The Duplicate Man

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The Outer Limits episode
“The Duplicate Man”
Episode no. Season 2
Episode 13
Guest star(s) Ron Randell
Constance Towers
Writer(s) Robert C. Dennis (teleplay)
Clifford Simak (story)
Director Gerd Oswald
Cinematographer Kenneth Peach
Production no. 45
Original airdate December 19, 1964
Episode chronology
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Keeper of the Purple Twilight Counterweight

"The Duplicate Man" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 19 December 1964, during the second season.

Contents

[edit] Opening narration

Since the first day that Man stared up at the stars and saw other worlds, there has been no more haunting question than this: What will we find there? Will there be other creatures, and will they be like us? Or when that ancient dream comes true, will it turn into a nightmare? Will we find, on some distant, frozen planet, an alien life of unimaginable horror?

[edit] Plot synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

In the 21st century, wealthy researcher Henderson James keeps an illegal alien of a different kind in his laboratory. The alien, a beast known as a megasoid, is the last of its kind on Earth. It was imported under the table by a corrupt space captain bribed by James and it is incredibly dangerous. The megasoid escapes the lab and Henderson James decides the only way to destroy it before it reproduces is to send out a clone of himself to assassinate the alien. Clones are extremely restricted by law in the 21st century but again James finds that money talks. He spends $100,000 to buy himself one and programs it to hunt down the megasoid. But things complicate once the duplicate, with a hint from the megasoid, realises what he is.

[edit] Closing narration

"In all the universe, can there be creatures more strange than the species called Man? He creates and destroys; he fumbles and makes mistakes. But the thing which distinguishes him is the ability to learn from his mistakes."

[edit] External links and references