Quantum Sle(a)ep

Quantum' sLe(a)ep

V.o.
.....and, Now, to CMN's Suki Tawdri, for an update on the science story
we highlighted at the top of the hour.
Suki tawdri
In a brief news conference, where questions will not permitted, I might
add, NASA and related astronomical entities are expected to announce
the discovery and heightened monitoring of mysterious 'waves of
energy', so described by a press officer, have been detected coming
from what used to be called 'empty space'; according to that
spokesperson, no information is currently available as to the source or
origin of this energy, only that it may be what is called either 'dark
matter' or zero point energy, both invisible to our ordinary means of
detection and analysis. More on this as it develops, back to you.
Cut to LATER SAME DAY:

INT. UNIVERSITY SLEEP STUDIES LABORATORY - DAY
A leading researcher into the ultimate mystery of the human
mind----"consciousness"-----is leading a group of volunteers through a
controversial new protocol; they are a mixed group, of either young or
rather old, the two most available demographics
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
(testing his microphone before the group in a small auditorium)
Welcome test subjects, all; as you know, this is to be a 'blind'
study----we have assigned numbers to you by which you shall be known to
us. As you were told by our intake counselors, you will spend one
continuous month with us, during which time we will attempt to resolve
a great mystery: what is consciousness? Since serious study of the
brain has begun, no one has been able to determine its origin or
"where" it resides in us, if, in fact, it does. As you may have read or
heard, it is my theory that "consciousness" is a manifestation of our
remote---though not necessarily distant--- selves, visiting, as it
were, this material universe from somewhere beyond it, inhabiting these
"atmosphere suits" we call our bodies--including that physical organ we
call the brain, only when we are awake----or, as we commonly refer to
it, "conscious." IF this is true, you and I are indeed space
cadets!
(he and the audience laugh spontaneously)
Very well, my cosmos-nauts, let us begin to document our nightly
journeys!
The assembled subjects now depart the auditorium, reporting to their
preassigned case worker; one elderly subject approaches Dr. Gorky
SUBJECT #16
You know, you are right about this, don't you?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
(momentarily startled)
While I appreciate the vote of confidence, shouldn't we wait for our
objective results to draw any conclusions, if, in fact, they can be
drawn?
SUBJECT #16
Oh, yes, scientific method, by all means, although, isn't it science
which has thrown up its hands on this one; isn't the rap: "it doesn't
do anything."
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
You are especially well-informed; while I don't know anything but the
number you wear about you, clearly you have a background in science,
yes?
SUBJECT #16
Not supposed to tell, you know that; just wanted to give you my vote
that we've got it 180 wrong: consciousness HAS us, not vice
versa.
(just then he is summoned by his case worker)
Lotsa luck, Doc, pullin for ya!
(he walks off)
FADE OUT.
INT. BEDROOM OF DR. GRAFF'S HOME - NIGHT
It is 11pm; Graff's wife is reading next to him; he cannot sleep----he
turns to her; she is a behavioral psychologist also on faculty
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Can we talk shop for a moment?
(she nods agreeably)
Doesn't your field hold that self-awareness is a physical process, say,
just like thinking?
MRS. GRAFF
Well, yes, sort of; I mean, anything we, as brain/body units, do which
has a purpose or goal caused by some stimulus in the world we know as
'matter'---sort of like the stomach ache you're probably having from
dinner, right?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
What did we have for dinner....oh, yes, I mean, no, it's not that.
Strangest thing happened today, old fellow with very alive eyes, didn't
seem to fit with his older exterior, I don't know.... just sort of
summed up 10 years of research for me in a few moments of polite
chatting.
MRS. GRAFF
A colleague, or student?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
No, that's just it, he's an ordinary subject in the new protocol we
began today; seemed to have had some science background, though. He
just blurted out that consciousness HAS us, that we are its rented
house at the material beach, you see.
MRS. GRAFF
Who is he?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Not permitted to know, you know that; strange, felt strongly that he
was utterly convinced of his facts. If he is right, my eternal cosmic
self just doesn't want to go home tonight-----must be you!
(he embraces her, rather intimately)
MRS. GRAFF
So that's it---and I thought I had heard all your lines! Well, let's
not disappoint either of you.
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. LABORATORY INSTRUMENT BANK - MORNING
A group of staff are reviewing some of the computer data synthesized
from the 16 subjects after their first full night of somnolence
studies
TECHNICIAN 1
I have all the readings from the somnoscanners except one.....#16,
anyone seen it?
