The most glaring mistake made by most people outside
computing is to create unique
quest objects -- a unique bit of
integrated circuitry, a piece of
software, a
message -- that, for some reason or other can't be transmitted, duplicated, or
reverse-engineered.Given that both sides are more-or-less equally skilled, the best ending to a film like Wild Palms is to *return* the
Go chip to Kreutzer intact, and then casually say,
"Oh, yes, you can use it to control reality...like this." A flash, and one kid turns into a lion.
"Or like this." The second kid turns the coffee table into something else.
"Or like this." The third kid strips Kreutzer himself of all clothing.
"How...how many copies do you have?"
"'Bout a thousand. Going to make us a bundle...they're selling like mad. Of course, we've copylefted the design. Just thought you might want to know."
The three guys high-five each other.
"Have fun!"