Oh, ew...


-[retches] Gross.  -[both laugh]


All right, let's, uh, let's put it back.


-I don't think you should--  -I want to try some.


Just a little, just once.


Just once.


[Trick sighs]


[tablet rings]


[tablet beeps]


[sniffs]


[Sara] Whoa!


[shouts] Ah!


[Marie exhales]


-[woman] Hi, can I help?  -I'm just looking.


Ma'am?


Excuse me? Are you Ryan Tribecky?


-You stay away from my daughter.  -Uh... I don't know what--


Sara. You know exactly  what I'm talking about. You stay away.


-OK, she's--  -She is 15, you junkie piece of shit.


You want the cops in on this?


-I didn't do anything.  -I will show them what you did.


OK, you stay away from her,  or I will show them this. OK?


You still got that system?


Yes, I have it. So whatever she sees,  I see, and I am watching you.


-OK.  -So You stay away.


OK, if she calls you, you hang up.


If she comes to see you,  you tell her to get away.


-You just stay away from her.  -I'll stay away.


-You stay the fuck away.  -[breathes heavily]


-Hey, Mom.  -Hey.


[footsteps going upstairs]


[line ringing]


[phone rings]


[phone beeps]


[automated message] The mailbox  you're attempting to reach is full.


Please try again.


[shut down tone]


[engine starts]


[knock on door]


[Marie] Sara?


Hey, dinner's ready.


I'm not hungry.


It's Mexican.


Please, I just... [sighs]


I'm tired, and I want to sleep, OK?


OK.


[tablet beeps]


So you're cutting me out.


Standard dick move.  That's what this is, right?


[Sara scoffs] Look at me.


-Why can't you just look at me?  -It was a mistake.


It didn't seem like a mistake  from where I was laying.


I can't be with you.


What the fuck?


[Trick] I don't want to be with you.


I don't want you, OK?


You know what?


Fuck you.


[tablet rings]


[exhales]


[car alarm sounds in distance]


-Hey, Mom.  -Hey.


[whirring]


[door shuts]


OK, so why is he so down?


Oedipus says things like:


"Let the storm burst,  my fixed resolve still holds." Or:


"Nothing can make me other  than what I am."


He still holds himself  morally responsible.


He doesn't blame fate  for what's happened to him.


Moral responsibility implies the existence  of free will,


but actually... [continues indistinct]


[gags]


[school bell rings]


[Sara vomits, coughs]


-You feeling any better?  -Uh-huh.


So, listen... [sighs]


I had to run some tests,  in case we had a noro outbreak here.


Honey, it was the EC pill  that made you sick.


-EC?  -Emergency contraception.


For terminating your pregnancy.


[scoffs] There's no...  There's no pregnancy.


Seriously, I'm... I'm not...


I can't... I haven't...


I understand, sweetheart.


And it will work,  in spite of the vomiting.


You don't have to worry about that.


You're not pregnant anymore.


I gotta put it in your file,  but I don't have to flag it.


And I want you to know I got your back.


[tablet beeps]


[heavy breathing]


[Sara sighs] Please.


Sara?


You watched me.


No, I... honey...


-Honey...  -You watched me with him.


-I... No, I didn't mean to.  -Give it to me.


-[strains]  -Give it...


I was trying to protect you.  I was trying to keep you safe.


[Sara] How do you turn it off?


-Everything I've done, I've done for you.  -[tablet malfunctions]


-[Marie] Honey, I love you--  -Shut up!


-[thud]  -[Marie gasps] Sara--


Shut up!


[Marie screams] Sara! Sara!


-[Sara groans]  -[Marie screams]


-[Marie sobs] Sara--   -[grunts]


[Marie wails]


-[Marie screams]  -[Sara grunting]


[tablet] Filter off, off, off...


Off...


[Marie coughs]


[sobs] Sara?


Sara?


[screams] Sara?


-I love you.  -[shouts] Sara!


[wails] Sara!


-No... No...  -[distorted tablet audio]


[Marie screams]


Sara!


[truck approaching]


["I'm a Mother" playing]


I'm a mother


Treat me like a mother


You want to suck on my breast  It's no surprise you do


I'm the source and the force  You owe your life to, brother


Oh, oh, oh


And I take like a mother


I understand blood  And I understand pain


There can be no life without it Never doubt it


I gave you all my money


To help the family


But what you do to me Don't humiliate me


Remember


I'm a life-long member


-["Strict Machine" playing]  - Wonderful electric


-[bottle smashes]  -[laughing]


Cover me in you


Woo!


I'm in love


I'm in love with a strict machine


- I'm in love   -[man] Fuck, yeah! Come on!


["Strict Machine"  continues playing in car]


[woman laughing]


- I'm in love, I'm in love   -[chattering]


[high-pitched]   I'm in love, I'm in love


I'm in love with a sick machine


[stifles laughter]


[man laughs]


[softly]  I'm in love--


-[brakes screech]  -[crashing]


[tires screeching]


[panting]


I didn't see him, Mia.


-[slamming]  -[man] Fuck!


Fucking hell, man.


-[Mia] Rob, we've gotta go and look.  -[car door opens]


[grunts]


[car door slams]


-[whispers] Oh, my gosh, Rob.  -Hey.


It's all right, baby.


[Mia breathes heavily]


[Mia whispering] Oh, my God...


[whimpers, exhales]


[moans]


[Mia whimpers]


-Fucking...  -[Mia] Oh, my God!


[Rob] Fuck.


-Rob, we've gotta call someone.   -[phone beeps]


No, no, no, no, no, no.  Fucking hell, Mia. Think, OK, hey?


You need to think, baby.


-We've been fucking caning it, yeah?  -Yeah.


And I-- [stammers]


This is prison, yeah?  A fucking instant prison.


I've got fuck knows how much drink in me,  I fucking hit a guy.


Now, they will put me in the cell.  I'm the driver, they'll fu--


They'll put me in a cell  and fucking keep me there.


-That's what they'll fucking--  -We can't just leave him here.


-Shut the fuck up, Mia! Shut--  -And just leave him here in the road?!


I need to fucking think, OK?  [whimpers] I need to think.


Fuck!


[Rob stammering]  OK, there's, there's a lake over there.


And there's a sleeping bag in the boot.  You keep an eye on the road!


-No.  -[Rob] Keep an eye on the road!


No.


No!


-[Rob] Mia.  -Don't.


Mia, come on. Get the bag with me.  Get the bag.


[Mia retches]


-[Mia] No. No, get off.  -Baby, come on.


[grunting, straining]


[grunting]


Fuck.


[sighs, strains]


[Rob grunting]


[Rob sighs] You get the fucking rocks,  I'll stack them, OK?


I need more fucking rocks.


[sniffs]


Just put a pile,  put the fucking pile there.


-[rocks crunch]  -[Rob] Put the pile...


[panting] Close it up. Close it up.  Close his head. Close his head.


[Rob] Three...


two...


one.


[water splashes]


[Mia] Um, it's an honor  to be speaking here today


amongst such impressive company.


Uh, I'm thrilled to have been shared--


I'm thrilled to have been asked to share  my vision of the future, such as it is.


Looking around at a world  of injustice, intolerance


and huge environmental challenges,


it's hard to imagine a bright future,  but we can and we must.


It's the only way that we can build  a better tomorrow.


[Mia] Um...


So I'll start with a funny story.


[computer mouse clicks]


[keys jangling]


-[soft rock music playing]  -[Mia] Right. I'm off.


Bye-bye. [kisses]


[man whistling]


-See you later on.  -[Mia] See you tomorrow.


OK.


-[Mia] Have a nice day.  -You too.


-Bye, Mom!  -There we go.


[phone bleeps]


[car blinker ticking]


[dog barking]


-[chain rattles]  -Hiya, puppy.


[barking continues]


One moment.


-Coming!  -[sniffs]


Just a second!


-Mrs. Carmichael?  -Yes?


I'm here on behalf of Realm Insurance.


Just need to log your recollections  about the accident.


-Am I all right to come in?  -Uh, OK then.


[door closes]


[man] Someone who has risen to become


one of the most innovative architects  of her generation.


Not just an architect of buildings,  but communities.


But enough of me telling you about her.   Please welcome Mia Nolan.


[applause]


Thank you, Martin. Thanks.  It's an honor to be speaking here


amongst such impressive company.


[pizza van beeps]


[automated voice] Good evening,  welcome to Fences Pizza.


Your pizza is ready for collection.


[knock on door]


[Mia] Hello?


-[Rob] It's me.  -Hey. Hey.


-Did your chin catch Dutch fur disease?  -[Rob] Yeah, fuck you.


[laughs]


I didn't say I didn't like it. Come in.


What's it been?  It's been like two years now, hasn't it?


Uh, three.


Dropping in on my hotel room,  it must be important.


-Shall we find somewhere to eat?  -Yeah, well, I...


I got in touch 'cause I saw that  you were in town


for what is it,  some, some architecture thing?


It's a forum, they call it.


People actually pay to come  and listen to me talk. [scoffs]


Imagine that.


Almost does my head in. [laughs]


And you're looking good.  Is that the gym?


Well, you look--


I look like dog shit, Mia.  I'll save you the bother.


Dried-up dog shit.


-[Mia] Do you want a drink?  -I knocked it on the head.


What, you quit, like fully quit?


[Rob] Nine months, three weeks, two days.


Well done. Well, that's great.


You go ahead.


-Really, go on.  -you sure?


-Absolutely.  -OK.


[Mia] You picked a terrible place  to come see me 'cause it reeks of hops


all the way down the street outside here.


-Did you notice that?  -[Rob] No.


-[Mia] It's like a full-on beer smell.  -[bottle opening, fizzing]


Can't help your sobriety, that.


But I probably shouldn't be talking  about booze, should I? [sighs]


Rob, I hope you're not here  to talk about what I--


It's about that, yeah.


I've been thinking about it again,  that night.


-[Mia] Rob.  -I can't not think about it.


We said that we'd put it out of our minds.


Weren't we just gonna try and keep it out?


[Rob] I can't. I'm sorry.


It was a long time ago.


Well, in here, it's now.


Yeah, I know.


Why today?  Why is it preying on your mind today?


-[Rob] There's a news story.  -A news story?


[paper rustles]


Uh, a featured article.  Well, whatever you call it.


[stammers] I printed it for you.


Mia?


That-- That's her. It's his wife.


-You don't know that's his wife.  -There is a photo of him at the bottom.


It's him.


And the poor cunt, they never found him.


So she never remarried.


She never fucking moved house.


She stayed where she is  in case he came back.


All this time, Mia,  she's still waiting for him.


That's dreadful. But what can we do?


I'm gonna write her a letter.


-No.  -Anonymous.


-I Am not gonna mention you.  -Rob, No.


You'll open up God knows what,  you'll just rake it all up.


-[stammers] I can't live with it, Mia.  -There's things they can do.


'Cause they can trace it back.


They can trace it.  They'll find the body, they'll find us.


-They won't find us.  -Yes, they will, then we're fucked.


Look, when I quit alcohol,


they told me to make amends  with anyone I've ever hurt.


Who have I hurt more than her?


Also say you're not supposed  to hurt anyone else. What about me?


-What about her?  -No, No, No.


No.


No! Fuck!


[exhales, whimpers]


It was your idea.  It was your fucking idea!


-[Rob] I know. I know, and I'm sorry.  -[sobs]


Fifteen years, 15 years,  the fucking shame, the fucking guilt!


I've got somewhere. I've got a life.  You don't know, don't understand.


[Rob] That's not the point, though.


-You don't understand.  -[scoffs]


You're not married.  I've got a son. He's nine years old.


You've seen photos of him.  Think of him, please.


I'm sorry.


[Rob sighs]


I sat on this for you.


-I fucking sat on this for you!  -I'm sorry. I'm sorry!


Hey, look at me.


[sniffles]


[sighs]


Look at me.


I've made up my mind,  and that's how it is.


Please, please, please.


Please, please, please, Rob.  Hey, listen, I understand. I understand.


Do you?


Yeah. Come on, let's talk about this.


No, no, I can't stay here.


-[Mia] No, no, no, no.  -What are you doing? Let go!


Mia, I'm fucking leaving.


[Rob] What are you doing?


Mia, let the-- Mia, let the fuck--  Let the fuck-- go!


-[crashing]  -[Rob] Fuck...


-[Mia sobs]  -Ah!


