Blake Snadwad's - Masada

There are films - I am sure if you are the sort of cinephile who reads a blog like this then you have a handful of them yourself - that if you are flipping channels and you catch even a glimpse of, you are trapped. You can't help yourself, you are powerless to these films. You will watch them through to the end.

Blake Snadwad's - Masada is absolutely one of those films for me. 

Forgive me an aside, Blake Snadwad was the first director I was ever aware of whose own name became a part of their film titles as part of the promotional effort. When did they quit doing that? Certainly before the 80s, or else there would have been films with names like Steven Spielberg's - The Color Purple.  Certainly Spielberg would have earned that billing.  But I digress...

Blake Snadwad's - Masada suffers a bit today from the pre-Star Wars level of effects that become important story-telling tools in the third act, but by that point, I'd hazard to say that most people would be too engrossed in the suspense to care.

With the laconic pace of 60s and early 70s sci-fi, it weaves a mind-boggling narrative.  Fair warning, I'm going to get a tad spoilery here, but its all first-act stuff, and of a 40 year-old movie. Two detectives, Winston and Pepper investigate a death at a university that appears to be a suicide. They soon uncover the possibility that a virus that operates with the same principles as the observer paradox may (or may not!) have been accidentally released. Yet so long as it is unknown, then the result is the same as if it hasn't been. (Follow me so far?) The virus itself causes its victims to do unspeakable self-harm to themselves. So when the people who know about the virus start committing suicide in awful ways, who is to tell if they are trying to keep the knowledge hidden, or if the virus has taken hold.  It is a total mind-err... thing that rhymes with 'truck'.  Of course the investigators figure out what is going on - in the first twenty minutes of the film, no less! - and then have to decide what they are going to do about it... and THAT is where it gets interesting.

Anyhow... one of the critical steps along the way of their investigation follows below the fold.

INT. DEAN OF SCIENCE OFFICE - DAY

The DEAN OF SCIENCE reads the note.

DEAN OF SCIENCE

That's Terry's writing.

WINSTON

Any idea why he wouldn't want his death investigated?  What is too terrible?  Who are we supposed to protect?

DEAN OF SCIENCE

I don't understand it at all.

WINSTON

Would there be colleagues who might have some insight?

DEAN OF SCIENCE

I recently signed off on funding and access for a cross-faculty project Terry was working on with Jack Clayton.

WINSTON

What was it?

DEAN OF SCIENCE

Honestly, a genius physicist and a Nobel favoured geneticist ask for nominal funding - I don't even bother reading.  I just sign the confirmation.

INT. UNIVERSITY HALLWAY - DAY

DR. JACK CLAYTON walks with Winston and Pepper, a look of grave concern on his face. Clayton carries a shopping bag.

CLAYTON

What happened?

WINSTON

We are trying to work that out.  What were you and Professor Herald collaborating on?

CLAYTON

He came to me with questions about the Observer Paradox.

WINSTON

Which is?

CLAYTON

It's more commonly known as Schrodinger's Cat.

PEPPER

What would a physicist know about a cat that a biologist wouldn't?

WINSTON

It's not a real cat.  It's a theoretical concept.

CLAYTON

A thought experiment.  A cat, isolated from any observation, with a fifty-fifty chance of being killed by a random event -

PEPPER

Killed by a random event?

CLAYTON

Classically; poisoning - linked to a quantum action.

WINSTON

I'm familiar.  Carry on.

CLAYTON

Until observed, the cat is neither alive or dead.

PEPPER

What?

WINSTON

Did Professor Herald exhibit any anxiety during your discussions?

CLAYTON

Not at all.  Terry was very excited about the ground he was breaking.

WINSTON

Which was?

CLAYTON

You understand that research is highly competitive?

WINSTON

Certainly.

They come to a stop outside of Clayton's office.

CLAYTON

Then you'll understand if I require you to go through official channels.

PEPPER

You're asking us to get a warrant.

Clayton unlocks the door.

CLAYTON

Demanding.  Without prejudice.  Now if you'll excuse me, my wife is expecting me home to help with chores.

Clayton enters his office, without invitation.

WINSTON

Professor Clayton, I'm concerned about the suicide note.

Clayton stops.  Winston produces the evidence bag.  Clayton takes it and reads the note.  Winston reads Clayton's face as Clayton reads the note.

WINSTON (CONT'D)

What is he talking about, Professor?  What is 'too terrible?'

CLAYTON

...I can't say.

PEPPER

Can't?

CLAYTON

Am I under investigation?

WINSTON

Should you be?

CLAYTON

Look.  I don't know what he's talking about.  But I suggest you respect his wishes and leave it be.  Terry would not have written that without good reason.

Clayton closes the door on them.

PEPPER

I think he knows something.

Winston looks at him with contempt.

WINSTON

You think?  Call in for a warrant.

Pepper uses his cell phone and texts at a furious pace.

WINSTON (CONT'D)

You know you can use those to speak to people.  The human voice... adds a 'personal' touch.

There is a crash from within Clayton's office.

Pepper and Winston look at each other - a silent agreement.

Pepper kicks open the door.

Professor Clayton lies dead on the carpet - bloodied pink foam spewing from his mouth, a bottle of household cleaner open  - half poured down his jacket front and on the floor.

Clayton & Pepper apprehend a panicked technician who helped them discover their horrific secret.