Breeder (2026) Movie Script
1
[ Thudding,
birds calling in distance ]
-Chief!
[ Vehicle approaching ]
Chief!
[ Engine idling ]
[ Suspenseful music plays ]
[ Door closes,
footsteps approaching ]
[ Music builds ]
-Hi. Are you Patti?
-Yeah.
-I'm Cindy.
It's nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
-Those pictures you sent --
-Good facial symmetry.
-W-What's that?
-I said you have good
facial symmetry.
-Oh.
Thanks.
I think you're the first
to notice.
Should w-- Should we, uh,
go see the litter?
-Let's go see the litter.
-[ Exhales deeply ] Oh. Perfect.
Can't wait to see them
in person.
[ Birds cawing, cage rattling ]
[ Puppies barking, whining ]
Those pictures you sent
are so adorable.
I think --
I think I've fallen in love
with them already, you know?
Oh. I look at them over
and over and over again.
It's --
Thank you for...sending...
[ Door rumbling, thuds ]
-Before we go inside, I'd like
to go over the rules again.
-Of course. Yes.
Makes sense.
-One -- I don't allow
price negotiations.
I've arrived at my valuations
through careful research,
so any discussion over this
would be a waste of your time
and mine.
Two -- If for any reason I tell
you to exit the litter room,
I do mean it,
and I won't ask twice.
Three -- Anything capable
of taking photos
would need to be turned off
and placed in your trunk.
Are you carrying a cellphone?
-Uh, no.
It's in my trunk.
[ Music builds ]
Jesus.
They're beautiful.
[ Music builds ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-And what's so powerful
about this approach
is the modifications are
passed on to their offspring.
So I've run some simulations.
Uh, five generations --
That's how long it takes
to spread through
the entire apiary.
So with your contributions,
uh, you won't just be saving
these specific colonies.
You'll be helping to stabilize
an entire ecological system.
Uh, thank you.
-Thank you Russell.
-[ Clears throat ]
-On your CV here,
I see that you've taken
all the required courses,
but I don't see a PhD.
Is that right?
-Yeah.
That is right.
Um, I-I took some time off
school to focus on the project.
-Well, if you're
the principal investigator,
you need a PhD
to qualify for this grant.
-Yeah. If you just, uh, l-look
at the data, though, um...
-We've read the proposal.
-Uh-huh.
Well, the methodology
is correct.
Anyone with a --
with a PhD would agree.
Um...
-Right.
I'll tell you what.
Come back to see us
when you have your degree. Okay?
You okay?
-Um...
[ Bees buzzing ]
-Russell?
-Um...yeah.
Sorry.
Will you just excuse me
for a second, please?
[ Suspenseful music plays ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
[ Bees buzzing ]
So, you got any tips
for tonight?
-Tips?
-Yeah.
You know, for your mom.
How do I, like,
avoid another confrontation?
-Well, for starters,
maybe don't bring up
any of the twisted shit
we like to talk about.
-Yeah.
That's fair.
-And if she starts asking
about your career,
just...change the subject.
-Yeah?
Why would I need to do that?
-No. Because she does it
to everyone.
I wasn't saying that
'cause of what you do.
-Okay.
-You know I didn't mean it
like that.
-I know.
It's fine.
Ready?
-Yeah.
Let's go.
-All right.
-[ Laughing ]
-This is -- This is false.
-Surprising. I'm surprised.
-You are surprising me right --
-Mm! What's this?
-Oh.
That's honeycomb.
Russell brought it
for the dinner.
-Really?
Well, isn't that nice of him?
-That's...beeswax in there?
-Uh, yeah. Yeah. I got it
from my hive last night.
-Oh.
-And how's that going
with your bees?
-Oh, with the -- the hive?
-Aren't you starting some kind
of business with your bees?
-Oh, no.
It's, um...
It's a -- It's an environmental
research project.
-That's the one you dropped out
of M.I.T. for.
-He didn't drop out.
He's taking time off
to focus more on it.
-Oh, I see.
-Yeah. No.
It's actually going really well.
I've got some interest from some
of the top research grants,
so...
-Well, that sounds
very ambitious.
-It is. He's been working on it
for four years now.
-And you can make money
doing that?
-Mom.
-What?
-It's not for profit, but, um...
if I land one of those research
grants, then I get a salary,
and that'll support me
for a while.
-Enough to support a family?
-Oh. [ Chuckles ]
Oh, I don't know if we're gonna
be ready for that for a while.
[ Clears throat ]
Your mom was really coming in
hot about having a kid, huh?
-Yeah.
That's new.
-I can tell something's off.
-Well...
I didn't want to freak you out,
but...
-What's up?
-I've been, uh, looking into
some adoption agencies.
-Whoa.
[ Chuckles ]
Um...okay.
Um...
I mean, we're not even close
to being ready for that.