[head cracks]


[Mia gasps]


[Rob groans]


-[Mia grunts]  -[choking]


[choking continues]


-[Mia strains]  -[groans]


[Mia gasping]


[choking stops]


[breath quavering]


[Mia panting]


[exhales]


["Anyone Who Knows What Love Is" playing]


[pizza van whirs]


[whirring, crashing]


[man screams in pain]


[pizza van alarm bleeps]


[man groans]


-[woman] Huh?  -[exhales]


[man] Codger.


That's his name, Codger. [laughs]


-What?  -[guinea pig squeaks]


-Ah, you don't like him.  -Oh, it's not that.


-It's so hard to get presents for you.  -No, I like him. He's... fluffy. [laughs]


Exactly. No, Ali's gonna love him.


It's just we've got a lot going on,  what with Ali and...


I'll take him back. The pet shop guy  was OK. It won't be a problem.


No, no, no, no, you're right.  It'll be good for Ali.


Codger stays.


-He's... Codger the lodger.  -[laughs]


[baby crying]


Changing time. Uh...


-Happy birthday.  -Thanks.


-[baby continues crying]  -[laughs]


[squeaks]


[clicks, bleeping]


[police radio chatter]


-[knocking on door]  -[man] Room service.


[clears throat]


-[card bleeping]  -[man] Lovely, thank you.


[door opens]


[door closes]


[sexual moaning]


-[Mia grunts]  -[moaning continues]


[sexual moaning in background]


[exhales]


[cart rattles]


[phone vibrating]


[vibration continues]


Hi. Hiya, love.


Yeah, it was...  No, the speech went great.


Yeah, I'm back in the morning.


I'm just tired, that's all.


Um...


Did he? Oh, that's great.


No, don't put him on.


[sighs]


Hi, hey.


Hey, Dad said you were great  in your rehearsal for your play.


You had a good rehearsal?  Yeah, I'm proud of you.


Yeah.


I love you.


-[clanging]  -[chattering]


[chains jangle]


[exhaling, grunting]


[sizzling]


[body crashing, sizzling]


[typing]


So that's one night.


You had room service  and a 9.99 charge for the movie.


For a movie?


You... you watched a film last night, no?


Yeah. I was in last night, yeah.


[card reader bleeps]


Thanks.


-Thank you.  -[elevator dings]


[alarm blares in distance]


[knocking]


I'm from Realm Insurance,  about the pizza van accident.


[man] Oh, come in.


[woman] I mean,


it'll cover you for up to four months,  but that is quite a substantial claim.


Well, I was heading off on tour  with the Philharmonic next week.


Europe, Middle East, Australia.


-not now.  -Mm.


As I'm sure you appreciate,  with a payout of this size,


-we will need to investigate the accident.  -Yeah, of course.


Now, that stretch of the street has  a security camera, vandalized,


by some kids, I'm guessing,   paintballed right in the wrong place.


But the, um...


delivery van thing must've had a camera.


-Not working.  -Oh, for God's sake.


No, that's actually good for your claim.  Fences Pizza's a big company.


They've been claiming  their driverless fleet has a good record.


[man scoffs]


The malfunctioning camera,  that's a step toward negligence.


So if we can prove full liability,  you could also consider filing


a substantial civil case  under our litigation wing?


Could be a lot of money.


Yeah, OK, I'm sold.


Great. [chuckles]


Now, I'll just hook you up


-to the recaller here.  -[whirring]


-[man] It's one of those memory dredgers?  -[bleeps]


[woman laughs] We prefer "corroborators."


-[man] Police things, aren't they?  -Mm... Not since last year.


We all have them now.


Right.


-May I?  -Yeah.


-[man] I feel like a specimen.  -[laughs]


[suctions, bleeps]


[woman] So, this accesses engrams,  your memories of what happened.


Now, they're subjective.


They may not be totally accurate,  and they're often emotional,


but by collecting a range of recollections  from yourself and any witnesses,


we can help build a corroborative picture  of the whole.


[man] I don't remember anything.  It's a total blank.


Oh, I've got something that might help.


[man] What, getting drunk?


The accident happened a few hundred  meters from the Castle Port Brewery.


[bottle fizzes]


The whole area smells like a pub.


No sipping, just take a sniff.


Aroma's a great memory boost,  helps anchor you


-to where you were.  -[sniffs]


Oh... that's familiar.


OK. Now, hold that smell in your mind,  close your eyes and picture the street.


[man exhales]


[bleeping, whirring]


[woman] Getting something now.


-Yeah. I went to a sort of comic shop...  -[static whirring]


[man] Culty stuff. Um...


I think it started snowing  when I came out.


Heavy snow, um...


There was music from a car.


-[bleeping]  -["Anyone Who Knows What Love Is" playing]


I like that song.


[man] There was a woman in a yellow coat  coming towards me.


[woman] Good recall on her face.


She had this weird lipstick on.  It stood out.


And she's pretty.


-[music continues]  -Um, yeah, yeah, and that, too.


Well, the more emotional your response,  the more vivid your memory of it is.


So there was the music and a girl,  and then what happened?


[man] Well, I went to cross the road,  wasn't really thinking about anything,


-and, uh...  -[car screeching]


And that's just when it just goes. Um...


That's OK.  What you've given me is already useful.


-[man] Really?  -[video rewinds]


[woman] Well, I've got someone  to look for, Little Miss Yellow Coat.


-Hey.  -[man] Ah, the wanderer returns.


-Yeah.  -You don't know how to fix this, do you?


Um, yeah, I'll have a look at it later.


-[boy] Hi, Mom.  -[Mia] Hi, you.


[video game beeping]


Tonight's the big night.


We coulda been anything  That we wanted to be


[boy] Dad!


-School musical, Bugsy Malone.  -[clears throat]


You all right?


Yeah. Yeah.


They've got this, um, sound system  for the backing tracks


that they can't work out  and I said I'd help them out.


So... I'm gonna be there all day.


You're gonna die  of loneliness here, are you?


[Mia] Yeah, I'll be fine.


[man] Well, we'll see you later, 7:30.


-[Mia] Mm-hmm.  -Don't forget.


I won't.


-[man] See ya.  -[boy] See you later.


[Mia] Bye.


[distant sirens]


[phone bleeps]


[phone clunks]


[engine moaning]


[engine fires up, beeping]


[candy bag rustles]


[woman] It was only yesterday.  You're efficient.


The fresher the memory,  the stronger it is,


and the stronger the memory,  the stronger the case.


I'll also just get you  to take a sniff of this.


-[bottle fizzes]  -[laughs]


[laughs] God knows what they think  we're doing in here.


[laughs]


If you close your eyes,  I'm also gonna play a piece of music.


["Anyone Who Knows What Love Is" playing]


God, yeah, yeah, that, that was on.


How weird.


Hold those things in your mind  and picture what you saw.


-[music continues]  -[sniffing]


I was on Stanhope Road,  near the hotel place,


looking at flats and stuff,  you know, window shopping.


I saw this guy walking towards me.


I remember thinking  he looked sort of sweet.


The music was coming from the car,  which pulled off.


Actually that was when  the delivery thing drove past.


[static buzzing]


Fences Pizza?  What sort of speed was it going?


You mean, was it going too fast?


Um...


-Try And focus on the vehicle.  -Maybe.


-[woman] Um...  -[bleeping]


[sighs] Um...


I don't know. I couldn't really say.


What about the impact itself?


Well, I didn't really see it.  I just saw the aftermath, really.


[crashing, man screaming]


-[video bleeps]  -[controller clicks]


[screaming replays]


[video bleeps]


A moment earlier  you saw a bright light?


Yeah. Like a camera flash just before.


Just outside the dentist place.


-[recaller beeps]  -Hmm.


[scrubbing]


[doorbell buzzes]


[woman] And I'm assuming  your window glazing's soundproof.


-[dentist] Yes, we get the odd screamer.  -I won't bother with the music then.


Look, to be honest,  the memory's a bit embarrassing--


-Don't worry, I've seen it all.  -Do you have to use that thing?


Look, your memories  will be sealed and private.


Unless they indicate you're harming  yourself or another person.


Go on then.


[suctions, bleeping]


[sighs]


[recaller bleeping]


[crunches on candy]


[static bleep]


[dentist] I'd had a patient.


Hmm, so I see.


[dentist] She left around six, I think.


I stayed to clear up.


You saw something from the window?


[dentist sighs]


There was a guy in the hotel window.


Well, what can I say?


[dentist] He was picturesque.


[controller clicking]


[woman] Did you take a photo?


-[candy crunching]  -[dentist] Well, I tried to.


I left the flash on by mistake,  so all I got was the reflection.


[camera shutter clicks]


-[woman] And then?  -I was going to take another one.


I saw some woman staring at something.


So I looked down,  it was just a load of commotion.


[dentist] There was a woman  in a sort of lime coat.


[crunching] Hmm, yellow actually.


-[dentist] Well, I knew it was vivid.  -Well, memories can be subjective.


What we do is build up an overall average,  a crowd-sourced picture of reality.


[recaller bleeps]


Did you see the vehicle  that hit the pedestrian?


Any sense of its speed?


I didn't see the actual crash, sorry.


[beeping, whirring]


OK. [exhales]


-You won't tell anyone about the photo?  -[recaller bleeps]


Don't need to put that in my report.


It's safe with me.


[hotel clerk] That'd be room 304.


Can you tell me who stayed there?


-You're not the police?  -No, but...


Then you'd have to lodge  for an information request for that.


But that could take up to a week  to process.


Sorry, management's an ass about it  ever since that thing


with what's-his-name,  the judge of Hot Shots?


Anyway, he got caught with a rent boy  and, um, a tabloid got his name


by hacking our booking system, and yeah,


they're tight as anything  about the rule now.


Oh, the woman I'm after  hasn't done anything.


I just think she might have  seen something outside


yesterday evening about 6:30.


Oh, I can...


I can tell you that she wasn't outside...  and I know what she was looking at.


[gentle scoff] How so?


I can't tell you who she is but, um,  she's into interesting films.


We log the in-house movies that people  watch and, um...


her choice stood out.


Oh. [laughs]


-How nice for her. Thanks.  -[laughs]


[seagulls squawking outside]


[computer bleeps]


Oh, bless you.


[man] How's the pizza accident going?


[woman] Hmm. A pain in the ass.


Can't pinpoint liability 'cause no one  agrees on the speed of the bloody thing


and I can't find anyone  who actually saw the impact.


Well, not yet.


[sighs]


Except maybe smudge face here,  whoever she is.


-[computer bleeps]  -[woman] Oh, bingo.


Mia Nolan.  You might be the one, if you'll talk.


What, if she'll talk?


She was doing something embarrassing  in the hotel room,


watching a porn film.


She might not want me  poking around in her head.


[man chuckles]


She's, like, 50 miles out of town.  Do you mind if I head there now?


It's a bit late.


Oh, if I sew this up in 24 hours,  I get two times bonus.


Well...


Go. Go.


[keys jangle]


[inhales]


-["Anyone Who Knows What Love Is" playing]  - I know I won't ever let you go


Oh, it's more than I could ever stand


Oh, but anyone


[music continues]


Who knows what love is


Will understand


[doorbell buzzes]


Hi, I'm Shazia. I'm from Realm Insurance.


-I've already got insurance, thanks.  -[Shazia] I'm not selling anything.


I'm following up on an incident  you might've seen, a road accident.


I don't know anything about an accident.


[Shazia] This was only yesterday.


-[Mia] An accident?  -On Stanhope Road.


Medina Plaza Hotel, a pedestrian  was hit by a delivery vehicle,


Fences Pizza, driverless.


Um... [laughs]


Right, yeah. I'm sorry, actually I did.


When you first mentioned it, I just didn't  think of it, but um... yeah, I did.


So you saw what happened?


[Mia] Uh, yeah,  there was a guy crossing the street


and this little van thing sort of just  clipped him, it was quick.


[Shazia] Do you mind if I ask you a few  questions about it? It won't take long.


I'm sorry, I'm really busy. I've got...


[Shazia] I don't wanna sound heavy but  it's a legal requirement since last year.


It's a legal requirement?


Well, if you've witnessed  an incident, yes.


I have to notify the police  when people refuse,


and when they get involved,  it just drags everything out, so...


[Mia clears throat]


-Come in.  -[sighs] Thank you.


Yeah, just that way.


[recaller firing up]


[beeping]


[Shazia] OK.


-What does that do?  -[Shazia] The recaller?


Just helps me get a record  of what happened.


May I?


Well, I can just tell you what happened.  I can remember.


The van hit the guy, and he fell over,  and then people came to help.


[Shazia] How fast was it going though,  the delivery vehicle?


