Absolute Dominion (2025) Movie Script
1
[man on radio]
Global terror deaths
reach new heights in 2044.
The Sydney Mall attack...
[radio in foreign languages]
[woman on radio]
The death now at 60
after suicide bombing...
[radio in foreign language]
[man on radio] Many killed
and missing...
[ambulance siren blaring]
-[fire crackling]
-[indistinct talking]
[bombs exploding]
-[somber music playing]
-[voices on radio]
[helicopter hovering]
I can't tell if this has
worked, I don't give a shit.
Listen, it's 2044, folks.
Year 2044.
It may as well be Berlin 1944.
Except there was less rubble
then.
Eight attacks in the last week.
Rome, Marrakesh,
Heidelberg, Istanbul,
Salt Lake City, London, Manila,
and every single one of these
is in the name of god.
The Pencinites just blew up
Kenmore Square.
Yesterday Fenway Park
destroyed.
[explosion mouth sound] Gone.
Last week the Aluvahins blew up
fucking Camp Nou.
The home of FC Barcelona.
What happened
to keeping all this
around Mount Meggido?
Listen, if you want to fight
[Fix] over your religion,
decide which religion
should rule the planet,
I say, "Go for it!"
Every religion out there.
Pick a fucking fighter.
Here's what we do:
we have a big tournament.
I'm serious.
We have a big tournament.
Choose a fighter. Train them
to represent your religion.
And we just have a big
fucking mano a mano.
Put them all in an arena
and let them start going.
And whoever is left standing
at the end,
that is the religion
that we worship.
We'll do it that way.
Call it the Religious Rumble.
No, fuck that, wait.
The Battle
for Absolute Dominion.
-[phone ringing, buzzing]
-[voices in foreign languages]
[reporters reporting in
different languages]
[siren wailing]
[Fix] Oh, fuck, yeah,
there you go.
The Battle
for Absolute Dominion.
Start training.
-[birds chirping]
-[dramatic music playing]
[shouting, fighting]
[training effort sounds]
-[birds chirping]
-[slow music playing]
[fighting sounds]
[chimes]
-[bell ringing]
-[Dr. Bruno] Time!
-[moans]
-[thuds]
[sighs]
-I know.
-Know what?
The bell doesn't start
or end a fight.
I'm glad you know.
Now try to remember.
[exhales]
[Sagan sighs]
If he beats you up
and then you beat yourself up,
you're taking two beatings
instead of one.
Sun Tzu?
Simple math.
Another round?
Now you let your body rest
until Saturday.
What do you think?
Does he stand a chance?
Technically, physically? Yes.
Has he had any more?
[scoffs] Not since that day.
Did you find out
what causes it?
[sighs]
EEG, MRI scan, CT scan...
all came back clear.
[chimes]
[Fix] We're getting close
everyone.
The last wild card tournament
is upon us
and the 50 warriors left
standing after this weekend
are gonna decide our faith.
Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome today's guest,
Professor Amanda Harris!
-[laughs]
-Look.
-See the applause I can do?
-[crowd cheering]
I'm really excited
to talk to you right now.
Um about the mess
you got us into?
[Fix] Professor,
I made a joke
in a cheap trailer,
using a thrift store camera.
I mean, who listens to
random nobodies on the internet?
Apparently the entire world.
Let's talk about
some more important subjects.
-Let's--
-First off,
Ammon Jones.
Pencenite,
currently number one.
[Fix] What will the world
-be like under Pencetism?
-Mm.
I can't tell you what
the world will be like
as that depends on
other variables,
but I can give you
some background on Pencetism.
[Harris] Pencetism is one
of many apocalyptic ideologies
represented in the tournament,
but unlike most of the others,
Pencenites have
an exact end date
which is 2111.
-[Harris] 48 years left.
-Yes, 48, thank you.
-[Harris laughs]
-Thank you.
[Harris] The problem with groups
who believe the apocalypse
is around the corner
is that they are not
interested in progress.
On the contrary,
they usually find comfort
in regressing to earlier times.
Alright, let's go
to Nizar Haddad,
current number 2.
Now, he seems like a nice guy,
but Dashifaris
do not celebrate Christmas,
and I don't know,
a world without eggnog...
That sounds worse
than the apocalypse to me.
-[laughs]
-Okay, now,
Mestre Gato Santo,
number 3.
I love Capoeira, I love Brazil.
[Fix] Alright? And Celestians
celebrate Christmas.
So this could be
a positive outcome?
Unless you enjoy celebrating
Ramadan or Hanukkah.
Okay, good point. Alright,
as someone
who knows everything
about everyone on this list,
who do you want to win?
The question is not
"Who will win?",
it's "What will they do
with the power?"
Even the most
tolerant ideology
will feel oppressive
to those who will be asked
to give up the culture and
traditions they grew up with.
[Fix] So you're saying,
because everyone took a joke
on the internet seriously,
we're all fucked.
[Harris] No, Fix. You were
the spoke
that stopped the wheel
that was spinning us rapidly
towards destruction.
I mean, do you have any hope?
-[Harris] Oh, yes, yes.
-[Fix] Really?
I'm confused because
you don't seem to be inspired
-by any of the contenders--
-[Harris] On that list.
[Fix] Oh, you're saying
the list isn't complete.
You're talking about
the last Wild Card tournament
coming up this weekend.
Who is showing up for that?
-What do you know?
-[Harris] I know,
we need a miracle...
and I know
how hard I prayed for one.
[slow music playing]
-[train squealing]
-[host] Good morning,
Battle of Absolute Dominion
fans around the world.
and welcome to the very last
Wild Card tournament,
only hours away now
here on Shalom Island.
A satellite drone sending out
a birdseye view of the stadium.
Here, an appearance
of our top-ranking fighters:
Mestre Gato Santo,
who just moved
to the prestigious
top-three ground floor
apartments last weekend.
While Ammon Jones
and Nizar Haddad,
number 1 and number 2 have been
here for a couple of weeks now.
It looks like they're enjoying
an al fresco coffee
in the calm before the storm.
-[train squealing]
-[tense music playing]
[train rumbling]
[train engine whirring]
[chimes]
[tense music accelerates]
-Sagan?
-[announcer] Attention,
-this is Shalom Stadium .
-Shit!
-[Anton laughs] Come on,
-[announces in Chinese]
-stop messing around with me.
-If he doesn't snap out
before we arrive
at the stadium, we are done.
[laughs] I know.
-Stop with the pranks.
-[Chinese recording continues]
Come on Sagan,
snap out of it now.
Please.
[engine whirring sounds]
-Sagan!
-[announcer] We have arrived at
-Salom Stadium Station .
-Let go.
What are you doing?
[train announcement in Chinese]
Please exit the air train.
[Sagan] We're going to be late,
let's go.
[exhales]
[helicopter hovering]
-[traffic sounds]
-[beeps]
[announcer]
For security reasons,
fighters and coaches must wait
in the holding arena
until your name appears
on the display board.
[voice announces in Chinese]
[continues in Chinese]
-[continues in Chinese]
-[beeps]
[upbeat tense music playing]
[ding sounds]
[Ceylon] Hello and welcome
to Center AD Live.
My name is Ceylon, your host.
I'll be with you all weekend,
covering
the last Wild Card tournament.
[Ceylon] This is the final
opportunity for fighters
who are not ranked to qualify
for the Battle
for Absolute Dominion.
Things sure look different
around here today.
For the last time
in this 20-year saga,
the battle stage has been
taken down to accommodate
for a larger crowd
of hopeful fighters.
[slow music playing]
Okay, so we're gonna play
a highlight video
from the last ranking tournament
along with some messages
from our sponsors
and hopefully,
once we get back to you,
-we'll know what's happening.
-[crowd shouting]
[Ceylon] Stay tuned.
[speaking in other language]
[announcer] Attention,
competitors and coaches,
the result of the group draw
is now on the display board.
Please wait
in the holding arena
until your name appears
on the display board.
[voice announces in Chinese]
-[fighting sounds]
-[continues in Chinese]
[continues in Chinese]
-[indistinct shouting]
-[speaking in other language]
[chimes]
[Dr. Bruno] Group 3. There!
[announcer] Bruno
vs. Tsaturyan, mat number 3.
[voice announces in Chinese]
That's your last warning.
[dramatic music playing]
[referee] Ready?
Fight!
[fighting impact sounds]
-[slow-motion sound dips]
-[thuds]
-[slow-motion sound dips]
-[somber music playing]
[referee] Break!
[slow-motion sound dips]
-Winner.
-[announcer] Winner, Bruno.
-Water?
-No, I'm good.
-And fight!
-[action music]
[fighting sounds]
[music accelerates]
[slow-motion sound dips]
[victory music playing]
-Argh!
-Are you okay?
[chimes]
Someone named Sagan Bruno
won against a bunch
of no-names quickly?
Since when did we even talk
about Brunk?
Sagan Bruno won 12 fights so far
and broke the following stats:
fastest win ever, most fights
won in the least amount of time
and most fights won
without a single KO.
[Claudia] I don't think
it's by accident.
It seems to be his style.
[Ceylon] Not to be the Joan
Rivers of the apocalypse,
but you call that style?
[chuckles] It's not
a cute look.
He won't stand a chance
facing a top-50 fighter.
We don't know
what kind of style he'll have
when he faces a top 50.
Why are you so into this guy?
Is he a Solarunian?
No, he's from the IHS,
the Institute of Humanism
and Science,
and that makes him a story.
What do they believe in again?
Nothing?
No, not nothing.
They're just not religious.
[Ceylon] Um, okay. Um...
Archive needs to send us
everything they've got on him
and his organization
and let's get our cameras glued
to his pretty little eyelashes
when we get back
from commercials.
[fighting sounds]
[foreign language coach orders]
[foreign language coach orders]
[announcer] Winner, Elias.
You're drawing attention earlier
than expected.
[ominous music playing]
-You want me to go slower?
-[Anton] No.
I just want you to broaden
your awareness.
[referee] Fighters,
on your mark. Fight.
[announcer] Bruno vs, Chey,
mat 3, 30 second warning.
Not exactly what I meant
by "broaden your awareness. "
- She keeps staring at me.
-[Chinese PA]
-[Anton] That's her job.
-[Sagan] You know her?
-[Anton] I hired her.
-[Sagan] What?
Technically your Dad
and the board hired her.
I recruited her. She's your
personal protection officer.
Nobody even knows who I am.
Why do I need a PPO?
If you don't get on that mat
soon, you might not.
-Fight!
-[action music playing]
[fighting sounds]
[referee exclaims]
[crowd cheering]
[chimes]
[indistinct talking]
Why do I need a PPO?
[Sagan] Is there something
I should know?
-It's the law.
-[Sagan] For the top 50,
not for a completely unknown
Wild Card.
We thought it was for the best
to hire someone earlier.
Shalom Island has more security
than the United Nations.
Everybody is pre-screened
months ahead of time...
and not one door frame
or ceiling
doesn't have gun detection AI.
[Anton] And yet 8 fighters
have been killed
since the tournament started,
by pre-screened people
with improvised weapons.
-[scoffs]
-[Anton] What?
[Sagan] Those murdered fighters
were all associated
with some form of satanism.
You think not believing in
anything is as much of a threat
to people as believing in Satan?
-More.
-More.
[Dr. Bruno] Believers have
comforting narratives
that make the idea
of death bearable.
Satanism doesn't challenge
those narratives.
On the contrary,
it confirms them,
and strengthens their beliefs.
But we challenge them? How?
Simply by existing.
Heaven, hell, reincarnation...
[Dr. Bruno] those stories are
basic defense mechanisms.
They protect believers
from fear of death,
the most primordial
and paralyzing fear.
For people like us to not
threaten this safe fortress
of belief, it would require
the ability to stop others
from contemplating
our worldview.
And of course,
that's impossible.
[ding sounds]
[Ceylon] Welcome back
to Center AD Live.
We're halfway through day one
of the Wild Card tournament
and things have been
pretty wild indeed.
But one fighter has stood out
amidst all the chaos.
His name is Sagan Bruno.
At the young age of 19,
he's already broke
several records this morning,
including fastest TKO
most wins
in the shortest amount of time,
-most wins without a KO.
-[crowd cheering]
[Ceylon] He's continually
dominated his group
more than any other fighter,
so,
you're probably wondering
what religion is he.
Well, here is where
things get really interesting.
None!
You heard me correct.
Sagan Bruno
represents the Institute
of Humanism and Science.
[chimes]
-[chimes]
-[indistinct talking]
What is he doing here?
[Anton] The guy you're fighting
next, Sami Odeh,
life-long sparring partner,
-they're like brothers.
-[announcer] Bruno vs. Odeh.
-[door closes]
-Commander.
[chimes]
-[Zimmer] I didn't know we--
-Allowed heathens?
People not associated
with a religion.
We had to. The tournament
wouldn't have been authorized
if we excluded
any belief system,
let alone one that included
thousands
of prominent scientists.
[Zimmer] Why did we never see
one of their fighters before?
The IHS is a bunch
of academics and nerds,
they didn't have
an unlimited supply of,
zealot crusaders
like everybody else.
So they did what scientists do.
-They engineered one.
-Engineered?
We decided to set the date
of the tournament's finale
20 years into the future
because we knew
it would take that long
to negotiate a set of rules
with 196 countries.
So the IHS went out
and got themselves
a super athlete's spunk,
a genius embryo...
[Nigel scoffs] ...voil.
[referee] Take your mark.
Fighter, take your mark.
Fighting position.
Fighter ready.
Fight!
[fighting impact sounds]
[hush falling over]
[slow music playing]
[slow-motion sound dipping]
[slow-motion sound dipping]
[crowd grunt]
Do you give up? Do you give up?
Fighter, do you give up?
Come on, tap out, brother.
[grunts]
[pants]
Tap out.
Come one, brother,
tap out.
