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Harsh Realm synopses 179 Pilot (aka Insertion) Written Chris Carter Directed by Daniel Sackheim Original air date: Army officer Tom Hobbes is sent into a strange virtual reality wargame with the mission to defeat another “player” – General Omar Santiago. Upon his arrival, however, he finds that Santiago is a real person who has commandeered the program, and now he, along with countless other soldiers sent on the same mission, is trapped there. He finds himself reluctantly becoming friends with Mike Pinnochio, another soldier who believes that Hobbes may fulfil a sort of religious prophecy. 101 Leviathan Written by Chris Carter Directed by Daniel Sackheim Original air date: 15 October 1999 Hobbes, Pinnochio and Florence are held captive by a bounty hunter who intends to hand them over to Santiago in return for a way out of Harsh Realm. Meanwhile, Sophie discovers that the military’s story about Hobbes’ death is a lie and tries to find out what has happened to her fiancé. 102 Inga Fossa Written by Chris Carter Directed by Bryan Spicer Original air date: 18 November 1999 Hobbes and Pinnochio meet up with Freddy the Forger, a black-marketeer who helps them obtain the necessary technology to infiltrate Santiago’s central Security building so that Hobbes can use the portal to get back to the real world. But at the last minute he decides to stay and help the people of Harsh Realm, having been persuaded by Inga Fossa, a member of Santiago’s inner circle who seems to have her own agenda. 103 Kein Ausgang Written by Steven Maeda Directed by Cliff Bole Hobbes and Pinnochio encounter a World War II simulation which, due to a programming error, is replaying itself over and over again. There they meet another soldier who had originally been sent to Harsh Realm to kill Santiago and who, along with the two of them, is now trapped in the simulation. 104 Manus Domini Written by John Shiban Directed by Tony To Original air date: 5 May 2000 When Florence leaves for reasons unknown, Hobbes and Pinnochio go looking for her but end up tripping a land mine. Pinnochio loses his leg and is taken in by a group of “healers” similar to Florence, while Hobbes finds himself in a dangerous situation with one of Santiago’s Republican Guard. As the story progresses, all of them are forced to come to terms with the question of whether or not any “higher power” is at work in Harsh Realm. 105 Three Percenters Written by Frank Spotnitz Directed by Daniel Sackheim Original air date: 28 April 2000 Hobbes, Pinnochio and Florence are looking to raid the supplies of a reportedly waylaid army unit of Santiago’s, and instead encounter a non-violent community, which some of the soldiers appear to have joined, where shelter and food are provided in return for laying down one’s weapons. Soon, however, strange events connected to a nearby lake indicate that this community is not what it seems. 106 Reunion Written by Greg Walker Directed by Kim Manners Original air date: 21 April 2000 Hobbes and Pinnochio are taken prisoner and sent to a labour camp affiliated with Santiago’s government. There, Hobbes finds the VC-version of his dying mother. Meanwhile, his mother is dying in the real world as well, with Sophie at her bedside. 107 Cincinnati Written by Chris carter Directed by Larry Shaw Original air date: 12 May 2000 A Native American resistance group establishes a base in Cincinnati in Harsh Realm, and Santiago embarks on a mission to kill their leader. Hobbes, Pinnochio and Florence try to intercept the mission, and both they and the Native American group believe at some point that they’ve killed Santiago, only to discover at the end that the general has been one step ahead of them all along. 108 Camera Obscura Written by Steven Maeda Directed by Jeffrey Levy Hobbes and Pinnochio are hired as personal guards by a man who’s trying to get access to a gold mine near “ground zero” of the nuclear explosion that was the catalyst for Santiago’s rise to power. For some time now, this man and a rival family have been locked in an ongoing standoff near the mine, each taking advice from a priest who can see into the future and manipulates the situation to keep them both there, not wanting to be left alone. As the situation escalates, Hobbes and Pinnochio start to turn against each other. 1Hx10 [1ADC10] Circe Written: by Mark Rosner Directed: by Mark Rosner Airdate: unproduced Synopsis: Searching for an army to recruit, Hobbes meets up with a woman claiming to be his old lover. Pinocchio senses danger, and Florence finds both a prophecy and a traitor in the Resistance against Santiago. 1Hx11 [1ADC11] Malfunction Written by: ? Directed by: ? Airdate: Unproduced