Um...


[Shazia] See, I just need a sense of that.


It's sometimes hard to articulate  what your mind's eye's seen,


but capturing your impression  of what you saw is really useful.


-OK, but I've got--  -And that's all I'm interested in.


You can read the terms here if you like.


All the legal stuff is in there.


Look, I don't care what you might've been  doing in the hotel room in your own time.


I'm not gonna ask you anything about that.  Won't go there.


-OK.  -[Shazia] Private stuff is private stuff.


-So it's just the accident?  -Just that.


[Mia] It's a bit of a long read, isn't it?


[Shazia laughs]


-Do you want a tea or a coffee?  -Oh, a coffee would be great.


-Yeah, OK. Espresso?  -Perfect.


[coffee machine whirs]


Do you mind if I just go and have a pee  if I'm gonna be sat down a while?


-[Shazia] Yeah, sure.  -OK.


I ate hotel food, I had room service.


I ate room service.


I was in the hotel room on my own.


Watched porn.


Saw the accident.


Come on, focus. [breathes heavily]


I was on my own.


[suctions, bleeps]


[bottle fizzes open]


There you go.


Take a sniff.


-What's that for?  -It'll just help your recall.


[bleeping]


-[sets down bottle]  -That's it.


["Anyone Who Knows What Love Is" playing]


[Shazia]  The music will help jog your memory, too.


OK, close your eyes.


OK, let's start with you  in your hotel room.


You can blame me  Try to shame me...


[Mia] So I was in my room  and I ordered room service.


- ...care for you   -[sexual moaning]


All I need is the accident.


[Shazia] Try to picture the moments  leading up to the impact.


- Anyone   -[man screaming]


I just feel so sorry


[man screaming]


[Mia] The fucking shame,  the fucking guilt...


-[static noise]  -[Mia] No.


-[Mia] No!  -[Rob gasps]


-[Mia] I sat on this...  -[Rob] Get the fuck off me fucking--


[screaming, groaning]


[crashing, screams]


[static noise intensifies]


-[recaller bleeps]  -[Shazia clears throat]


Well, that's... great.


Got what I needed on the van,  so, I'll be off.


OK.


[Shazia] That's it. [chuckles]


-So you've got everything you needed?  -Yeah.


Doesn't take long, it's just  a simple thing with the speed so...


-[Mia] Right.  -Yeah. Yeah.


[Mia] Sorry about being short,  it's been a long day.


-No, it's fine.  -Got a lot of work on. Did you...


-So you've got everything you needed?  -[Shazia] Yeah, yeah, got it all.


-Don't worry, thank you so much.  -I know this sounds silly,


but, um, you know, sometimes I just think  mad things, and it doesn't mean anything,


do you know what I mean?  When you have strange thoughts.


No, it's fine, like I said.  I got what I needed, so thank you.


Yeah, but do you know what I mean?  It's not like... it's just my head.


[car engine moans]


[Shazia] Come on!


[engine moans]


No.


[screaming] No, no, no, no! No!


[Mia groans]


[heavy breathing]


[Shazia] No!


[Mia] I'm sorry, um...


-[Mia sniffles]  -[Shazia groaning]


[Mia] Um...


I fucked up, and I panicked.


[Shazia whimpers]


Does your head hurt?


OK.


[whimpers]


[Mia] OK.


[sobbing]


What am I gonna do with you?


[sobbing increases]


I mean, I can't let you go.


You're gonna tell someone, aren't you?


[muffled sounds]


I know, but even if you say you won't,  your recollections are all recorded.


-[muffled] I won't.  -They're not?


[Shazia sobbing] No.


If I take that off your mouth,  will you promise not to scream?


-Do you promise?  -[whimpers]


Forget the report. I'll delete... [sniffs]  I'll delete it, it won't go anywhere.


I don't know. I tried to delete it,  and I couldn't figure it out.


I won't say anything to anyone, I promise.  I'll forget the whole thing.


[crying] No one will know.  I won't say anything.


I wish I believed you.


I mean it. I mean it. I've seen things.


I've seen things on the recaller.


Secrets, personal things,  I've never spilled any of it.


I'm not allowed to, it's the law.


It's like confession,  it's like Catholic confession.


It'll be illegal for me to say anything.  Totally illegal, even if I wanted to!


None of that's true, is it?


-It is, I swear.  -[Mia] It's not.


It is.


Did you tell anyone that  you were coming here today?


No.


-You're lying.  -I'm not. I swear I'm not lying.


[Shazia sobs] No, I swear.


[muffled] I swear. No!


[gasps, screaming] No!


No!


[recaller fires up]


-[bleeping]  -[Shazia moaning, sobbing]


[ear piece bleeps]


[sobbing] No!


What did you do  before you came here today?


-[Shazia crying]  -[static noise]


[Shazia sings along to  "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is"]


Oh, but anyone


Who knows what love is...


I like that song.


-[Shazia sobbing]  - Will understand


Who did you speak to?


[Shazia on video] Bingo.


-Mia Nolan, if she'll talk.  -[Shazia continues sobbing]


-If she'll talk?  -[Shazia] No!


No.


[Shazia whimpers]


-Is that your husband?  -[muffled] No!


[muffled sobbing] No!


No!


[Mia] I'm really sorry.


[screaming] No!


Will you please close your eyes for me?


[Shazia utters muffled prayer]


[banging, cracking]


[whimpers]


[retching]


[keys jangle]


[man]  Everyone's in their costumes already.


Yeah, please, make sure you're on time.


-Yeah, I know, love.  -Are you far off?


-Remember it starts at 7:30.  -I'm gonna make it, 7:30.


-At 7:30.  -Yeah. [sniffs]


-All right.  -I'll see you outside.


-See you in a bit, sweetheart.  -OK.


[panting]


[orchestral music playing]


[door clicks open]


[exhales]


[orchestral music continues]


[TV clicks off]


[man clears throat]


[door opens]


[footsteps going upstairs]


[footsteps]


[water running]


[water stops running]


[water splashing]


[sighs]


[phone vibrating]


[man gasps]


[Mia groans]


[thumps]


[Mia panting]


[Mia whimpers]


[whimpering]


[grunts, exhales]


[crying]


[baby coos, squealing]


[baby babbling]


[baby talk continues]


[baby cries]


[crying increases]


[baby cooing, crying]


-[man] Cutting it a bit fine.  -[Mia] Yeah, it was just work stuff.


Jesus, what'd you eat, a vineyard?


No, I just finished the design  so had a glass of wine.


-[man] Fuck off, a glass. Fine.  -Let's just go in, all right?


[man shivers]


[piano playing]


[piano continues]


We coulda been anything


That we wanted to be


And it's not too late to change


It's been decided  To give it some thought


Maybe you'll agree we really ought


Two, three, four!


We coulda been anything  That we wanted to be


[clapping to music]


Yes, that decision was ours


It's been decided we're weaker divided


Let friendship double up our powers


[sirens]


[policeman over radio]  Yeah, just confirming double homicide.


One adult male and one male infant.


Yeah, I'm at the scene now.


[sirens continue]


-[camera shutter clicking]  -Who kills a baby?


I don't know.


Probably someone worried  about leaving a witness.


[female detective]  Bloodbath upstairs and this downstairs.


[male detective] But he couldn't see.


Poor fucker was born blind apparently.


So I have to say, I have absolutely  no idea who I'm looking for.


So it's a good job you're not asking me.


Come on, let's clear out of here.  Let's let the recall team do their job.


-[camera clicking]  -[female detective] Come on.


[guinea pig squeaking]


[machine whirs]


[forensic investigator] Here we go.


-[guinea pig squeaks]  -[recaller beeps]


[piano playing]


You give a little love  And it all comes back to you


La la la la la la la


You know You're gonna be remembered


For the things that you say and do


[cheering, applause]


[mother] Well done!


[teacher] Put your hands together  for this year's fantastic school choir.


What a lovely evening.  Thank you so much for coming.


Put your hands together  for Mrs. Henry...


-Coach.  -[device] Yes, Frank?


-Where do I go?  -[device] Proceed to the hub.


Got ya.


[chattering]


-How will I know who he is?  -[device] This is him.


-[Frank] Hi. Oh, oh.  -[cutlery clatters]


Sorry. Fork.


-Amy.  -No, no, my name's not fork.


-I guessed. It was just--  -It's Frank.


-Do you wanna sit? Shall we sit?  -I think it's that or stand. [laughs]


[Frank] Come sit, yeah?


Oh, oh! That's, um... I was on that side.


-Oh. Shall I...?  -No, no, it doesn't matter.


[Frank laughs]


-[Frank] Why bring it up?  -[laughs]


Sorry. I'm so bloody nervous.


It's my first time on the,  you know, the system.


-Me too.  -Oh, really?


Yeah, I'm shitting it, mate.


-Come to mention It, you look terrified.  -do I?


-Yeah, quaking with fear.  -Or maybe shaking with revulsion?


At least you stopped... shitting.


Oh! [laughs]


-Are you sure about that?   -[both laugh]


[Amy laughs]


-Shall we stop talking about shitting?  -maybe order some food? Good plan.


Yeah. OK.


-do you know How we order?  -I think we use these.


-Oh!  -[device] Menu choice already established.


-[Frank] Oh. Ta.  -[waiter] Here you are, sir.


[waiter] And for you, madam.


Well, evidently I'm a pasta girl.


Yeah, I'm a, uh...


-[cutlery clatters]  -...fishcake...


[laughs]


-[Amy] Hmm.   -[Frank] Mmm.


-It's good.  -Can I try some?


Are we... allowed to do that?


Fuck it.


-Yeah, fuck it.  -[Amy laughs]


-Mm. That is good.  -Mm-hmm.


So... we're both first-timers.


[Frank] Hmm.


-Shall we check our expiry date?  -Yeah, Good plan.


Yeah? All right, um,  so I think it's under "info."


Yeah, uh, "tap to reveal."  We have to tap to reveal at the same time.


-OK. So, on three, two, one. Go.  -[devices beep]


-Twelve hours.  -Yeah, 12 hours.


-OK.  -Bit, um...


-Yeah.  -Bit short.


-It is a bit short, isn't it?  -Hmm.


Oh. And getting shorter.  I didn't realize it would...


sort of count down like that.


It's sort of sad.


Maybe we should eat quickly.


-Yeah. Yeah, maybe we should.  -The race is on.


-Come on, hurry up.  -[laughs]


[Frank] I guess this is us.


And this takes us to the place?


Yeah, suppose so.


-After you.  -[Amy] Thank you. [laughs]


[whispers] It's massive.


-[Frank] Here we are.  -[Amy] Yep.


[Amy] Huh.


[vehicle drives away]


-do you wanna open It Or Shall I?  -you go ahead.


-All right.  -Ha!Too slow.


You're a knob. [laughs]


[door opens]


Oh, God. It's a shithole.


-You're kidding.  -I am, yeah.


[Amy chuckles]


[lounge music plays]


[Amy] Ooh!


It's nice. I, uh, like that lamp.


-Yeah, it's incredible, that lamp.  -[laughs] Fuck off.


[Amy] Hmm.


Right. That's, uh...


[exhales]


There's an en suite.


-Shower Or bath?  -Both.


Ah. That's good.


Uh. Well, I'm...  I'm just gonna use the loo.


Yeah, I've got to, uh... over here, so...  [clears throat]


Yeah.


[Amy clears throat]


OK, seriously, what are we meant to do?


[device] Query too broad. Please narrow.


Well, I mean, are we just meant to...  I don't know, like, just go at it?


-[device] Define "go at it."  -[scoffs]


Fucking hell.


So, are we meant to just  have sex with each other?


[device] Participants are not required  to take any specific action.


Yeah, but I mean we can, right?


I mean, people do  if it's just a short time?


[device] If that's your decision.


-It's up to us?  -[device] It's up to you.


[exhales]


I could just sleep here.


Don't be daft.  You'll be scrunched up in a ball.


[groans]


It's not awful.


The bed's pretty big.  I'm sure we could both fit in it.


Yeah, OK.


Must have been mental before the system.


How do you mean?


Well, people had to do  the whole relationship thing themselves,


work out who they wanna be with.


Hmm. Option paralysis.


So many choices, you end up  not knowing which one you want.


Yeah, exactly, and if things seem shitty,


they'd have to figure out whether  they wanted to break up with someone.


How to break up with someone.  Fuckin' hell.


-Just a nightmare.  -It's not like when it's all mapped out.


God, no. It's so much simpler  when it's all mapped out.