[Ceylon] Nizar Haddad
getting involved
from the sidelines,
telling him
it's not worth dying over this.
[chimes]
[grunts]
Come on. Tap out.
-[Odeh grunts]
-[Sagan coughs, grunts]
This can't continue.
Say something.
I already did.
[Ceylon] This is unbelievable.
The Dashifari fighter
refuses to tap out
and the Humanist
refuses to take him out.
You can't make this stuff up.
[both grunts]
[Sagan coughs]
[somber music playing]
-[distorted voice]
-[slow-motion sound dipping]
-Sagan!
-[swishes]
[Anton yells distortedly]
[pants]
[crowd cheering]
What just happened?
Winner.
[female announcer]
Winner, Bruno.
[somber music playing]
What did he say to him?
Please, tell me someone
has a close-up of his lips,
so we can see
what he said to him.
[Claudia] This is everything
we have.
[chimes]
That's not gonna cut it.
I need to know
everything there is to know
about this weirdo kid
and his Institute
of Communism and Science.
My dear Claudia,
don't disappoint me.
Please do not listen in
during the break,
just a little peek-a-boo,
see what he's eating,
what he's drinking,
what their strategy is,
whether they're shooting him up
some of the good stuff, go!
Hi, I'm Naya Olinga.
Your PPO.
I'd like to bring you
to the IHS suite
so you can rest
until your next fight.
Your father already went ahead.
You've drawn
everyone's attention
earlier than we expected,
so the threat level
has increased,
plus we have to pass
the press line
to get to the hotel.
Aren't there
any secret passages
-out of the arena?
-[Naya] There are,
but fighters
are contractually obligated
to walk past the press.
Not doing so is cause
for disqualification.
But you are not obligated
to talk to them
or even acknowledge them
and I highly recommend
you don't.
-Okay.
-As we move towards the hotel,
I want you to expand
your peripheral vision,
scan the space
as wide and as far as possible.
Consider everyone
and everything a threat.
Watch people's hands,
someone trying to harm you
will either carry a weapon
or eventually, pull one out.
[Naya] I don't have eyes
in the back of my head,
so there's a chance you or Anton
will catch something I won't.
If that's the case, yell "fire."
I'm going to count to three,
on three, we stand up.
[Naya] I'll walk ahead of you,
Anton will walk behind you.
[Naya] One, two...
-[indistinct talking]
-[helicopter hovering]
[reporter] Babylon Times.
Can I ask you
a few questions please?
[Anton] No interviews
until after the tournament.
Is it true
you were genetically engineered
for this tournament, Sagan?
Are you fighting to end God?
Don't look up.
I thought you had no eyes
on the back of your head.
-I don't.
-[announcer] Attention.
But my instincts are 360.
[announcer] We may detain anyone
not in possession
of the official security...
[indistinct talking]
He cannot win this tournament.
-The odds for a wild card--
-[Zimmer] I don't care
what the odds are.
We need to make sure he doesn't
make it into the top 50.
[elevator bell ringing]
[elevator voice] Third floor.
[slow music playing]
[bell ringing]
[bell ringing]
[intercom] Security system
deactivated.
Ah, here they are.
[door opens]
Hi.
-Hey.
-[Sitara] I'm Sitara Bruno.
Sagan's mother.
Nice to meet you.
I heard you did really well.
-[chimes]
-[Dr. Bruno] Champagne!
Relax, it's Kombucha.
We're just pretending
it's champagne.
Is there a room for Sagan
to get some rest?
[Dr. Bruno] Yes, over there.
Mind if I check it out?
It'll take under a minute.
Go ahead.
[siren wailing outside]
All clear. I'll leave you alone.
Could you ask my mother
to come see me, please?
I need some medical advice.
Of course.
[exhales]
[door opens, closes]
Prof. Bruno,
Sagan asked
if you could see him...
for medical advice?
Of course.
[footsteps]
[helicopter hovering outside]
-[door knocking]
-[Sagan] Come in.
Do you want to help me find
the exits and fire alarms?
Sure.
[Ceylon] This is unbelievable.
The Dashifari fighter
refuses to tap out.
And the Humanist
refuses to take him out.
You can't make this stuff up.
[rewind dial crackles]
[helicopter hovering outside]
How many times
are you going to watch this?
As many times as it takes
to figure it out.
-What was that about?
-What?
Ah, they don't get along.
No kidding.
Sitara is a psychiatrist.
The fact that he asked for her
means
he's dealing with
a mental health issue
and it must be bad.
Why does he not like her?
There wasn't one event.
She's always been cold
and distant with him,
like she's scared
or ashamed of him.
When he was younger,
he tried hard to win her over.
At some point, he just gave up.
Some people
don't attach to kids
who aren't biologically theirs.
But he is.
I thought he was genetically
engineered from donors.
He was. Sitara is one of them.
She is a Rhodes scholar and
a former world champion gymnast.
The Institute approached her
before anybody else.
She turned them down
repeatedly, but, then,
they got smart
and hired her husband
to run the entire project
and the next time,
it was he who asked.
What about the sperm donor?
A former Olympic sprinter
and chess Grandmaster.
Knowing the Institute,
I'm certain
they recruited him
as deliberately as
they did Sitara.
He just wisely
insisted on staying anonymous.
You're not really trying
to locate
the exits and fire alarms,
are you?
Of course not.
I memorized the blueprints
of the stadium in 8th grade
and I've walked them
every year since.
[grins]
Are you nervous about him?
No.
[Lucia] Then what is this?
I'm trying to figure out
just how he got him to tap out.
You know, some people say
they'd rather die than tap out,
-but--
-I've known Sami my entire life.
I know his pain threshold
and I know his mentality.
He came here to win or die.
[Nizar] Nothing in between.
Did you ask him what happened?
He won't talk to me.
Do you think he threatened Sami
with something other than
his own death?
I've considered it, but what?
Sami grew up as a war orphan
and never married,
so there is no family
to threaten him with.
I'm the closest
he's got to family.
But what could this guy
do to me, in here,
that Sami would have considered
a serious threat?
I don't know.
But now you got me curious.
[van approaching]
What do you think he's doing
out there?
Picking a lamb to sacrifice.
Any top 50 fighter
can challenge anyone
in a Wild Card tournament.
[bell ringing]
[intercom] Security deactivated.
I think it's time.
I'm ready.
[Dr. Bruno] You guys go ahead.
I'm going to walk Sitara
to the pod station first.
You're not coming to watch?
She doesn't watch fights.
[dramatic music playing]
You're contractually obligated
to face the press
when you exit the arena,
not when you enter.
[siren wailing outside]
[traffic sounds]
[Sitara] Go ahead
and ask already.
[Dr. Bruno] I'm not going
to ask.
Doctor-patient confidentiality
still counts
even within the family.
He told me I can tell you.
[Dr. Bruno] What's going on
with him?
[voices in the fighting arena]
[chimes]
I'll get it.
[buzzing]
Naya! What's up, girl?
Same old.
What's up with you, sis?
Sadly not my salary.
[scoffs]
Okay to walk our guy this way?
Yeah, of course, I told you.
Come on.
[chuckles] Hey, good to see you.
So you are
what all the fuss is about.
And I better get him
through the fuss
before they disqualify him.
[scoffs] You said that, not me.
[ding sounds]
And we're back.
Sagan Bruno is up first
which should be a hoot
given that his opponent
is about twice as tall
and four times as wide.
Take your mark.
[fighting sounds]
Fighting position. Get ready.
Get ready. Fight!
-[fighting sounds]
-[action music playing]
He's out.
[grunts]
[slow-motion volume drops]
[referee] Break!
-[crowd applauses]
-[referee] Winner.
-Acrobatics, huh?
-[announcer] Winner, Bruno.
If your opponent is a bull,
be a muleta.
If your opponent is a muleta,
-be a bull.
-And most important?
Never be a matador.
-Let's wait elsewhere.
-[Anton] You two go.
I'll stay in case they move
the fight forward
or pull some other trick
to get him disqualified.
-Ping me at two minutes out.
-Copy that.
-[sighs]
-You found something?
Yeah, but I don't think
we can use it.
Um. We can
and will use everything.
That's the deal
on Shalom Island, darling.
But it came from a conversation
he had with his mother
in her capacity
as a psychiatrist,
so legally I don't even think
we can use it.
Are you a lawyer now?
Because that's news to me.
And last time I checked,
I'm the one
who breaks the news here.
So, your career change,
oh, I'm so sorry,
it's been canceled.
The paperwork
couldn't come through in time.
What a travesty. What a tragedy.
Now out with it!
Let me hear it!
[Dr. Bruno] Doctor-patient
confidentiality still counts
even within the family.
[Sitara] He told me
I can tell you.
What's going on with him?
He wanted me to prescribe
something that stops
auditory verbal hallucinations.
[Dr. Bruno] He's hearing voices?
When he spaces out like that...
he was just pretending
to be catatonic...
because he didn't want to admit
what's really happening.
What is really happening?
Someone is talking to him.
[Dr. Bruno] Who?
Sitara, who is talking to him?
[ominous music playing]
God.
[Sitara] He says
God is talking to him.
You're right.
We absolutely cannot
expose this.
That's why we need
some trashy outlet
to do it for us first.
Great job, Claudia.
I knew there was a reason why
I put up with
that drone of a personality.
Drink on me tonight!
[giggles]
-[buzzing]
-[door opens]
[chimes]
[door closes]
[chimes]
[birds chirping]
[chimes]
[woman 1 giggles]
[indistinct laughing]
[Anton] What is it?
Again, this article
was just published
by The Daily Post who insist
they have an audio file
to back up this story
but since we have not heard
the audio clip ourselves,
I must add
that the Wild Card fighter
Sagan Bruno "allegedly"
hears God.
[announcer] Attention please,
Shalom Stadium security
may detain anyone...
-Sagan.
-Time to go?
Not quite.
[Sagan] What is it?
Someone leaked
a conversation your parents had
in the hotel room.
They were talking about your...
mental health issue.
[scoffs] Oh.
You're taking this better
than I expected.
[Sagan] If I get riled up
because somebody wants
to rile me up
then I'm a puppet,
not a fighter.
[scoffs]
Anton was always
a great teacher.
-You trained with him?
-Yeah,
when we were kids all the way
until he left our school.
You want to do
some flow exercises?
Sure.
[soft music playing]
-[helicopter hovering]
-[slow music playing]
[announcer] Shalom Stadium
security may detain
anyone not in possession
of an official security pass.
Well, look who's here.
Looks like Sagan is about to
fight his first top-50 fighter.
[fighting sounds]
Sitara is here.
[Dr. Bruno] I'll go get her.
Tell Sagan, we're very sorry.
Break his legs.
You like her.
She's smart...
and extremely good at her job.
[Sagan] I just feel bad
she ended up with me.
She should be Ammon Jones's
or Nizar Haddad's PPO.
She didn't end up with you,
she chose you.
[announcer] ...mat number 5.
-What?
-Well,
not exactly you,
but the Institute.
Of course.
All of the top organizations
tried to recruit her.
She passed on all of them
and recommended
her students instead.
She was an instructor?
Not just any instructor.
The Dashifar offered her
an entire island
in exchange for becoming
Nizar Haddad's PPO.
[announcer in Chinese]
[Sagan] What's she doing here?
[exhales] I'm sure
she turned around immediately
as soon as she heard about
that trashy leak going viral.
[Anton] They said they're sorry.
[announcer] Winner, Steimer.
It wasn't their fault.
Now, let's talk about
that voice you're hearing
after the fight, okay?
You want to talk about God,
Anton?
-Dressed like this? [laughs]
-[chuckles]
[announcer] Bruno vs.
Salvador, 30-second warning.
[slow music playing]
[announcer] Attention, please.
The Pencenites's
Freddy Alvarez,
ranked at 23 in the current
Absolute Dominion top 50,
has volunteered to fight
in place of Mgico Salvador.
[ding sounds]
[Ceylon] Folks, I never thought
I would say this, but,
this Wild Card tournament
has just become more thrilling
than the past 10
ranking tournaments together.
Where is he?
[Ceylon] So, the Pencinites,
like the Sons of Moses
and the Dashifar each have more
than one fighter in the top 50.
But this challenge
isn't without consequences.
You see, there is no gain
if a top-50 fighter
wins against a Wild Card,
but if he loses,
it's a 10-point deduction.
[fighting sounds]
Fighter, take your mark.
Fighter, take your mark.
[indistinct talking]
Fighting position.
Fighter, are you ready?
Fighter, are you ready? Fight!
[fighting sounds]
Come on, Sagan.
[mouths]
[referee] Fighter.
Do you give up?
Fighter. Do you give up?
Fighter. Do you give up?
Fighter. Do you give up?
Break!
[ding sounds]
[yawns] Well,
that was a snooze fest,
[Ceylon] but the young
Sagan Bruno wins again.
-[crowd applauding]
-[Ceylon] So that means
that Freddy Alvarez drops
from number 23
[gasps] to 46,
and Sagan Bruno is still here.
[Ceylon] Which means,
if he wins his next fight,
[gasps] you're gonna see him
in the finals tomorrow.
-[chimes]
-[door opens]
[door closes]
I'll talk to Ammon.
-Now!
-[door opens]
I'm surrounded by idiots.
I hope this wasn't too horrible
to watch.
No, not horrible at all.
I'll stay for the next one
if that's okay with you.
[announcer] Winner, Noyan.
[Dr. Bruno] It took you
a lot longer this time.
Was his style tough to beat?
No.
I just figured, now I'm known
as the guy who hears God,
I better be as mundane
as possible.
[vacuum whirring]
[dramatic music playing]
-[man 1] Ah!
-[knife swishing]
[fighting sound]
Sec Command,
this is PPO Naya Olinga.
I've got a 6-4 attempt on my
fighter. Request assistance.
-[alarming blaring]
-[announcer] Attention, guests.