I mean, I have like $200,000
in student loans right now.
-I know.
-And that's just not going away.
Like, those people hit me up
like every week.
-Yeah, I know.
-And -- And -- And you think
that we can afford a kid?
Last week,
the cramps were really bad.
So I took a melatonin, and I had
this, like, super vivid dream.
-Yeah?
-You were showing our daughter
how to feed the bees.
Might not happen.
-Today I want to explore the
science behind recognition --
why it's a fundamental
human need
and how we can create
meaningful connections
in an age
of superficial affirmation.
The brain's limbic system,
which governs our emotions,
thrives on social affirmation.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-I feel like you just got to
take a minute to appreciate it.
-What's that?
-I was just saying
you should take a minute
to, like, be present,
soak it in.
-I am. Yeah.
No. I'm -- I'm -- I'm soaking.
-Here you go, superstar.
-Thank you, superstar.
Cheers.
Mm! Ah.
-Hoo! [ Exhales deeply ]
-[ Clears throat ]
-How do you feel?
-[ Exhales deeply ]
I mean, fuck.
Finally, somebody believes in
this thing, right?
Like, they get it.
They can see the potential.
-Yeah.
Absolutely.
You deserve that.
So, who is this person?
-Uh, I mean, it says
right here -- Patti Kolb.
-Right.
But what does Patti want?
-Why? 'Cause that's
the only plausible reason
somebody would do this?
-Oh, come on. I didn't say that.
-No. It's fine. Here.
[ Clears throat ]
"Russell -- I recently stumbled
across the Mensa newsletter
about your achievement
on their admissions test.
You looked great in the photo,
and your research sounds
fascinating.
You're tackling
a very serious problem
that will affect everyone,
especially the farmers."
[ Fingers snap ]
Maybe she's a farmer.
"I'm potentially interested
in financing
the rest of your project..."
-Whoa.
-"...but would first like
to meet in person
to hear more
about your research.
If you're available
and interested,
please join me for dinner
to discuss.
Patti Kolb."
And then she puts her phone
number and her address here.
[ Exhales deeply ]
God. She's in Bridesville.
-Where's that?
-Uh, east.
It's like five hours east.
-Right.
-Okay. Okay.
I get it.
But hear me out.
You can see why I'd want to meet
with an investor, right?
It's like 20,000 bucks.
-Yeah.
-So can you try to put yourself
in my shoes here a little bit?
-I will try.
-Thank you.
-[ Exhales deeply, groans ]
Can you crack me?
-Yeah. I got you.
Yeah.
Okay. Breathe in. Yeah.
Yeah.
-[ Popping ]
-[ Straining ] Ooh. Fuck, yeah.
[ Silverware tapping ]
-All right, then.
I think you're ready
to take that off
and join us at the table.
Manon.
[ Chair scraping ]
-Come on, Manon. Just --
-Shh. Don't speak.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Zero.
I guess she'd rather eat dinner
in the doghouse.
[ Music builds ]
Girls, handle your business.
-No!
No!
-She's a dog breeder.
-Yeah.
Miniature poodles.
Yeah. It looks like, uh,
she won a bunch of awards, too.
Look at that.
Best in breed,
Westminster Kennel Club.
-Okay.
So that's, like, a big deal.
-Hell, yeah.
That's a huge deal.
That's like the Super Bowl
for dog breeding.
-Please don't act like you knew
what that was.
-Okay. Fine.
But still.
Come on.
She seems harmless.
Look at that fanny pack.
-Yeah. That's not really
helping your case.
Also, how can she afford
to throw around 20 grand?
-You know, that would be a great
question for the dinner...
...which I will be attending.
Dog whistle in hand.
-No rape whistle?
-Wow.
That's a pretty fucked-up thing
to say, even for you.
[ Both laughing ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Music builds ]
Uh, hey.
It's -- It's, uh, Russell.
I'm, uh,
I'm here to see Patti?
[ Button clicks, metal rattling]
[ Engine stops ]
[ Clears throat ]
[ Knock on door ]
[ Scraping ]
Hey.
How's it going?
-Just feeding the new litter.
-Gotcha.
-They get a little restless
if they don't get their din-din.
-Oh. Yeah.
I'm sure.
Well, it's great
to finally meet you.
-Come on.
-Oh, yeah.
-Ah.
I've been really looking forward
to this.
-Yeah. Me too.
[ Clears throat ]
-I just want to soak you all up.
-Sounds great.
[ Chuckles ]
Uh, you mean, like, uh,
about my project.
-Of course.
We got a lot to talk about.
-Definitely.
-[ Scraping ]
Um, I think your dog
is trying to...
-Yeah. That's Mama.
Want to see the baby.
-Oh. [ Chuckles ]
Yeah.
-Mm.
You want to see the babies?
-Uh, yeah.