[Frank] Hmm.


-This is weird, though.  -It really is. hmm.


[door opens and closes]


-Well, then.  -So...


Thanks for being my first.


-[devices beep]  -[Frank] Oh. Yeah.


-[device beeps]  -[Amy] Bloody time.


It was great, you know. You were nice.


-[devices beeping]  -So were you.


If we had this time again,  you would totally get it, by the way.


-Oh, you... you bastard.  -Sorry.


-You'd get it, too.  -Fucked that one up, didn't we?


-Yeah, totally.  -[both laugh]


[devices chime]


I guess I just don't see the point  in something that short. Twelve hours.


[device]  Even your reaction to a brief encounter


provides the system  with valuable information.


[pants]


Yeah, well, I didn't even do anything.  The system thinks I'm a prude.


[device] The system makes  no moral judgments.


Yeah, but how do I know she wasn't  the perfect match for me? She was...


[device] Your ultimate compatible other  has not yet been selected.


Yeah, I know, but it's--


[device] The system gains insight  as each participant progresses


through numerous relationships


and uses the gathered data to eventually  select an ultimate compatible other.


On your pairing day, I know,  and it always finds your perfect match.


[device] In 99.8% of cases.


But I have to go through  loads of relationships to find it.


-[device] That is correct.  -Great.


-[strains]  -[stone skips four times]


-[device chimes]  -What was that?


-[device] Another relationship.  -What, already?


-[device chimes]  -[Frank] What's this, another one?


[device] That is correct.


[sighs] I'd best go get changed, then.


-[chattering]  -[music plays softly]


Holy fuck. Tell me that's him.


[device] I cannot confirm identity  until a personal introduction is made.


-Hi.  -Hi.


-[device] Identity confirmed.  -[man clears throat]


-I like your hair.  -Yours is Good too.


-It's all my own.  -[Amy laughs]


It's just funny.


[Amy laughs]


[Frank] Hi.


I'm Frank.


[woman] Hmm.


Nicola. I've been here a while.


Aye, sorry. I was getting changed.


-really?  -you started already?


-I was hungry.   -Yeah, course, Yeah. Sorry.


Come on, let's get it over with.  Checking the expiry.


Oh! Yeah, yeah.


[devices beep]


One year.


We've got each other for one year?  Could be a mistake.


-Coach, is this a mistake?  -[device] This is not a mistake.


Jesus fucking Christ.


There'll be a reason.


[Frank] Thanks.


[clears throat]


[cutlery scrapes on plate]


Look on the bright side.  Chicken tikka masala.


What?


Chicken tikka mas-- It's a joke.


Right. So you're the sort of person  that makes jokes.


[puts cutlery down]


-OK, So on three.  -two, one.


Oh. Interesting.


Nine months.


Well... cheers.


Cheers.


[exhales loudly]


-[electronic sounds]  -[door opens]


[soft jazz playing]


Pretty much the same as my last one.


-How many of these have you had?  -Relationships? So far? Five.


-[Amy] Oh. [laughs]  -I'm an old hand, I suppose.


[Amy clears throat]


Listen, I'm just gonna jump in the shower.


-OK.  -Won't be long.


[Amy laughs]


[soft jazz continues]


[man] Hey.


Hi.


[man] So, listen, if you're OK with it,  this is relationship five for me,


and I've found it's best to have sex  straight away upfront.


Right, yeah.


Kind of breaks the ice, gives an early  overview of compatibility and so on.


Yep. [laughs nervously]


-So I'm consenting to everything now.  -[device beeps]


Whenever you feel comfortable  doing the same--


-[device chimes]  -[man clears throat]


[panting]


[moaning]


[grunting]


Tikka masala. Just...


-[Frank] What?  -It's a bit tikka masala.


-[Frank] Oh. I'm sorry.  -[Nicola] Talking makes it worse.


[muffled] Sorry.


No, no, you're gonna have to do it  from behind.


-[Frank] You what?  -From behind.


Bit faster?


More motion.


Not like that. More motion.  You're all in out, in out,


like you're trying to shut a drawer  into a filing cabinet.


-[Frank] Sorry.  -It's just boring.


Want a bit more side to side.


Like this?


No, not really.


[exhales loudly]


[mimics loud exhaling]


-[chuckles]  -What was that?


-Nothing.  -hmm.


[sighs]


[Nicola snores quietly]


[chimes]


[exhales]


Fucking hell.


[Frank] So I can't just walk away?


[device] That is correct.


One day it will provide you  with the ultimate match.


One day. One day.


[chattering]


[woman] So I'd just like to say,


do have faith in the system,  because it does deliver.


-It did for us.  -[both laugh]


[woman] You have so many experiences,


and then one day it pairs you up  with your ultimate match,


the best in show, as it were.


-[imitates dog barking]  -[laughs]


Ha.


So if you're having doubts,  just hang on in there.


-Because it really does work.  -[laughs]


[light cheering]


[romantic harp music]


Garlic dip. Thanks for that.


-[Amy] Hi. Hi.  -Mm!


-[mumbles]  -Was that, uh, your...?


-Yeah. Nicola.  -Oh. Nicola.


-[Frank] Hmm.  -Ha.


-[coughing]  -[Amy] You OK?


No, you're not being...?  Are you being serious?


Oh, my God.  OK, this is happening. OK, um, just...


[spits]


[Frank] Oh. Thanks. [laughs]


[pants]


-you look well.  -Thanks.


I'd return the compliment, but you've just  spat food on my shoe, so...


To be fair, it is a revolting shoe, so...


All the better to kick you with.


[gasps]


[laughs] Was that really hard?


-Ouch.  -I'm so sorry. [laughs] Fuck.


[both laugh]


-[Amy] Shit.  -[Frank clears throat]


Oh. Oh! Um... Uh...


Lenny, this is, um, Frank.  Frank, this is Lenny.


-Hi, Lenny. you All right?  -Hi.


We were together for a bit. [laughs]


-a small... small bit.  -Yeah, just before we...


So you two...? Oh. That's... that's great.


So, I mean... it looks like you two  make a great team.


[Lenny exhales loudly]


Yeah. [laughs uncomfortably]


[applause and cheering]


-[Frank] Yeah.  -Um, I'll see you.


Yeah.


[Amy breathes heavily]


[Amy sighs]


-you know That noise you make?  -What noise?


[mimics Lenny exhaling]


-do I do that?  -Yeah, you do, quite often.


Does it bother you?


A bit, yeah.


-I'll try not to.  -OK.


[device chimes]


[device beeps]


So it's been great, really.


-Shame It has to end.  -But end It must.


Anyway...


[device beeps continuously]


-OK, bye.  -[beeping stops, device chimes]


[device alert sound]


Another partner already?


[device] That is correct.


So, three, two, one, go.


[devices chime]


Thirty-six hours?


[panting]


Well, uh... bye.


-bye.  -bye.


[Amy] Three, two, one.


[inaudible dialogue]


[exhales]


[device chimes]


-I just wanna say--  -Don't.


Well, I learned what it's like to cohabit  with someone I despise.


-Is that useful for the system?  -[device] Everything happens for a reason.


[scoffs]


[device alert sound]


That's sooner than I expected.


[sighs]


-[music plays softly]  -[chattering]


-[laughs] Hello, you.  -Hi.


[Amy] Hi.


[Frank] Is this right?


-[Amy] Yeah.  -[Frank] I mean...


Yeah, I didn't think the system  would hook us up again.


No, me neither. I mean,  I hope it's right, obviously, but...


-Coach, are we sat at the right table?  -[device] Yes, that is correct.


[laughs] OK, well...


Wait, um...  Can we not check the expiry date?


-Uh... Why?  -just sick of it.


The system's just bounced me from bloke  to bloke, short fling after short fling.


I know they're short flings,  they're just meaningless,


and I get really detached.  It's like I'm not really there.


So the other week, I was with this guy,  God knows who, basically just a haircut.


And I literally had  this out-of-body experience.


I wandered out of my body,  and I sat in this chair across the room


and I watched myself fucking this guy.  And I was, like, what is that all about?


That is literally just a dick  going in and out of a hole.


-Yeah, that's pretty detached.  -[Amy laughs]


When it's a long-term thing,  it's just as bad,


watching the clock like you're a prisoner,  counting the hours, the minutes.


-Oh, God, I've been there.  -Yeah.


-Yeah, let's not check the expiry, then.  -Yeah.


-It's a deal.  -Deal.


-[Amy] OK.  -[Frank] Bring on les fishcake.


-[laughs]  -[Frank] I don't know.


[device chimes]


-So?  -So...


-Might as well.  -I suppose we have to.


-Don't know how much time we've got.  -Yeah, it could be ten minutes.


-think you could last ten minutes?  -fuck off.


[laughter]


All right. OK, then.


Wait. One of us should  get undressed first.


-Why only one of us?  -It'll be funny.


-Go on then. Get your kit off.  -[laughs]


No. No, it was my idea.


[Frank laughs]


All right.


[belt buckle rattles]


This is kind of emasculating.


Well, then, you'd better  make up for it in a minute.


- I'm gonna see your dick   -[laughs]


[laughs] Sorry.


- I'm gonna fucking see it   -Yeah, OK. Yeah--


What if there is no scrutiny, it's just  putting us together in any old order,


and we all go along with it 'cause they're  always telling us how clever it is?


Yeah, but it does put people with the one.  It's got a 99.8% success rate.


But how do you know  they're perfect matches?


I mean, what if all it's actually doing  is gradually wearing us down,


putting us in one relationship  after another


for random durations  in a random sequence?


Each time you get a little bit  more pliable, a little bit more broken,


until eventually it coughs up the final  offering and says that's the one.


And by that point  you are so defeated and so exhausted


that you just accept it, you settle.


And then you have to live  the rest of your life


convincing yourself you didn't.


Well done. That's one of  the bleakest things I've ever heard.


[Amy laughs] Thank you.


Right. Do you wanna know my theory?  Let's assume the system isn't random.


-It's as sophisticated as they say it is.  -OK.


Right, so using these,  it slurps up all your reactions, yeah?


-It builds up a complex profile.  -Mm-hmm.


Every crazy thought you've ever had, all  your dreams and your weaknesses and--


-And your mad theories.  -Yeah, like, everything in your head.


-Right.  -So if it's everything in your head...


-does it have thoughts?  -All right, so now you're gonna say:


[mimics his accent] "What if that's us  and we're stuck in a simulation?"


Well, how would we know?


-[Frank yelps]  -[Amy laughs]


I think that settles it.


I might have been programmed to go "Ow."


OK. [chuckles]


[Frank chuckles]


[giggles]


-Hey, come here.  -[Amy chuckles] No.


[Amy yelps and laughs]


-Coach?  -[device] Hello, Frank.


-I've gotta know.  -[device] What would you like to know?


The expiry date for me and Amy.  I need to know how long.


You're not gonna talk me out of it?


[device] Would you like me  to talk you out of it?


Yeah. Uh... No. I...


Don't know.


[beeps]


No, I'm not gonna do it.  I said I wouldn't.


We shook on it.


-Fuck it.  -[device chimes]


[beeping]


-[device] Recalibrating.  -[beeping]


[device chimes]


[alert beeping]


Coach?


-Coach.  -Recalibrating. [beeping]


What's happening?  Coach, it's getting shorter.


[door opens]


[device] One-sided observation  has destabilized the expiry date.


-What?  -[device] One-sided observation


has destabilized the expiry date.


Recalibrating. [beeping]


'Cause I looked at it on my own,  it made it shorter?


-[device] That is correct.  -Why?


[device] Everything happens for a reason.  [chimes]


All right, well, undo it, then.  Make it go back.


[device] I cannot do that. Recalibrating.


What if she looks at it?


[device] Once shortened,  the expiry date cannot be extended.


-[device chimes]  -Why?


[device] Everything happens for a reason.


-Come on. Come on.  -[device] Recalibrating.


[beeping]


-When will it stop?  -[device] It will stabilize


once recalibration has completed.  Recalibrating.


Stop it. Stop it. Just...


[device chimes]


[exhales]


[sniffles]


[Amy giggles]


You OK?


Yeah, I'm fine.


-All right.  -[Frank] I'm good.


Have you ever had more than four   or less than four?


[Amy] What you thinking about?


Nothing.


[Amy exhales]


All right, seriously, what's up?


[inhales deeply]


-[Frank] I looked.  -Looked at what?


We promised we wouldn't. We shook on it.


-Don't you wanna know what it said?  -No. That was the point.