Shalom Stadium curfew
will start in 15 minutes.
Please exit the stadium.
[Latin prayer]
"Omnis satanica potestas,
omnis incursio
infernalis adversarii,
omnis legio."
I'll get you out of here
in a sec.
[man 1] Vade, satana,
inventor et magister
omnis fallaci,
hostis human salutis.
Quomodo scis quia non sum deus?
[announcer] Please proceed
to the nearest exit gate.
-What is his issue?
-[Sagan] He's a Uriahnit
who thinks I'm the devil.
What did you say to him?
I asked him how he knows
I'm not God.
-[announcer] Last warning...
-This is unacceptable.
I want to speak with the head
of security immediately
or I'll file a complaint
with the SCSC.
[Dr. Bruno] First, you record
a confidential conversation
between two medical doctors
and then you're incapable
of providing security
when my son becomes a target.
[Steph] Sir,
nothing is confidential
inside Shalom Stadium.
It's in the privacy policy
-you signed when you registered.
-[sighs]
[slow music playing]
-[chimes]
-[seagulls squawk]
[Santo] Nizar asks
if he can stop by.
[Mestre] Yes, of course.
When evil people meet,
good people reinforce
their shields with leather.
[crickets chirping]
[Nigel] You're the number one
ranked fighter
and you're acting like
you're afraid of him?
Because I don't want to blow
my hard-earned ranking
to stop this nobody
from qualifying?
-How did you get in here?
-Through the door of course.
[Zimmer] Wondering why
your PPO didn't stop me?
Because I'm her boss.
I'm also his boss.
[Zimmer] I know you think that
as the number-one-ranked
Absolute Dominion fighter
the sun rises
and sets with you...
but that's an illusion.
You're a court jester,
an entertainer, a reality star.
I can have you eliminated
from the tournament like this...
The international convention
has rules. And--
[Zimmer laughs]
[scoffs] It's almost cute
how naive you are.
I'm in charge of the tournament
and I'm in charge
of the military.
One word from me
and you will be disqualified.
-For what?
-I'm sure
I can think of something.
Try me.
[Mestre] Please sit, have tea.
Nobody is going to try
and kill us tonight.
[Mestre] They're too busy trying
to kill the young prophet.
The young prophet?
[Mestre] A skeptic who hears God
and makes all the evil people
run like chickens?
Do you really think
they're trying to kill him?
It's what they do
to prophets, no?
[Ammon] Can't we wait
till he's in the top 50?
If he even wins
the Wild Card spot--
I could try to explain to you
the geopolitical necessity
of religions
to sustain stable
international relations,
but let's be honest...
It's too complex
of an issue for you.
The simple version is:
we don't need to put this idea
of a potential "godless" outcome
into people's minds any more
than it already is.
[Zimmer] It will be
the end of peace,
and I like peace. Don't you?
-Yes.
-Good.
So go out there and kick
that godless little shit
into oblivion.
Wait.
[Zimmer sighs]
[Ammon] I need a guarantee
that I'll win.
If number 23 here
was almost able to beat him,
why are you worried?
[Ammon] Because that's not
what happened.
Tell her.
Tell me what?
-I didn't almost beat him.
-[Ammon] Tell her
exactly what you told me.
[sighs]
He played around with me
the entire time.
I have no idea
why he dragged it out.
[Freddy] He could have won
in the first 15 seconds.
He dragged it out
in order to humiliate you.
That's what godless people do.
They have no incentive
for compassion.
No, I think he did the opposite.
I don't care what you think.
[Zimmer inhales]
What type of guarantee
did you have in mind?
You just said you're the head
of the military.
[scoffs]
Make sure you step on that mat.
There have been
3.5 million cyber searches
for "Humanism" just today.
If he shows up
for the finals tomorrow,
we'll never be able
to get rid of him.
-[chimes]
-[door sliding]
The evacuation order
has been lifted.
We can go back to the stadium.
Ammon Jones has been spotted
in gear and warming up.
Wow.
We can hardly miss the moment
Nizar Haddad becomes number one.
You believe Ammon Jones is
going to lose. Against a noob?
I don't know anything
about noobs.
But I know
God's not gonna lose today.
[Nizar] I know he's a Celestian
but he sure doesn't sound
like one.
Maybe because he's Makuxi.
-He's what?
-Makuxi.
It's an indigenous
people of Brazil.
Celestianism was forced on
his people by their colonizers.
But why is he fighting
for the Celestians then?
[Mestre] Man's gotta eat
brother Nizar.
[door closes]
It's time to go.
[Sagan] I never thanked you
for saving my life.
I noticed and I've already
requested to be transferred.
[laughs]
Put this on your head, please.
They denied my request
for a second PPO,
so we have to work with
what we got to keep you safe.
Remember the three Ps.
"Pay attention, process,
predict."
[scoffs]
You have an IQ of 182,
a photographic memory,
and you speak
eight languages fluently.
I know you understood
what I said.
What? It's good to be smart, no?
Not if it's
a genetically-modified feature.
You'd never hear
Deadpool say that.
-Who?
-[Naya laughs]
Ah. It's a vintage thing.
I'll tell you another time.
Let's go.
[ding sounds]
Another top-50 fighter
is warming up
to challenge Sagan Bruno
and not just any fighter,
the number-one-ranked fighter
in the Battle
for Absolute Dominion.
-[crowd cheering]
-Ammon Jones himself.
-[door opens]
-[keyboard sounds]
-[seagulls squawk]
-[door closes]
Captain Davis, you are in charge
of Shalom Stadium security?
Yes, Commander Zimmer, I am.
Good. I need you
to execute a Code 16.
Are you familiar with Code 16?
Yes, Commander. Code 16:
Imminent use of force
against an actor identified
as a threat
to international security.
Section 396 of Title 10
of the Beirut Convention
requires approval of no less
than three member States--
Not if declared
a global emergency.
[Zimmer] The Return of Peace
is at stake,
and if we don't eliminate
the threat
as fast as humanly possible,
we will be back
in the ruins of 2045.
Yes, Commander. Understood.
Get it done.
[tense music playing]
[door closes]
-Sergeant Lee.
-[Lee] Yes, Commander?
Run this to Nigel Johnson.
Make sure he gets it
before Ammon fights.
[Lee] Yes, Commander.
[dramatic music playing]
-What is your life source?
-My breath.
-What is your handicap?
-Tension.
-Who is your enemy?
-Pride.
-Who is your ally?
-Movement.
-What do you do
when you get hit?
-Remain human.
[announcer] Attention, please.
We have, once again,
-a substitution.
-Shh. Shh.
[slow music playing]
[announcer] Gautier vs Khan,
mat number six.
[fighting sounds]
[referee] Fighter,
take your mark.
Fighter, take your mark.
Fighter, take your mark.
[indistinct talking]
First warning, Jones!
-I don't like this.
-Neither do I.
[referee] First warning, Jones!
[slow motion sound warping]
[referee] Fight!
[fighting sounds]
Hands up, Sagan.
Sagan!
[upbeat music playing]
[action music playing]
[silent arrow shot]
-[music abruptly stops]
-[pants]
-Tap out.
-Argh!
[referee] Break!
Weapon! Weapon! Weapon!
-Manossenhora!
-[referee] Weapon!
-[alarm blaring]
-Move back now!
This is a crime scene.
[chimes]
[announcer] Attention
guests, coaches, team members.
Shalom Stadium curfew
will start in 15 minutes...
Naya! We'll bring you
and your fighter
back to your suite.
Everybody else
must head out of the stadium.
-Curfew in 15 minutes.
-Who's investigating?
[Steph] MPs are already here
to conduct a full investigation.
-Trust me.
-Is he going to be safe?
It depends how far they'll go
to stop him from qualifying.
Can Anton stay behind with you?
It's a federal offense
to stay inside the stadium
after curfew without permission
and I'm sure
they have eyes on us.
They'll disqualify Sagan
-and arrest Anton.
-[Steph] Let's go.
We can drop them off
on our way to the gate.
[announcer] Last warning...
[Dr. Bruno] So he might not
be safe
and we can't do anything
to protect him?
-You can take him with you.
-Then he's disqualified.
My job is to give you
an honest safety assessment,
-Dr. Bruno.
-[voice announces in Chinese]
I'm good at what I do
but I'm only one person,
and they seem determined
to not let him finish
the tournament.
That's it then,
he's coming with us.
I'm staying.
Did you not just hear
what she said?
-[Sitara] You're not safe here.
-Why do you care suddenly?
[alarming continues blaring]
You never cared
about any of this...
-[announcer] Last warning.
-...or me.
I trained for this
my whole life.
You made me for the sole purpose
of winning this tournament.
If you're taking this
from me now...
you're pulling the ground
from under my feet.
[announcer] Exit the stadium.
Last warning.
[voice announces in Chinese]
[somber music playing]
[announcer] Please exit
the stadium.
[voice announces in Chinese]
[exhales]
The reason why I've been
so distant with you...
is not because I don't love you.
[announcer] Exit the stadium.
On the contrary .
It's because I'm ashamed.
What mother sends her child
into an arena to fight
before he is even born?
It's barbaric.
[sighs]
I thought you hated me...
and frankly, you should.
-[helicopter hovering]
-[loud siren wailing]
[slow music playing]
[announcer] Last warning.
All unauthorized parties
must exit the stadium.
[ding sounds]
[Fix] This tournament
is getting crazier by the day.
I can't possibly do
a normal show now.
I gotta know what's going on,
and luckily I know
just who to ask.
Ceylon, are you down there?
What is going on?
Give me the scoop.
Hi Fix, thanks so much
for thinking of me.
Sorry to disappoint you,
but we don't actually know
what's going on either. Yikes!
One moment Sagan Bruno
is on top of Ammon Jones,
the next moment, Sagan Bruno
is grabbing an arrow
flying in the air at
at least, 300mph, like, whoosh!
[Fix] Oh, okay,
so it was an arrow?
We didn't know
that's what it was.
It's an arrow?
[Ceylon] Yeah, we had to really
slow down the video footage,
zoom in as much as possible,
and I'm just getting word now
from my team
that we can review this
together.
So why don't we
figure this out.
Perfect. A budding detective
show right there.
Let's go.
[Steph] We'll take you
through the kitchen,
just in case the press
are waiting in the lobby.
[helicopter hovering]
Please, sit.
[Ceylon] Okay, so we can begin
to see what's happening here.
Sagan Bruno
is in mount position.
There's no way for Sagan Bruno
to see what's happening
above him.
This is when the arrow begins
to enter the frame.
-[arrow squealing]
-[door opens]
[indistinct talking]
[Ceylon] We had to
really zoom in
and go frame-by-frame
to see what happens next.
Somehow Sagan reaches out
his hand to grab
what he couldn't possibly
have seen coming.
-[Fix] Holy shit!
-[Ceylon] So much
for "the Lord preserves those
who are true to him,"
right? [chuckles]
If I was God
with a front-row seat
to the past 2100 years
of human history,
I would also root
for the people
who don't believe in me.
Come on.
[chimes]
[device] Absolute Dominion,
Investigation Committee.
This is Captain Davis,
head of Shalom Stadium
Security Force.
I need to report someone
for misconduct.
[device] Yes, Captain Davis,
who will you be reporting?
Myself.
Did she tell you
what a badass instructor
your PPO was?
-She didn't.
-She made us play this game
called Non Passere
where one person has to get
from their base
into the enemy's base
without getting killed.
I started throwing up
after I swallowed a paintball
during an ambush,
so she made me do it again
with even more people shooting
at me from everywhere.
[scoffs]
[elevator bell rings]
[elevator voice] Zone four.
[dramatic music playing]
We don't have eyes
in this building,
so if anyone bothers you,
-call me.
-Okay.
-Eyes up, sis.
-Always.
-[elevator bell rings]
-[door opens]
[intercom] Security deactivated.
Lights off.
-[door closes]
-[Sagan] What's wrong?
[Naya] Can you order
some food for us?
-I'm starving.
-[Sagan] Yeah, me too.
-[Naya sighs]
-[Sagan] What do you want?
Same as you.
Three plain chicken breasts
and a baked potato?
Not the same as you.
Is there a menu?
[AI voice] Hello,
were you asking
for a room service menu?
[Naya] We did, thank you.
If we ask for privacy,
will it show up
equally as quick?
[Ai voice] I'm so sorry.
We currently do not have
privacy on the menu,
is there anything else
we might be able to get you?
[Naya] Okay,
we would like to have
three plain chicken breasts
and one potato.
Large potato.
And I would like to have
the poke bowl.
-[AI voice] Any drinks?
-Just water, please.
[AI voice] Your order
will arrive in 12 minutes
and 24 seconds. Thank you.
[chimes]
[Mestre] Reinforcements
have already arrived.
You're friends
with Sagan's PPO, aren't you?
She was my instructor
at the academy.
Can you speak with her?
Offer our assistance.
[Lucia] Her fighter is a target.
She's not going to trust me
or any other fighter's PPO
right now.
But there's other ways
I can try
to gather intelligence for you.
[exhales]
[elevator bell rings]
[elevator voice] Zone four.
Why did you choose the Institute
over everybody else?
What?
Anton said you passed on
all the other offers you got
but accepted ours.
Is it because you're an atheist?
No. [scoffs]
I believe in God.
[Sagan] Then why?
Every organization
participating
in the tournament
had to publish a manifesto
to give people an idea of what
the world would look like
if their fighter won
Absolute Dominion.
Almost all of them
strictly forbid
any other spiritual practices
or traditions except their own.
I don't remember the IHS
manifesto being that different.
Then you haven't read
the small print.
A summary of it basically says
if we win Absolute Dominion,
there won't be any tax-exempt
religious organizations anymore,
and we never have to hear
dogma in schools
or governments again.
But if you want to perform
any spiritual traditions
on your own time
and with private organizations,
knock yourself out.
[Naya] We have to have
at least that.