Let's do it.
-Okay.
-Okay.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Door rattling ]
-Let's go.
-Yeah.
-There's my babies.
There's my babies.
[ Puppies barking softly ]
Oh. Hey.
Oh, my goodness.
Come here.
Come here. Come here.
[ Music builds ]
Okay, okay. Come here.
Come here.
Oh!
Who's this little puppers?
-Oh, yeah.
-Who is this little puppers?
Really cute.
-Who is it?
[ Smooching ]
I know.
[ Smooching ]
I love you so much.
[ Whispering indistinctly ]
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, my goodness.
-There you go.
-Okay.
Over here.
There he is.
-Oh, wow.
He's beautiful.
-He's smart too.
-Oh, nice.
Uh, can he do shake?
[ Chuckles ]
-[ Chuckles ] I don't know.
Why don't you ask him?
-Oh, God.
I'm sorry. I, uh...
-Can you do shake, little buddy?
-[ Chuckles ]
-Yes, you can.
You're so pretty.
[ Whispering ] You're my baby,
and I love you so much.
I love you forever.
We won best in group at WKC.
-Oh. Wow.
-Do you want to see it?
Oh, of course. Yeah. Yeah.
Show me your stuff.
- ...applause this breed
consistently draws.
And here we have
toy poodle number...
-Okay. I'm coming up. Hold on.
-Listen to that crowd.
-Here comes.
-They love seeing a poodle.
-Yeah.
Poodles are always popular.
There have been a lot
of best-in-group winners
over the years.
-This is huge.
You must be so proud.
-Nobody really cares about
best in group.
Mama said the only reason
people care about best in show
is 'cause of the movie.
-Ah.
Well, I bet she's still proud.
-She was a tough nut to crack.
-Mm.
-I used to think she might have
stayed for the medal ceremony
if I'd have got best in show,
but...I don't know.
-Ah.
That's, uh...
I'm sorry.
[ Exhales deeply ]
-My brother makes 300,000 a year
as an anesthesiologist.
Mama was never gonna care
about poodle breeding.
-They rank amongst the smartest
of dogs.
-Well, I still think
it's amazing.
It's like the Super Bowl
for dog breeding.
-[ Laughs softly ]
That -- That same year,
I won Breeder of the Year at
the AKC National Championship.
-What?
That's incredible.
-I actually have that one
on tape, too.
-Oh.
Nice.
-Okay. Wait a second.
-Mm-hmm.
-Where are you?
Where are you?
-Uh, actually, I was thinking...
maybe we should probably
start dinner.
Right?
-They're natural performers.
It's part of the charm.
That mix of poise
and playfulness --
You just can't teach
that kind of personality.
-I have heard handlers say
breeders actually enjoy
the grooming...
-Oh, I forgot.
You're just here
for your dinner.
-What?
No. I was --
-You don't actually fucking care
about any of this, do you?
[ Dramatic music plays ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Wind whistling ]
[ Sighs ]
God damn it.
-Hey.
Sorry.
Um, I, uh, I forgot to mention
I brought this for you.
Um, it's, uh, from my hive.
Um, there's lavender nearby,
so...it's lavendery.
[ Sniffs, clears throat ]
I can just leave it right here
for you.
-Sometimes when my
blood sugar drops,
I can get a little crabby.
-Oh, no worries.
I'm the same way.
[ Clears throat ]
Do you need any help?
-Why don't you go put your honey
on the dining room table?
-Okay.
Will do.
[ Foil crinkling ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Bell clanging in distance ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Clears throat ]
-Russell, I'd like you to meet
my daughters.
-Hey there.
-This is Manon,
Yara, Ainsley, Cosette,
and Celeste.
-Nice to meet you.
All of you.
[ Chuckles ]
-Sit.
-Yeah.
Thank you.
[ Clears throat ]
-[ Singsong voice ]
Be right back.
-Hey.
-[ Whispering ]
We're not a cult, I swear.
-Oh, no.
I wasn't thinking that.
[ Clears throat ]
-I can tell you two are gonna
get along without a hitch.
Very compatible intelligence.
-Oh, yeah.
Nice.
-I read the article
about your high IQ-test score.
Four standard deviations
above the norm.
It's a 160, isn't it?
-Oh, uh, I'm just good
at taking tests.
-So is Ainsley.
-Mm.
She's been telling me
all about your research.
-Oh. Sorry that she
put you through that.
-Ainsley's also working on
a research project.
-Oh. No way.
What's the project?
-I work in epidemiology.
It's a study
on venereal diseases.
But the scope isn't nearly
as big as what you're doing.
-She's being modest.
Ainsley just had
her essay published
in a scholarly journal.
-Oh. What?
That's incredible.
-And Yara is working hard
on her genetics PhD.
-Oh, wow.
That's amazing.
