Return to the Theatre of Terror

Our story begins in a small town

somewhere in northern New Jersey

in an old, abandoned movie theater.

Legend has it that inside that theater

is where the monsters live.

- This looks so cool, especially with the title screen.

Let me see, let me see.

This is awesome.

Hey, should we try to go inside?

Heck yeah.

It's locked.

Hey, let's try around back.

Hey, Cody. The door's open. Come on.

You don't belong back here, kid.

What's your name?

Take it easy. I'm not gonna hurt you.

Here, check this out.

- This is pretty cool. - Yeah, it is.

That's a collector's item, in fact.

A relic from the days of those old black and white

science fiction movies that kids used

to love watching so much.

No, you keep it. - Really?

Yeah, it's better suited for someone

with a young person's imagination, anyway.

So what's your name?

- Jack. - Jack, I'm Colin.

I run the projector in this place.

I thought this place was closed.

Don't let the locked doors fool you.

I admit it's been a little slow going lately.

People thinking it's more of an inconvenience

to go to the movies than the magical experience

that it used to be.

The smell of freshly popped popcorn,

the hush that falls over the audience when the lights dim.

I watch movies on my phone.

- How would you like a taste of the old days, Jack?

What do you mean?

- I mean, I take you on a trip back in time,

back when movie theaters enjoyed huge crowds, packed houses,

and the endless echoes of cheering and applause.

A time when the silver screen was really made with silver.

Cool.

Hey. How about some popcorn?

Wow, thanks. Didn't see that coming.

- And if you did, would you have tried to change anything?

No.

Of course not.

It's too bad Dr. Sterling didn't have you around

to give him some advice.

Maybe things would've ended differently for him.

Are you ready, my dear?

I'm ready, Dr. Sterling.

- Constant professional, aren't you, Ms. Wells?

Doctor, what you have achieved

will change the course of human history, literally.

Working with you these past two years

has been incredibly inspiring for me.

I'm in awe of you actually.

- Ms. Wells, I, uh, I don't know what to say.

Once I set the system, you'll feel a mild vibration in your neck.

Nothing alarming, but it'll be quite noticeable.

If at any time you feel panic or discomfort,

you can board the jump by using the switch

on your arm chair.

I wouldn't allow you to do this if I didn't believe it was entirely safe.

I would've taken the first trip myself,

but I need to calibrate these instruments

once they're activated.

After that, the machine could be operated

by anyone at the controls.

I understand.

Don't worry, Robert. I'm not afraid.

Perhaps this isn't the right time,

but you know how much you mean to me, Karen.

This isn't the right time, Doctor.

Why don't we continue this conversation upon my return?

You're right.

I'm only sending you five minutes into the future.

Once you are there, you'll have approximately 20 seconds

to make mental notes of how you feel and what you see

before the device returns your consciousness

back to our time.

From my perspective, you wouldn't have been gone

for more than an instant.

You'll return at almost the exact moment you've left.

Good luck, Ms. Wells.

Ms. Wells.

Are you all right?

I'm all right, Robert. It worked.

It worked?

Karen, how do you feel?

A bit disoriented.

Here. Let me get some water.

Here. Drink this.

- Robert, it was amazing. Like an amusement park ride.

You're a genius.

Karen, what did you see?

What did you see, Karen?

I saw us standing here.

We were kissing.

We were happy.

I've known how you felt about me for some time now, Robert.

Traveling into the future only convinced me I was right.

I feel the same way.

I have ever since the very first day we met.

I love you, Karen.

- Karen? - Yes, Robert?

- I thought you should know. I received a call from Dr. King last night.

He heard about the progress I've been making

with the time invention,

and I invited him over this afternoon.

I know you two were once involved,

and I didn't wanna make you feel uncomfortable

seeing him again.

It's just that he's one of the brightest men I know,

and I couldn't resist the opportunity

to hear his analysis of my work.

That's quite all right, Robert.

I did love Steven once, but that was long ago.

We were both so young and I was quite impressionable.

Besides, I com boast the most amazing scientist in the world

as my future husband now.

Or is it future traveling husband?

- Let's get the equipment ready for demonstration.

I think it's time I test out the machine myself.

Robert, it's wonderful to see you.

Steven, it's been far too long.

- I hear you've invented a time machine, old friend.

Come in, please.

- So what is it you've got, Robert? Tell me everything.

For years, my colleagues in the field

have been experimenting in ways to bend time and space

in a way that would allow the physical being

to travel from one point to the next.

Pinching two ends of the fabric of reality together

creating a doorway.

If successful, any man could step across the threshold

and find himself in the future or in the past.

However, I found this technique impossible to achieve.

How can one simply defy all that is known

and restructure the universe to our own design

for our own purposes?

No, I needed a new approach.

Something science is more familiar with it, the human brain.

Instead of distorting the space around us,

why not instead distort our perception

of the space around us?

Have you ever heard of astral projection, Steven?

Science has never been able to qualify the soul.

With this formula and the assistance

of a navigation machine I created,

I can stimulate your consciousness to a point

where the human form is no longer required.

A state of being where your mind and essence are free

to travel outside the barriers of the human host

and into the deepest layers

of reality, time and space.

Fascinating. Tell me, Robert.

How did you discover this formula?

Years of research and testing.

It was no easy task, my friend.

It has its limitations.

Such as?

One can only travel into the future.

For some reason, the past is inaccessible.

Even with the guidance of my instruments,

I can't seem to navigate the mind

into what has already happened, only what will happen.

Honestly, I think it's a blessing.

Knowing one can visit the past might tempt one

to change the present by altering the past.

That's a dangerous endeavor with unknown consequences.

Now affecting the future by altering the present,

now, that is something we do every day

with or without a time machine.

- But what we do every day isn't influenced

by what we know to be the consequence of our actions.

Now, imagine if it was.

What if I told you that cigarette you're smoking

would kill you?

What would you do?

What if you can warn victims of a flood that's

taken the lives of hundreds of women and children

to flee before a single raindrop falls?

Is that so terrible? Is that somehow dangerous?

- And when will you conduct your first test?

It's already been successfully executed.

What?

How would you like to meet

the world's first time traveler?

Dr. King, you've met my assistant

and recently announced fiance, Ms. Karen Wells.

Steven, it's wonderful to see you again.

So the rumors are true.

The one who got away, got engaged,

and to this old stiff of all people.

You look beautiful, Karen. You haven't changed a bit.

- Thank you, Steven. That's kind of you to say.