Seconds Page #5

operation.

You don't suppose we can advertise

in magazines and newspapers.

No, of course not.

I think you'll come up with something.

Hold it. Thank you.

Hold your arm up, please.

- Excuse me. I don't understand.

- That's it.

- Is all this really necessary?

- 131/2. Profile.

- Turn sideways.

- Is this necessary for...

Hold it.

That's it. Back view.

- What is this, preliminary for surgery?

- Certainly.

Ayear's gone by. A lot happens

to the human body in a year.

This one is yours, sir.

Hello, Arthur.

- I don't believe I know you.

- It's me, buddy.

You're Charlie?

Guess I am, old buddy.

What are you doing here?

Same as yourself. Waiting.

What's the matter?

Oh, nothing.

It's just that it's hard

to recognize somebody...

and not recognize them at the same time.

How long have you been here?

A while.

When you phoned me, you were here?

Even the first time?

But you sounded...

like the whole thing was

something tremendous...

this rebirth, everything...

even when you hadn't made a go of it!

I thought you'd have a better chance.

Good God! How long does a man

have to wait to get into surgery?

Not long, usually.

I had to stay around and

telephone you, if necessary...

through your first

adjustment, but now...

That's what you meant about

our being tied together.

I couldn't help it.

I had to find out where I went wrong.

The years I've spent...

trying to get all the things

I was told were important...

that I was supposed to want!

Things!

Not people...

or meaning.

Just things.

And California was the same.

They made the same decisions

for me all over again...

and they were the same things, really.

It's going to be different from now on.

A new face and a name.

I'll do the rest.

I know it's going to be different.

I suppose you do too.

Good morning, gentlemen.

Mr. Carlson, please.

Charlie. You?

- Art, I...

- Mr. Carlson, please.

I have the feeling you're

going to make it this time.

I'm sorry to disappoint the rest of you.

Perhaps tomorrow.

You don't seem to

understand our problem.

- I understand it perfectly.

- But you're not cooperating.

I've told you over and over

again, I cannot think of anyone.

- I can't believe that.

- I've been shuffled around long enough.

I think it's time I

had the opportunity...

to start living some kind

of meaningful existence.

If I did sponsor someone, wouldn't

that delay my trip to surgery...

in the event that I were needed from

time to time, to, say, advise him?

No, that's not likely, not if

the selection is a good one.

I'm sorry. I don't seem to be

able to think of a single soul.

- You mean you deliberately won't.

- Have it your way.

Very well.

That will be all. You can

go back to the day room.

Processing, please.

This is Ruby. On Wilson, 722...

I think we can go to the next stage now.

Hello, son.

Oh, sir, I...

You know, I sure hoped you'd make

it, find your dream come true.

- What?

- I said I sure hoped you'd make it...

find your dream come true.

I guess...

I guess I never had a dream.

Maybe that's it. That

sure might have been it.

If I did have one...

it certainly wasn't Antiochus Wilson.

This time...

I've got to be allowed,

sir, to make my own decision.

You know, son...

when I began this business, I

was a young man with an idea.

I wasn't aiming to make a lot

of money, helping others...

helping them to find a little happiness.

Heck, not just the rich.

I thought eventually...

I got tremendous comfort in the

thought that, in my small way...

I was waging a battle

against human misery...

and I was too.

Except we do have a high

percentage of failures.

I guess that's to be expected...

but it hurts me.

Some reborns make a go of it.

We're always working to find

ways to improve the system.

Yeah, we make mistakes.

The fact is, when our clients

first started coming back here...

I wanted to chuck the

whole thing, but I couldn't.

The organization was pretty big by then.

Now...

board of directors, on

a profit-sharing basis.

All those people.

You've no idea what a financial

responsibility it turned into.

Heck, we make mistakes,

but we admit them...

and go forward.

I won't see it in my lifetime...

but some of the younger

execs like Ruby may.

You can call it wishful thinking, son...

but life is built on wishing.

You've got to just keep

plugging away at them.

You can't give up...

and you can't let the

mistakes jeopardize the dream.

Well, here's your transportation.

- What?

- Surgery, sir.

- But I've got to talk to you.

- We're on a tight schedule. Please.

Why, I didn't expect so soon.

It's efficiency. You're

lucky we got a match so quick.

Hop aboard, son. Up there.

The doctors are waiting.

That's just so you won't fall off.

But there's things we have to

talk about. I mean, my identity...

We will later.

Just relax, son. Everything's

going to be just fine.

The thing about doing it on my own.

You see, it's so important... choice.

You've got to change.

We have to talk about it.

We will. I'll look into it personally.

Remember, son. We've got to

keep plugging away at the dream.

The mistakes teach us how. It

wasn't wasted. Remember that.

My name is Dr. Morris, sir.

According to our records, you were

reared in the Protestant faith.

Did you convert to any

other during your adjustment?

Good, good!

That is, good in the sense that

we have a certain definition.

I am not suggesting that

being a Protestant...

is any better than

being a Catholic or Jew.

As a matter of fact, I am qualified to

care for you in those faiths as well.

I was ordained in each...

a rabbi, priest and minister.

I admit it unusual,

maybe a bit advanced.

Wait a minute. What's happening?

Well, sir, when we have finished,

you'll go on to the next stage.

I don't mean that!

Ultimately, we'll be called

to face the Creator...

and render up our last account.

It happens to all of us.

That's no answer! What's

happening to me now?

Don't shout! Please!

"Blessed shalt thou be coming in...

and blessed shalt thou be in going out.

And He said, 'Thou

canst not see My face...

for no man can see Me and live. "'

"I am the Resurrection and the

Life. He that believeth in Me...

though he were dead, shall yet he live.

And a stranger shalt thou not oppress,

seeing ye yourselves were strangers. "

"He that loveth life shall lose it...

and he that hateth his life in this

world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Fear not thou them

which kill the body. "

"I am the door.

By Me, if any man enter

in, shall he be saved. "

God be with you, sir.

What's his data?

"Wilson, mesomorph, age

51, no current diseases.

Requisitioned from

day-room stock May 6.

Released for cadaver use

last night. CPS number 722.

Disposition:
Death by

automobile accident...

caused by cerebral hemorrhage. "

All right. Acid etch.

Yes, sir.

- What's the solution strength?

- 5% at 10 cc's.

Timer.

Five minutes.

You were my best work.

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