The Sliders arrive on a world where homosexuality is not only accepted, it�s encouraged. This is due partially to the fact that this culture underwent a massive social revolution throughout the �60s, �70s, and �80s. It is also due in part to the fact that this world is heavily over-populated, having nearly 9.5 billion people. Since same-sex relationships cannot result in children (except, of course, through adoption, in vitro, etc.), they are viewed as advantageous to society; the vast majority of people here got over any moral objections to it long ago (sort of like with birth control here). But Colin reacts to all this with moral outrage, having been taught that such behavior was sinful and immoral. In spite of the other Sliders� attempts to get him to take the �different world, different belief system� view, Colin remains steadfastly disgusted with this world.
The Professor admits that he understands how Colin feels, but urges him to reexamine his feelings. In a poignant effort to persuade Colin, the Professor finally tells the full story of his strained relationship with this son (something he hadn�t even been able to bring himself to do several months back when he actually met one of Nathan�s doubles in �The Simple Life�), admitting that the problems between them began when Nathan admitted he was gay and the Professor reacted with disgust. Eventually, he came to terms with it and would have reconciled with his son, but by that time their relationship had become so strained in so many other ways that it was too late. The Professor has always regretted the way he handled the situation, and he urges Colin not to make a similar mistake by judging his friends and relatives� doubles on this world.
The Professor�s moving story fails to dissuade Colin. His hard-line stance is soon put to the ultimate test, however, when he encounters his gay double and his life partner, Dennis. Even faced with this scenario, Colin initially remains adamant. But over the course of the fifteen-day stay here, Colin gets to know his amiable double and to see the truly loving bond between him and Dennis. By the time the day of the slide arrives, Colin has begun to seriously question the beliefs he�s held so dear, and reconciliation between him and his double seems imminent. But then, four hours before the slide, Colin�s double is seriously injured in a traffic accident; he�s been brought to the hospital, but his chances at survival are uncertain.
At the hospital, Colin witnesses Dennis�s terrible worry and concern over his companion�s condition. Eventually, the group is told that alt-Colin�s condition has been stabilized; he will live. When the nurse says Dennis can see him now, Dennis allows our Colin to come along so that he can say good-bye before he has to leave. In the hospital room, the three have an emotional conversation and Colin is finally able to reconcile with his double and Dennis. Colin says his good-byes and leaves the couple alone. As the Sliders head into an alley from which to slide, Colin shares with the others the fact that everything�s all right between him and his double now. He then admits that the thing which finally convinced him to change his mind was not the couple�s devotion or even seeing how much Dennis truly cared for alt-Colin; what ultimately changed Colin�s mind was his realization of the fact that this Colin�this man that he himself could have become under different circumstances�this Colin could have died thinking that he hated him. And Colin wouldn�t have been able to forgive himself if that had happened. The timer reaches zero, a vortex is opened, and Colin departs this world with a mind that is more open than it was when he arrived.
THE END |
