The Grid (The Outer Limits)

"The Grid" is an episode of The Outer Limits television show. It was first broadcast 14 July 2000, during the sixth season.

Introduction

A man investigating the murder of his brother uncovers a mind control project controlled by a super-intelligent computer.

Opening narration

Plot

Scott Bowman gets a strange message from his brother Peter, and decides to drive back to their hometown of Halford, Washington, to see what's wrong. But when he gets there, he discovers that Peter is dead and his wife Eileen has been charged with his murder.

But that's not the only shock awaiting Scott. The town where he grew up has been transformed. Antenna towers dot the landscape and the people act strangely, as if they are under some kind of sporadic mind control. Scott goes to the jail to visit Eileen, where she warns him about the towers — just moments before grabbing the Sheriff's gun and killing herself. This turn of events convinces Scott that he needs to investigate further. He meets with a former colleague of Peter's, Dr. Jim Holbrook, who seems friendly, but doesn't give Scott any information.

Scott doesn't know where to turn next, when out of the blue, one of Peter's former students shows up. She tells Scott about a book that holds the secret to what is known as Project Halford. Scott finds the book and a videotape that reveals the Army's plan to construct a neural computer network that would communicate directly with the brain. It also reveals that the project spun out of control and that Peter stole vital codes in an attempt to halt the computer's drive to take over the minds of the townspeople.

Sadly, Scott was too late and the towers are placed all over the nation, including near his home. Scott's wife is already under their control and shoots Scott.

Closing narration

External links

• "The Grid" at The Outer Limits official website
• "The Grid" at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Grid" at TV.com
• "The Grid" at Jessica Steen's webpage