The Duplicate Man

“The Duplicate Man”
The Outer Limits episode
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 13
Written by	Robert C. Dennis (teleplay) Clifford Simak (story)
Directed by	Gerd Oswald
Guest stars	Ron Randell Constance Towers
Photographed by	Kenneth Peach
Production no.	45
Original airdate	December 19, 1964
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List of The Outer Limits episodes

"The Duplicate Man" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 19 December, 1964, during the second season.

Opening narration

Since the first day that Man stared up at the stars and saw other worlds, there has been no more haunting question than this: What will we find there? Will there be other creatures, and will they be like us? Or when that ancient dream comes true, will it turn into a nightmare? Will we find, on some distant, frozen planet, an alien life of unimaginable horror?

Plot

In the 21st century, wealthy researcher Henderson James keeps an illegal alien of a different kind in his laboratory. The alien, a beast known as a megasoid, is the last of its kind on Earth. It was imported under the table by a corrupt space captain bribed by James and it is incredibly dangerous. The megasoid escapes the lab and Henderson James decides the only way to destroy it before it reproduces is to send out a clone of himself to assassinate the alien. Clones are extremely restricted by law in the 21st century but again James finds that money talks. He spends $100,000 to buy himself one and programs it to hunt down the megasoid. But things complicate once the duplicate, with a hint from the megasoid, realises what he is.

Closing narration

"In all the universe, can there be creatures more strange than the species called Man? He creates and destroys; he fumbles and makes mistakes. But the thing which distinguishes him is the ability to learn from his mistakes."

External links

• Detailed episode guide by 'Monsieur Vincent'