You can't forbid people
from practicing
their 3000-year-old tradition
or demand they forget
their own culture completely.
It dehumanizes people.
[Naya] I'm convinced
the IHS author knew that,
which is why
it's so carefully written.
It's like a road map
to help us bypass
an impending apocalypse.
-[chuckles]
-[Naya] What?
I'm just thinking about
the author of the manifesto.
-You know the author?
-[Sagan] You do too.
She's my mother.
[scoffs]
-[traffic sounds]
-[car horns]
They're bringing in a shooter,
so whatever you're planning,
you need to make it happen fast.
I can't jump in and save you.
[seagulls squawking]
[slow music playing]
[alarm rings]
-Good news?
-Oh.
[exhales] Sorry. Not good news,
-but a good friend.
-Oh yeah?
[Naya] One
of my former students
is Fix Huntley's
protection officer.
He asked her
to ask me to ask you...
if you'd consider doing
an interview with him.
-[Naya] I can just pass--
-No! Don't pass.
-I'm a big fan.
-[Naya] Really?
Yeah, I watch his show
all the time.
[Sagan] He's smart and kind.
I would love to meet him.
-Can I tell her that?
-[Sagan] Yes!
[Naya] Okay.
Give him
my personal number, please.
[somber music playing]
[crickets chirping]
[device whirring]
[sniper] Lady Lights Out
and Company
in position and ready to engage.
[sniper] Targets in the window.
[sniper] Should I engage?
[commander] Negative,
bulletproof windows.
That bad?
What we expected.
[Sagan] So the underground
tunnel is not an option?
They're not that incompetent.
Every path to the stadium
will be blocked
except for this one.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Fix wanted you to have this.
[Naya] Apparently, there are two
people with this number.
-And one of them is his mom.
-Honored.
You need something
to write it down?
[Naya] Of course not, I forgot.
[pod train whooshing]
[tense music playing]
[train whooshing]
[mysterious music plays]
[mouths]
[elevator bell rings]
Wait for target.
[tense music playing]
[Sagan] No press.
[Sagan scoffs]
[Naya] Of course not.
As soon as I open this door,
you start running full-speed
towards the south-east entrance,
I'll run to the south-west one.
They won't expect
two people running,
so that gives us three seconds
until they adjust.
Start running sideways
and zigzag
after the halfway line.
[Naya] That's when
they'll start firing nonstop.
Got it.
On three.
-One.
-[music intensifies]
-[Naya] Two.
-[Lucia] Naya.
Nizar would like to have a word
with Sagan if possible.
[somber music playing]
-Salam alaykum.
-Alaykum salam.
May I introduce you
to Mestre Gato Santo.
Prazer em conhec-lo Mestre.
O prazer todo meu.
We wondered if we could
accompany you to the stadium?
I'm not sure
if that's a good idea.
Why not?
They know what's going on.
They won't risk hurting us.
That would set off
World War Four.
If I remember correctly,
the risk of igniting a world war
-has never prevented one.
-[scoffs]
Well, we shall be on
the right side of this one then.
-Claudia!
-[door opens]
[door closes]
Why are they here?
Did you think I'd roll the dice
on them not shooting at us
without at least tipping
the odds in our favor?
So, how would you like
to do this?
He's taller than any of us.
Unless we put him
in a wheelchair,
those snipers will have
a clean shot.
Wheelchair?
They will disqualify him.
[upbeat music playing]
I have an idea.
[Lee] There is a delegation here
led by World Coalition chief,
Huda Sha'arawi,
they insist on seeing you now.
We have no record
of a scheduled visit.
This is against security
procedures.
Wallah, I knew this woman
would be dangerous.
[Lee] Commander, General Huda
insists on speaking with you.
We are in the middle of
a classified military exercise,
announced visitors
are not permitted.
Cut the crap , Illona.
[Huda] Denying a representative
of the World Coalition access
is a violation
of the Beirut Act ,
and there are four members here.
Movement at home base.
Shit.
-[helicopter hovering]
-[tense music playing]
[screeching]
[grunts]
What's going on?
Something blinded me. Hang on.
They created a shield around
him
using the reflective
security mirrors.
Can you still get the shot?
This has gone too far.
[Nigel] Come on.
I didn't expect
to walk in here and agree
with you of all people, Nigel.
But yes, Commander Zimmer
has finally gone too far.
Doesn't anybody get it?
What is so upsetting about this,
Commander Zimmer?
They seem to be protecting him
from something.
We have always
encouraged fighters
to practice sportsmanship.
[Zimmer] This isn't
sportsmanship,
this is worship.
[Zimmer] A Wild Card fighter
no one's ever heard of
who doesn't belong
to any religion shows up,
breaks every single tournament
record, then cleverly leaks
that he hears the voice of God.
The very next day, our top two
fighters flank him with shields,
like a messiah.
[Zimmer] This was a long con
and we fell for it.
The Institute for Humanism
and Science conned us.
[Nigel] She has a point.
The peace that comes
with this tournament
will be over
if the top-ranked fighters
started worshiping
someone or something
outside their own faiths.
She may have a point,
if it turns out to be true...
But we can't just assassinate
people on a hunch.
There are laws
and regulations...
A big book of them that lawyers
from all over the globe
fought over
for over a decade.
Whatever you have planned here
is in violation of half of them.
[Huda] Call it off now.
I'm not saying it again.
[chimes]
-Abort operation.
-Copy that. Aborting.
[chimes]
[chimes]
Knock, knock.
Claudia, are you there?
[Claudia] Yes. They are just now
entering the stadium.
Read the room.
We're literally streaming
your footage live right now.
I need you to smile
and ask questions.
-It haven't cleared--
-[Ceylon] This isn't
a request from me,
but directly from Command.
[Claudia] Nizar Haddad,
Mestre Gato Santo,
would you mind answering some
questions for our audience?
-A couple.
-[Claudia] Great.
Does this procession
have a spiritual meaning?
-Spiritual?
-[Claudia] Well, are you
and Mestre Gato Santo
now following
Sagan Bruno,
the Humanist who hears God?
I'm afraid
I have to disappoint you.
Our motivation to get
Sagan Bruno safely
to the stadium
is not nearly as deep.
[Claudia] Well,
what is your motivation?
I'm surprised
this isn't obvious to everyone.
[slow music playing]
We want to fight him, of course.
[Nizar] When you're
in the top 50,
new sparring partners are rare.
Most of us have been fighting
the same people
for half a decade.
It gets old, familiar...
There's nothing worse
for a fighter than familiarity.
[Nizar] There haveve been
numerous attempts
to get rid of this fighter
with means and weapons
I always assumed were illegal
based on our conventions,
which is why we decided
to make sure
he gets here in one piece.
Sagan Bruno has a right
to qualify for the top 50,
and Mestre Gato Santo and myself
have a right to stop him
from doing so...
on the mat.
And inshallah,
one of us will manage.
[Naya] Come on.
See?
There was
no Humanism cult conspiracy.
Just a bunch of fighters
wanting to fight.
They're lying.
[door closes]
[laughs] Of course I do.
-[Huda laughs]
-[chimes]
[Sitaga] Sagan!
-[Anton] You made it.
-Yeah.
Saved him from the tigers
to serve him to the lions.
He has to fight them
one day anyway.
But not in a row.
Nobody ever has to do that.
Not even
in a final grand championship.
What are the odds of beating
the number-one fighter
in the world right after
a match with number two?
Small...
but not impossible.
If they fight clean...
[announcer] One-minute warning.
First semi-final fight.
One minute.
-[voice announces in Chinese]
-Can you go first, Mestre?
Not enough to sign me up
for a fight I never agreed to,
-now you want me to go first?
-[Nizar] Mestre,
I'm not a sage like you
or a prophet like him.
I'm a child of war.
Believe me if I tell you
if we don't give it our all,
he's not going live
to see spring.
I can feel it coming...
vultures circling,
bloodhounds salivating.
[Nizar] Humanity does not find
comfort in peace,
only in conflict.
They are getting restless.
They want to tear something
into pieces
and an infidel who claims
he hears God
is exactly what
they've been waiting for.
[Mestre] So you're saying,
we have to tear him into pieces
instead?
[Nizar] No, we have to beat him
in a fight
to show the world
he's not a prophet or a threat,
he's just human.
Alright, I'll beat him...
but only so
he doesn't have to lose
to a jackass like you.
[announcer] Attention, please.
We have,
once again, a substitution.
Mestre Gato Santo will fight
in place of Jang Yong Naam.
[cheering]
[crowd applauding]
[referee] Fighter,
take your mark.
[referee] Fighter,
take your mark.
[heartbeats]
[referee] Positions.
[referee] Fighter ready?
Fighter ready?
[referee] Fight!
[upbeat music playing]
[man 2] Oh yeah!
[fighting sounds]
[cheering]
[drops]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering]
[breathes]
[mysterious music plays]
[music intensifies]
Argh.
[crowd exclaims]
[somber music playing]
-[Sagan pants]
-Sorry, buddy.
[referee] Do you give up?
Fighter, do you give up?
Break!
-[crowd cheering]
-Winner!
[grunts, pants]
[announcer] Winner, Bruno.
-[chimes]
-[door opens]
They haven't started
the other semi-final fight.
We have at least ten minutes.
[moans]
[chimes]
-[slow music playing]
-[exhales]
What?
Every single rib of your right
rib cage is fractured.
-What does that mean?
-[Dr. Bruno] It means
you've done your best
and we're very proud of you.
What does that mean, Anton?
It means your chances of winning
against Nizar in this state
are too slim to risk
the permanent damage
-it could cause--
-I take slim chances.
-[Dr. Bruno] Sagan.
-Nobody can forfeit the fight
but me, so you might as well
save me the breath,
and stop arguing about it.
I'll give you something
for the pain.
No.
I just need a moment alone.
Please.
[door closes]
[Dr. Bruno] I know
how you feel, Sagan.
Like a lab rat,
born into a life
that was already predetermined.
[Dr. Bruno] And for that
I'm truly sorry.
You're not a lab rat.
You're flesh and blood,
and what you want...
what you feel...
matters.
I love you, son.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[grunts]
I really don't know
how this works...
[scoffs]
but if you're not
a stress-induced hallucination,
I could really use your help
right now.
[exhales]
[music intensifies]
-[slow music playing]
-[indistinct talking]
I'm ready.
[somber music playing]
Fighter, take your mark.
Fighter, take your mark.
Fighting position.
Fighter, ready? Fighter, ready?
Fight!
[fighting sounds]
Listen, if you're doing this
because of
what I said yesterday--
You mean the part
where I'm the only one
who can prevent
the impending apocalypse?
That's not why I'm doing it.
I saw the trophy
they have for the winner.
It's three feet tall
and covered in glitter.
I want it.
[scoffs]
[fighting sounds]
[referee] Break!
[crowd cheering]
Winner, Rodriguez!
He's hurt.
Then he shouldn't fight.
[announcer] Ladies
and gentlemen,
we have
yet another substitution.
Fighting in place
of Miguel Rodriguez,
will be the number-one-ranked
fighter,
Nizar Haddad.
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Ceylon] Here we go, folks.
This is it.
The number-one-ranked fighter
in the world
against the heathen
who's BFF with God.
-What a time to be alive.
-[crowd cheering]
-I'm dead.
-[referee] Fighting position.
-[horns]
-[crowd cheering]
[referee] Fight!
[fighting sounds]
[crowd exclaim]
[action music playing]
Ah.
Ah.
[crowd applauding]
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd cheering]
Yes!
[tense music accelerates]
-[man 3 in other language]
-Tap out?
Fighter!
[referee] Break!
[crowd cheering]
-Yes!
-Yes!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering] Yes!
[crowd cheering, whistling]
Winner.
[crowd applauding, cheering]
[laughs]
[Ceylon] Wowza! Plot twist!
The holy heathen has made it
to the top 50.
Who would've thought
that was possible?
-And tragically,
-[crowd cheering]
for both you, and me,
and, frankly, the entire world,
the time has come
for us to part.
I must bid you adieu,
ciao, farewell, adis,
ma'a salaama, and hand it over
to my dear friend Fix Huntley
who as always,
will be closing the tournament
with his live show.
Over to you, Fix!
How about that, folks?
How about that?
I did not think
that could happen
in the last qualifying battle.
-An unknown Wild Card
-[static sounds start]
has fought his way
[echoes] into the big...
[distorted sounds]
[dramatic music playing]
[woman 2] What?
What happened?
Good evening.
Tonight,
our 19 years of peace
-were brought to an end
-[helicopter hovering]
with a devastating
terrorism attack.
Although we are still waiting
for confirmation,
we believe that Fix Huntley,
the man who came up with
the Battle
for Absolute Dominion,
whom we owe our return
to peace and civilization to...
was the intended target.
[somber music playing]
[seagulls squawk]
[vacuums whirring]
[birds chirping]
Thank you.
Ready?
-Where are they?
-They set up on the deck.
Something about front lighting
-and magic hour.
-Magic hour?
Sounds divine.
There you are.
-Nice to meet you.
-[Fix] Same here.
Hey everybody, can I get
five minutes with Sagan?
Really quick,
just before we start?
Thanks. And no hot mics.
So when did you know?
When did I know what?
[Fix] That somebody was planning
to blow up my studio.
I didn't.
I've been doing this 19 years,
I've never aired
a pre-taped episode
until yesterday.
'Cause you insisted
we do this interview
today or not at all.
So I had to travel very quickly.
[slow music playing]
You don't strike me
as the today-or-not-at-all
kind of guy...
unless...
you were trying to get me
and my crew
out of the studio.
I'm not sure
if you're accusing me
of being in cahoots
with terrorists...
or in cahoots with God.
But either option sounds way
more exciting than my real life.
[chuckles]
Sorry,
just coming close to death...
kind of shakes you up
a little bit.
I understand.
Okay everybody, let's go.