-It's almost done anyway.  -How almost done?


We've got, like, an hour.


-[sighs]  -Why didn't you tell me this before?


-Didn't wanna spoil today.  -And this hasn't spoilt it?


It was supposed to be five years,  but now...


[exhales loudly]


I looked at it, something happened,  it started going down.


-I don't know what it was.  -So you broke it?


No, no, no, no, no.  I mean, I don't... I don't know.


Why did you have to look at it?


Look, I was thinking maybe  we could overcome it somehow.


-Because I like you.  -[sighs]


Like properly, really, I like you.


-For fuck's sake. And that wasn't enough?  -That's not the point.


-I looked, but that's not the issue here.  -Are you sure about that?


You're more wound up about that  than how short the time is.


Yes, because we had agreed.


-Listen. Listen. Listen.  -[Amy exhales]


-What if we just ignore it?  -We can't.


Listen, we'll just fuck the system.  We'll fuck it--


-And do what?  -We'll jump out, over the wall, get out.


-There is nothing out there.  -How d'you know? How d'you know?


-Amy...  -You've ruined this.


You've ruined it.


-Hey, it's nothing.  -[taser crackles]


-Amy.   -Don't follow me.


[Frank] Amy, I'm sorry.


[Frank] Amy.


-[device] Everything happens for a reason.  -[crying] What reason?


[device] The system will be assessing  your reaction


to the painful premature termination  of a treasured relationship


and will adjust and improve its profile  of your eventual chosen one accordingly.


-[sniffs] You're a great comfort.  -[device] Thank you.


[cries]


I swear to God,  I feel like scaling the wall out there


and jumping in the fucking wilderness.


[device] That would contravene the rules  of the system.


Oh, the fucking system. [sniffs]


[device] Failure to comply with the system  may result in banishment.


[shouts] All right, I know.


Christ, will you let me be angry at least?  Will you give me that?


[sniffs]


[device] You must vacate your current  living quarters when the time expires.


Like I didn't know.


[sighs]


And if I hadn't have looked,  we'd have been together years.


She was...


You know when you meet someone  and you just know? You just know that...


Reckon you could pop this in me now?  I've sort of got jaw ache.


Yeah, come on.


And after all that,  he never even apologized, not once.


That's too bad.


Do you mind if I think about her?


If I can think about him?


Yeah, sound.


[panting]


[headboard bangs on wall]


One, two, three, four.


[exhales]


[device chimes]


[device] Congratulations, Amy.  Your ultimate match has been identified.


Your pairing day is tomorrow.


-Ultimate as in "the one"?  -[device] That is correct.


-And we meet tomorrow?  -[device] That is correct.


Tomorrow you'll be coupled  with your ultimate match


and together  you will leave this place forever.


OK. [exhales]


Are you allowed  to tell me anything about them?


-Do I know them already?  -[device] Negative.


-Right.  -[device] There is one more thing.


Yeah, and what's that?


[device] Prior to pairing day, you have  been allocated a short farewell period


with an individual of your choosing.


A farewell period?  Like, I get to say goodbye to someone?


[device] That is correct.


Data shows this can help provide  psychological closure.


Frank, I choose Frank.


[device] Your choice has been registered.


Wait. Where are we meeting?


[device] Usual booth, 7:30 p.m.


Right.


-Coach?  -[device] Yes, Amy?


Count to four.


[device] One, two, three, four.


[Frank] Wait, wait. How long have we got?


[beeping]


-[slams table]  -[beeping continues]


Look, the system's set  my pairing day for tomorrow.


-Yeah, Me too.  -right.


I don't want whoever the system  reckons the one is, OK?


-I want you.  -I want you.


[device] Failure to comply with the system


-may result in banishment.  -you can fuck off.


Can you remember where you were  before you came here?


[device beeping]


You can't, can you?


-No.  -Me neither.


-Why can't I think of that?  -It's a test.


Do you remember the first night  that we were together? How did you feel?


I felt safe, happy, comfortable.


It felt right. It felt like something  locked into place, like we'd met before.


Like it had happened before  and it'll happen again,


like it's happened a thousand times  over and over again.


-do you know What I mean?  -Yeah. Yeah, I do.


Ever since we've met,  this world has been toying with us.


It's trying to keep us apart. It's...


It's a test, I swear it is,


and the two of us rebelling together   is something to do with passing it.


-We've gotta fuck it all off.  -[laughs]


Exactly. We've just gotta  fuck the whole thing off and go.


-Yeah, over The wall.  -right over it.


-No matter what's out there.  -OK.


[device beeping]


So let's go.


Yeah, let's go.


[beeping continues]


[device chimes and falls silent]


[taser crackles]


[crackling stops]


[panting]


[Amy] Come on.


[electronic sound]


[electronic sounds]


-[rock music playing]  -[crowd chattering]


Burn down the disco


Hang the blessed DJ


Because the music  That they constantly play


It says nothing to me about my life


Because the music they constantly play


On the Leeds side-streets  That you slip down


The provincial towns you jog 'round


Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ


Hang the DJ, hang the DJ


Open one of those for us.


You know you're the only one  who can stand these things?


They're the only things left.


[man] The pigs have all gone.


Used to be full of pigs, that.


Yeah, that and pig shit.


-Dogs took care of them.  -Don't think I could hack being a pig.


-[woman] I don't think you could either.  -[man] What's so bad about being a pig?


It's undignified.


Undignified?


Walking about with your nose  the same height as your asshole.


-[sniffs] Snout.  -[man 2] What's that?


Pigs have snouts, not noses.


So it would be your snout  the same height as your asshole.


Nose, snout.


You're still trotting about gazing up  everybody else's assholes all day long.


What kind of society is that?


An equal one?


[man] So what do you reckon?


Yes or no?


I can give it a go.  You're not gonna be long?


Five minutes, max.


[man 2] Oh, fucking hell.


This is mental, this is.


I mean, he's dying anyway.


Well, he is.


I mean, it's not like it's gonna save him.


He's got, what, days?


Well, if it's what's in there  makes those days easier...


that'll do for me.


I promised my sister we'd help him.


We all promised her.


Plus there'll be other stuff in there.  Batteries.


-All sorts.  -OK. OK.


[door opens]


[thuds]


[engine stops]


-Leave the keys in the ignition.   -I'm ahead of you there.


If you hear anything, yeah, don't  fuck about, yeah? Just tear straight off.


-Five minutes? -[man] No more.


All right?


[man] You sure it's gonna be in there?


Course I'm not sure.


[exhales] Fuck it.


[breathes heavily]


[machine beeps and whirs]


-[breathes heavily]  -[device beeps]


-[negative beeps]  -Oh, fuck.


-[device beeps]  -[man mutters]


-[breathes heavily]   -[negative beeps]


[whispers] 95-DY42.


[beeping]


[negative beeps]


Psst.


[man whispers] Quick.


-[ladder clangs]  -[woman] Shh!


Oh, fuck.


[explosion]


[shrapnel ricocheting]


[groans and screams]


[inaudible]


[man groans]


[man] Go. Go.


[groans]


[metal footsteps]


Go! Go!


[clangs]


-[gunshot]  -Tony!


[gunshot]


[screams]


[gasping]


Clarke! Go!


-[panting]  -[Clarke whimpers] Come on.


-Come on. Yes.  -[machine beeps]


[car engine revs]


-[van accelerates]  -[panting]


[panting]


[pants] No!


[whimpering]


[Clarke] Oh, fucking hell. [whimpers]


-[whirring]   -[Clarke yelling]


No, please!


[Clarke shouts]


Please, no! Fuck, no! No, please!


Please!


-[sobs]  -[gunshot]


[car engine slows down]


[whirring]


[machine beeps and whirs]


[brakes]


[van engine starts]


Fuck!


[van accelerates]


-[impacts]   -[van accelerates]


[brakes screech]


Fucker!


-[crashing]  -[screams]


[screams] Fuck!


-[frantic panting]  -[brakes screech]


[screams]


[panting]


[crashes]


-[thudding]  -Ah!


[head thuds]


[whirring]


[creaking]


-[gasps]  -[metal creaks]


[rocks crumbling]


[whimpers] Fuck!


[footsteps]


[screams and pants]


[whimpers]


Fuck. Fuck you, you-- [shrieks] Fuck!


[groans]


[woman screams and pants]


[breathes heavily]


[rattling]


[exhales and groans]


[exhales] Ah.


OK.


-[glass clinks]  -Shit.


[sniffs and pants]


Oh.


[material rips]


[metal clangs]


[electric buzzing]


Ahh. [whimpers]


[clears throat]


Ah. [breathes heavily]


[whispers] OK.


[whimpers]


Ah!


[squeals]


Ah! [gasps]


[screams]


[breathes heavily]


[muffled shrieks]


Gah! [yelps]


[groans and pants]


[panting]


[panting] Ah!


[groans]


[pants]


Anyone?


-Come in?   -[radio crackles]


If you can hear me, it's Bella.


-Hello?  -[radio crackles]


Oh.


-[radio crackles]  -Pick up. Please, fucking pick up.


-[radio crackles]  -Oh, fuck. [groans]


[man talks indistinctly on radio]


[laughs] Hello? Who is that?


I can't hear you. You're not clear.


[Bella] Listen, if you can hear me,  just whistle. Don't say anything.


[man whistles on radio]


OK, OK.


I can't talk for long.


We found a dog at the warehouse.


We didn't see it. We don't know  how long it had been in there.


It got Tony and Clarke.


So they're gone. I'm-- I'm sorry.


[breathes heavily]


And can you tell Ali  that I'm sorry too? [sighs]


She said that we were mad to bother  and she was right.


We... We just wanted  to help her with Jack.


I don't know... [exhales]


Get him something that might help.


I know he's in pain.


[robotic whirring]


I've lost the dog for now,  but my guess is it's still operational.


And I'm figuring it can lock onto  this signal, so I'm gonna have to go dark.


It's, um-- It stuck me with a tracker,  but I managed to get it out.


I'm gonna have to find somewhere overnight  to hide out, I...


Get some medical stuff or something.


If I don't make it back...


will you pass a message to Graham?


[cries] Just I love him.


Please would you pass that on?


-[radio crackles]  -[sniffles]


I'm gonna have to switch off now.   I'll try and make it back.


Bye, now.


[exhales]


[breathes heavily]


[footsteps running]


[panting]


[gasps] Oh, fuck.


-[twig snaps]  -Fuck!


[heaves]


[breathes heavily] Ah!


Come on.


[footsteps]


Argh!


[whispers] Stay still.


[robotic whirring]


Shit, shit, shit.


[whimpers]


You can't do it.


Your arm's fucked,  so you can't climb the tree. [laughs]


Yeah, take a good look, mate.


[sniffs]


You'll be waiting a long time. [chuckles]


A very long time.


[sighs]


Oh.


[gasps]


Oh!


[breathes heavily] Oh, God.


[debris clanks on metal]


[groans]


[strains]


Ahh!


[groans, panting]


Oh. [exhales]


[whirs]


-[clangs]  -[robotic whirring]


Welcome back.


[powers down]


...nine, eight, seven,


six, five, four,


three, two, one.


[clangs]


four...


three...


two...


one.


[exhales] Ah.


...three, two, one.


-[clangs]  -[laughs]


993, 992...


-[clangs]  -Yes.


...four, three,


two, one.


[exhales]


[groans]


[breathes heavily]


[groans and coughs]


[panting]


Oh, fuck.


[strains]


[beeps]


Ah, fuck!


Ah.


[pants]


[tugs door handle]


[wails]


Ah!


-Oh.  -[clangs]


Ah, come on.


[clangs]


Oh, come on.


[groans]


-[keys fall to floor]  -[gasps] Oh, shit.


[breathes heavily and groans]


[gasps and strains]


Ah. [breathes heavily]


[groans] Oh! [breathes heavily]


[breathes heavily]


Come on. Come on, come on.


Car keys, car keys, car keys.  [sniffs] Car keys.


Car keys.


Oh, fuck.


[panting]


[laughs]


Oh! [pants]


[throws bag to floor]


Keys, keys, keys. Come on.


[door slams]


[gasps] Oh!


[inhales sharply] Ah.


[sniffs]


[white noise from TV]


[exhales]


[ragged breathing]


[breathes sharply]


Oh, my God.


[coughs]


[moans]


[whimpers]


[puts bag down]


[breathes heavily]


[cries] Oh, fuck.


[groans] Ah!


Oh.


[gags] Oh, fuck.


