Futureworld 1976

In the wake of Westworld’s catastrophic collapse in 1983, the Delos Corporation embarked on a monumental effort to revamp its theme park, injecting a staggering $1.5 billion into safety improvements. Two years later, with the dust settled, the company reopened the doors to a revamped resort, now rebranded as a sprawling entertainment complex. As part of a carefully crafted publicity campaign, newspaper reporter Chuck Browning (actor’s name) and TV journalist Tracy Ballard were extended an exclusive invitation to preview the park’s newly refined attractions.

Just prior to their arrival, Browning managed to arrange a clandestine meeting with a Delos insider who promised to reveal damaging secrets about the corporation. The tipster’s brief but telling revelations were cut short by a fatal gunshot wound, leaving Browning to ponder the mysterious envelope he had received from the dying man.

Upon arrival at the resort, guests could indulge in one of four meticulously crafted theme parks: Spaworld, where the ravages of time and pain had been vanquished; Medievalworld, Romanworld, or Futureworld – a futuristic space station simulation. Browning and Ballard opted for Futureworld, where they were treated to an array of robots designed for both pleasure and entertainment, including boxing matches and amorous dalliances. Their guided tour was conducted by the enigmatic Dr. Duffy, who showcased the resort’s impressive safety features and touted Delos’ commitment to resolving past issues.

As night began to fall, Browning and Ballard were stunned to discover that the Control Center was entirely staffed by robots. The following evening, their meals were surreptitiously drugged, allowing medical tests to be conducted in secret while they slumbered. This unorthodox procedure aimed to create clones of the reporters – a feat replicated for visiting dignitaries like a Russian general and Japanese politician.

Ballard’s sudden awakening hours later was accompanied by a sense of unease, as if her experience had been nothing more than a vivid nightmare. Undeterred, she and Browning decided to sneak out of their rooms and explore the resort’s labyrinthine underground areas. Their nocturnal adventure ultimately led them to trigger a cloning machine, which produced three samurai from the development of Eastworld – an abandoned park. Just as they were about to be apprehended by these mechanical warriors, Harry, a resourceful mechanic, intervened, whisking them away to his quarters where he cohabited with Clark, a robot named after Superman’s alter ego.

As they sat down for an impromptu interview with Harry, their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of Dr. Schneider and two security officers, who escorted them back to their rooms under the watchful eye of a lingering kiss.

The following day, while Ballard (character) indulged in a vivid dream sequence courtesy of the Delos dream-recording device, Browning slipped away unnoticed. His destination was Harry’s quarters, where he hoped to uncover secrets hidden behind locked doors. A door that had long been inaccessible, despite the constant comings and goings of the resort’s robotic inhabitants. It wasn’t until they discovered the key to unlocking this mystery lay in the eyes of a robot that their investigation began to gain momentum. With Ballard’s unwitting assistance, Harry managed to pilfer the face of a mechanical companion, allowing them to finally breach the forbidden door. Inside, they stumbled upon eerie duplicates of themselves, as well as eerily lifelike clones of global leaders. These doppelgängers were programmed to serve Delos’ interests and eliminate their original counterparts. As Browning pieced together the truth behind his cryptic tipster’s envelope, he realized that Delos must be cloning the world’s most influential individuals - a revelation that sent shivers down his spine.

As the trio prepared to make their escape from the resort on the next available flight, they returned to their apartment where Duffy was waiting in ambush. His sinister intentions became clear as he revealed Delos’ diabolical plan: by cloning world leaders, they could ensure nothing threatened their interests, and without “proper” guidance, humanity would ultimately destroy the planet. Cloning journalists like themselves would guarantee favorable coverage, allowing people to forget the Westworld tragedy. Browning’s ire was ignited, but Duffy’s unnatural strength proved too great for him to overcome. Ballard intervened, firing twice at the doctor, only to expose his robotic true nature by peeling back Duffy’s face.

As Harry frantically tried to catch up with his companions, he was instead confronted by Browning’s duplicate, who brutally ended his life. Ballard and Browning found themselves pursued by their own sinister doppelgängers, each taunting them with intimate details from their past. A gruesome game of cat and mouse ensued, with one member of each pair meeting a tragic end - the identity of which remained unclear. When they finally reunited, Browning seized Ballard in a passionate kiss, an impromptu test to determine whether she was an authentic being or merely a cleverly crafted duplicate.

Their escape from the resort eventually became a reality, but not before Dr. Schneider intercepted them to confirm their identities as clones. The reporters reluctantly agreed to pen positive reviews for Delos, only to have their resolve shattered when Ballard’s badly injured duplicate stumbled towards him on the jetway - a poignant reminder that even in death, the truth can be hard to ignore. As they boarded the plane, Browning revealed to Ballard that his editor was preparing an exposé on Delos, one that would expose their sinister activities to the world, and that their passionate kiss had been his clever ploy to determine whether she was a genuine individual or merely a convincing duplicate.