The Thirteenth Floor

They say, "Ignorance is bliss."

For the first time in my life, I agree.

I wish...

I had never uncovered the awful truth.

I know now...

once they find out, they will try to silence me.

That is why I've written this all down for you in this letter.

You are the only one whom I can tell this to.

The only one who could possibly understand.

Good luck, my friend.

I hope you enjoyed your stay with us.

Mr. Fuller, nice having you here.

Your usual table?

No, thanks, Gene.

Her name is Erika.

She's from Toledo.

Ashton, would you do me a favor?

You'd like to meet her?

I want you...

to keep this letter.

Somebody will ask for it. A man named Douglas Hall.

Remember, it's crucial that he receives it.

It's a walk in the park.

Going home, Mr. Fuller?

Yes, Charlie.

We're out of cat food.

Yes, I'll buy some in the morning.

You've been smoking again.

Download complete.

Link to simulation terminated.

Martini, please.

One martini.

You forgot the olive.

We're out of olives.

How about pretzels?

No, thank you.

Please leave a message at the tone.

Douglas, it's me.

Listen, I've stumbled onto something incredible.

This changes everything.

I don't know...

I don't even know how to begin.

What are you doing?

You have new messages.

You have new messages.

You have three new messages.

First new message: 5:25 a.m.

Douglas, it's Hilary. Don't forget to call Marshall.

Legal is screaming for the contract.

I'll have a notary come to the office at lunch.

Next new message: 5:48 a.m.

it's me again. Please call me as soon as you get up.

Next new message: 6:13 a.m.

Mr. Douglas Hall, this is Detective McBain, LAPD.

I'd appreciate a callback, please.

My phone number is 555-7876.

I'm Detective Zev Bernstein.

Sorry to drag you out of bed so early.

This is Detective McBain.

Mr. Hall?

Thanks for coming down.

Where is he?

Can I get you some coffee?

No, thank you.

That him?

We found him in an alley at Spring and Grand.

Looks like he ran into some guy who

wasn't just asking for a quarter.

Carved him up like a ham.

Took everything: Wallet, credit cards.

Got a kick out of it.

What's your connection to the old man?

I worked with him for six years.

He was my boss.

My friend.

Hey, cigarette?

I don't smoke.

We found these on him.

Traced the prescription. According to his doctor...

Fuller listed you to call in case of medical emergencies.

He had no next of kin?

No, he didn't.

You sure?

I think he would've told me.

Have any idea who killed him?

Everybody liked him.

Mind if I tag along?

Or we can continue in my office, if that's more convenient.

That's fine.

What do you do for a paycheck, anyway?

Computer software.

Would you mind taking care of the car this morning?

Must make some decent bucks, huh?

I make a living.

This was his apartment.

You could be home already.

I see these signs every time I leave work:

"You could be home already. Apartment living in downtown."

Never expected it could look anything like this.

This company was Fuller's life. He worked and lived here.

So what exactly do you people do here?

You wouldn't be interested.

I'm paid to be interested.

Computer research.

Fuller was onto...

a whole new frontier.

Very sensitive material.

Not at liberty to discuss it.

A lot of money involved.

This apartment must be worth a few million dollars.

One of the perks of the job.

This job has a whole lot of perks.

Can I help you?

I just talked to him two days ago.

I can't believe he's gone.

My name is Jane Fuller.

Hannon was my father.

I'm sorry. I'm Douglas Hall.

You're the one he always wanted me to meet.

He never mentioned to me that he had a daughter.

He didn't?

I arrived from Paris this morning. I was supposed to meet him.

But then I heard.

My condolences, Miss Fuller.

I'm Detective McBain, LAPD.

I have to ask you some questions.

Of course.

Would you excuse us, Mr. Hall?

Sure.

Have we ever met before?

No, that's not possible.

You look very familiar.

Nice to meet you, Miss Fuller.

Hey, Whitney. How you doing?

Sliced him up like an animal.

And for what?

He was the Einstein of our generation. It's a waste.

What the hell happened while I was away?

He was jacking into the system a lot.

I thought you knew. You didn't know?

We were months away from even the first trial run.

We are. But he was taking a big chance.

What was I supposed to do? You know how he is.

Any complications?

None that I know of yet.

Did he ever tell you he had a daughter?

Because I just met her. Why?

You're kidding me.

John, I need the number of that cab company.

No need, sir.

She went to the Omni Hotel.

Detective McBain...

sorry to disappoint you.

I'll find Doug.

It's you I want to talk with.

What for?

Want me to catch your boss's killer?

Of course.

The whole thing's a giant computer game?

No, it doesn't need a user to interact with it to function.

Its units are fully-formed, self-learning cyber beings.

Units?

Electronic, simulated characters.

They populate the system.

They think...

they work...

they eat.

They fuck?

Let's just say that they're modeled after us.

Right now we have a working prototype: Los Angeles, circa 1937.

Why '37?

Fuller wanted to start by recreating the era of his youth.

You see...

while my mind is jacked in...

I'm walking around experiencing 1937.

My body stays here...

and holds the consciousness of the program link unit.

You think one of them units crawled up an extension cord...

and killed its maker?

Miss Fuller checked in yet?

Miss Fuller.

Glad I caught you.

Mr. Hall.

What are you doing here?

It's about your father. Actually...

you said you spoke with him a few days ago.

Can you tell me anything about that conversation?

Did he seem strange to you at all?

He'd been under a lot of stress lately.

He asked me to fly to the States,

so I could help with the company.

Help him run it?

Shut it down.

I worked with him for six years.

If he wanted to shut it down...

he would've told me about it.

He didn't tell you about me.

But I wish he had.

It's nice to see you again.

Sorry I'm late. Have you looked through the paperwork?