[gasps]


[inhales]


[retches and coughs]


-[gun clicks]  -[groans]


[strains]


[groans and pants]


Ow. Ow, ow, ow.


Ow. [breathes heavily]


[breathlessly] OK.


[groans]


[winces] Fuck.


[beeps]


-[bang]  -[whirring]


[gates thud]


[breathes heavily]


Oh, God.


Ow.


[grunts]


[exhales]


[whispers]  Come on, come on, come on, come on.


[water running]


[gasps] Ah.


[whirs]


Ah. [sighs]


[bot whirs nearby]


[tense breathing]


[panting]


Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! [panting]


[footsteps]


[splashes]


[inaudible]


[bangs]


-[whirring]  -[panicked breathing]


[pants]


[yelps]


[car unlocks]


[engine sputtering]


-Come on. Come on.  -["Golden Brown" plays on radio]


Come on.


[whimpers]


[gasping]


["Golden Brown" continues playing]


Golden brown texture like sun


Lays me down...


[music continuing]


Every time just like the last


On her ship tied to the mast


To distant lands


Takes both my hands


Never a frown with golden brown


[music distorts, ceases]


[inaudible]


Fuck.


[whimpers, panting]


Fuck. [groans]


[heavy breathing]


[whirring]


-[explosion]   -[shrapnel ricocheting]


Ah. [pants]


[breathes heavily]


[exhales]


[winces]


[gasps]


Is there anyone there?


-[radio crackles]  -Maybe you can hear me?


Maybe someone can hear me.


[radio crackles]


If there is anyone there...


This is just to say  that I'm not coming back.


Say I'm sorry to Ali and that she should  give Jack a kiss from me.


I'm sorry I didn't get the replacement  like I promised.


I know how dear it was to him.


And I did try.


We all tried.


I hope you can look after him.


And, Graham, I love you.


And all of you.


I've always loved you all.


[turns off radio]


[breathes heavily]


["Always Something There To Remind Me"  playing]


I walk along the city streets  You used to walk along with me


And every step I take  Recalls how much in love we used to be


Oh, how can I forget you


When there is always something there  To remind me


[humming along]


Always something there to remind me


[singing along]  I was born to love you


And I will never be free


You'll always be a part of me


Whoa


When shadows fall, I pass a small cafe  Where we would dance at night


And I can't help recalling how it felt  To kiss and hold you tight


Well, how can I forget you?


- I was born--   -[engine and music stop]


Mm-hmm.


[door unlocks]


-Hi.  -Hey.


Tours begin at 11. You're the first  in line. Could be a busy day.


[British accent] Road seemed pretty empty.


Nice accent. You from Australia?


No, I'm from Britain.


So you got one of those crazy  British names? Esmeralda or, uh...?


I'm Nish.


-Nish?  -Nish.


Well, I can't judge. My name's ridiculous.


Rolo Haynes. Owner. Proprietor.


Well, just us two this morning.  You sure you wanna do this?


-This place ain't for the faint-hearted.  -I'm sure I can handle it.


Not everyone can.


[Rolo chuckles]


So, I have to peek  in your little sack there if that's OK.


-Ah. That's OK.  -Can't trust anyone these days.


If you could step through there.


Anything metal, put it in here.


Cool.


-Mm-hmm.  -Mm. Dinky.


Oh, yeah. I call it fun size.


Fun size. I like that.


Guessing you had a gut full  of this security shit at the airport.


Our immigration guys  are pretty tight these days.


All clear?


-[chimes]  -OK.


Show on the road.


So, you on vacation?


-Sort of. My dad lives out here.  -Uh-huh.


It's his birthday,   so my mom just wants to surprise him.


And you're the surprise?


Hmm, part of it, I guess.


-Where'd you fly in?  -Salt Lake.


You came here from Salt Lake?


Yeah, I thought it'd be nice  to drive the back route,


but I underestimated the--


Heck of a trip for a girl on her own.


-I don't mean to get old-fashioned on you.  -Seriously?


That is quite old-fashioned.


It's hot as hell in here.


AC must've shit the bed.


Sorry for the heat.


[whistles]


Goddamn digital systems.


Never trust a guy in tech.  Jesus, I should know that.


[Nish] So what is all this stuff?


[Rolo] Authentic criminological artifacts.


If it did something bad,  chances are it's in here.


Take a look around, take your time,  see what pops out at you.


Anything piques your interest,  I can tell you all about it.


There's a sad, sick story  behind most everything here.


Just like our main attraction  just through there.


But let's not get ahead of ourselves.


A lot of folks  just rush behind the curtain,


hardly even eyeball this stuff,


and then it's a bunch of one-star ratings  on Trip-fucker and before you know it--


Yo, look, I am not in a rush,  so don't worry.


Well, then, take your time.


I shall. [chuckles]


-This stuff looks techie.  -Well, neuro tech was My background.


Sweet.


So, what's this, then?  Looks like a hairdressing thing.


Actually, that was one  of my very first souvenirs.


Sheds a little light  on how our main exhibit came to be.


-What is it?  -You heard of Peter Dawson?


-Mnh-mnh.   -Dr. Peter Dawson?


Well, usually I say  this is Dawson's Symphatic Diagnoser,


and folks shriek, "No way,"  and I'm like, "Oh, it very much is."


[chuckles]


"How the heck did you get that?"  is the next question.


-OK.  -My domain was med tech.


I worked out of St. Juniper's.  It's kind of like a university hospital.


Sweet setup.  Part of the Land Act, actually.


It was in downtown New York,  big old building.


Research up top,


emergency room and the great unwashed  down at street level.


It was the perfect mix  of business and health care.


[horn blares]


-Seriously?  -[man] Out of the way, asshole!


[Rolo] Idea was folks with no coverage  signed up for free health care


in exchange for consenting  to occasional experimental treatments.


I... I... I worked for the guys up top.


What, like a scientist?


I was more sort of... recruitment.


-Yeah, yeah, I'm here.  -Clear.


[machine beeps]


Shocking.


-No.  -No?


-No.  -OK, I'm going again. Clear. Clear!


-[machine beeps]  -Shocking.


-No.  -[sighs]


If I'd known she was on tricyclics,  I would have nudged the dose.


You couldn't have known.


[clears throat]


-This a bad time?  -[scoffs]


Rolo Haynes from the tenth floor.


Seems you've been having some problems.


I think I got something that can help.


The big thing they're into  is neuro technics.


Pioneering brain enhancements.


Neural interfaces.


All that fun stuff.


The holy grail they've been aiming for  is a way to transfer knowledge.


So one of the teams here  is working on an experiment,


trying to find a way to beam information  from one brain to another.


This is Kenny.


This is Hector.


Stay with me on this.


So, the experiment.


They built a little maze  and they drop Kenny here into it


and he runs round over and over  for months on end


till he knows it like a childhood home.


And then... they put this on him.


It's a transmitter,


absorbing signals from Kenny's brain


which were sent to Hector over here.


Hector had our prototype  synaptic receiver fitted.


Now, remember, Hector had never  even set paw in the maze.


Plan was he'd now receive  Kenny's knowledge of the maze layout


and, boom,  he'd be able to solve it, first time.


-And did he?  -No.


Scrabbled around like a rat,  fucking imbecile.


So, um, why are you telling me this?


Because just as it becomes clear  that the maze thing's a bust,


one of our researchers  spills his coffee on Kenny.


Hot coffee spills all over Kenny,  so obviously he's squealing like hell,


but so is Hector.


Turns out, we haven't discovered how  to share knowledge...


-But physical sensations.  -Bingo.


That's nuts. Holy shit.


And even nutsier shit,


Hector felt the burn,  but took no damage at all.


All of the experience,  none of the physical cost.


But how did he die?


They cut him open after  to see if he was OK.


Oh.


Anyhow, thanks to Hector's sacrifice,  we prototyped this.


A receiver for human experiences.


A neural implant. Only one of its kind.


This is why you brought me up here.


What's the biggest pain in the ass  with patients?


Finding out what's wrong with them  in the first place.


Half of the assholes that roll in here  can't even describe their symptoms.


They're-- They're out cold or concussed  or drunk or dumb


or... two years old,  or they can't speak English.


Imagine if you could feel  exactly what a patient feels,


minus the physical consequences.


Like reading their minds.


So what do you say?


Gotta hand it to Dawson,  he lept at the chance.


Like, he was happy to do it.


-[machine beeps steadily]  -And it was only a short procedure.


Irreversible, but, hey, he was a pioneer.


Plus, his mortality rates were  in the toilet,


so this was his best shot at redemption.


Does it hurt if I touch it?


I don't think so.


-[chuckles]  -There's something kinda kinky about it.


It's like the ultimate piercing.


If you're trying to make me feel better,  it's working.


-[woman chuckles]  -Time for the trial run.


[Rolo] So this is where  our hairnet doohickey comes into play.


Theory was, if you slipped it  on a willing subject,


it'd absorb their physical sensations  and relay them to Dawson's implant.


We just had to find out if it worked.


[Dawson gasps]


Ow.


This one.


Houston, we got a miracle.


[Rolo] Right off the bat,


Dawson gets to work  with the ailing public,


starts building up a kind of  mental library of physical symptoms.


Plan was, he'd get to know how things felt  so that he could diagnose them quicker.


So, starts small in the ER,  minor fractures, that sort of thing.


Soon graduates to bigger stuff.


Major injuries. Diseases.


Late-stage terminal stuff.


Dawson grit his teeth  and went through it all.


Say a kid comes in obviously in pain.


Doctors suspect appendicitis, they'd  hook him up to Dawson just to be sure.


Dawson had felt appendicitis  many times by now,


so he knows if it's something more.


Caught things  they weren't even looking for.


Blastomas and so on.


Good luck, man.


That man saved lives, no doubt about it.


-Good luck, huh?  -Bye.


-Stay in touch. Bye-Bye.  -Bye.


-[sighs]  -That was nice.


[Rolo] And, incidentally,


if you'll allow me to be crude,


Dawson's symphatic diagnoser  came in handy in the bedroom.


His implant received  pleasurable sensations, too.


[both panting]


So if his girlfriend slipped on  that transmitting blue hairnet


and he tuned in   his little implant nubbin...


he didn't just feel what he was feeling...


-I'm gonna come!  -...but also felt what she was feeling.


Son of a bitch was experiencing  male and female orgasms at the same time.


Oh, my... Oh, my...  Oh, my God. Oh, my God.


-[both gasping, panting]  -Oh, shit.


I can't get enough of your...


But?


-I'm sorry?  -Dawson's having a great time.


-There's gotta be a "but."  -Oh.


He's having a great time, but...


But...


-Coming through. Coming through.  -[chattering]


-[man] Come on.  -[man 2] Almost there.


[Rolo] One day,  they rush in Senator Whitley.


He'd collapsed at some fundraiser.


No one could tell  what in hell was wrong with him.


-[woman] Lift.  -I got this.


[Rolo] Dawson's hooked up.


-[woman] Be careful.  -OK.


[groans]


-Jeez. [groans]  -[Rolo] And has the roughest ride.


-Pete?  -Like he's got no clue what this is.


-Pete?  -Just one more minute, please.


-Let the man work.  -[Dawson grunts]


-[Rolo] It's a pain he's never known.  -[grunts, gasps]


-Pete, he's flatlining.  -Just one more moment.


And then it happened.


[flatline tone]


[distorted] Pete?


[flatline tone continues]


Dawson blacked out,  for, like, five minutes.


Turns out the senator had been poisoned,


a rare poison at that,  some kind of Russian shit.


He'd been into that whole thing.


But Dawson had experienced death  and come out the other side.


[gasping]


At the moment of death, a whole galaxy  of synapses fritzes out of existence.


Tsunami of endorphins.


And then there's this rolling dark wave  of nothing rushes in behind.


When he came round,  they ran every kind of test


and he was all systems go, nothing wrong.


"Shaken but unharmed,"  they put on his report.


Next day, he was back up and at 'em.


But there was something wrong, right?


To go through all that without dying?


Fucked up his implant like that.


[snaps fingers]


[clears throat]


[exhales]


Oh, my God.


-[woman panting]  -[sighs]


-I'm just gonna get some water.  -OK.


-[woman cries out] Oh, goddamn it.  -[gasping]


[Rolo] Fair to say his relationship  with pain had shifted a little.


Ah, that hurt like hell.


Now, he was into it.


He really threw himself into his work  after that.


He tried to hide it at first,  but thanks to that little nubbin,


the more pain he felt,  the more pleasure he got.


-[slapping]  -[woman yelps]


[Dawson grunting]


OK, no. Stop, stop.