-Thank you very much.
-My two most valuable assets.
-Okay, Mom. You can stop
with the rsums now.
-Would you like a glass of wine?
-Uh, yes. Absolutely.
Thank you.
Great.
Chianti.
So, how long you been
in the dog-breeding game?
-Oh. I started right
when I got out of college,
so...about 30 years now.
-Thirty years.
Wow.
-Yeah. Most people don't realize
how much work goes into it.
-So what's the, uh,
what's the secret sauce?
How do you breed
the best-in-group type?
-Well, you have to start
with the right ingredients.
You can't make good wine
with bad grapes, can you?
-Right. Yeah.
-The same goes for breeding.
A best in group
doesn't just fall in your lap.
It takes a very careful
selection of the parents.
-Got it. So you're looking for
certain physical attributes?
Like, um...
-I focus on breeding
for intelligence.
Easier to train.
I only allow the smartest dogs
to breed.
-Gotcha. That makes sense.
Yeah.
-Makes a whole lot of sense.
Same should go for everyone.
-Mm.
Uh, interesting.
S-So you mean, um...
-Only certain people
should be allowed to reproduce.
The best people.
I mean, don't you think?
-Well, uh...
-What?
That makes you uncomfortable?
-No. I just, um...
It's not something
that I, uh...
Um, y-you're -- you're --
you're talking about eugenics.
-I'm a firm believer.
-Gotcha.
-You did just say it made sense
for me to breed my dogs
for intelligence.
Why shouldn't we expect the same
from everyone else?
-Um...
Well, you know, who decides
which people are fit
for breeding?
-Well, preferably someone
with experience.
-Okay.
But...
-Okay but what?
-No.
I just mean, um...
you know, who can say which
people are better than others?
-A breeder can.
-All right, Mom.
Maybe we should just...
Maybe this isn't the best
dinner conversation.
-[ Sighs ]
He's the one who said
it makes sense.
-[ Whispering ]
Sorry.
She just gets a little worked up
about this stuff.
-[ Whispering ]
Oh. No worries. No worries.
[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
-Would you like another glass
of wine?
-Um, no. I, uh...
I should probably head out soon.
I g-- I got to drive.
But thank you, though.
[ Clears throat ]
Oh.
What's that?
-Look inside.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-Is this...
What is this?
-I'm gonna fund
the rest of your project.
-Oh, my God.
This is...
Oh, my God.
I'm gonna make your project
possible
if you make my project possible.
-Wow. Um, yeah. Okay.
W-What's -- What's your project?
-Well...
...I'm actually moving on
from dog breeding.
Now I'm doing something
more important.
-Okay.
-Now I'm breeding people.
-Oh.
-And you and Ainsley happen
to be a perfect mated pair.
-Whoa, whoa. W-Whoa.
Whoa. Hold on.
Um, I can't, um...
I can't do that.
-You a homo?
-What?
-A homosexual.
-No. I just -- I-I just...
I have a fiance, so I can't
just, you know, have sex here.
-That's a blank check.
-No. I know. I know.
I know it is. I just, um...
I, uh...
-Fully financed.
-Um, I just, uh --
I-I'm not --
I-I can't, um --
Can you just give me a minute?
-Russell!
-Yeah.
-Make a decision right now.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-Uh...
I'm sorry. I just, um...
[ Chuckles weakly ]
I'm sorry.
Um...
I'm sorry.
Can you excuse me for a second?
[ Music builds ]
-We're gonna go through this
together, okay?
Just keep breathing.
Now take a deep breath in
through your nose...
-[ Inhales deeply ]
-...and out through your mouth.
-[ Exhales deeply ]
-That's it. Just like that.
-Okay.
[ Inhales deeply ]
[ Door opens ]
-Whoa. It's okay. It's just me.
-What's going on?
What are you doing?
-Relax, okay?
I'm just trying to help.
-I'm sorry.
This is, uh, this is just
way too weird for me, so...
-I get that.
But I am just trying to help.
-Can you get out of my car,
please?
-You don't want my mom
to fund your project?
-Can you just get out of my car,
please?
-It's easier than you think,
okay?
You don't even have to cheat.
-I don't even know
what that means.
-I can fake a pregnancy test.
I can take an HCG pill,
and it'll give a false positive
on the test.
-Okay.
So?
-So we tell her
we slept together,
and then we split the money.
Russell.
-What?
-I have to get out of here.
And to do that,
I need money, okay?
-[ Exhales deeply ]
-Okay?
Or you can head home
and your project
never gets off the ground.
-Um...
can't I, uh, just, like,
do it in a Petri dish or --
or, you know, whatever they do
at a sperm bank?
-Yeah. That won't work. She
calls that backyard breeding.
She hates that.
-Yeah. Of course she does.
-She just prefers to do things
naturally.
-Wait. Um, what does she do
with the babies?
