Rollerball Page #4

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- 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.

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.

They're android. They're all programmed.

That's right.

The game is played by robots.

They look like men and they bleed!

Not so loud. They'll hear you.

It'll ensure stability, expansion

and profits for the planetary enterprise.

- What do you think about that?

- You make it sound absolutely romantic.

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!

- Gimme a hand. I got too much here.

- Behave yourself.

Hello, Mackie.

Well, how you been?

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! Give her your hand.

It's too much!

- What about the new game?

- I haven't heard much about it.

The rule changes

were announced a week ago.

- Who changed them?

- I've been tryin' to find out.

Rules or no rules, it's still the same game.

- I'm looking forward to the programme.

- When you see that screen replay...

- 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.

Do you like poetry?

Why don't you come upstairs?

I got a poem for you.

Welcome, sports enthusiasts everywhere.

Tonight Multivision trains its cameras

on the amazing career of Jonathan E.

As Houston began to mould itself

into a world championship team,

- the attacking style of Jonathan E...

- Jonathan, you're on!

...has always been

the team's strongest asset.

Yes, the game seems invented for him.

Look, I talked to everybody I could.

There is something going on.

You're right about that.

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.

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.

- Why 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.

They're afraid of you, Jonathan.

All the way to the top, they are.

What are they afraid of me for?

Don't go yet.

We're showing some replays.

Let's see 'em then!

Mr Bartholomew would like

to see you now. He's in the study.

Come on, hurry up!

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.

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.

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.

Look at that!

I've never seen anything like that

in my life! That's incredible!

That's terrific.

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, Mr Bartholomew,

I'm playin' 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 can be made to quit!

You can be forced!

You can't make me quit!

Don't tell me I can't.

Don't ever say that! I can!

You can be stopped!

You could have killed someone!

- It's all goin' too fast. I'm not packed...

- 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 can't go to Tokyo?

- What do you mean, I'm not going?

I hope this isn't an inconvenience.

No, no, it's no problem.

I'm supposed to go with you.

Well, what's that mean?

Who told you

you're supposed to go with me?

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.

You better do as you're told, Jonathan.

That's all I have to say.

Are you threatenin' 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.

You go tell them people that

I'm going to Tokyo and you're not, huh?

You tell 'em that.

Ciao!

Keller.

Make sure my gear

gets to the track in Tokyo.

I'm gonna travel with the team this trip.

You call Transportation and tell 'em.

Yes, sir.

What chance does Houston have

of defeating Tokyo tonight?

Both teams have fine players

and different styles.

What do you say, Moonpie?

It's not an even match, see, because the

Tokyo team has all these little short guys!

What about the rule changes?

Well, at Houston,

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 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 plastic surgery keeps me beautiful.

There are rumours that the last game of

the season will be without time limits.

Any comments?

I don't think it will. It's still a game.

There are also other rumours.

Some say you retired from the game.

Here I am.

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