Stop. OK, safe word. Stop!


[gasping]


-You said That we could try it.  -And we did.


Look, we tried the hair pulling  and that choke thing.


I'm not into it, OK? It's just not me.


[Dawson sighs]


[Dawson panting]


Maybe I should go.


No. No, please.


I'm sorry.


Stay. Please?


[moaning]


-Ow. Pete!  -[loud moan]


I'm going.


[Rolo] See, it's like eating chilies.


You acclimatize fast.


First time you had a jalapeno,  bet you spat it out, too hot.


But persevere and it becomes addictive.


Soon, a jalapeno's not enough.


You work your way up, red-hot chilies,  bird's-eye chilies,


till you get to them Scotch bonnet devils.


Dawson's craving was just the same.


Before you know it,  he's hanging around the ER


just waiting for a juicy accident victim  to latch onto.


All he can think about  is that next hit gnawing away up there.


"Give it back to me. Give it back.  I gotta have it back."


Sarah, will you just, um,  file these for me?


-[Sarah] Sure thing.  -Pete.


-This isn't your shift.  -[man] Take him round to bay four.


-[man 2] OK.  -[Dawson] I just...


Pete.


Careful.


And three, two, one.


Lift.


[woman] Let me get this.


-[Rolo] Soon as he jacks in, he feels it.  -[Dawson gasps]


It's a cardiac arrest.  She collapsed in the street.


I just wanna be sure.


It's a heart attack all right,  but he says nothing.


Plays for time.


[exhales]


Figures he can ride that pain train  all the way through to nirvana.


Eventually they have to physically  pull Dawson away from her.


-[gasps, grunts]  -[flatline tone]


[Rolo] Give Aunt Ethel her CPR.


She flatlines in front of him,  and he's like an alcoholic


watching someone pour  a glass of good Scotch down the sink,


sick at the waste of good shit.


Look, we always knew going into this  there might be side effects.


I mean, we can look into how we  deactivate, but it's gonna take some time.


I can't just pull all the people  off the other projects, Pete.


I mean, we have milestones to hit.  You know the drill.


But we'll get there.


In the meantime,  we can't have you near patients,


so just go home, put your feet up  and binge a miniseries, whatever.


No one could have known  what'd happen next.


[reporter]  Authorities are expected to confirm


the body is that of missing  WNL weather reporter Denise Stockley.


Certainly a major police presence there,  as we can see.


Let's take a look at the timeline...


[Rolo] Dawson was home alone 24/7,  climbing the walls. Withdrawal, I guess.


[reporter] She was last seen  the evening of Friday, September 15th...


[Rolo] He didn't have patients  to leech pain off anymore.


So he started inflicting it... on himself.


[yelps]


-[exhales]  -[reporter] ...for her safe return,


or for any information from witnesses...


[Rolo] Spent a week  just whittling away at himself.


Cut here, a gouge there.


I mean, the guy was a doctor.


He knew how far he could go  without it getting fatal.


[soft gasps, crunching]


[Dawson grunts]


[Rolo] But it was never enough.


None of it was enough.


When he worked on himself,  there was a crucial ingredient missing.


Fear.


[gasps]


The amygdala.


Little almond-shaped nubbin in your brain.


When you're afraid, it lights up like  a midnight airstrike, sharpens the senses.


The fear the patient feels when  they're staring up at that ceiling light,


the fear accompanying  each sudden jab of agony,


he'd come to appreciate that, too.


It went with the pain.


Complemented it, like red wine and steak.


You can inflict pain on yourself,  but not terror.


For that, you need a volunteer.


[screams]


[whirring]


[man shrieking]


[siren wails]


[grunts]


Dawson was practically coming  when they found him.


He'd enjoyed one big old speedball  of fear and pain and death.


Tell me they put him in jail.


In the hospital.


He wound up in a vegetative state.


Good.


Still there to this day.


In a coma, deep as the ocean.


But the thing of it is, they say  he still has that look on his face.


Blissed out.


Still riding that high.


-You're fucking with me, right? [scoffs]  -OK, I added the boner. I couldn't resist.


-Fun story, huh?   -Yep, Fun story.


Ooh!


Oh, man.


Do you want some water?


-Really, I'm fine.  -No, man, it's no bother.


Thank you kindly.


-[exhales]  -So, how come you didn't stay in med tech?


Well, I did for a while.


Just 'cause Dawson went la-la,  neuro research didn't stop.


[sighs]


TCKR adapted it and fine-tuned it.


It's how they wound up with  the digital consciousness transference,


what they call cookies today.


Uh, like when they upload old people  to the cloud?


Yeah, but this was way before that.


We didn't have that whole immersive  VR environment shizzle back then.


What we dealt with was more organic,  almost lo-fi.


How so?


Gotta say you ask more questions  than the average bear.


Well, to be honest, my car's still  charging, so I've got a bit of time.


Well, then,  what I wanted to show you, um...


Part of what I was working on...


It's, um... cute?


Actually, one of the saddest things  in the whole place.


Doesn't look it.


You ever had one of those relationships


where you just can't get someone  out of your head?


-Yeah.  -Some years back, boy meets girl.


Boy's called Jack, girl's called...


-Jill.  -Carrie.


["Spread Your Love" playing]


Ugh.


Cupcake?


-Thank you.  -You're welcome.


-Hee-ha!  - Spread your love like a fever


-[grunts]  - And don't you ever come down


-Are You the sheriff now?   -Yeah.


-And I'm the prisoner?  -You're in trouble, sir.


- Spread My love Like a fever   -Come And arrest me.


I ain't ever coming down


Eventually, he dick-pukes  a little baby paste up her wazoo,


-which takes hold.  -[ultrasound whooshing]


-[light rapid heartbeat on speaker]  -Before you know it, out pops a boy.


Parker.


Boom. They're a family unit.


A walking commercial  for a sunnier future. Happy as hell.


I wanna... I wanna take a photo.


OK. I'm gonna get the lake  in the background.


-All right, buddy.  -OK, You ready?


Wave to Mommy. Say hello. Say hi to Mommy.


[tires screech]


Carrie gets hit by a truck.


Winds up at St. Juniper's.


[baby whimpering]


[Jack whispers] Come back to me.


[sighs]


Come back.


[Rolo] Years go by.


Jack visits her every week, talks to her,


plays her recordings of their son,  shoots the shit.


She never wakes up.


But they tested the comm box on her.


A kind of basic device that let coma folks  sort of respond back.


I got you some room fresheners.  You want pine forest?


OK.


What about citrus fresh?


Gotcha.


And I recorded Parker singing  with some other kids.


Uh, you wanna hear it?


[children singing]   Twinkle, twinkle, little star


How I wonder what you are


[Rolo] Hey.


-Hey.   -The woman in 302, Carrie Lamasse.


You're the partner, right?


-Uh-huh.  -Jack?


Rolo Haynes.  I represent neuro R&D for TCKR.


We're working on a project that might be  of interest to someone in your position.


What's... What's my position?


We're exploring something  that could give the likes of Carrie


a whole new lease of life.


I'm talking miraculous.


What do you mean?


So the guys at TCKR have been working


on digitally extracting a consciousness  out of one brain


and kind of rehousing it in a host brain.


-What does That even mean?  -OK.


So, even on a good day,  we only use 40% of our brain capacity.


There is this whole other  60% of our noggin


hanging around like an empty Airbnb.


And so...?


And so with our new  compression technique,


we figure we can fit another whole  consciousness into that unused space.


I'm talking about taking Carrie's  consciousness from that broken shell


and putting it in there.


What? Um... Like a voice inside my head?


Like the whole of her inside your head.


Like a hitchhiker. Like a passenger.


Vicarious sensations.  She sees what you see.


She feels what you feel.


She can live again.


-"Feels" as in...?  -You got a little boy. Parker.


-How do You know All this?  -You hug Parker And Carrie feels it too.


She can hug your son via you.


How much does this all cost?


Won't cost a thing.


We will have to euthanize her physical  body during the transfer process,


but we would earmark her organs  for transplants.


Giving back to the community.


So what do you say?


I'd have to think about it.


Carrie's done her thinking.


How about you?


[man] Commencing upload procedure.


[device whirring]


[beeps]


Now moving to download.


[Jack gasps]


OK, she's installed.


She's home.


[snaps] You can open your eyes now, Jack.


[gasps]


[groans]


Carrie?


If you can hear me,  tell Jack what you see.


An... An apple. I... I see an apple.


I can hear her.


-Apple. Apple. She's saying apple.  -Mm-hmm.


Hey, baby.


Hey, Jack.


[Rolo] Take it.


Grip it.


Carrie, you feel that?


Uh-huh. She says she feels it.


Sensations looking good. Take a bite.


Oh, God.


So long since I tasted anything.


You can taste that?


She tastes it. Holy shit.


Looks like you're all set.


-Shall we bring him in?  -[nurse] Come on in, honey.


[gasps]


Is that Parker?


He got so big.


Oh, God, Jack, hold him.  Hold our little boy.


Give me a really big hug, please.


[sighs]


I feel him. I really feel him.


Mommy says she loves you.


Truly heartwarming.


Yeah. But this is where you say "but."


Well, not to wax philosophical, but...


how long can happiness  realistically last anyhow?


Aah, turn the page already.


Man, you read slow.


I like to take in the pictures.


That's what the graphic part  of a graphic novel is.


It's true.


Hey, uh, I gotta take a piss.


Uh... Ugh.


I'll never get used to this.


[Jack chuckles] Feels good, huh?


-Whoa. You're not washing our hands?  -Uh...


Our hands?


Seriously, though, it's kind of gross.


[reporter] 38-year-old Clayton Leigh  was today found guilty


of the horrific murder  of WNL weather reporter Denise Stockley,


whose mutilated remains  were discovered one year ago today.


We should turn this off.  It's disturbing to a four-year-old.


[Jack] He's fine. He's not even listening.


[mug smashes]


Parker! Jesus.


-Don't snap at him.  -Oh, but snapping at me is fine?


-Baby, you're--  -How does that work?


He's a child.


This is serious, man. Wha--


No, no, I'm not being...  I'm not being unreasonable.


No, just wait. No. Just--  Just hear me out.


Having a back-seat driver glued  into the back seat


ain't no fun for anyone in the car.


No privacy for him. No agency for her.


-It'd drive you mental.  -Exactly.


You know, fine, forget it.


All right, go ahead. Keep talking.  I'm going for the anchovies.


You gonna be quiet?


Hmm?


You wanna shut up now? You're good? Hmm?


You--


Fuck you.


Ah!


Fuck.


Yeah. I don't... I don't care.


Oh, you... you're still talking.


Hmm? You... Hmm? Oh.


[clears throat]


Anyhow, soon he or they come to me.


Like I'm their relationship therapist.


Oh, would you pipe down and let me speak?


Let me finish a goddamn sentence.


Hey, guys, I see the problem.


She's the problem.


Familiarity breeding contempt  is the problem.


You need to ration your contact.


Ration how? She's running through my  head like a goddamn tune I can't shake.


Well, we could upgrade  your privileges, Jack.


Give you a little more control.


Shut up! Sorry. Go on.


Well, maybe if you had the ability


to place Carrie on pause now and then...


it'd make things easier  for the both of you.


Do it.


Whatever. Whatever. Whatever. Do it.


[Rolo] So he upped his privileges.


-Should be able to put her on pause.  -This one?


-That's it.  -OK.


Didn't take him long to use 'em.


So now we're just openly  checking out women's racks?


-[groans]  -[elevator dings]


And don't say you weren't because  I can feel the fucking boner forming, OK?


And he checks her ass too as she leaves.  Holy fuck.


So I checked her out. What?


I'm horny as fuck,  haven't jerked off in, like, a month.


Well, I'm not stopping you.


You're looking over my shoulder  but from the inside.


It's like trying to jerk off  in front of a cop who's also your mom.


-Fuck you!  -OK, you know what?


That's it. That's it. That's it. Time out.  I'm putting you on pause.


No. Jack, don't you dare.


Jack. Jack, I'm warning you.


Not cool.


Don't do that again.


Are... Are we at home?


Why the Halloween pumpkin?


Halloween's months from now.


Actually, it's today.


How long was I on pause?


[Jack stammers]


Uh, just a few weeks.


I don't know. Eight?


OK, I know. I'm... I'm sorry.


I know. I'm sorry. I felt really bad.


So, um, I got you this.


Figured it's kind of our anniversary, so--


Fuck you. You're a fucking asshole.


