Here's a list of commands you can use to control your laptop screen brightness from the keyboard:
cmd+space; S; Y; S; T ; E; M; space; P; R; enter; tab; tab; tab; down; space; tab; tab; tab; tab; tab; tab; tab;
Then left or right to adjust brightness.
I'm guessing if you have an external monitor you may have to change this somehow.
Are you sure that is not the code for unlimited lives on Contra?
When my laptop is connected to my Apple Keyboard, I can control the brightness with the F1 and F2 keys on my external Apple Keyboard. However, when I connect an external monitor to my MacBook Pro, the F1 and F2 keys no longer work.
Is there a way to control the brightness of my laptop's screen (NOT the external monitor) with my external Apple Keyboard even when an external monitor is plugged into my MacBook Pro?
I have the late 2008 uMBP.