Puppet Master 4

It is known that those in the upworld are

close to discovering our secret--

the secret André Toulon stole from us those many years ago.

We must send our children to protect it.

They will punish those who try to uncover our world...

our secret...

our power.

Those who discover our secret must be stopped.

The power is ours...

and ours alone it must remain.

Well, I'll be damned.

It did it.

It works

Yes?

Dr. Piper, I have a delivery for you down here.

It looks important. You want me to bring it on up?

Um, sure, Stanley. That'll be just fine. Thanks.

Okey-dokey.

Advanced Technology.

Dr. Baker, Phoenix Division, please.

- Baker. - Carl, it's Leslie.

I think we've got a breakthrough on the Omega Project.

Really?

Well, I've been running some tests based on our newest data,

and, Carl, it works. The robots actually solved the problem.

Guess I should've expected this.

Jennings was ecstatic with the results his division's been getting.

Heh.

So, when can we see the completed prototype?

Uh, we're working on that now. Any news from our boy wonder?

Eh, not since he handed in that last set of data.

Hm. Well, it would speed things along

if he could have the sequences to the next level.

Oh, he's working on it, but you know how Rick is.

Unless he needs some feedback or some little piece of equipment,

we won't hear from him 'til the problem's solved.

Must be nice to be a wunderkind.

Me, I'm just happy being

a garden-variety scientist with a job.

You and me both, Carl.

Goodnight.

Thanks, Stanley. Just put it, I guess, right there.

I'll be closing up soon.

Come on, Doc. You say that every night.

Ugly little thing, aren't you?

Where'd you come from?

Ow!

Come on.

Great. Just great.

Ahh!

Ahh!

Stanley?

Stanley!

Stanley!

Come on.

Stanley!

Yes, take her power. Draw her energy into us.

Hello?

Hey, Wonder Woman. How you doin'?

What a coincidence. I was just sitting here

with a hot iron in my hand thinking about you.

No, no. Just some minor surgery on Hermes.

So, what time are you coming over?

You know, if the storm comes in, you're gonna have to spend the night.

You know that.

Good. I'll see you later.

Yes!

All right, gentlemen. You know the rules.

I want a good, clean fight.

Standing eight counts are mandatory.

No sucker punches.

Now go to your respective corners.

Let's get ready to rumble!

All right.

No more kiddin' around.

Gentlemen, this will be a random number sequence test

based on the gamma pi code series 000/3

All right.

Gentlemen, don't make me want to kick your butts.

Go!

Alley-oop!

Come on, guys. This is too easy.

And we're down to the last 30 seconds

as Richard Myers continues to dominate the field.

Wake up, boys!

That was pathetic, guys.

I mean, I'm not a track star or a basketball player, for Christ's sakes

I'm a scientist.

Not a good one.

Using a random number sequence

generated by the gamma pi code series 000/3

has met with the same results as in previous trials.

Once again, although the robots reacted with speed and efficiency...

their behavior was utterly predictable

and stayed within the parameters of their programming.

They showed no signs of initiative or original thought.

We're left no closer to the creation

of artificial intelligence...

that could stimulate life.

Yes?

Sorry to disturb you, Doctor, but you have a package here.

- What is it? - I can't tell, sir.

It's a shipping crate.

Bring it up.

He shoots...

he scores.

Hey!

What the hell is this?

Hello, Bodega Bay Inn.

Rick? This is Dr. Baker.

You didn't send me anything today, did you?

No, sir. There wasn't anything worth sending today. Why?

Well, I just received something unusual, that's all.

You know, everyone in the Phoenix Division is

awaiting your results, Rick.

Uh, when do you think you'll have something?

Sometimes I feel so close, I could just taste it, but...

whatever's gonna make the robots transcend their programming

and think for themselves just isn't happening.

Uh, listen, Doctor, um, I've gotta go.

There's some clown outside ringing my doorbell.

- Okay, I'll call you back. - Okay, Rick.

How'd you get here?

- What?! - Rick.

- Susie. - Who were you expecting?

I don't know, sorry.

Some guy was screwing with my buzzer before.

Oh.

Never mind.

I'm glad you're here.

Uh, Rick, this is my friend, Lauren.

- Oh. Uh, hi. - Hi. Nice to meet you.

You don't mind that I brought friends, do you?

No. Friends?

Rickster.

Hug, no kiss.

So you two know each other?

Oh, you bet we do. We go all the way back to the institute.

Susie, how can I begin to thank you?

What's a place like this doing out in the sticks, anyway?

Doesn't even look like it's open.

Actually, it's off season...

and I'm the caretaker.

Oh.

So, Mr. Caretaker...

I'm starved.

Where's dinner?

Haven't changed a bit, have you...

"Cam-ron"?

Ah!

Aah!

- No, that's fire. - Let's take a vote on it.

There I was in my senior year,

point of the highest grades in the school's history,

and what happens?

Along comes little Ricky Myer.

The kid's got this mega-huge IQ,

and in two months he's blown away every record I ever set.

Great dinner, Rick.

Thank you.

I didn't know I was gonna be cooking for four.

Suse, you've barely touched your food.

Are you training again?

I'm always in training.

Susie's incredible.

She's placed in the last three ironwoman competitions.

Hmm.

Rick, Lauren's field is metaphysics.

Really? Who with?

I've got a grant from the Hughes Foundation for Psychic Research.

Uh, this must be a good up, then.

So, what do you specialize in?

I'm a channeler.

How interesting.

And, naturally, I'm working on something

that may change the course of modern civilization as we know it.

Naturally.

Dare I ask who you're working for?

I doubt you've ever heard of them before.

I'm working with the Omega Project.

Sounds interesting.

- Care to talk about it? - Love to. Classified.

I mean, I can't tell you much, but...

All right.

I'm working in what's called the Phoenix Division.

My team logs in data

that's sent over by some hotshot over at Biotech...

some broad named Pepper.

- Piper. - What?

Her name is Leslie Piper.

And how would you know that?

Because the work she's testing is mine.

Great wine, Cam.

Cheers.

I am here.

I am with you.

So if you're working with Baker and Piper,

what're you doing up here?

I needed some place private where I could spread out and...

not have anyone looking over my shoulder.