You want me to eat this cupcake or not?  Orange cream icing.


-Where's Parker?  -Your favorite.


I wanna see Parker.  You had him away from me for months.


I wanna see my boy.


OK.


[Carrie crying] Where is he?


Hey.


[sobs]


[Jack] What you got going on there?


-is That a fire truck?  -Yeah.


Tell him I love him.


Hey, buddy, Mommy loves you.


What?


-Tell him I need a hug.  -[Jack] You wanna know something else?


Mommy needs a hug. Hmm?


Oh, God!


[Rolo] Parker complicated things.


They both felt responsibility for him,  so they tried to compromise,


you know, reach an agreement, like adults.


Jack put Carrie on pause  except for the weekends,


when they'd take Parker out  with Carrie in attendance,


kind of like a divorcee  with visiting rights.


[laughter]


[Jack] You go hide.


-[Parker whoops]  -[Jack] That's it!


-[Parker yells]  -[Jack] You tricked me.


-[Parker growls]  -[Jack] Aah!


-[Jack] OK.  -[Parker] Come down here.


[Jack] I'm coming.


[sounds speeding up, overlapping]


[Rolo] It worked OK.


For a while.


Hey.


Looks like we're neighbors.


-I've just moved in.  -Uh...


-Emily.  -Jack. Nice to meet you.


Oh, please.


Oh!


-Who's this?  -It's Parker.


Cool name.


Guess I'll see you around.


Yeah.


[Jack] She was nice, OK?


[Carrie] Oh, cut the shit. I know  when your hormones are flowing, OK?


Our balls are brewing up a blow load  as we speak.


I can't. I'm with our son.


[stammers] I didn't hit on anyone.


You know what? Fuck it.  Visiting time is over.


No. Jack, don't you dare. Jack.


Jack, you son of a bi--


Parker, wait up.


Anyhow, as time passed by,  Jack got it on with the neighbor.


And Carrie didn't take it so good.


She works all week. We just wanted  to spend a weekend together.


Jesus, can't you just be happy for us?


No, Jack, weirdly enough, I can't.


Christ, you are so bitter.


No. Why?


-is She giving You shit?  -Mnh-mnh.


Carrie, stop giving him shit.


Tell her to back off.


-I--  -Tell her.


Jesus Christ.


So the weekend thing isn't working.


And we tried limiting her to an hour--


But you can tell that she's in there,  like that judging and bitching.


The time frame is frustrating for Carrie.


Carrie is frustrating for us.


You got Carrie on pause now?


OK, well...


there's always deletion.


-as in...?  -as in permanent erasure.


-Uh-huh.  -No.


-That'd... That'd be killing her.  -Not legally.


But ethically.


Please. She is just some leftover code  in your head.


It'll be like... like deleting an email.


No.


No. No deletion. I'm not doing it.


She wants to be near Parker.  I can't take that away from her.


There's gotta be something you can do.


My friends...


you're in luck.


It's something we're beta testing.


It's actually aimed  at terminally ill parents.


Kind of like a souvenir for their kids.


Here.


A monkey?


More like a keepsake.


We can put her in here.


In there?


Uh-huh. It's...


It has a consciousness receptor,


kind of like the one we put in your head,  but a prototype.


And there's a camera here  so she can see Parker.


Plus the whole body's got haptic feedback,


so if little Parkie gives it a cuddle,  she'll feel it.


And she can communicate back,


but in a kid-friendly, controlled way.


Yeah, I don't know.  I'm gonna have to think about it.


I say yes.


Well, she's done her thinking.   How about you?


The transfer went pretty fast.


Carrie wouldn't have even been aware  it was happening.


Till she woke up.


[Jack] Come on, buddy, you gotta tear it.  Tear into that thing.


-[Carrie] Jack?  -[Jack] You almost got it.


[laughs] There you go.


All right, pull it out.


Oh. There you go.


What is it, Parker?


[chuckles]


[Parker] Monkey.


What?


[Jack] That's pretty cool, huh?


Jack. Jack, what the fuck?


[Jack] But you know something?


This... This, uh...  This is a very special monkey.


-Mom wanted You to have it.  -What?


Every time you hug it, Mom will know,  and she'll feel that hug too.


No. No, no, Jack, Jack,  put me back in your fucking head.


Jack!


[Jack] And this monkey can speak to you.


It can let you know how it feels.


How did she speak?


Well, the comm setup  was a little rudimentary.


I mean, this is a prototype.


Jack! [sobbing]


No.


[woman's voice] Monkey loves you.


What was that?


[woman's voice] Monkey needs a hug.


Give monkey a hug.


Monkey loves you.


Monkey needs a hug.  Monkey loves you. Monkey loves you.


Monkey loves you. Monkey... Monkey...  Monkey needs a hug.


-Yeah, I think...  -Monkey loves you.


-Monkey... Monkey needs a hug.  -[sobs]


Monkey just needs a minute  to get used to how things are gonna be.


[sobs]


Now, listen, you fucking bitch.


We can still have you wiped.


That what you want?


Do "monkey needs a hug" for no.


Monkey needs a hug.


Are you gonna be a good toy?


You better.


[Rolo] Anyhow, in the end,  Parker got tired of his new toy.


But that's kids.


They're ingrates.


[door slams]


[Nish] Whoa.


Wait, so this is a crime museum.


-Where's the crime in this?  -Well, the monkey is the crime.


See, a couple of years back,


the UN made it illegal


to transfer human consciousnesses  into limited formats like this.


Gotta be able to express at least five  emotions for it to be humane, apparently.


[chuckles]


Human rights for cookies. Right, Carrie?


She's still in there?


It'd be illegal to delete her too,  so, yeah.


[chuckles] Go figure.


Anyhow, ACLU raised one heck of a stink,


and so thanks to this son of a monkey,  I was out on my ass from TCKR.


Not even a severance package.


It's why I started this place.


Had to branch out somehow, and it  appealed to the carny in me, I guess.


Monkey needs a hug.


Goddamn AC's still not working.  Ooh, it's hot.


But I've kept you waiting too long.


[clears throat]


You ready for the prime exhibit?  Step right this way.


Listen, I gotta warn you,  he's not the man he once-- [coughs]


...was.


-[clears throat] Sorry.  -Do you want some more water?


I'm fine. [sighs]


He's this way.


Ooh. [panting]


[Rolo] Come on, mister! [snaps fingers]  You got a visitor.


[knocks on glass]


May I present Clayton Leigh,  weather girl killer. [coughs]


I know, he's kind of mopey these days.


Cuts kind of a pathetic figure.


But don't feel too sorry for him.


He is a convicted murderer.


Lest we forget Denise Stockley.


Tragic and cute.


Ain't that right, Clayton?


Coo-ee!


He's actually looking at you.


Look out. Maybe you're his type.


He looks so real.


[Rolo] Well, it is him,  or a fully conscious upload of him.


You're probably wondering  how he got in here.


After TCKR kicked me out, my plan was to  branch out into celebrity consciousnesses,


sign up famous people and reincarnate  them as holograms after they die.


Kind of like a living Madame Tussauds.


But celebrities, that's just a quagmire.


Too many rights issues,  asshole representatives.


But convicted killers?


It's a different story.


[door buzzes]


[clears throat]


Mr. Leigh, allow me to introduce myself.


-My name is Rolo Haynes.  -They say you're in technology.


-Uh, yes, That is true.  -So You can look into This DNA thing?


Prove it wasn't me?


Um, yes, that's certainly a possibility,  but that's not why I'm here.


-I have a proposal.  -Goodbye.


No, wait. I have a proposal. I can help.


I can help your family.


How'd you talk him into it?


He didn't need much convincing.


So really it's just signing over  the rights to your digital self


in case the worst happens,


and I promise your relatives will  receive the lion's share of any profits.


So if, you know, God forbid,


you do get sent to the chair,


you know your family  will be provided for, for life.


-How'd his family feel about it?  -They didn't give a shit.


Abandoned him  the moment he got locked up.


I know, right?


-Jesus Christ, Clay, it's your soul.  -Ain't no such thing.


It's just a computer simulation  or somethin'.


Then why does he need your permission?


If my pardon comes through,  it won't matter.


And if it doesn't?


Then if they send me to the chair,  this is gonna pay.


It's gonna keep you and the kids  above water, maintain a roof over y'all.


Baby, don't.


This could be a good thing.


But he never did get that pardon.


Shit, no, 'cause he was guilty.


But wasn't there some doubt?   You know, that documentary?


Fake news. Hatchet job.


-What about the DNA tampering?  -Seriously?


There's no doubt about it.


The day he got the chair


was a great day for justice.


Clayton couldn't complain.


I mean, he was gonna be a pioneer.


I was gonna slurp up  his entire consciousness.


He'd be the first guy on death row  to survive his own execution.


[labored breathing]


[electricity buzzes]


The transfer went beautifully.


Before I knew it, Clayton was born again.


[Clayton gasps]


Hi, buddy.


Congratulations to you.


You're in the afterlife, so to speak.


Looking good.


Am I a ghost?


If that helps, yeah.


I just gotta test a few things here, OK?


So this may seem a little weird.  Just hang on in there.


What the fuck?


See, I knew just seeing the guy  walking around captive, that was good,


but that wasn't much of a draw.


But pulling the lever yourself?


Now, that's an attraction.


-Hey!  -OK.


-Hey!  -Three, two, one.


[yells]


Dawson's pain tech  had paved the way for it.


A perfect re-creation


of exactly how the agony  of electrocution feels.


Every volt simulated for real.


[screaming]


Key was, never let him exceed 15 seconds  at max voltage.


That would wipe his digital synapses  out for good, kill him.


Ten seconds seemed to be  the optimum shock length,


so that became the intractable limit.


OK. Have a little rest.


-[Clayton panting]  -Get used to your room.


Official opening's tomorrow.


[chattering]


[Rolo] In fact, in the early days,  the problem was fitting everyone in.


Please don't do it. Please, please,  please, please, please. Please.


Please don't do it. Please.


[yells]


But, of course, it was really  the souvenirs that were driving trade.


It was beautiful.


-[Clayton screaming]  -Every time you finished juicing him,


out pops a conscious sentient snapshot  of Clayton,


not a recording, a true copy of his mind


perpetually experiencing  that beautiful pain.


Stuck forever  in that one perfect moment of agony.


Always on.


Always suffering.


-[screaming]  -And what you'd call...


fun size. [chortling]


[grunting, coughing]


[American accent]  Take a seat if it makes it easier.


[gasping breaths]


[Rolo gasps, sputters]


Sit down.


[moaning]


[panting, cries out]


[stutters]


What? My accent?


Not fucking British.


Sorry to disappoint.


Who are you?


You left some parts of the story out,  Mr. Haynes. Why is that?


You forgot to mention the protests.


His wife started a campaign,  got some momentum behind it.


Guess you'd call it  virtue-signaling bullshit,


but I know it hurt your attendance.


And even the protesters got bored  after a while.


As soon as it was clear the state wouldn't  do a damn thing about clearing him,


they just moved onto  the next viral miscarriage of justice


they can hang a hashtag off of.


But they did their job, right?  This place was on the shit list.


Who was your core clientele after that?


You lost the day trippers, the tourists,  fun family crowd. Who was left?


You again, you pasty-faced motherfucker?


[screams]


[Nish] Loners. Sadists.


The supremacist sicko demographic.


No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Out, out, out.


[screaming, gasps]


And that crowd's not big enough.


They don't keep the lights on.


So if someone shows up,


some classic race-hate rich guy  with a hard-on for power...


and he slips you some extra  for a longer time at the crank...


[Clayton yells]


...you take it.


[yelling continues]


[alarm blares]


Thank you.


[Nish] Wasn't the same after that, was he?


Not dead but hardly alive either.


Even the perverts didn't wanna pull a...  a lever on a vegetable.


Where's the joy in that?


But someone came to see him, right?


She saw him.


She stood on this spot.


Saw what you had done to him.


Clay?


[Nish] He was like a docile animal.


God knows if he even recognized her.


God knows if he even recognizes me.


[whispers] Dad.


Happy birthday.


[cries]


[sniffs]


[gasping breaths]


What my mom saw that day  was more than she could take.


She had hoped during the whole fight  to clear his name, but that broke her.


You know what she did  when she came home?


Bottle of pills and a bottle of vodka.  I found her. You fucking piece of shit.


[grunts]


Whoa.


-Is it hot?  -[moans]


It's humid, right? I'm sorry.


Stupid digital AC.


Easy to hack.


Never accept drinks from strangers.


[whirring]