The Placebo Effect

Directed by: Jerry Levine

Starring: Jeffery Combs, Sydney Tamiia Poitier

Harry Raditch, a hypochondriac, once again visits his doctor Leslie Coburn. He is such a frequent patient that his file is nearly three inches thick. Usually, Dr. Coburn administers Harry a placebo, and he quickly recovers. This time, however, Harry shows symptoms of an actual disease, one that she cannot diagnose. The blood vessel in Harry’s left eye looks as if it has been ruptured, along with skin masses that have developed on his chest. Dr. Coburn runs a series of tests to figure out what exactly he has contracted. He claims the origin of his disease is from the plot line of a science fiction novel, Mission to Zebulon. This explanation infuriates the doctor until Raditch’s housekeeper enters the hospital suffering from the same symptoms. When the housekeeper passes away, Dr. Coburn discovers that she, too, has contracted the disease and that similar skin masses have developed on her arms. She cannot figure out how a fictional disease is even possible. With the entire hospital now in quarantine with the disease spreading, Dr. Coburn comes to the conclusion that Harry’s imagination must have created this disease and that they must, in turn, create an imaginary cure to it. It is up to Dr. Coburn to create her own placebo.

Cold Fusion

Directed by: Eli Richbourg

Starring: Sean Patrick Flannery, Ian McShane, Keith Hamilton Cobb

Lieutenant Paul Thorsen is sent on an assignment to figure out why communication has been lost with a group of scientists who work in an artic laboratory. Thorsen is dropped off in a deserted area where the temperature is as least sixty degrees below zero. As he makes his way through the seemingly empty lab, Thorsen finds evidence that people are there. He finds three scientists who claim that they all hear the voice of Dr. Chandler. Unable to hear Dr. Chandler himself, Thorsen assumes that they have all gone crazy from being isolated in the lab. As each of the three scientists explain the potential dangers of their project "Gemini", Thorsen senses that perhaps the scientists are not crazy. Thorsen is confused, though, since each scientist has differing views on "Gemini." All of these explanations conflict with Thorsen’s understanding that "Gemini" was being developed as an energy source. Gradually, Thorsen begins to hear Dr. Chandler’s voice too and soon believes that he is going crazy as well. He is determined to fight through his confusion and insanity in order to determine the truth about "Gemini." In a struggle with one of the scientists, Thorsen fires his gun, and looks on in horror as the scientist’s body disappears. Thorsen shoots the remaining two scientists and their bodies evaporate as well. Thorsen finally unlocks the door leading to Dr. Chandler’s lab and demands to know what is going on. Dr. Chandler explains that the three scientists were, in fact, manifestations of Thorsen’s subconscious fears. Dr. Chandler explains that all scientists must face their fears about whether their work will be used for good or evil and that Thorsen is no exception. Thorsen believes that Dr. Chandler is simply another creation of his mind and decides to shoot him as well.