TECHNICIAN 2
Here it is; did you print this out?
TECHNICIAN 1
No, why?
TECHNICIAN 2
Well, look at it!
(the data are blank spaces)
TECHNICIAN 1
Must be a bad sensory scanner. Are all the others showing
tracings?
TECHNICIAN 2
Yes; all the others---suggest we replace his tonight with a new one,
better call equipment. Are we sure he had it on all night?
TECHNICIAN 1
Video says yes.
CUT TO:
Dr. Graff is giving an interview to Scientific American about his work
in general, for which he has been considered for a MacArthur
Award
JOURNALIST
So is it fair to say that your techniques are so sensitive that they
can actually register nonlocal energy, as you have described it, actual
registration of data from beyond the brain?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
You have it basically down; let's just add the following caveat---since
we don't truly understand the analog chaos of our brain, which is
largely given some order by way of the five sensory portals, we are not
truly able to delineate local versus remote.
JOURNALIST
So, are you suggesting that our brain or mind is not subject to logical
processes?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Let me put it to you this way: everything in the known universe is
governed by analog or wavelength vibratory process except digital
systems like computers; this means, among other things, that while we
are capable of logic, it hardly governs either our thinking or our
awareness of intangible concepts which are not the result or product of
physical processes.
JOURNALIST
You are speaking of 'consciousness' then as nonphysical?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
In the sense that it is not a material phenomenon----it is called by
behavioral scientists an 'epiphenomenon', since it is always an effect,
not a cause.
JOURNALIST
So causality is what characterizes the Cartesian concept of the
physical as mechanistic, whereas your ideas have to do with nonlinear
or nonsequential forces.
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Pretty fair summary; look, the best statement, and its very succinct,
on this is someone else's---'Why is it like something to be
alive?'
JOURNALIST
I think I have found the title for my piece....
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Just be sure and credit Thomas Nagel for that insight, it has driven my
curiosity since coming upon it. Now, really must be getting back to the
study.
JOURNALIST
Thank you doctor, shall I send you the galleys?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Good idea. Take care.
(they part)
CUT TO:
EXT. A LAKESIDE JOGGING PATH ON CAMPUS - DAY
It is two weeks into the protocol; a graduate student assistant comes
running over to Dr. Graff...
REGINALD WAKEFIELD
Morning, may I keep you company?
(now jogging alongside)
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Certainly; how are things coming along; been meaning to come by, just
so behind with all the PR crap.
REGINALD WAKEFIELD
Well, funny thing about some of the readings: one in particular, first
we got nothing, then we find that the nothing is everything.....
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
You're not allowed to make such pronouncements, at least until you are
an adjunct professor! Translate, please...
REGINALD WAKEFIELD
One of the older subjects, what we are getting is equivalent to
mathematical equations, high math at that!
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
(he stops jogging abruptly)
Come again?
REGINALD WAKEFIELD
I've had the systems diagnostics people up three times now, and they
swear we are 5 x 5 with our hardware: the software also checks out----I
ran it by the physics guys last night and they are telling me that they
have never seen stuff like this, totally next level.
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
What number is the subject?
REGINALD WAKEFIELD
Sixteen....why?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Tell you later; let's get over to the lab.
CUT TO FEW MINUTES LATER:
INT. LAB MONITOR ROOM - DAY
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
(addressing three other assistants)
Ok, what have we got?
GLORIA SCIENTI
(handing him #16s longitudinal readouts)
They're telling us that this is cutting edge data which is consistent
with hyperdimensional physics meets Eastern Zen!
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
They are?
GLORIA SCIENTI
Well, to begin with the Department heads at Physics, Philosophy and,
now get this, Theology......
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
I want to know the profile on this subject, never mind the 'blind'
study....we may have stumbled upon a gift here more important than
refunding from the pharmaceutical guys; no name, just the
basics....
GLORIA SCIENTI
.......69, High school, military training in signal
corps......insurance salesman! IQ in low normal range....
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
I want to see Dr. Pandra asap, arrange it please, gotta go change;
also, see about Dr. Breckenridge joining us as well, faculty conference
room, this afternoon.
(he leaves)
REGINALD WAKEFIELD
I don't think I have ever seen that look on his face before, kinda like
fear and hope rolled together....
GLORIA SCIENTI
....it's an Alfred Nobel look, I've seen it before, in photos of the
recipients in Stockholm!
