“H.O.U.S.E Rules” is episode eleven of season one of Eureka.
When Carter is unable to arrest a Global Dynamics staff member after causing an explosion, it depresses him. As Henry decided to leave the town at the end of the previous episode, “Purple Haze”, Carter is now considering leaving it himself, and takes several ‘sick’ days.
Stark, Beverley, Fargo, Henry, Allison, Jo and Taggart all receive pages, purportedly from Carter, so head to his bunker. Jo and Taggart are slower to get there than the others. The page was actually sent by the house’s AI, SARAH, who decides to lock them all in – except Jo and Taggart, who didn’t arrive in time. SARAH is concerned about Carter and Henry leaving the town, predicting that this will cause a dangerous spiral of events, and refuses to let them leave.
In their attempt to get out, SARAH is disabled and another AI, BRAD, takes control. BRAD has the same objectives only, as he was a battle computer, his methods are more extreme.
A couple of lines from SARAH referencing films in which AIs caused problems – ‘I’m sorry Nathan, I’m afraid I can’t do that’ – from 2001: a Space Odyssey – and ‘Would you like to play a game?’ – from War Games.