Project X Page #5

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This is the vivarium.

This facility serves

as the recruits' barracks

during the rigorous

training period.

Designed with an eye toward

cost-effective animal housing...

Robertson.

...the vivarium was built expressly

for our pilot performance project,

which is affectionately known

around here as Project X.

Our staff of animal trainers

and technicians

has been hand-picked

and specially trained

to deal with the full spectrum

of program requirements.

Senator:
When you say

"cost-effective"... ( indistinct )

Give it to me.

Niles:
Senator, since the program's

inception over seven years ago,

we've averaged a yearly expenditure

of approximately $1 .8 million.

This figure includes

the cost of animal acquisition,

personnel training,

the constant modification

and upgrading

of our simulations,

as well as the continued development

of the primate equilibrium platform,

the simulator used

to train them.

When you factor in the benefits

for the defense industry

in terms of what we learn here

about pilot performance...

Come on, buddy.

Let's go.

Niles:
...ensure the viability of

the bomber force for years to come.

Now if you'll follow me, let's head on

down to the flight chamber.

( Virgil whimpering )

Gentlemen, our strategic

bomber force is under attack

from those who question its

survivability in a nuclear conflict.

They claim the piloted bomber

has become obsolete.

It is our goal to demonstrate

the continued value

of the bomber force

in our nuclear triad.

We hope to accomplish this by

studying the effects of radiation

on man's closest

genetic relative.

Here in the flight chamber,

we expose the subject

to the effects

of an atomic blast,

then chart his ability to continue

flying a simulated bombing run

lasting from six to 10 hours.

Man:
Just how similar to us

are these chimps?

Niles:
The genetic characteristics

of chimpanzees

are over 98% identical

to those of man.

All the major functions--

cardiac, respiratory,

central nervous system--

are virtually the same as ours.

They're as close as you can get

without actually being human.

Man #2:
Why don't you just use

the monkeys in the real planes?

Man #3:
It'd sure as hell save

some tax dollars.

( men laugh )

Dr. Carroll:
The point of the training

program, gentlemen,

is to develop skills

in our primate subjects

which approximate those required

by human pilots

to complete their missions.

Now what you're going to see

is a typical exposure run

which will measure the performance

decrement to the subject

after an ionizing radiation insult.

Gentlemen, we'll wear

our protective lenses

throughout the duration of

the demonstration, if you will, please.

Lieutenant, could we have

a little daylight, please?

Yes, sir. We are airborne.

- Man #2:
Safety interlocks disengaged.

- Roger.

The pilot will be exposed to a dose

of 3500 rads.

...if he took off within 2.5 miles

of ground zero.

Man #2:

Reactor armed.

If there are no further questions,

gentlemen,

I suggest we get started.

- ( door slams )

- Jimmy:
I have a question.

Sir, if we've proven

that our pilots can retaliate,

why does this chimp

have to be irradiated?

In this program, gentlemen,

we're exploring

every possible scenario

of nuclear war.

Now, there's a big difference

between a pilot

who flies through

a radioactive cloud

and one who is caught

in a 20-megaton blast.

Sirs, this chimpanzee--

there's one thing

he doesn't know.

If he's exposed to radiation,

he'll fly just like we taught him to,

but a human pilot

won't fly the same

because he'll know

that he's dying.

Dr. Carroll:
All right, Garrett, you've

had your say. You're dismissed.

Jimmy:
Haven't you've learned

everything that you're gonna learn?

- Garrett, that is enough.

- How many do we have to kill?

Garrett, this is not the time

or the place to go into this.

Admittedly, these are

very interesting points.

However, they've all been

dealt with before.

All right, gentlemen, I suggest we break

and pick this up in the morning.

We have a cocktail reception scheduled

in a half-hour at the officers' club.

And, gentlemen, we can just leave

our books and our glasses

right here on our chairs

until tomorrow. Thank you.

All right, reinitiate the exposure run

in the morning.

Yes, sir.

Reinsert safety interlocks.

Garrett, that's it for you.

You're finished.

You pick up your gear

and you get the hell off of my base.

And if I ever catch you

anywhere near here again,

so help me God, you're gonna finish

your tour of duty in a military prison.

You understand that?

And that is a promise.

- Man:
Report reactor status.

- Man #2:
Reactor secure.

Man:
Roger.

We're gonna take him in

for a landing

and recommence the exercise

at 0800 hours.

Man #2:
Roger.

Initiating landing pattern.

Thank you. Now to get to the airport,

I go right?

Two lights, make a right

and then make a Ieft.

She's not going to the airport.

You're not going to the airport.

Yes, I am.

I'm going to Washington.

I told the National Health Foundation

what's going on here,

and they're outraged.

That won't do any good.

It's a hell of a lot better

than doing nothing.

You don't have that much time.

I'm gonna get you Virgil, but you have

to get him out of here tonight.

( chittering )

We'll come out of

that door there.

Hey, don't worry about it.

He'll make it over.

Bye.

( insects chirping )

Man on TV:
Miller inbounds

the ball to Peterson.

He brings it down court

looking for Boddington

who has the hot hands.

And he gets him at the top of the cage.

Man #2:
Oh, now somebody

better get on him.

- Get on him. Damn.

- Swish. Two points.

Pay up the money.

I got two for you right here, Frohman.

Watch the game.

Miss, come with me, please.

Man on TV:
This Blue Devil team

is a lot more experienced...

( alarm beeping )

( monkeys chittering )

- Now get down.

- ( crackles )

( howling )

Dr. Carroll:

Everybody stay back.

( crackles )

( screeching )

- ( screeching )

- Teri:
Look out.

Dr. Carroll:

Go. Move it, move it.

Get the door.

Somebody get that door open.

Look lively, everybody.

Let me speak

to Sergeant Krieger.

Don't go anywhere.

Well, wake him up, for Chrissakes.

This is Dr. Carroll.

Teri:

Virgil. Virgil.

Virgil.

It's me.

Come on.

( laughs )

( squeaking )

( Razzberry blows raspberry )

This is Lieutenant Voeks at

the Strategic Weapons Research Center.

I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am.

It is late, yes, but I need

to speak to Colonel Niles.

Lieutenant, I don't think there's

any need to bother the Colonel.

Sir, sorry to bother you.

Yes, it's 0400 hours, sir. I'm sorry,

but we have a phase-three control

problem with the research animals

and a peripheral penetration

in the main complex.

And, well, to tell you the truth,

sir, actually,

there are monkeys

all over the place, sir.

Damn.

( growls )

Here.

Through here.

Oh, sh*t.

( beeping )

- Jesus Christ, the reactor's up.

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