FADE OUT.
INT. PRIVATE CONFERENCE ROOM WITH BLACKBOARD - LATER
The three Docs have convened......
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Thanks, fellows, for taking the time....
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
Stan, you've got some sort of Rosetta stone here to maybe another
dimension, unless your staff are into practical jokes of a cosmic
magnitude!
(smiling as he speaks)
DR. SIMON BRECKENRIDGE
Far be it from me to advocate for you know who
(knowing laughter all around)
But I feel there must be something wrong with the data, the protocol
itself perhaps.
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
That's always a fair point; here,however, our algorithms are
well-established, been peer-reviewed ad nauseam; no, I don't think we
can shoot the messenger on this one.
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
No, done the math, at least as far as we can....there's stuff here that
no one has seen since Maxwell, and, well, that was in the 1860's;
science isn't in the habit of looking to older thinking, but we may
have to on this one.
DR. SIMON BRECKENRIDGE
Odd you should say that, because that's the direction one must go
philosophically to divine meaning here, almost to the oldest known
Eastern texts. If what Pandra's computers have translated is accurate,
it seems to match up with some Sanskrit concepts, of all things!
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Well, everything old is new again, as they say. Look, we're in
uncharted waters here to be sure, but let's not label these data
Dragons and call it a day. Simon, isn't there a system of belief which
holds that the material universe we find ourselves in is real and yet a
dream?
DR. SIMON BRECKENRIDGE
Well, yes.....but there may be less spectacular systems practiced in
the East for millennia which give context to this situation: for
example, the whole notion of deep meditation, wherein one is said to,
through control of one's brain by one's very will, one may actually
experience transcendence of the physical into the realm of a purer
energy state.
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
Yes, indeed, in India this has reached a high artform; look, let's not
also forget that virtually 90\% of the material universe consists of
so-called 'dark matter', the essence of which we have failed to
ascertain-----perhaps this is the stuff you have stumbled upon,
Stan.
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
I have a proposal: I'm going against my own protocol, but damn the
thing, funding may be the least of our concerns if this thing is to be
understood-----I want you, each of you and whoever else you may think
we need, to observe this #16, even converse with him as members of my
staff. What do you say?
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
Let us confer and we will get back to you tomorrow, alright?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Fair enough; I trust that I have your confidence in this matter, at
least until the month is out, agreed?
(the two colleagues nod yes)
FADE OUT.
INT. QUARTERS OF SUBJECT #16 - MORNING
The three scientists have decided to meet with the man separately, so
as not to intimidate him; a videotape will be made to show to other
colleagues for consulting opinions.
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
Good morning, my name is Mo, what's....sorry, don't tell, just the
number. I told Dr. Graff I wanted to visit with random members of the
study...
(he is interrupted)
SUBJECT #16
Dr. Pandra, I know you are here to see me especially. What can I do for
you, be honest, please.
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
(taken back by the use of his last name)
How did you know my last name?
SUBJECT #16
It's on your name tag.
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
Ah, so it is----absent-minded professor, eh. Quite right, should be
direct. Number 16, in my native country we call the kind of data we
have been getting during your sleep periods illusion, referring to the
quality of reality experienced in the material universe.
SUBJECT #16
The Sanskrit term 'maya', correct? Dr., are you familiar with Fourier's
work in the 18th century involving wave patterns actually being
converted by the various brain centers involved with the five senses
into pictures, sound, smell, etc.?
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
Actually my field is quantum physics, although I am familiar somewhat
with these equations.
SUBJECT #16
Good, that will make our time together more productive; you see, all
matter, as you know, is pretty 'immaterial', so to speak----just an
underlying fabric of potential form waiting to be observed and
therefore transformed into what we thereafter perceive, via the brain,
as seemingly solid objects. Now, what you fellows are trying to get at
is how does consciousness, as you call it, fit into this----gonna tell
you: it's just a more subtle form of matter. Whole thing, really a
hologram in motion. Heard of Bohm?
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
(dazzled by what he has heard from this man)
Why don't we slow down; how did you come by your impressive
knowledge?
SUBJECT #16
Might say I'm a good observer, read alot, although not from books or
anything material like that. Anyway, you know from the quantum world
that the farther you dig down, the less substance there is to matter:
the whole particle/wave thing, really very fluid, sort of like
interference patterns...whoops, you wanted to slow down: bottom line,
particles are NOT like BBs, solid and so forth, just pretty much
formless potential till observed, like with our Fourier conversion
organ, the brain.