-She sells them,
and I get a cut.
-Sells them?
Like -- Like --
Like on the black market?
-Yeah. How do you think
she can afford all this?
If we do this...
I don't ever have to have
another baby.
-Jesus.
-How good are you at lying?
-Um...uh, weird question.
Uh, not quite sure
how to answer that.
-Well, I happen to be
a great liar, okay?
-So that's why
I should trust you?
Because you happen to be
a great liar?
-When it comes to my mom, yes.
-Cool.
-What would I get
from lying to you?
-I don't know.
I don't know what your deal is.
But you're clearly trying to get
me to go back into that house.
-Hold on.
Why would I have these if
I wasn't planning on using them?
-I don't know.
Why would you have those?
-Maybe because I don't want to
spend the next nine months
carrying around
some stranger's baby.
-Yeah, it makes sense.
-Wonderful.
So...are we doing this?
Uh...
[ Laughing ]
Um...
[ Chuckles, sniffs ]
Can you just give me a minute?
-Sure.
-[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
-[ Softly ] I know it. I know.
[ Door opens, closes ]
-Mom.
He's gonna do it.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-What made you change your mind?
-Uh, I just, uh, couldn't
pass up the opportunity.
[ Clears throat ]
So...let's do this.
-Were you thinking about
the money
or were you thinking about
fucking my daughter?
-Uh...both.
-I take my work very seriously.
-Okay.
-And I expect that
from you, too.
-Absolutely.
Yeah.
-Lights-out is at 9 p.m. sharp.
After that, no one leaves
their room.
Understood?
-Understood.
Yeah.
-Ainslie's peak fertile period
is tomorrow night.
So starting then,
you'll be expected
to mate with her twice a day.
You'll stay on my ranch
as long as it takes.
-[ Softly ]
Mm-hmm.
-And while you're working
for me, you call me Chief.
-Chief.
-Just while you're working.
Follow me.
-Yeah.
[ Music builds, ends ]
Oh, cool.
Uh, this is a guest room or...
-Ainsley's room.
You'll share a bed.
-Hey.
Sorry.
-[ Clears throat ]
Um...
Hey, so, um, I completely
understand why I'm here.
Um, I'm just, uh --
With my fiance and all,
I just don't feel comfortable,
you know, sharing a bed.
So I'm wondering if there's a,
like, air mattress
or something I could use.
-In my experience, I find
it's best for the stud and bitch
to get acquainted
before breeding.
-I have a-an extra toothbrush
for you if you like.
-Thank you.
[ Clears throat ]
Huh.
Hm.
[ Phone buzzing ]
Oh, shit.
-What?
-Um, I'll be right back.
[ Buzzing continues ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Frogs, insects chirping ]
-Hey.
-Hey. What's going on?
-Not much.
What's up?
-I thought you were gonna
call me on your way back.
-Um, yeah.
She wanted me to help her, uh...
She thought I could help her
with her breeding.
Like, advise her.
-What?
-Uh, 'cause of my
genetics degree,
she wanted to, like,
pick my brain a little bit.
-When are you heading back?
-Um... [ Clears throat ]
...she actually invited me
to stay the night,
so I think I'm just gonna
crash here.
-Baby?
This is really weird.
Like, what?
-No. It's fine.
Um...look.
She offered to fund the rest
of my project If I helped her.
[ Exhales sharply ]
So...
-Why is she offering you
all this money?
You don't even know this woman.
-Baby, I just need you
to trust me on this one, okay?
This is a really big
opportunity,
you know, for both of us.
-I knew something like this
was gonna happen.
Has she been weird with you?
-No. No.
She's fine.
She just has me crashing on
the couch...in the living room.
-[ Sighs ]
Just promise you'll call me
if things get weird, all right?
-I will.
I promise.
-All right.
I love you.
-Okay.
I love you more.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Door opens ]
[ Whispering ] Oh, shit.
[ Door closes ]
[ Music builds ]
Hey.
Sorry.
My fiance was worried.
I was just calling her back.
-You left your room.
-Uh, I know.
I-I just forgot to mention
that I was staying, so, uh,
she just wanted to know
what was going on.
-And what'd you tell her?
-I told her I was helping you
with your breeding --
dog breeding.
-Get inside.
-Yep.
[ Door opens ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
-Give me your phone.
-Oh. Why?
-You just lost
your phone privileges.
-Um, yeah.
Sorry.
I, uh...I need my phone.
[ Footsteps approaching ]
-Do you want me to rip up
your check?
Give me your phone.
You'll get it back
when I feel you've earned it.
Go.
-Everything okay?
-Uh, yeah.
Yeah. Um...
She's just a little upset.
-Yeah. It's probably best
to just follow the rules.
-Yeah.
For sure.
Is that my proposal?
-Oh. Yeah. Sorry.