[slow music playing]
[music ends]
[man on radio]
Global terror deaths
reach new heights in 2044.
The Sydney Mall attack...
[radio in foreign languages]
[woman on radio]
The death now at 60
after suicide bombing...
[radio in foreign language]
[man on radio] Many killed
and missing...
[ambulance siren blaring]
-[fire crackling]
-[indistinct talking]
[bombs exploding]
-[somber music playing]
-[voices on radio]
[helicopter hovering]
I can't tell if this has
worked, I don't give a shit.
Listen, it's 2044, folks.
Year 2044.
It may as well be Berlin 1944.
Except there was less rubble
then.
Eight attacks in the last week.
Rome, Marrakesh,
Heidelberg, Istanbul,
Salt Lake City, London, Manila,
and every single one of these
is in the name of god.
The Pencinites just blew up
Kenmore Square.
Yesterday Fenway Park
destroyed.
[explosion mouth sound] Gone.
Last week the Aluvahins blew up
fucking Camp Nou.
The home of FC Barcelona.
What happened
to keeping all this
around Mount Meggido?
Listen, if you want to fight
[Fix] over your religion,
decide which religion
should rule the planet,
I say, "Go for it!"
Every religion out there.
Pick a fucking fighter.
Here's what we do:
we have a big tournament.
I'm serious.
We have a big tournament.
Choose a fighter. Train them
to represent your religion.
And we just have a big
fucking mano a mano.
Put them all in an arena
and let them start going.
And whoever is left standing
at the end,
that is the religion
that we worship.
We'll do it that way.
Call it the Religious Rumble.
No, fuck that, wait.
The Battle
for Absolute Dominion.
-[phone ringing, buzzing]
-[voices in foreign languages]
[reporters reporting in
different languages]
[siren wailing]
[Fix] Oh, fuck, yeah,
there you go.
The Battle
for Absolute Dominion.
Start training.
-[birds chirping]
-[dramatic music playing]
[shouting, fighting]
[training effort sounds]
-[birds chirping]
-[slow music playing]
[fighting sounds]
[chimes]
-[bell ringing]
-[Dr. Bruno] Time!
-[moans]
-[thuds]
[sighs]
-I know.
-Know what?
The bell doesn't start
or end a fight.
I'm glad you know.
Now try to remember.
[exhales]
[Sagan sighs]
If he beats you up
and then you beat yourself up,
you're taking two beatings
instead of one.
Sun Tzu?
Simple math.
Another round?
Now you let your body rest
until Saturday.
What do you think?
Does he stand a chance?
Technically, physically? Yes.
Has he had any more?
[scoffs] Not since that day.
Did you find out
what causes it?
[sighs]
EEG, MRI scan, CT scan...
all came back clear.
[chimes]
[Fix] We're getting close
everyone.
The last wild card tournament
is upon us
and the 50 warriors left
standing after this weekend
are gonna decide our faith.
Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome today's guest,
Professor Amanda Harris!
-[laughs]
-Look.
-See the applause I can do?
-[crowd cheering]
I'm really excited
to talk to you right now.
Um about the mess
you got us into?
[Fix] Professor,
I made a joke
in a cheap trailer,
using a thrift store camera.
I mean, who listens to
random nobodies on the internet?
Apparently the entire world.
Let's talk about
some more important subjects.
-Let's--
-First off,
Ammon Jones.
Pencenite,
currently number one.
[Fix] What will the world
-be like under Pencetism?
-Mm.
I can't tell you what
the world will be like
as that depends on
other variables,
but I can give you
some background on Pencetism.
[Harris] Pencetism is one
of many apocalyptic ideologies
represented in the tournament,
but unlike most of the others,
Pencenites have
an exact end date
which is 2111.
-[Harris] 48 years left.
-Yes, 48, thank you.
-[Harris laughs]
-Thank you.
[Harris] The problem with groups
who believe the apocalypse
is around the corner
is that they are not
interested in progress.
On the contrary,
they usually find comfort
in regressing to earlier times.
Alright, let's go
to Nizar Haddad,
current number 2.
Now, he seems like a nice guy,
but Dashifaris
do not celebrate Christmas,
and I don't know,
a world without eggnog...
That sounds worse
than the apocalypse to me.
-[laughs]
-Okay, now,
Mestre Gato Santo,
number 3.
I love Capoeira, I love Brazil.
[Fix] Alright? And Celestians
celebrate Christmas.
So this could be
a positive outcome?
Unless you enjoy celebrating
Ramadan or Hanukkah.
Okay, good point. Alright,
as someone
who knows everything
about everyone on this list,
who do you want to win?
The question is not
"Who will win?",
it's "What will they do
with the power?"
Even the most
tolerant ideology
will feel oppressive
to those who will be asked
to give up the culture and
traditions they grew up with.
[Fix] So you're saying,
because everyone took a joke
on the internet seriously,
we're all fucked.
[Harris] No, Fix. You were
the spoke
that stopped the wheel
that was spinning us rapidly
towards destruction.
I mean, do you have any hope?
-[Harris] Oh, yes, yes.
-[Fix] Really?
I'm confused because
you don't seem to be inspired
-by any of the contenders--
-[Harris] On that list.
[Fix] Oh, you're saying
the list isn't complete.
You're talking about
the last Wild Card tournament
coming up this weekend.
Who is showing up for that?
-What do you know?
-[Harris] I know,
we need a miracle...
and I know
how hard I prayed for one.
[slow music playing]
-[train squealing]
-[host] Good morning,
Battle of Absolute Dominion
fans around the world.
and welcome to the very last
Wild Card tournament,
only hours away now
here on Shalom Island.
A satellite drone sending out
a birdseye view of the stadium.
Here, an appearance
of our top-ranking fighters:
Mestre Gato Santo,
who just moved
to the prestigious
top-three ground floor
apartments last weekend.
While Ammon Jones
and Nizar Haddad,
number 1 and number 2 have been
here for a couple of weeks now.
It looks like they're enjoying
an al fresco coffee
in the calm before the storm.
-[train squealing]
-[tense music playing]
[train rumbling]
[train engine whirring]
[chimes]
[tense music accelerates]
-Sagan?
-[announcer] Attention,
-this is Shalom Stadium .
-Shit!
-[Anton laughs] Come on,
-[announces in Chinese]
-stop messing around with me.
-If he doesn't snap out
before we arrive
at the stadium, we are done.
[laughs] I know.
-Stop with the pranks.
-[Chinese recording continues]
Come on Sagan,
snap out of it now.
Please.
[engine whirring sounds]
-Sagan!
-[announcer] We have arrived at
-Salom Stadium Station .
-Let go.
What are you doing?
[train announcement in Chinese]
Please exit the air train.
[Sagan] We're going to be late,
let's go.
[exhales]
[helicopter hovering]
-[traffic sounds]
-[beeps]
[announcer]
For security reasons,
fighters and coaches must wait
in the holding arena
until your name appears
on the display board.
[voice announces in Chinese]
[continues in Chinese]
-[continues in Chinese]
-[beeps]
[upbeat tense music playing]
[ding sounds]
[Ceylon] Hello and welcome
to Center AD Live.
My name is Ceylon, your host.
I'll be with you all weekend,
covering
the last Wild Card tournament.
[Ceylon] This is the final
opportunity for fighters
who are not ranked to qualify
for the Battle
for Absolute Dominion.
Things sure look different
around here today.
For the last time
in this 20-year saga,
the battle stage has been
taken down to accommodate
for a larger crowd
of hopeful fighters.
[slow music playing]
Okay, so we're gonna play
a highlight video
from the last ranking tournament
along with some messages
from our sponsors
and hopefully,
once we get back to you,
-we'll know what's happening.
-[crowd shouting]
[Ceylon] Stay tuned.
[speaking in other language]
[announcer] Attention,
competitors and coaches,
the result of the group draw
is now on the display board.
Please wait
in the holding arena
until your name appears
on the display board.
[voice announces in Chinese]
-[fighting sounds]
-[continues in Chinese]
[continues in Chinese]
-[indistinct shouting]
-[speaking in other language]
[chimes]
[Dr. Bruno] Group 3. There!
[announcer] Bruno
vs. Tsaturyan, mat number 3.
[voice announces in Chinese]
That's your last warning.
[dramatic music playing]
[referee] Ready?
Fight!
[fighting impact sounds]
-[slow-motion sound dips]
-[thuds]
-[slow-motion sound dips]
-[somber music playing]
[referee] Break!
[slow-motion sound dips]
-Winner.
-[announcer] Winner, Bruno.
-Water?
-No, I'm good.
-And fight!
-[action music]
[fighting sounds]
[music accelerates]
[slow-motion sound dips]
[victory music playing]
-Argh!
-Are you okay?
[chimes]
Someone named Sagan Bruno
won against a bunch
of no-names quickly?
Since when did we even talk
about Brunk?
Sagan Bruno won 12 fights so far
and broke the following stats:
fastest win ever, most fights
won in the least amount of time
and most fights won
without a single KO.
[Claudia] I don't think
it's by accident.
It seems to be his style.
[Ceylon] Not to be the Joan
Rivers of the apocalypse,
but you call that style?
[chuckles] It's not
a cute look.
He won't stand a chance
facing a top-50 fighter.
We don't know
what kind of style he'll have
when he faces a top 50.
Why are you so into this guy?
Is he a Solarunian?
No, he's from the IHS,
the Institute of Humanism
and Science,
and that makes him a story.
What do they believe in again?
Nothing?
No, not nothing.
They're just not religious.
[Ceylon] Um, okay. Um...
Archive needs to send us
everything they've got on him
and his organization
and let's get our cameras glued
to his pretty little eyelashes
when we get back
from commercials.
[fighting sounds]
[foreign language coach orders]
[foreign language coach orders]
[announcer] Winner, Elias.
You're drawing attention earlier
than expected.
[ominous music playing]
-You want me to go slower?
-[Anton] No.
I just want you to broaden
your awareness.
[referee] Fighters,
on your mark. Fight.
[announcer] Bruno vs, Chey,
mat 3, 30 second warning.
Not exactly what I meant
by "broaden your awareness. "
- She keeps staring at me.
-[Chinese PA]
-[Anton] That's her job.
-[Sagan] You know her?
-[Anton] I hired her.
-[Sagan] What?
Technically your Dad
and the board hired her.
I recruited her. She's your
personal protection officer.
Nobody even knows who I am.
Why do I need a PPO?
If you don't get on that mat
soon, you might not.
-Fight!
-[action music playing]
[fighting sounds]
[referee exclaims]
[crowd cheering]
[chimes]
[indistinct talking]
Why do I need a PPO?
[Sagan] Is there something
I should know?
-It's the law.
-[Sagan] For the top 50,
not for a completely unknown
Wild Card.
We thought it was for the best
to hire someone earlier.
Shalom Island has more security
than the United Nations.
Everybody is pre-screened
months ahead of time...
and not one door frame
or ceiling
doesn't have gun detection AI.
[Anton] And yet 8 fighters
have been killed
since the tournament started,
by pre-screened people
with improvised weapons.
-[scoffs]
-[Anton] What?
[Sagan] Those murdered fighters
were all associated
with some form of satanism.
You think not believing in
anything is as much of a threat
to people as believing in Satan?
-More.
-More.
[Dr. Bruno] Believers have
comforting narratives
that make the idea
of death bearable.
Satanism doesn't challenge
those narratives.
On the contrary,
it confirms them,
and strengthens their beliefs.
But we challenge them? How?
Simply by existing.
Heaven, hell, reincarnation...
[Dr. Bruno] those stories are
basic defense mechanisms.
They protect believers
from fear of death,
the most primordial
and paralyzing fear.
For people like us to not
threaten this safe fortress
of belief, it would require
the ability to stop others
from contemplating
our worldview.
And of course,
that's impossible.
[ding sounds]
[Ceylon] Welcome back
to Center AD Live.
We're halfway through day one
of the Wild Card tournament
and things have been
pretty wild indeed.
But one fighter has stood out
amidst all the chaos.
His name is Sagan Bruno.
At the young age of 19,
he's already broke
several records this morning,
including fastest TKO
most wins
in the shortest amount of time,
-most wins without a KO.
-[crowd cheering]
[Ceylon] He's continually
dominated his group
more than any other fighter,
so,
you're probably wondering
what religion is he.
Well, here is where
things get really interesting.
None!
You heard me correct.
Sagan Bruno
represents the Institute
of Humanism and Science.
[chimes]
-[chimes]
-[indistinct talking]
What is he doing here?
[Anton] The guy you're fighting
next, Sami Odeh,
life-long sparring partner,
-they're like brothers.
-[announcer] Bruno vs. Odeh.
-[door closes]
-Commander.
[chimes]
-[Zimmer] I didn't know we--
-Allowed heathens?
People not associated
with a religion.
We had to. The tournament
wouldn't have been authorized
if we excluded
any belief system,
let alone one that included
thousands
of prominent scientists.
[Zimmer] Why did we never see
one of their fighters before?
The IHS is a bunch
of academics and nerds,
they didn't have
an unlimited supply of,
zealot crusaders
like everybody else.
So they did what scientists do.
-They engineered one.
-Engineered?
We decided to set the date
of the tournament's finale
20 years into the future
because we knew
it would take that long
to negotiate a set of rules
with 196 countries.
So the IHS went out
and got themselves
a super athlete's spunk,
a genius embryo...
[Nigel scoffs] ...voil.
[referee] Take your mark.
Fighter, take your mark.
Fighting position.
Fighter ready.
Fight!
[fighting impact sounds]
[hush falling over]
[slow music playing]
[slow-motion sound dipping]
[slow-motion sound dipping]
[crowd grunt]
Do you give up? Do you give up?
Fighter, do you give up?
Come on, tap out, brother.
[grunts]
[pants]
Tap out.
Come one, brother,
tap out.