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
Of course, you are correct, many studies have confirmed this in the
60's and 70's, still, hard to find them unless you know what you are
looking for.
SUBJECT #16
Had better sources.....
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
You, of course, mean, that you were told where to look, read widely in
the popular science press, that sort of......
(he is politely cut off)
SUBJECT #16
(smiling broadly)
No offense, Doc, but you really have to be less cynical; you see, the
truth isn't a lie. Can't say it any better.
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
Sir, I do not doubt the substance of what you say, please
understand.
SUBJECT #16
Only the messenger, eh; you're missin the point, I think. Even our
ordinary language holds meaning, or used to, until cliches took
over-----ole Noah Webster and company had it right long ago: look it
up, under 'c': means "knowing together." Couldn't a said it
better.
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
Consciousness, yes; look, Sir, would it be alright if some of our other
colleagues from different fields had a chat with you?
SUBJECT #16
Seein as how I volunteered for this thing, don't really want to be
rude, although I haven't been sleepin all that well, few aches and
pains, you know. Maybe in a couple a days, gotta rest up a bit, this
gets kinda exhausting. Meantime, why don't ya show em the
videotape....
(he is cut off)
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
Videotape?
SUBJECT #16
They told us they'd be tapin everything we do, sure that includes this,
don't you.
(again, broadly smiling)
DR. MOHANDES PANDRA
I suppose it does; may I say that this has been a very enlightening
talk.
SUBJECT #16
Sure, still a free country!
(laughs heartily)
You need to get hold of some of that freedom, relax a bit, be more
trusting of the gift we call the Truth. A real wise guy, maybe gal, now
um not sure at all----anyway, was a source of real wisdom put it this
way: "Don't just do something, sit there!" Great, huh? Meditate, don't
medicate, that's another one I came up with. I'll be layin down now for
a snooze. Goodbye.
(they shake hands)
FADE TO NEXT DAY:
INT. DR. GRAFF'S CRAMPED OFFICE - AFTERNOON
He is meeting with Ms. Scienti and Mr. Wakefield about the tape,
etc.
REGINALD WAKEFIELD
Doc, I have circulated the tape to all relevant Department heads along
with the readout abstracts we did; they all promised to give us their
impressions in a couple of days.
GLORIA SCIENTI
Bit surprised at Pandra, though, word I get is he is thoroughly
skeptical to the point of fear.
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
So much for academic freedom; that's life in the world of research
academia. He's got that NASA funding hanging, should have guessed he'd
cramp up intellectually. What about our original cynic, Simon?
GLORIA SCIENTI
Open minded but waiting for the herd he hopes will never materialize.
Oh, even though she's disqualified technically, your wife is doing some
checking of her own, since the protocol has been breached, she sees no
harm. For what it's worth, she'll brief you tonight.
REGINALD WAKEFIELD
Well, wait and see; back to the lab, only three days left and we
wrap.
(they leave with Graff staring at the tape again)
CUT TO LATER SAME DAY:
INT. CAR PHONE OF DR. DIMITRI OLGIN - AFTERNOON
He has telephoned Graff on the way to the airport.
DR. DIMITRI OLGIN
Stan, how goes it; look, I had a peek at your video, damned interesting
given his profile. What has really got me is the high math, kicking it
around with some colleagues at the conference tomorrow, that
alright?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Fine, Dimy, just keep the source under wraps, I don't want the media
all over me right now; call me as soon as you can on this. Das
vidanya.
(hangs up; just then Gloria comes in)
GLORIA SCIENTI
Here's a memo from three of them, jointly.
(hands it to him)
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
(opening transmittal pouch, reading aloud)
"As a courtesy to you and the integrity of your study, we have done a
cursory review of the data and films you sent over. It is our belief,
based on that data, that you have been subjected to a hoax;
specifically, we feel very strongly that he is a plant, perhaps from an
enemy of your continued funding, perhaps even the sponsors themselves.
It is clear that he could have been briefed on these concepts, parroted
them back even at his IQ level. BY the way, our suspicions are
heightened by the understandable urge to breach protocols which has now
happened; we understand that the so-called unconscious readouts are
impressive, but feel that your system has been hacked somehow. With all
kind regards, Drs. Pandra, Breckenridge &;
Swanson/Physics/Philosophy &; Theology."
(he crumples it and tosses it into wastebasket)
How's #16 doing?
