Maybe it was, uh...
...Iove I wanted to try to remember.
Ah, there's a... a lot of things I want to talk to you about.
Yeah.
I've been thinking, Ella...
...thinking a lot.
I've been watching.
It's like people, uh...
...had a choice a long time ago between...
...well, having all them nice things...
...or, uh... freedom.
Of course, they, uh...
...chose comfort.
(Ella) But comfort is freedom.
It always has been.
The whole history of civilisation is the struggle against poverty and need.
No! No, that... that's not it. That's never been it.
I mean, them privileges just buy us off.
(thunder)
Look...
...they want me to quit, Ella.
Then quit.
Just like that, huh?
But you've got to do it now.
You've got to, before it's too late, whether you want to or not.
Look, Johnny...
...the next game, there won't be any substitutions allowed.
And no time limit.
You'll die, Johnny. Everybody will die.
- No time limit. They tell you that? - Yes.
They tell you to convince me to quit?
Yes, but that isn't why I came here.
You have to get out for your own sake.
Oh, please, Johnny, please.
Did they tell you to stay if, uh... if I did quit?
Are you my big reward?
You still don't understand why I came here.
You were the only person I ever wanted.
I wanted you on my side, that's all.
It's like you're a God now.
Maybe you know what I don't.
I've...
I've been so stupid for so long.
I feel so stubborn.
L-I don't even know why.
It scares me.
I'm know I'm probably gonna...
I'm probably gonna die.
And you'll be in there pumping away long after I'm gone.
(beeping)
Hey, you've, uh...
...you've got it made, old buddy.
Bluebonnets and everything.
(crowd cheers)
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Houston! Houston! Houston!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
(crowd cheers)
(team) Jonathan's dead! Jonathan's dead!
Jonathan's dead! Jonathan's dead!
Jonathan's dead!
(crowd cheers)
Jonathan's dead! Jonathan's dead!
Houston! Houston!
Houston! Houston! Houston!
(announcer) Attention. Your attention, please.
Rule changes for tonight's world championship game.
No substitutions...
... no penalties...
... and no time limit!
(klaxon)
(crowd cheers)
Watch now, he's got the ball. Next time around we defend.
(crowd cheers)
Jonathan's dead! Jonathan's dead!
Houston! Houston! Houston!
Houston! Houston!
(crowd chants) Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Houston! Houston!
Let's go!
Let's get him.
Come on! Come on, get out of there!
Get him up.
He did it!
That's right. Get him in the elevator.
Get off the rail!
Jonathan's dead! Jonathan's dead!
Get him off the track!
Get 'em off!
I don't want another man on that track! Houston, what the hell are you doing?
- Ain't nobody gonna win this game! - Game! This wasn't meant to be a game!
Never!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
(klaxon)
Watch his leg, watch that leg.
Easy, easy!
Let me have him, let me have him. Let me have him!
Move out.
(klaxon)
Aargh!
(whispers) Jonathan!
Jonathan!
(soft and slow) Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
(louder) Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan!
(all chanting) Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!
Jonathan! Jonathan!
# Bach "Toccata and Fugue in D minor"