[Ceylon] Nizar Haddad
getting involved
from the sidelines,
telling him
it's not worth dying over this.
[chimes]
[grunts]
Come on. Tap out.
-[Odeh grunts]
-[Sagan coughs, grunts]
This can't continue.
Say something.
I already did.
[Ceylon] This is unbelievable.
The Dashifari fighter
refuses to tap out
and the Humanist
refuses to take him out.
You can't make this stuff up.
[both grunts]
[Sagan coughs]
[somber music playing]
-[distorted voice]
-[slow-motion sound dipping]
-Sagan!
-[swishes]
[Anton yells distortedly]
[pants]
[crowd cheering]
What just happened?
Winner.
[female announcer]
Winner, Bruno.
[somber music playing]
What did he say to him?
Please, tell me someone
has a close-up of his lips,
so we can see
what he said to him.
[Claudia] This is everything
we have.
[chimes]
That's not gonna cut it.
I need to know
everything there is to know
about this weirdo kid
and his Institute
of Communism and Science.
My dear Claudia,
don't disappoint me.
Please do not listen in
during the break,
just a little peek-a-boo,
see what he's eating,
what he's drinking,
what their strategy is,
whether they're shooting him up
some of the good stuff, go!
Hi, I'm Naya Olinga.
Your PPO.
I'd like to bring you
to the IHS suite
so you can rest
until your next fight.
Your father already went ahead.
You've drawn
everyone's attention
earlier than we expected,
so the threat level
has increased,
plus we have to pass
the press line
to get to the hotel.
Aren't there
any secret passages
-out of the arena?
-[Naya] There are,
but fighters
are contractually obligated
to walk past the press.
Not doing so is cause
for disqualification.
But you are not obligated
to talk to them
or even acknowledge them
and I highly recommend
you don't.
-Okay.
-As we move towards the hotel,
I want you to expand
your peripheral vision,
scan the space
as wide and as far as possible.
Consider everyone
and everything a threat.
Watch people's hands,
someone trying to harm you
will either carry a weapon
or eventually, pull one out.
[Naya] I don't have eyes
in the back of my head,
so there's a chance you or Anton
will catch something I won't.
If that's the case, yell "fire."
I'm going to count to three,
on three, we stand up.
[Naya] I'll walk ahead of you,
Anton will walk behind you.
[Naya] One, two...
-[indistinct talking]
-[helicopter hovering]
[reporter] Babylon Times.
Can I ask you
a few questions please?
[Anton] No interviews
until after the tournament.
Is it true
you were genetically engineered
for this tournament, Sagan?
Are you fighting to end God?
Don't look up.
I thought you had no eyes
on the back of your head.
-I don't.
-[announcer] Attention.
But my instincts are 360.
[announcer] We may detain anyone
not in possession
of the official security...
[indistinct talking]
He cannot win this tournament.
-The odds for a wild card--
-[Zimmer] I don't care
what the odds are.
We need to make sure he doesn't
make it into the top 50.
[elevator bell ringing]
[elevator voice] Third floor.
[slow music playing]
[bell ringing]
[bell ringing]
[intercom] Security system
deactivated.
Ah, here they are.
[door opens]
Hi.
-Hey.
-[Sitara] I'm Sitara Bruno.
Sagan's mother.
Nice to meet you.
I heard you did really well.
-[chimes]
-[Dr. Bruno] Champagne!
Relax, it's Kombucha.
We're just pretending
it's champagne.
Is there a room for Sagan
to get some rest?
[Dr. Bruno] Yes, over there.
Mind if I check it out?
It'll take under a minute.
Go ahead.
[siren wailing outside]
All clear. I'll leave you alone.
Could you ask my mother
to come see me, please?
I need some medical advice.
Of course.
[exhales]
[door opens, closes]
Prof. Bruno,
Sagan asked
if you could see him...
for medical advice?
Of course.
[footsteps]
[helicopter hovering outside]
-[door knocking]
-[Sagan] Come in.
Do you want to help me find
the exits and fire alarms?
Sure.
[Ceylon] This is unbelievable.
The Dashifari fighter
refuses to tap out.
And the Humanist
refuses to take him out.
You can't make this stuff up.
[rewind dial crackles]
[helicopter hovering outside]
How many times
are you going to watch this?
As many times as it takes
to figure it out.
-What was that about?
-What?
Ah, they don't get along.
No kidding.
Sitara is a psychiatrist.
The fact that he asked for her
means
he's dealing with
a mental health issue
and it must be bad.
Why does he not like her?
There wasn't one event.
She's always been cold
and distant with him,
like she's scared
or ashamed of him.
When he was younger,
he tried hard to win her over.
At some point, he just gave up.
Some people
don't attach to kids
who aren't biologically theirs.
But he is.
I thought he was genetically
engineered from donors.
He was. Sitara is one of them.
She is a Rhodes scholar and
a former world champion gymnast.
The Institute approached her
before anybody else.
She turned them down
repeatedly, but, then,
they got smart
and hired her husband
to run the entire project
and the next time,
it was he who asked.
What about the sperm donor?
A former Olympic sprinter
and chess Grandmaster.
Knowing the Institute,
I'm certain
they recruited him
as deliberately as
they did Sitara.
He just wisely
insisted on staying anonymous.
You're not really trying
to locate
the exits and fire alarms,
are you?
Of course not.
I memorized the blueprints
of the stadium in 8th grade
and I've walked them
every year since.
[grins]
Are you nervous about him?
No.
[Lucia] Then what is this?
I'm trying to figure out
just how he got him to tap out.
You know, some people say
they'd rather die than tap out,
-but--
-I've known Sami my entire life.
I know his pain threshold
and I know his mentality.
He came here to win or die.
[Nizar] Nothing in between.
Did you ask him what happened?
He won't talk to me.
Do you think he threatened Sami
with something other than
his own death?
I've considered it, but what?
Sami grew up as a war orphan
and never married,
so there is no family
to threaten him with.
I'm the closest
he's got to family.
But what could this guy
do to me, in here,
that Sami would have considered
a serious threat?
I don't know.
But now you got me curious.
[van approaching]
What do you think he's doing
out there?
Picking a lamb to sacrifice.
Any top 50 fighter
can challenge anyone
in a Wild Card tournament.
[bell ringing]
[intercom] Security deactivated.
I think it's time.
I'm ready.
[Dr. Bruno] You guys go ahead.
I'm going to walk Sitara
to the pod station first.
You're not coming to watch?
She doesn't watch fights.
[dramatic music playing]
You're contractually obligated
to face the press
when you exit the arena,
not when you enter.
[siren wailing outside]
[traffic sounds]
[Sitara] Go ahead
and ask already.
[Dr. Bruno] I'm not going
to ask.
Doctor-patient confidentiality
still counts
even within the family.
He told me I can tell you.
[Dr. Bruno] What's going on
with him?
[voices in the fighting arena]
[chimes]
I'll get it.
[buzzing]
Naya! What's up, girl?
Same old.
What's up with you, sis?
Sadly not my salary.
[scoffs]
Okay to walk our guy this way?
Yeah, of course, I told you.
Come on.
[chuckles] Hey, good to see you.
So you are
what all the fuss is about.
And I better get him
through the fuss
before they disqualify him.
[scoffs] You said that, not me.
[ding sounds]
And we're back.
Sagan Bruno is up first
which should be a hoot
given that his opponent
is about twice as tall
and four times as wide.
Take your mark.
[fighting sounds]
Fighting position. Get ready.
Get ready. Fight!
-[fighting sounds]
-[action music playing]
He's out.
[grunts]
[slow-motion volume drops]
[referee] Break!
-[crowd applauses]
-[referee] Winner.
-Acrobatics, huh?
-[announcer] Winner, Bruno.
If your opponent is a bull,
be a muleta.
If your opponent is a muleta,
-be a bull.
-And most important?
Never be a matador.
-Let's wait elsewhere.
-[Anton] You two go.
I'll stay in case they move
the fight forward
or pull some other trick
to get him disqualified.
-Ping me at two minutes out.
-Copy that.
-[sighs]
-You found something?
Yeah, but I don't think
we can use it.
Um. We can
and will use everything.
That's the deal
on Shalom Island, darling.
But it came from a conversation
he had with his mother
in her capacity
as a psychiatrist,
so legally I don't even think
we can use it.
Are you a lawyer now?
Because that's news to me.
And last time I checked,
I'm the one
who breaks the news here.
So, your career change,
oh, I'm so sorry,
it's been canceled.
The paperwork
couldn't come through in time.
What a travesty. What a tragedy.
Now out with it!
Let me hear it!
[Dr. Bruno] Doctor-patient
confidentiality still counts
even within the family.
[Sitara] He told me
I can tell you.
What's going on with him?
He wanted me to prescribe
something that stops
auditory verbal hallucinations.
[Dr. Bruno] He's hearing voices?
When he spaces out like that...
he was just pretending
to be catatonic...
because he didn't want to admit
what's really happening.
What is really happening?
Someone is talking to him.
[Dr. Bruno] Who?
Sitara, who is talking to him?
[ominous music playing]
God.
[Sitara] He says
God is talking to him.
You're right.
We absolutely cannot
expose this.
That's why we need
some trashy outlet
to do it for us first.
Great job, Claudia.
I knew there was a reason why
I put up with
that drone of a personality.
Drink on me tonight!
[giggles]
-[buzzing]
-[door opens]
[chimes]
[door closes]
[chimes]
[birds chirping]
[chimes]
[woman 1 giggles]
[indistinct laughing]
[Anton] What is it?
Again, this article
was just published
by The Daily Post who insist
they have an audio file
to back up this story
but since we have not heard
the audio clip ourselves,
I must add
that the Wild Card fighter
Sagan Bruno "allegedly"
hears God.
[announcer] Attention please,
Shalom Stadium security
may detain anyone...
-Sagan.
-Time to go?
Not quite.
[Sagan] What is it?
Someone leaked
a conversation your parents had
in the hotel room.
They were talking about your...
mental health issue.
[scoffs] Oh.
You're taking this better
than I expected.
[Sagan] If I get riled up
because somebody wants
to rile me up
then I'm a puppet,
not a fighter.
[scoffs]
Anton was always
a great teacher.
-You trained with him?
-Yeah,
when we were kids all the way
until he left our school.
You want to do
some flow exercises?
Sure.
[soft music playing]
-[helicopter hovering]
-[slow music playing]
[announcer] Shalom Stadium
security may detain
anyone not in possession
of an official security pass.
Well, look who's here.
Looks like Sagan is about to
fight his first top-50 fighter.
[fighting sounds]
Sitara is here.
[Dr. Bruno] I'll go get her.
Tell Sagan, we're very sorry.
Break his legs.
You like her.
She's smart...
and extremely good at her job.
[Sagan] I just feel bad
she ended up with me.
She should be Ammon Jones's
or Nizar Haddad's PPO.
She didn't end up with you,
she chose you.
[announcer] ...mat number 5.
-What?
-Well,
not exactly you,
but the Institute.
Of course.
All of the top organizations
tried to recruit her.
She passed on all of them
and recommended
her students instead.
She was an instructor?
Not just any instructor.
The Dashifar offered her
an entire island
in exchange for becoming
Nizar Haddad's PPO.
[announcer in Chinese]
[Sagan] What's she doing here?
[exhales] I'm sure
she turned around immediately
as soon as she heard about
that trashy leak going viral.
[Anton] They said they're sorry.
[announcer] Winner, Steimer.
It wasn't their fault.
Now, let's talk about
that voice you're hearing
after the fight, okay?
You want to talk about God,
Anton?
-Dressed like this? [laughs]
-[chuckles]
[announcer] Bruno vs.
Salvador, 30-second warning.
[slow music playing]
[announcer] Attention, please.
The Pencenites's
Freddy Alvarez,
ranked at 23 in the current
Absolute Dominion top 50,
has volunteered to fight
in place of Mgico Salvador.
[ding sounds]
[Ceylon] Folks, I never thought
I would say this, but,
this Wild Card tournament
has just become more thrilling
than the past 10
ranking tournaments together.
Where is he?
[Ceylon] So, the Pencinites,
like the Sons of Moses
and the Dashifar each have more
than one fighter in the top 50.
But this challenge
isn't without consequences.
You see, there is no gain
if a top-50 fighter
wins against a Wild Card,
but if he loses,
it's a 10-point deduction.
[fighting sounds]
Fighter, take your mark.
Fighter, take your mark.
[indistinct talking]
Fighting position.
Fighter, are you ready?
Fighter, are you ready? Fight!
[fighting sounds]
Come on, Sagan.
[mouths]
[referee] Fighter.
Do you give up?
Fighter. Do you give up?
Fighter. Do you give up?
Fighter. Do you give up?
Break!
[ding sounds]
[yawns] Well,
that was a snooze fest,
[Ceylon] but the young
Sagan Bruno wins again.
-[crowd applauding]
-[Ceylon] So that means
that Freddy Alvarez drops
from number 23
[gasps] to 46,
and Sagan Bruno is still here.
[Ceylon] Which means,
if he wins his next fight,
[gasps] you're gonna see him
in the finals tomorrow.
-[chimes]
-[door opens]
[door closes]
I'll talk to Ammon.
-Now!
-[door opens]
I'm surrounded by idiots.
I hope this wasn't too horrible
to watch.
No, not horrible at all.
I'll stay for the next one
if that's okay with you.
[announcer] Winner, Noyan.
[Dr. Bruno] It took you
a lot longer this time.
Was his style tough to beat?
No.
I just figured, now I'm known
as the guy who hears God,
I better be as mundane
as possible.
[vacuum whirring]
[dramatic music playing]
-[man 1] Ah!
-[knife swishing]
[fighting sound]
Sec Command,
this is PPO Naya Olinga.
I've got a 6-4 attempt on my
fighter. Request assistance.
-[alarming blaring]
-[announcer] Attention, guests.
Shalom Stadium curfew
will start in 15 minutes.