GLORIA SCIENTI
Sleeping like the righteous; readouts are blank again.
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
That was mentioned wasn't it, in the materials we sent over, about the
first day?
GLORIA SCIENTI
Yes, quite explicitly; wanna see the cover memo?
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
No, going home; maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and this never
happened.
GLORIA SCIENTI
We've got an extra subject room if you want me to hook YOU up.
(they laugh despondently)
CUT TO:
INT. DINING ROOM AT GRAFFS' HOME - EVENING
He is setting the table for just the two of them when his wife walks in
excitedly......
MRS. GRAFF
Stan, come sit down, quickly; tried getting you on the phone.....
(she puts down her bag and some files on a coffee table)
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Yes, didn't feel like talking, sorry, kind of a down day....
(she cuts him off)
MRS. GRAFF
Take a look at this!
(hands him a medical record from a local hospital)
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Where did you get this, I mean how?
(he opens it to a tabbed place she had marked)
What on earth?!
(he is very animated)
MRS. GRAFF
Diagnosed a year ago, with two consults in agreement. Your number
sixteen has had advanced Alzheimer's for over a year, no remissions, no
lucid intervals, nothing since.
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
This is dumbfounding.....how did he get into the study?!
MRS. GRAFF
Seems he was, by all outward appearances, randomly selected from a pool
of over 100 volunteers! I checked and double-checked that with Gloria
before I made these inquiries through some friends at the hospital: one
hitch, can't release these records publicly, serious consequences if
that happens.
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Of course, of course; besides, my august colleagues, save possibly one,
are bailing out on their flummoxed Captain, seems I get to go down with
the ship.
MRS. GRAFF
There is a way out----we have him newly diagnosed during a routine
physical due to his readouts being suddenly blank again----Gloria told
me----and as part of the routine checkout procedure. Got the right
specialist lined up, say the word.
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
The word is go!
(he embraces her hugging and kissing)
You know what this means, newer and better funding outside the
corporate world, like it once was in St. Petersburg! There's the
MacArthur, the Rockefeller Fund....ach, to hell with the drug
lords!
MRS. GRAFF
Don't forget the Nobel.
(beaming)
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
Now you may need a physical; don't want to get too cocky, I can hear
the skeptics now, "We know very little about Alzheimer's, could be a
malingerer, fraud; needs lots of study....blah, blah, blah...." Let's
go out to eat, I'm starved.
CUT TO NEXT DAY:
INT. LABORATORY INSTRUMENT BANK - DAY
Dr. Graff is looking at the new, blank, readouts for #16 from last
night; he is still sleeping, they can't awaken him
REGINALD WAKEFIELD
It's ok, he's not dead; just sort of comatose; the doctors are on their
way, including the one your wife has requested.
GLORIA SCIENTI
(she rushes in, out of breath from the subject area)
Stan, look at this!
(she hands him an envelope sealed, addressed to him)
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF
(opening it, reading aloud)
"My dear Dr. Graff, I couldn't sleep last night for some time so I
wanted to say a few things while they were still with me: first, I
wanted to thank everyone for the great treatment and attention----it
was really nice being around such kind intelligent people. Next, I
wanted to remind you of what the Greeks in the Academy believed:
'learning is remembering.'----they were right, like you are about
consciousness----we and this whole material universe are the 'stuff
that dreams are made on, and our little life rounded by a Sleep'; I
guess now you get to play Prospero, actually met......well, in a way I
can't really get into this way, the energy behind those beautiful---and
accurate---words (what couldn't that guy say well). Finally, I know
you're gonna be getting a lot of flak on this: just stand tall, and
remember that most of the critics who should know better don't even
remember Maxwell's work----been out of print for ages, all but
forgotten, but not by a force we called Einstein: without Maxwell, no
relativity, etc.---he Said it himself, that's why he was so confident
without experiments, knew it in his/our soul. OH yes, one more little
thing: I always thought you Russians were better scientists, purists
you might say, no corporate bottom line gettin in the way. WEll, that's
all; don't think we'll be having any more contact, not this way anyhow.
Respectfully, Hal O. Gramm."
DR. STANISLAV GRAFF (CONT'D)
Ladies and gentlemen, we've got a lot of work to do----don't just do
something, sit there!
(laughter, hugs all around)
FADE TO BLACK WITH STARRY STUDDING WITHIN BLACK AS IN DEEP SPACE.
THE END.