"VR.5" (PILOT)

Broadcast 03/10/95
Written by Thania St. John
Directed by Michael Katleman

Guest Stars: Adam Baldwin (Scott Cooper), Penn Jillette (Kravitz), Kimberly Cullum (Young Samantha), Stephen Mills (The Man), Gammy Singer (Nurse Jackie), Kaci Williams (Young Sydney), Matthew Koruba (Young Duncan), Chris Owen, Noah Verduzco.

Synopsis: Sydney Bloom accidentally manifests her VR ability, and in the process of exploring it discovers that the co-worker to whom she is attracted is actually a serial killer. Having inadvertently tipped off an enigmatic secret organization called "the Committee" to what she can do, she is given an offer of employment she can't refuse.

Observed Data

VR: VR.5 "connection" lasts only a few seconds in real time; "connection" is made with the subconscious mind of the "connectee" (hereafter called "the Other")--their memory of the events in VR is more impressionistic than detailed, BUT it can alter behaviour; Sydney has full recall of VR.5 events; Sydney's software apparently determines the mental "space" for VR.5.

The Committee: TC had some kind of hold over Joseph Bloom--Dr. Bloom seemed afraid of them; the same man who apparently frightened Joseph Bloom into fleeing (to his death) is still in the picture, observing Sydney (hereafter known as "The Man"); TC is powerful enough to fix police investigations.

Miscellaneous: Sydney is socially maladroit, with voyeuristic tendencies--Duncan appears to be her only friend; Nora Bloom is either in a waking coma or has suffered brain damage; Sydney survived a suspicious car wreck in which both her fraternal twin sister Samantha and her father died; Joseph Bloom was very interested in computers (back in 1978) before they were commonly available; neither Sydney's phone lines nor her computer are secure; Sydney's e-mail address is "CyberSyd@ibnet.com".