Please exit the stadium.
[Latin prayer]
"Omnis satanica potestas,
omnis incursio
infernalis adversarii,
omnis legio."
I'll get you out of here
in a sec.
[man 1] Vade, satana,
inventor et magister
omnis fallaci,
hostis human salutis.
Quomodo scis quia non sum deus?
[announcer] Please proceed
to the nearest exit gate.
-What is his issue?
-[Sagan] He's a Uriahnit
who thinks I'm the devil.
What did you say to him?
I asked him how he knows
I'm not God.
-[announcer] Last warning...
-This is unacceptable.
I want to speak with the head
of security immediately
or I'll file a complaint
with the SCSC.
[Dr. Bruno] First, you record
a confidential conversation
between two medical doctors
and then you're incapable
of providing security
when my son becomes a target.
[Steph] Sir,
nothing is confidential
inside Shalom Stadium.
It's in the privacy policy
-you signed when you registered.
-[sighs]
[slow music playing]
-[chimes]
-[seagulls squawk]
[Santo] Nizar asks
if he can stop by.
[Mestre] Yes, of course.
When evil people meet,
good people reinforce
their shields with leather.
[crickets chirping]
[Nigel] You're the number one
ranked fighter
and you're acting like
you're afraid of him?
Because I don't want to blow
my hard-earned ranking
to stop this nobody
from qualifying?
-How did you get in here?
-Through the door of course.
[Zimmer] Wondering why
your PPO didn't stop me?
Because I'm her boss.
I'm also his boss.
[Zimmer] I know you think that
as the number-one-ranked
Absolute Dominion fighter
the sun rises
and sets with you...
but that's an illusion.
You're a court jester,
an entertainer, a reality star.
I can have you eliminated
from the tournament like this...
The international convention
has rules. And--
[Zimmer laughs]
[scoffs] It's almost cute
how naive you are.
I'm in charge of the tournament
and I'm in charge
of the military.
One word from me
and you will be disqualified.
-For what?
-I'm sure
I can think of something.
Try me.
[Mestre] Please sit, have tea.
Nobody is going to try
and kill us tonight.
[Mestre] They're too busy trying
to kill the young prophet.
The young prophet?
[Mestre] A skeptic who hears God
and makes all the evil people
run like chickens?
Do you really think
they're trying to kill him?
It's what they do
to prophets, no?
[Ammon] Can't we wait
till he's in the top 50?
If he even wins
the Wild Card spot--
I could try to explain to you
the geopolitical necessity
of religions
to sustain stable
international relations,
but let's be honest...
It's too complex
of an issue for you.
The simple version is:
we don't need to put this idea
of a potential "godless" outcome
into people's minds any more
than it already is.
[Zimmer] It will be
the end of peace,
and I like peace. Don't you?
-Yes.
-Good.
So go out there and kick
that godless little shit
into oblivion.
Wait.
[Zimmer sighs]
[Ammon] I need a guarantee
that I'll win.
If number 23 here
was almost able to beat him,
why are you worried?
[Ammon] Because that's not
what happened.
Tell her.
Tell me what?
-I didn't almost beat him.
-[Ammon] Tell her
exactly what you told me.
[sighs]
He played around with me
the entire time.
I have no idea
why he dragged it out.
[Freddy] He could have won
in the first 15 seconds.
He dragged it out
in order to humiliate you.
That's what godless people do.
They have no incentive
for compassion.
No, I think he did the opposite.
I don't care what you think.
[Zimmer inhales]
What type of guarantee
did you have in mind?
You just said you're the head
of the military.
[scoffs]
Make sure you step on that mat.
There have been
3.5 million cyber searches
for "Humanism" just today.
If he shows up
for the finals tomorrow,
we'll never be able
to get rid of him.
-[chimes]
-[door sliding]
The evacuation order
has been lifted.
We can go back to the stadium.
Ammon Jones has been spotted
in gear and warming up.
Wow.
We can hardly miss the moment
Nizar Haddad becomes number one.
You believe Ammon Jones is
going to lose. Against a noob?
I don't know anything
about noobs.
But I know
God's not gonna lose today.
[Nizar] I know he's a Celestian
but he sure doesn't sound
like one.
Maybe because he's Makuxi.
-He's what?
-Makuxi.
It's an indigenous
people of Brazil.
Celestianism was forced on
his people by their colonizers.
But why is he fighting
for the Celestians then?
[Mestre] Man's gotta eat
brother Nizar.
[door closes]
It's time to go.
[Sagan] I never thanked you
for saving my life.
I noticed and I've already
requested to be transferred.
[laughs]
Put this on your head, please.
They denied my request
for a second PPO,
so we have to work with
what we got to keep you safe.
Remember the three Ps.
"Pay attention, process,
predict."
[scoffs]
You have an IQ of 182,
a photographic memory,
and you speak
eight languages fluently.
I know you understood
what I said.
What? It's good to be smart, no?
Not if it's
a genetically-modified feature.
You'd never hear
Deadpool say that.
-Who?
-[Naya laughs]
Ah. It's a vintage thing.
I'll tell you another time.
Let's go.
[ding sounds]
Another top-50 fighter
is warming up
to challenge Sagan Bruno
and not just any fighter,
the number-one-ranked fighter
in the Battle
for Absolute Dominion.
-[crowd cheering]
-Ammon Jones himself.
-[door opens]
-[keyboard sounds]
-[seagulls squawk]
-[door closes]
Captain Davis, you are in charge
of Shalom Stadium security?
Yes, Commander Zimmer, I am.
Good. I need you
to execute a Code 16.
Are you familiar with Code 16?
Yes, Commander. Code 16:
Imminent use of force
against an actor identified
as a threat
to international security.
Section 396 of Title 10
of the Beirut Convention
requires approval of no less
than three member States--
Not if declared
a global emergency.
[Zimmer] The Return of Peace
is at stake,
and if we don't eliminate
the threat
as fast as humanly possible,
we will be back
in the ruins of 2045.
Yes, Commander. Understood.
Get it done.
[tense music playing]
[door closes]
-Sergeant Lee.
-[Lee] Yes, Commander?
Run this to Nigel Johnson.
Make sure he gets it
before Ammon fights.
[Lee] Yes, Commander.
[dramatic music playing]
-What is your life source?
-My breath.
-What is your handicap?
-Tension.
-Who is your enemy?
-Pride.
-Who is your ally?
-Movement.
-What do you do
when you get hit?
-Remain human.
[announcer] Attention, please.
We have, once again,
-a substitution.
-Shh. Shh.
[slow music playing]
[announcer] Gautier vs Khan,
mat number six.
[fighting sounds]
[referee] Fighter,
take your mark.
Fighter, take your mark.
Fighter, take your mark.
[indistinct talking]
First warning, Jones!
-I don't like this.
-Neither do I.
[referee] First warning, Jones!
[slow motion sound warping]
[referee] Fight!
[fighting sounds]
Hands up, Sagan.
Sagan!
[upbeat music playing]
[action music playing]
[silent arrow shot]
-[music abruptly stops]
-[pants]
-Tap out.
-Argh!
[referee] Break!
Weapon! Weapon! Weapon!
-Manossenhora!
-[referee] Weapon!
-[alarm blaring]
-Move back now!
This is a crime scene.
[chimes]
[announcer] Attention
guests, coaches, team members.
Shalom Stadium curfew
will start in 15 minutes...
Naya! We'll bring you
and your fighter
back to your suite.
Everybody else
must head out of the stadium.
-Curfew in 15 minutes.
-Who's investigating?
[Steph] MPs are already here
to conduct a full investigation.
-Trust me.
-Is he going to be safe?
It depends how far they'll go
to stop him from qualifying.
Can Anton stay behind with you?
It's a federal offense
to stay inside the stadium
after curfew without permission
and I'm sure
they have eyes on us.
They'll disqualify Sagan
-and arrest Anton.
-[Steph] Let's go.
We can drop them off
on our way to the gate.
[announcer] Last warning...
[Dr. Bruno] So he might not
be safe
and we can't do anything
to protect him?
-You can take him with you.
-Then he's disqualified.
My job is to give you
an honest safety assessment,
-Dr. Bruno.
-[voice announces in Chinese]
I'm good at what I do
but I'm only one person,
and they seem determined
to not let him finish
the tournament.
That's it then,
he's coming with us.
I'm staying.
Did you not just hear
what she said?
-[Sitara] You're not safe here.
-Why do you care suddenly?
[alarming continues blaring]
You never cared
about any of this...
-[announcer] Last warning.
-...or me.
I trained for this
my whole life.
You made me for the sole purpose
of winning this tournament.
If you're taking this
from me now...
you're pulling the ground
from under my feet.
[announcer] Exit the stadium.
Last warning.
[voice announces in Chinese]
[somber music playing]
[announcer] Please exit
the stadium.
[voice announces in Chinese]
[exhales]
The reason why I've been
so distant with you...
is not because I don't love you.
[announcer] Exit the stadium.
On the contrary .
It's because I'm ashamed.
What mother sends her child
into an arena to fight
before he is even born?
It's barbaric.
[sighs]
I thought you hated me...
and frankly, you should.
-[helicopter hovering]
-[loud siren wailing]
[slow music playing]
[announcer] Last warning.
All unauthorized parties
must exit the stadium.
[ding sounds]
[Fix] This tournament
is getting crazier by the day.
I can't possibly do
a normal show now.
I gotta know what's going on,
and luckily I know
just who to ask.
Ceylon, are you down there?
What is going on?
Give me the scoop.
Hi Fix, thanks so much
for thinking of me.
Sorry to disappoint you,
but we don't actually know
what's going on either. Yikes!
One moment Sagan Bruno
is on top of Ammon Jones,
the next moment, Sagan Bruno
is grabbing an arrow
flying in the air at
at least, 300mph, like, whoosh!
[Fix] Oh, okay,
so it was an arrow?
We didn't know
that's what it was.
It's an arrow?
[Ceylon] Yeah, we had to really
slow down the video footage,
zoom in as much as possible,
and I'm just getting word now
from my team
that we can review this
together.
So why don't we
figure this out.
Perfect. A budding detective
show right there.
Let's go.
[Steph] We'll take you
through the kitchen,
just in case the press
are waiting in the lobby.
[helicopter hovering]
Please, sit.
[Ceylon] Okay, so we can begin
to see what's happening here.
Sagan Bruno
is in mount position.
There's no way for Sagan Bruno
to see what's happening
above him.
This is when the arrow begins
to enter the frame.
-[arrow squealing]
-[door opens]
[indistinct talking]
[Ceylon] We had to
really zoom in
and go frame-by-frame
to see what happens next.
Somehow Sagan reaches out
his hand to grab
what he couldn't possibly
have seen coming.
-[Fix] Holy shit!
-[Ceylon] So much
for "the Lord preserves those
who are true to him,"
right? [chuckles]
If I was God
with a front-row seat
to the past 2100 years
of human history,
I would also root
for the people
who don't believe in me.
Come on.
[chimes]
[device] Absolute Dominion,
Investigation Committee.
This is Captain Davis,
head of Shalom Stadium
Security Force.
I need to report someone
for misconduct.
[device] Yes, Captain Davis,
who will you be reporting?
Myself.
Did she tell you
what a badass instructor
your PPO was?
-She didn't.
-She made us play this game
called Non Passere
where one person has to get
from their base
into the enemy's base
without getting killed.
I started throwing up
after I swallowed a paintball
during an ambush,
so she made me do it again
with even more people shooting
at me from everywhere.
[scoffs]
[elevator bell rings]
[elevator voice] Zone four.
[dramatic music playing]
We don't have eyes
in this building,
so if anyone bothers you,
-call me.
-Okay.
-Eyes up, sis.
-Always.
-[elevator bell rings]
-[door opens]
[intercom] Security deactivated.
Lights off.
-[door closes]
-[Sagan] What's wrong?
[Naya] Can you order
some food for us?
-I'm starving.
-[Sagan] Yeah, me too.
-[Naya sighs]
-[Sagan] What do you want?
Same as you.
Three plain chicken breasts
and a baked potato?
Not the same as you.
Is there a menu?
[AI voice] Hello,
were you asking
for a room service menu?
[Naya] We did, thank you.
If we ask for privacy,
will it show up
equally as quick?
[Ai voice] I'm so sorry.
We currently do not have
privacy on the menu,
is there anything else
we might be able to get you?
[Naya] Okay,
we would like to have
three plain chicken breasts
and one potato.
Large potato.
And I would like to have
the poke bowl.
-[AI voice] Any drinks?
-Just water, please.
[AI voice] Your order
will arrive in 12 minutes
and 24 seconds. Thank you.
[chimes]
[Mestre] Reinforcements
have already arrived.
You're friends
with Sagan's PPO, aren't you?
She was my instructor
at the academy.
Can you speak with her?
Offer our assistance.
[Lucia] Her fighter is a target.
She's not going to trust me
or any other fighter's PPO
right now.
But there's other ways
I can try
to gather intelligence for you.
[exhales]
[elevator bell rings]
[elevator voice] Zone four.
Why did you choose the Institute
over everybody else?
What?
Anton said you passed on
all the other offers you got
but accepted ours.
Is it because you're an atheist?
No. [scoffs]
I believe in God.
[Sagan] Then why?
Every organization
participating
in the tournament
had to publish a manifesto
to give people an idea of what
the world would look like
if their fighter won
Absolute Dominion.
Almost all of them
strictly forbid
any other spiritual practices
or traditions except their own.
I don't remember the IHS
manifesto being that different.
Then you haven't read
the small print.
A summary of it basically says
if we win Absolute Dominion,
there won't be any tax-exempt
religious organizations anymore,
and we never have to hear
dogma in schools
or governments again.
But if you want to perform
any spiritual traditions
on your own time
and with private organizations,
knock yourself out.
[Naya] We have to have
at least that.
