it.
Observe this advertisement, though,
and you'll understand the game.
Indeed. Very straightforward.
I have the finest collection in Eternity.
Almost everything from the
20th and 21st centuries.
Cooper, would you mind
if I leave you to it?
As you wish, sir.
Dr. Twissell.
I love you.
I can't live without you.
What have you done to me?
-I don't know what you mean.
What can we do?
We live in different times.
Yes. I live in Time,
and you live in Eternity.
Think. Figure something out.
Only not now.
Harlan...
You must realize your true power.
Technician, you are capable...
Of destroying Eternity...
What?
Noys!
Did you say something?
Technician Harlan, you failed your
mission. Your report is incomplete.
I reported on everything I observed.
-Not everything! You omitted something!
I don't know what you mean.
-You spent several days in Noys Lambent's Villa,
but did not report on any of your
private interludes with her. Why?
I am your colleague, you can
ask me about them yourself.
What did you do together? What did you
two talk about? -I object! -Too late!
Don't you see that it was you
who was the subject of Observation?
Me?
-Yes, you!
She asked you to make her an Eternal.
Answer the question! Did she or did she not?
-Yes, she said something like that.
Which is just what we
needed to know. Sit down.
This is the unfortunate belief
we've been investigating.
If a Timer woman spends the night with an
Eternal, she becomes an Eternal herself.
Such a superstition
requires our intervention.
We have to induce a Reality Change that
will affect, among others, Noys Lambent.
I have nothing more to say.
If you're as slow-witted as you seem,
things will go poorly for you.
Computer.
Since you are in charge
of this section...
i'd like to apply for permission...
to form a liaison with Noys Lambent.
You're insane.
I already told you...
We're preparing a Reality Change.
In the new reality, she may not exist, she
may be deformed. Would you still want her?
Just the same. I'd like to apply
for permission to form a liaison.
This is ridiculous.
She's a brilliant woman.
You, on the other hand...
With your grim looks and
cold-fish personality,
Which did not even allow you to think
of women before. Ridiculous.
Do you mean to say
that the Reality Change
has already been decided on?
-Praise Eternity, you're catching on.
Of course, the final decision will
be taken by people higher up than myself.
You and I are merely
reporting the situation.
What does Twissell find in you?
It certainly isn't your brilliant
analytical reasoning. -Go on.
Well, Finge, Twissell
will feel the heat now.
You pulled it off brilliantly.
It'll be hard to stop Harlan now.
I'm not a Sociologist. I have here
the summary of a planned Reality Change.
I wonder if you won’t look it over and see
If you haven’t made a mistake somewhere.
I hope that's not the case, Technician.
If you say so, sir, I will
defer to your better judgment.
You recommended a
Minimum Necessary Change,
As the result of which,
for the next seventy years,
mankind will not be able to travel
beyond the boundaries of this galaxy.
That's all in order, but...
It involves an accident in space and the
immediate death by fairly horrible means
of a dozen men.
As I recall, we Eternals would
prefer a slightly differnt outcome.
This is one of the consequences
of Reality Change B-15.
I'm afraid that's unavoidable.
-Perhaps!
But when there is the obvious interest
of controlling space travel, there...
exists a simpler way.
Have a look.
Thus we solve the problem
with minimal interference.
Do you see that chip?
It is enough to remove it
to save the lives of the crew
And arrive at the same
Maximum Desired Result.
We must put a stop
to all future space exploration.
Senior Computer Twissell
finds it a hopeless,
pointless endeavor for
mankind, does he not?
My idea has the advantage of eliminating
the fork you failed to