Travelling Salesman Page #7

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Come on, what did you expect?

I expected protection.

Don't you think the world,

the mathematical community,

Will have some understanding

that our true intentions

Were for the good of science?

Altruistic...

Maybe, but passive acceptance

of everything...

There's been

no passive acceptance!

He's been attacked

in an accusatory manner.

Please stop cutting me off!

I'm just trying to simply say

That this is not

black and white.

"Oh, they were doing it

for science.

"Well done, lads,

this post-Apocalyptic winter

Is just what

the doctor ordered."

Things became

more complicated today.

There have been

admissions made.

What admissions?

Gentlemen, please, we're

going round and round here.

It's understandable, after

the accomplishments you've made,

To feel apprehensive,

believe me.

I have been there before

with other projects.

- Like what?

- Excuse me?

You said

you've seen this before

With other projects...

Which ones?

- What?

- Well, as a member

Of a fairly well-Informed

community,

I'm eager to learn

what other project was completed

Under your tenure,

One that changed the nature

of humanity.

One that renders

all cryptosystems inert,

Giving whomever it wants

unfettered access

To any secured information,

Something as fundamentally

important to its time and place

As the discovery of fire.

Oh, please,

I have been in the presence

Of dignitaries,

diplomats, kings,

Presidents, celebrities,

world-Class athletes.

But none of them

can hold a candle to the ego

That's present in a roomful

of f***ing mathematicians!

You're clearly not

understanding our concerns.

Everything

you mathematicians create

Is gonna alter the course

of human history.

The level

of self-Absorption...

I was trying

to passively engage things,

But it's now alarming how little

you seem to understand

- What you have right here...

- Modern-Day shamans,

Peddling the extraordinary.

The world is not as complex

as you believe.

This divisiveness is not as deep

as your imagination...

Your oversimplification

is reckless!

And quite frankly, the total

tonnage of what I'm privy to

And you are not would wake

a corpse from its grave!

Well, we're all

pretty smart guys.

Why don't you enlighten us?

Because I don't really

care that much.

I'm not interested

in broadening the perspectives

- Of intelligentsia.

- You already said

That your hope for our system

was that it might

Create a more cohesive

world order.

What does that mean?

What are you looking for?

How 'bout some answers?

What do you want from me?

These meetings

Can often be unpleasant.

You have been paid.

Consider yourself debriefed.

Sit down.

I want a document drafted

Stating the proof p=np

belongs to the four of us.

You can have the design

for the processor,

Classify it if you want,

but the proof,

As originally promised,

is ours. Furthermore...

I'm not sure where you

get off instructing me

To the f***ing toilet.

Furthermore, I want

the classified addendum

With any reference to our names

or applications removed.

This is not a negotiation.

Well, I suggest

you make it one.

What is any of that

going to do, hiding it?

Now, I, for one,

would prefer this technology

Be licensed

to the private sector.

Think about it...

It's the safest way

To avoid what we all fear,

which is basically

A monopoly...

Geopolitically, corporately.

I don't care.

License it to Intel.

License it to AMD, anyone.

The new

nondeterministic processor

Will blaze a trail

for the next generation

Of privatized

scientific advancement.

Think about it,

predicting protein structures

- As np-Complete.

- It won't happen.

- What won't?

- What you're suggesting.

- It won't happen.

- Why?

It's something we should've

seen a long time ago.

It's more valuable to them

if it's kept a secret.

It's better for all of us.

I'm sorry.

So where do we stand here?

Well, in response

to Dr. Horton's request,

I have neither

the authority nor interest

In altering the agreement,

And any deviation from that

would be construed...

Again, by my superiors...

As a breach of contract

And result in the forfeiture

of any future compensation.

So I guess the question

you have to ask yourselves is:

Where do you stand?

Whether any of us

could possibly understand

The consequences of this...

only time will tell.

As for me, I'm satisfied.

I'm in.

Give me the release.

Fine.

Come on.

It's time.

I'm good.

Fine.

Doctor.

Professor.

How's it go again?

Boats against the current.

In 37 years

of mathematical rigor,

I've been struck

by one constant truth...

That the number is always

larger than my mind.

This is too complicated

for any of us to understand,

Even you, doctor.

I'm sorry, but I'm

washing my hands of it all.

Fine.

Admittedly, we all

come up a bit short today.

None of us

can possibly understand

The ramifications

of this proof.

History has shown us

again and again that,

With every generation,

the implications of p versus np

Grow greater, so...

it's left to our imaginations

what this might mean

In 20 years, 50 years, 100.

But none of you...

I promise you this...

None of you

understands the true power

Of what our system can do.

Oh, for Christ's sake.

I'm so sick of your

condescending bullshit, okay?

This entire "I'm holier

than thou" attitude

I've had to sit through

for the past four years

Is nauseating.

We've been dealt with fairly.

We've agreed to the terms.

Suck it up, sign the paper,

and let's get out of here.

Doctor, you're outnumbered

and overruled.

Your objections are sporting

and have been noted,

But remember,

I'm not the enemy.

I have no choice...

I'm glad you see it that way.

But to inform you that

the proof in its current state

Is incomplete.

Oh, come on.

This is absurd.

What do you mean, incomplete?

I mean that it wasn't extended

To its fullest termination.

The documentation obscures

the final computation class.

The processor's oracle

lacks specificity.

I, uh,

omitted some details in...

This is idiotic!

There are three other men

at this table

That have pored over

every aspect...

Diligence!

It's been built!

We still have

the implementation,

The processor.

It's my design...

The classifications...

Is it your design?

Really?

- All of it?

- What?

I'm sorry, what exactly

are you implying?

My system has the power

to shut it down.

I'm sorry, what?

My system has the power...

to shut it...

Down.

That's impossible.

- No.

- Come on, doctor.

Complexity theory, chains.

This is quite a stretch.

Not quite.

Imagine it, crudely,

As an executable form of y2k.

Any bank security function

on any grid will fail.

Power networks,

telecommunication,

Corporate data,

will all shut down, okay?

You see, every single system

has in common that it...

I'm sorry.

You don't believe me.

This is insane.

Excuse my language,

but you're a f***in' moron.

- Watch it, now.

- Best-Case application,

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