Sid Camden gets a hold of an experimental holographic disguise device that allows him to acquire the image of his handsome co-worker, Chad Warner...
Opening narration
| "It is said that man is created in God’s image. But what happens when we alter that image? Is our reflection the only thing that changes?" |
Plot
Sid Camden, a rather unremarkable, socially inept man, works in an accounting department of a high-tech company known as Veil-Tech. He spends much of his spare time in chatrooms. One day Hal, one of the project managers, secretly loans Sid a prototype of one of the company's latest developments — a device known as an "Image Enhancer".
Sid is able to acquire the image of good-looking co-worker Chad Warner with the help of his friend Deb, who uses the device to sleep with Chad and scan his body after he falls asleep. Soon, Sid is stepping out on the town with his new and improved look. Deb gives up her glasses in favor of contacts. Later, Sid begins to wreck Chad's life by using his appearance-duplicating abilities to get Chad fired and even collects money that Chad had won in a bet.
Deb soon begins to regret using the device, while Sid becomes more erratic and drunk with power. One night, the real Chad arrives after learning about Sid's misuse of the device. A fight ensues and Sid kills Chad. Sid buries the body. He drives to a bridge and calls Deb, leaving a remorseful goodbye message on her answering machine. He speaks of jumping off of the bridge. Instead, he fakes his suicide by walking away and leaving the empty car behind. He can now take over Chad's identity fully.
At "Sid's" funeral, Deb gives an emotional eulogy and Sid in disguise as Chad comforts her and leaves. He is then confronted by two armed men (who believe him to be Chad), demanding a return of their money. The money Sid believed had been won by Chad in a bet had in fact been borrowed from a loan shark. During the confrontation, Sid is stabbed by one of the men and dies.
At the end, Deb is seen on a computer conversing in a chatroom. She is asked what she looks like. She types "the truth or a lie?" to which she is asked to lie. Now, wearing glasses again, she just turns off the computer.
Closing narration
| "In an age when we are led to believe that we can be anything we want to be, what most eludes us is simply, being ourselves." |
Notes
- The shot of Chad's apartment complex The Clackson Arms is reused from "What Will the Neighbors Think?".
- This episode is included on The Outer Limits: Sex & Science Fiction Collection DVD set.
- This is the only episode directed by Dan Ireland.
Cast
- Adam Goldberg as Sid Camden
- Antonio Sabàto, Jr. as Chad Warner / Sid Camden
- Christina Cox as Deb Clement
- Deanna Milligan as Gail
- Linden Banks as Hal Taylor / Sid Camden
- Ted Cole as Chris
- Claude Duhamel as Grant
- Keith Provost as Bartender
- Gaetana Korbin as Deb Model
- Woody Jeffreys as Male Model
- Kevin Durand as Alan
- Moya O'Connell as Girlfriend
- James Crescenzo as Host
- Tanya Reid as Amber
- Avery Raskin as Boss
- Kevin Conway as the Control Voice (voice)