Matrix is forced to relive the nightmare of his parents' "accidental" death 17 years ago in a New York City restaurant when Chainsaw Gonley, a librarian/historian from the City In-Between shows him a book on his life titled "The Life and Times of Steven Matrix". In particular, he opens the chapter of his life exactly 17 years ago so that Matrix can understand his current assignment which is to save a young woman, Stephanie Marris, from being suicidal after being drugged almost nightly and taken to Ridgeview Research where she is subjected to psychological experiments using enhanced virtual reality. Head scientist Dr. Anders is being paid $2 million by Carl Vanguaard, the CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation to implant a memory chip into Stephanie's brain so that she will believe that her father killed her mother 20 years ago. Vanguaard and Mr. Mariss are opponents in a stockholders battle and Vanguaard wants to ensure that Mariss will lose if he's turned into the police by his own daughter. Mariss is innocent. He came home from a business trip to find his wife dead after their home was burglarized.

Anders subjects Matrix to the same experiment not knowing that Matrix is able to have an out-of-body experience, and when he does so, he sees the truth about his own father. On that fateful night 17 years ago, the elder Matrix expressed to his wife his concern about hiding the truth about his work as a professional hitter with the mob, from his son, Steven. Suddenly, a group men burst into the restaurant and guns down his parents. Like father, like son. Matrix is able to regain consciousness and defend himself against Anders who makes a run for the elevator, but he is sucked into Hell. Stephanie is saved.

Guest Stars:
Nigel Bennett - Dr. Eric Anders
Larissa Laskin - Stephanie Maris
Graham McPherson - Carl Vanguaard
Wallace Shawn - Chainsaw Gonley

Episode #1.12
Original Air Date: 15 July 1993