Uh, I was just curious.
-Oh, no. Yeah. Go ahead.
I don't care.
It'll probably help put you
to sleep.
-You know, I actually think
this is really interesting.
-Yeah?
-Honest truth.
This is good stuff.
Do you mind if I keep reading?
-Please. Yeah.
Go ahead.
[ Clears throat ]
I'm sorry.
-That's all right.
-I have to go to the bathroom.
-Okay.
[ Suspenseful music plays ]
[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
[ Gasps ]
Jesus fucking Christ.
[ Breathing heavily ]
Fuck me.
[ Wind blowing ]
-How do you plan on targeting
the sequences?
-Um, CRISPR-Cas9.
It's the most efficient protein.
-Yeah.
I heard China's already using it
to treat cancer patients.
-Uh, yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, um, they're even going
beyond that now.
They're editing human embryos.
-Damn.
China doesn't mess around.
-Yeah.
Seriously.
Uh, I mean, it took the U.S.
like five years to get approval
for clinical trials,
and China just said
fuck all that
and started modifying babies.
It's bat shit.
-But don't you think
that's a bit hypocritical?
-What do you mean?
-Well, I mean, you're gonna
modify those bees, right?
-Uh, yeah, but that's different.
-How's it different?
-Well, um, I'm using it to fix a
problem in their genetic makeup.
Once you start engineering your
kids for genetic perfection,
that's a-a door
that can't be closed.
-But if you're gonna give your
kid an immunity to Alzheimer's,
why not just make them smarter,
too?
-Yeah. Well, while we're at it,
why don't we, um, you know,
make them less creative and --
and -- and more analytical
because I want them to be
a lawyer?
You know, it's a slippery slope.
-But that's inevitable.
I mean,
every parent wants to make
the best version of themselves.
-Yeah. Yeah.
No. That's a fair point.
-You must be excited to actually
play a role in all this.
-[ Chuckles softly ]
I mean, not yet.
Maybe if more people valued
my work.
-Fuck that.
Value yourself.
-Yeah, but that's not really
how it works.
I can't peer-review myself.
-All right.
Whatever.
-I'm sorry. I just...
-No. It's fine.
It's just...
For the record,
I think what you're doing
is really important.
-Thank you.
[ Clock ticking ]
-I'm gonna go to sleep now.
-Yeah. Me too.
-Good night.
-Good night.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-[ Singsong voice ]
Who wants breakfast?
-[ Exhales deeply,
clears throat ]
-You two are just perfect,
aren't you?
-Ah. Yeah.
Thanks.
-I made you something
nutritious,
so come on out
before it gets cold.
-Cool.
Thanks.
[ Door closes ]
Okay.
-I'd make a pretty decent
matchmaker, huh?
-[ Chuckles weakly ]
Yeah. [ Clears throat ]
Hey, uh, so, last night, um,
I noticed some, uh, mounds
behind the barn.
Um, are those just...
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-Dead people?
Is that what you want me to say?
-No. Sorry. I -- There's been
a miscommunication here.
I was just curious
what they were.
-[ Sighs ]
-I wasn't implying that --
-It's fine.
They're just compost piles.
-Gotcha.
-Just compost piles.
-Okay.
-I mean,
if you don't believe us,
you're more than welcome
to grab a shovel from the barn.
-No, no. No. No.
I believe you.
Uh, thank you for breakfast,
by the way.
These eggs are perfect.
[ Wind whistling ]
-Once again, congratulations
on your big win today.
This poodle just continued
to wow everyone.
What do you think set him apart
from the competition?
-I think my mom left.
-Your mom?
-Uh-huh.
-Oh. Um, well,
do you want to go find her?
-What?
-W-Was she supposed to be here?
-She was supposed to see this.
-Oh.
-W-What was your question?
[ Phone buzzing in distance ]
-Uh, what do you think
set your dog apart today?
[ Buzzing continues ]
[ Hinges creaking ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Buzzing stops ]
[ Door opens in distance ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Footsteps approaching ]
-[ Singsong voice ]
Russell?
-[ Clears throat ]
Uh, in here!
[ Footsteps approaching ]
-[ Singsong voice ]
When you're done,
come down to the dining room.
-Okay.
I'll be out in one minute.
What's up?
-Sit.
[ Floorboards creaking ]
Sit closer.
-[ Clears throat ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
What's going on?
-I'd like you to tell me
why I have your phone here.
-Well, it was vibrating, so...
-And?
-And...
Uh, I just didn't want
my fiance to get worried, so...
-[ Sighs ]
She's a waste of your time.
-Well, uh, you don't know her,
so...
-I know she's infertile.
-How do you know that?
-You'd be surprised
how easy it is
to find someone's
medical records.
-Wait.
You looked up my fiance?
-I did.
And I was sad to see
she's genetically inferior.