You can't forbid people
from practicing
their 3000-year-old tradition
or demand they forget
their own culture completely.
It dehumanizes people.
[Naya] I'm convinced
the IHS author knew that,
which is why
it's so carefully written.
It's like a road map
to help us bypass
an impending apocalypse.
-[chuckles]
-[Naya] What?
I'm just thinking about
the author of the manifesto.
-You know the author?
-[Sagan] You do too.
She's my mother.
[scoffs]
-[traffic sounds]
-[car horns]
They're bringing in a shooter,
so whatever you're planning,
you need to make it happen fast.
I can't jump in and save you.
[seagulls squawking]
[slow music playing]
[alarm rings]
-Good news?
-Oh.
[exhales] Sorry. Not good news,
-but a good friend.
-Oh yeah?
[Naya] One
of my former students
is Fix Huntley's
protection officer.
He asked her
to ask me to ask you...
if you'd consider doing
an interview with him.
-[Naya] I can just pass--
-No! Don't pass.
-I'm a big fan.
-[Naya] Really?
Yeah, I watch his show
all the time.
[Sagan] He's smart and kind.
I would love to meet him.
-Can I tell her that?
-[Sagan] Yes!
[Naya] Okay.
Give him
my personal number, please.
[somber music playing]
[crickets chirping]
[device whirring]
[sniper] Lady Lights Out
and Company
in position and ready to engage.
[sniper] Targets in the window.
[sniper] Should I engage?
[commander] Negative,
bulletproof windows.
That bad?
What we expected.
[Sagan] So the underground
tunnel is not an option?
They're not that incompetent.
Every path to the stadium
will be blocked
except for this one.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Fix wanted you to have this.
[Naya] Apparently, there are two
people with this number.
-And one of them is his mom.
-Honored.
You need something
to write it down?
[Naya] Of course not, I forgot.
[pod train whooshing]
[tense music playing]
[train whooshing]
[mysterious music plays]
[mouths]
[elevator bell rings]
Wait for target.
[tense music playing]
[Sagan] No press.
[Sagan scoffs]
[Naya] Of course not.
As soon as I open this door,
you start running full-speed
towards the south-east entrance,
I'll run to the south-west one.
They won't expect
two people running,
so that gives us three seconds
until they adjust.
Start running sideways
and zigzag
after the halfway line.
[Naya] That's when
they'll start firing nonstop.
Got it.
On three.
-One.
-[music intensifies]
-[Naya] Two.
-[Lucia] Naya.
Nizar would like to have a word
with Sagan if possible.
[somber music playing]
-Salam alaykum.
-Alaykum salam.
May I introduce you
to Mestre Gato Santo.
Prazer em conhec-lo Mestre.
O prazer todo meu.
We wondered if we could
accompany you to the stadium?
I'm not sure
if that's a good idea.
Why not?
They know what's going on.
They won't risk hurting us.
That would set off
World War Four.
If I remember correctly,
the risk of igniting a world war
-has never prevented one.
-[scoffs]
Well, we shall be on
the right side of this one then.
-Claudia!
-[door opens]
[door closes]
Why are they here?
Did you think I'd roll the dice
on them not shooting at us
without at least tipping
the odds in our favor?
So, how would you like
to do this?
He's taller than any of us.
Unless we put him
in a wheelchair,
those snipers will have
a clean shot.
Wheelchair?
They will disqualify him.
[upbeat music playing]
I have an idea.
[Lee] There is a delegation here
led by World Coalition chief,
Huda Sha'arawi,
they insist on seeing you now.
We have no record
of a scheduled visit.
This is against security
procedures.
Wallah, I knew this woman
would be dangerous.
[Lee] Commander, General Huda
insists on speaking with you.
We are in the middle of
a classified military exercise,
announced visitors
are not permitted.
Cut the crap , Illona.
[Huda] Denying a representative
of the World Coalition access
is a violation
of the Beirut Act ,
and there are four members here.
Movement at home base.
Shit.
-[helicopter hovering]
-[tense music playing]
[screeching]
[grunts]
What's going on?
Something blinded me. Hang on.
They created a shield around
him
using the reflective
security mirrors.
Can you still get the shot?
This has gone too far.
[Nigel] Come on.
I didn't expect
to walk in here and agree
with you of all people, Nigel.
But yes, Commander Zimmer
has finally gone too far.
Doesn't anybody get it?
What is so upsetting about this,
Commander Zimmer?
They seem to be protecting him
from something.
We have always
encouraged fighters
to practice sportsmanship.
[Zimmer] This isn't
sportsmanship,
this is worship.
[Zimmer] A Wild Card fighter
no one's ever heard of
who doesn't belong
to any religion shows up,
breaks every single tournament
record, then cleverly leaks
that he hears the voice of God.
The very next day, our top two
fighters flank him with shields,
like a messiah.
[Zimmer] This was a long con
and we fell for it.
The Institute for Humanism
and Science conned us.
[Nigel] She has a point.
The peace that comes
with this tournament
will be over
if the top-ranked fighters
started worshiping
someone or something
outside their own faiths.
She may have a point,
if it turns out to be true...
But we can't just assassinate
people on a hunch.
There are laws
and regulations...
A big book of them that lawyers
from all over the globe
fought over
for over a decade.
Whatever you have planned here
is in violation of half of them.
[Huda] Call it off now.
I'm not saying it again.
[chimes]
-Abort operation.
-Copy that. Aborting.
[chimes]
[chimes]
Knock, knock.
Claudia, are you there?
[Claudia] Yes. They are just now
entering the stadium.
Read the room.
We're literally streaming
your footage live right now.
I need you to smile
and ask questions.
-It haven't cleared--
-[Ceylon] This isn't
a request from me,
but directly from Command.
[Claudia] Nizar Haddad,
Mestre Gato Santo,
would you mind answering some
questions for our audience?
-A couple.
-[Claudia] Great.
Does this procession
have a spiritual meaning?
-Spiritual?
-[Claudia] Well, are you
and Mestre Gato Santo
now following
Sagan Bruno,
the Humanist who hears God?
I'm afraid
I have to disappoint you.
Our motivation to get
Sagan Bruno safely
to the stadium
is not nearly as deep.
[Claudia] Well,
what is your motivation?
I'm surprised
this isn't obvious to everyone.
[slow music playing]
We want to fight him, of course.
[Nizar] When you're
in the top 50,
new sparring partners are rare.
Most of us have been fighting
the same people
for half a decade.
It gets old, familiar...
There's nothing worse
for a fighter than familiarity.
[Nizar] There haveve been
numerous attempts
to get rid of this fighter
with means and weapons
I always assumed were illegal
based on our conventions,
which is why we decided
to make sure
he gets here in one piece.
Sagan Bruno has a right
to qualify for the top 50,
and Mestre Gato Santo and myself
have a right to stop him
from doing so...
on the mat.
And inshallah,
one of us will manage.
[Naya] Come on.
See?
There was
no Humanism cult conspiracy.
Just a bunch of fighters
wanting to fight.
They're lying.
[door closes]
[laughs] Of course I do.
-[Huda laughs]
-[chimes]
[Sitaga] Sagan!
-[Anton] You made it.
-Yeah.
Saved him from the tigers
to serve him to the lions.
He has to fight them
one day anyway.
But not in a row.
Nobody ever has to do that.
Not even
in a final grand championship.
What are the odds of beating
the number-one fighter
in the world right after
a match with number two?
Small...
but not impossible.
If they fight clean...
[announcer] One-minute warning.
First semi-final fight.
One minute.
-[voice announces in Chinese]
-Can you go first, Mestre?
Not enough to sign me up
for a fight I never agreed to,
-now you want me to go first?
-[Nizar] Mestre,
I'm not a sage like you
or a prophet like him.
I'm a child of war.
Believe me if I tell you
if we don't give it our all,
he's not going live
to see spring.
I can feel it coming...
vultures circling,
bloodhounds salivating.
[Nizar] Humanity does not find
comfort in peace,
only in conflict.
They are getting restless.
They want to tear something
into pieces
and an infidel who claims
he hears God
is exactly what
they've been waiting for.
[Mestre] So you're saying,
we have to tear him into pieces
instead?
[Nizar] No, we have to beat him
in a fight
to show the world
he's not a prophet or a threat,
he's just human.
Alright, I'll beat him...
but only so
he doesn't have to lose
to a jackass like you.
[announcer] Attention, please.
We have,
once again, a substitution.
Mestre Gato Santo will fight
in place of Jang Yong Naam.
[cheering]
[crowd applauding]
[referee] Fighter,
take your mark.
[referee] Fighter,
take your mark.
[heartbeats]
[referee] Positions.
[referee] Fighter ready?
Fighter ready?
[referee] Fight!
[upbeat music playing]
[man 2] Oh yeah!
[fighting sounds]
[cheering]
[drops]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering]
[breathes]
[mysterious music plays]
[music intensifies]
Argh.
[crowd exclaims]
[somber music playing]
-[Sagan pants]
-Sorry, buddy.
[referee] Do you give up?
Fighter, do you give up?
Break!
-[crowd cheering]
-Winner!
[grunts, pants]
[announcer] Winner, Bruno.
-[chimes]
-[door opens]
They haven't started
the other semi-final fight.
We have at least ten minutes.
[moans]
[chimes]
-[slow music playing]
-[exhales]
What?
Every single rib of your right
rib cage is fractured.
-What does that mean?
-[Dr. Bruno] It means
you've done your best
and we're very proud of you.
What does that mean, Anton?
It means your chances of winning
against Nizar in this state
are too slim to risk
the permanent damage
-it could cause--
-I take slim chances.
-[Dr. Bruno] Sagan.
-Nobody can forfeit the fight
but me, so you might as well
save me the breath,
and stop arguing about it.
I'll give you something
for the pain.
No.
I just need a moment alone.
Please.
[door closes]
[Dr. Bruno] I know
how you feel, Sagan.
Like a lab rat,
born into a life
that was already predetermined.
[Dr. Bruno] And for that
I'm truly sorry.
You're not a lab rat.
You're flesh and blood,
and what you want...
what you feel...
matters.
I love you, son.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[grunts]
I really don't know
how this works...
[scoffs]
but if you're not
a stress-induced hallucination,
I could really use your help
right now.
[exhales]
[music intensifies]
-[slow music playing]
-[indistinct talking]
I'm ready.
[somber music playing]
Fighter, take your mark.
Fighter, take your mark.
Fighting position.
Fighter, ready? Fighter, ready?
Fight!
[fighting sounds]
Listen, if you're doing this
because of
what I said yesterday--
You mean the part
where I'm the only one
who can prevent
the impending apocalypse?
That's not why I'm doing it.
I saw the trophy
they have for the winner.
It's three feet tall
and covered in glitter.
I want it.
[scoffs]
[fighting sounds]
[referee] Break!
[crowd cheering]
Winner, Rodriguez!
He's hurt.
Then he shouldn't fight.
[announcer] Ladies
and gentlemen,
we have
yet another substitution.
Fighting in place
of Miguel Rodriguez,
will be the number-one-ranked
fighter,
Nizar Haddad.
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Ceylon] Here we go, folks.
This is it.
The number-one-ranked fighter
in the world
against the heathen
who's BFF with God.
-What a time to be alive.
-[crowd cheering]
-I'm dead.
-[referee] Fighting position.
-[horns]
-[crowd cheering]
[referee] Fight!
[fighting sounds]
[crowd exclaim]
[action music playing]
Ah.
Ah.
[crowd applauding]
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd cheering]
Yes!
[tense music accelerates]
-[man 3 in other language]
-Tap out?
Fighter!
[referee] Break!
[crowd cheering]
-Yes!
-Yes!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering] Yes!
[crowd cheering, whistling]
Winner.
[crowd applauding, cheering]
[laughs]
[Ceylon] Wowza! Plot twist!
The holy heathen has made it
to the top 50.
Who would've thought
that was possible?
-And tragically,
-[crowd cheering]
for both you, and me,
and, frankly, the entire world,
the time has come
for us to part.
I must bid you adieu,
ciao, farewell, adis,
ma'a salaama, and hand it over
to my dear friend Fix Huntley
who as always,
will be closing the tournament
with his live show.
Over to you, Fix!
How about that, folks?
How about that?
I did not think
that could happen
in the last qualifying battle.
-An unknown Wild Card
-[static sounds start]
has fought his way
[echoes] into the big...
[distorted sounds]
[dramatic music playing]
[woman 2] What?
What happened?
Good evening.
Tonight,
our 19 years of peace
-were brought to an end
-[helicopter hovering]
with a devastating
terrorism attack.
Although we are still waiting
for confirmation,
we believe that Fix Huntley,
the man who came up with
the Battle
for Absolute Dominion,
whom we owe our return
to peace and civilization to...
was the intended target.
[somber music playing]
[seagulls squawk]
[vacuums whirring]
[birds chirping]
Thank you.
Ready?
-Where are they?
-They set up on the deck.
Something about front lighting
-and magic hour.
-Magic hour?
Sounds divine.
There you are.
-Nice to meet you.
-[Fix] Same here.
Hey everybody, can I get
five minutes with Sagan?
Really quick,
just before we start?
Thanks. And no hot mics.
So when did you know?
When did I know what?
[Fix] That somebody was planning
to blow up my studio.
I didn't.
I've been doing this 19 years,
I've never aired
a pre-taped episode
until yesterday.
'Cause you insisted
we do this interview
today or not at all.
So I had to travel very quickly.
[slow music playing]
You don't strike me
as the today-or-not-at-all
kind of guy...
unless...
you were trying to get me
and my crew
out of the studio.
I'm not sure
if you're accusing me
of being in cahoots
with terrorists...
or in cahoots with God.
But either option sounds way
more exciting than my real life.
[chuckles]
Sorry,
just coming close to death...
kind of shakes you up
a little bit.
I understand.
Okay everybody, let's go.
[slow music playing]
[music ends]