Masters of Science Fiction: Complete Series 1

Six celebrated stories from the world's most highly regarded science fiction writers and featuring a stellar cast: Judy Davis, Sam Waterston, John Hurt, Terry O'Quinn, Malcolm McDowell, Anne Heche and Brian Dennehy. Hosted by world renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking. A Clean EscapeA dying Doctor refuses to believe that her patient cannot remember the last 25 years of his life. It remains unclear why she has been so obsessed with this particular patient until the final, shocking conclusion.Stars two-time Academy Award Nominee Judy Davis (The Break Up, Marie Antoinette) and Academy Award Nominee Sam Waterston (The Killing Fields, Law & Order)Directed by Academy Award Nominee Mark Rydell (For the Boys, On Golden Pond)Based on the short story by Nebula Award Winner John Kessel Jerry Was a Man The Van Vogel's are the 7th richest couple in the world. Pleasure is their only work. Mundane and dangerous chores are done by anthropoids who are all named Joe. The anthropoids are crated from a few strands of human DNA, grown into a baby and fused with plastics. Somehow, Mrs Van Vogel's dormant compassion is awakened by a Joe named Jerry. What traits would prove that Jerry is, indeed, a man?Stars Emmy Award Winner Anne Heche (John Q, Psycho) and Malcolm McDowell (Cat People, A Clockwork Orange)Directed by Academy Award Nominee Michael Tolkin (The New Age, The Rapture)Based on the short story by seven-time Hugo Award winner & Science Fiction Grand Master Laureate Robert A. HeinleinThe Awakening In the middle of a ferocious firefight outside Baghdad, US soldiers discover a mysterious body, one that they can't even identify as human. Swiftly, all over the earth, more such creatures appear and begin to communicate. With this contact, the world is forced to choose between peace and destruction.Starring Terry O'Quinn (Lost, Stepfather) and Elisabeth Rohm (Law & Order, Angel)Directed by Michael Petroni (The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys)Based on a short story by Howard Fast (Spartacus, The Crossing)Little Brother A tale of a man accused of murder in a Matrix-like future. Sitting before a kiosk which is itself the judge, jury and executioner, Frendon must find a way to convince the machine of his innocence or find some other way to save himself before time runs out. Starring Clifton Collins Jr. (Capote, Traffic) and Kimberly Elise (Close to Home, The Manchurian Candidate)Directed by Darnell Martin (Grey's Anatomy, Their Eyes Were Watching God)Based on the short story from Walter Mosley's novel FuturelandWatchbirdIt seems the perfect solution to a ballooning crime rate. Filling the skies with flying robotic droids that can prevent murder before it takes place. However, nobody told these "Watchbirds" that all life depends on a formula of carefully balanced killing. Robert Sheckley's renowned story examines one of the most important questions of our time - is it wise to sacrifice our liberty in the name of our security?Starring Sean Astin (Rudy, Lord of the Rings Trilogy), James Cromwell (The Green Mile, The Queen) and Sally Kellerman as the voice of The WatchbirdDirected by Harold Becker (Mercury Rising, Sea of Love)Based on a story by Robert Sheckley (Freejack, Escape from Hell Island) The DiscardedThe ultimate story of despised minorities forever adrift in the darkness of outer space. As a last resort - born out of their loneliness and despair - they are forced to make an ominous pact with those responsible for their plight, in the hope that they will finally be offered refuge at home on Earth.Starring John Hurt (V for Vendetta, Harry Potter), Brian Dennehy (Assault on Precinct 13, Cocoon), James Denton (Desperate Housewives, The Pretender)Directed by Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek), Based on the short story by Harlan Ellison.