-Jesus Christ.
-My daughters are in
a whole different genetic tier.
That's why I picked them.
-Picked them?
From the adoption agencies.
They were the cream of the crop.
You could be adding another
intellectual to our society.
Why would you let that
go to waste?
[ Phone buzzing ]
-I-I should probably get that.
-You're not listening.
-I just don't want her
to get worried
and do something like call
the police or something.
-And why would she call
the police?
-Because she's probably
really worried about me.
[ Buzzing continues ]
Are you thinking about calling
the police?
-No. Of course not.
No.
-[ Exhales deeply ]
-I'm not.
[ Buzzing continues ]
-Go to your room.
Go!
[ Buzzing continues ]
[ Line ringing ]
-Your call has been
forwarded...
-[ Sighs ]
What the fuck, dude?
[ Phone beeping, line ringing ]
What's the emergency, please?
[ Tapping on door ]
-Russell?
[ Tapping continues ]
[ Singsong voice ]
Russell.
Guess what time it is.
Mating time.
You excited?
-Yeah. Definitely.
Uh, so...
-So take your clothes off.
-Um, right now or...
-Right now.
-Cool.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-I'll go get Ainsley.
You're not naked.
-Uh, yeah.
I just need a minute to --
-Be naked.
-Right.
-Good.
[ Music builds ]
Here she is.
Wonderful.
Let's get started.
Now I went three minutes
of foreplay.
Then I want you to crawl
onto the bed and mount her.
When you ejaculate,
I want deep penetration
to help get the sperm as close
to the cervix as possible.
When you're finished,
Ainsley will lay on her back
for five minutes
to help put gravity
in our favor.
Foreplay.
Now.
[ Music builds ]
-Uh --
-What are you doing?
-I thought we were faking it.
-We are faking it.
Get on the bed.
-What? You just kissed me.
-Get on the fucking bed.
What the fuck are you doing?
Just get on top. Go.
-Uh, okay.
-[ Moaning ]
-[ Clears throat ]
-[ Moaning ]
-[ Groaning ]
Ohh!
-All finished?
That wasn't so hard, was it?
Quick and easy.
-Emphasis on the quick.
-[ Laughing ]
All right.
I'll give you some time
to recharge your batteries.
We're gonna try again
in the morning.
You up for it?
-Uh, yeah.
Yeah, I think so.
-Good.
I'm gonna go start dinner.
We got to put some more fuel
in that tank.
[ Chuckles softly ]
[ Door closes ]
-You did fine.
She had no idea.
-I don't know how you live
like this.
How do you deal with this?
-[ Exhales deeply ]
Best advice I can give
is just always follow the rules.
-You've never broken them?
-Aside from right now?
-Yeah.
-Sometimes I hold the babies.
-Hold the babies?
-We're not supposed to
'cause it causes attachment
issues with the buyers.
-Oh.
-She just lets them cry and cry
in the dark.
-[ Sighs ]
Jesus. That's horrible.
-Yeah.
It's pretty fucked up.
-You ever think about quitting?
-Yeah.
But my cut pays for everything.
I can't finish school
without it.
-Till you get that blank check.
-Yep.
That's it.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-I hope you like eggs
and spinach,
because you're gonna be eating
a lot of it.
-Yeah. Thanks.
I'm a fan.
-Very nutritious.
Full of folic acid,
which is vital
to healthy semen development.
-You really did your research.
[ Clears throat ]
-I did.
Thank you.
Eggs are also known
to increase sperm count.
Thankfully, there's
a thousand ways to cook an egg.
-Right? Yeah.
[ Chuckles ] Yeah.
-I had such a good laugh earlier
about the "quick and easy."
-[ Laughing ]
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
That was a good one.
-Then, the more
I thought about it,
it did seem kind of strange.
-What, uh, what do you mean?
-Mm.
How quick it all was.
I mean, I did say three minutes
of foreplay, didn't I?
-Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, you know, I guess
we just got right into it.
-How long do you usually last?
[ Teeth squeak ]
-What's that?
-How long do you usually last
when you have sex?
-[ Inhales deeply ]
Uh...Oh.
Um, I guess...
I guess I'm just a premature
kind of dude.
[ Chuckles weakly,
clears throat ]
Sorry.
-There's nothing to be sorry
about.
The female orgasm
isn't necessary for copulation.
The way you do things
is actually more efficient.
-Yeah.
Hm.
I, uh, I never...
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-Go to your room.
Now!
[ Door opens, closes ]
[ Man shouting indistinctly,
sobbing ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Patti grunting ]
[ Head thudding,
bones cracking ]
-[ Breathing heavily ]
[ Gasps ]
[ Music slows, continues ]
I was just...
-Take your clothes off.
-Okay.
Yeah.
-[ Breathing heavily ]
Go to your room.
[ Music builds ]
Russell.
Russell.
This time, I'm gonna watch.
Is there a problem with that?
-Um, no.
-Foreplay.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-[ Whispering ]
What's wrong?
-I, um, I can't, um...
I-I can't with you. Uh --
-Excuse me?
-Can you just, uh...
I c-- I can't with you here.
-Yes, you can.
-Uh, I'm sorry.
It's just not gonna work
right now.
-[ Exhales deeply ]
God damn it.
-[ Whispering ] Just go with it.
-Who was that guy?
-[ Whispering ]
The other stud.
-Mm.
-Take this.
-Uh, w-what is that?
-It's a little blue pill.
-Oh. Um, no. I'm fine.
I-I'm --
-Take the fuckin' boner pill.
-Hello?
Anyone home?
I'm with the Bridesville
Police Department.
I just have a few questions
for you.
Yara!
-She's in the barn.
-Who's that?
-It's Cosette.
-Get the kit.
-On it.
-How heavy are you?
-What?
-How much do you weigh?
-Uh, one -- one sixty-five.
-One sixty-five.
Would you please open the gate
for our new friend?
-Yeah.
On it.
-Wait. Give it a few minutes
before you let him in.
-Yes, Chief.
-Get on the bed and kneel with
your hands behind your back.
[ Gun cocks ]
Go.
Cross your ankles!
[ Gun clicks ]
-[ Grunts ]
Jesus fucking Christ!
-Keep your fucking legs crossed!
-What was that?
-Don't leave till he's out.
Got it?
-Got it.
-If he tries to leave,
give him another dose.
-Okay.
So that might kill him.
-Yeah?
-Was that a tranquilizer dart?
-Go to sleep.
-I don't feel anything.
-I said go to sleep.
I know what you're thinking,
and it's stupid.
-What?
-You're thinking, 'Why didn't
that dart knock me out already?"
-I-I wasn't thinking that.
-Okay.
Well, that's stupid.
-Okay.
-I know a lot about tranq guns.
I did a lot of research on this.
-Are you sure that you got
the dose right?
-Yes, I got the fucking dose
right.
Have you never seen a video
of an animal getting tranqed?
-Uh, sure.
-Yeah.
Sometimes they run around for
a while before they fall down.
Usually they're unsafe to
approach for about 10 minutes.
-Okay.
So?
-So shut the fuck up
for 10 minutes.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
[ Vehicle approaching ]
[ Music slows, ends ]
[ Door opens, closes ]
-You Patti Kolb?
-Yes, I am.
How can I help you?
-I got a call from someone.
Said their fianc, Russell, was
through here the other night.
-R-Russell. Yes.
He -- He came over for dinner.
-You, uh, you invited him over?
-He came to see my daughter.
I believe they're on a date
at the moment, though.
-Oh. I-I see.
And, uh, when did they leave?
About an hour ago.
-Ah.
You mind if I take a look
around?
-No, not at all.
-Uh, I was gonna start
with the house,
if that's all right.
-Yeah. Absolutely.
Right this way.
-You, uh,
you got a permit for that?
-Yes, I do.
Would you like to see it?
-No.
That's fine.
-All right, then.
[ Door opens ]
-[ Whispering ] Don't talk.
-Huh?
-Anyone home?
-Are they to come in?
-[ Whispering ] Stop talking.
-I believe my daughters
are all working at the moment.
-How many daughters do you have?
-Five. Yara's in the barn
if you'd like to talk to her.
-No. I'll check the barn later.
-Wonderful.
Which of your daughters
was on a date with Russell?
-That would be Ainsley.
-I see.
You mind showing me her room?
-Not at all.
Could I get you something
from the kitchen?
Homemade cookie?
-No, thanks.
-Okay.
-You were...
gonna show me Ainsley's room?
-[ Chuckles ]
Of course. Duh!
Right this way.
[ Suspenseful music plays ]
-[ Moans softly,
exhales deeply ]
[ Footsteps approaching ]
-[ Whispering ]
Don't move.
-It's right down here.
-[ Moans weakly ]
[ Groans ]
[ Headboard thuds ]
-One of your daughters?
-It's just an old house,
I guess.
-[ Moaning, grunts ]
-[ Whispering ]
Shut the fuck up.
[ Russell moaning softly ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Knock on door ]
-Hello?
-[ Gasps ]
Oh, my God!
Get the fuck out!
-Oh, shit! I'm...I'm sorry!
-I guess they got home
a little early.
-Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
I am so sorry.
-Oh, Russell didn't seem
to mind.
-[ Exhales deeply ]
-So, you still want to go see
the barn?
-No. No.
I, um...
I-I don't think
that'll be necessary.
-All right, then.
You sure I can't get you
anything from the kitchen?
-[ Exhales deeply ]
You said something
about a cookie?
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Lamp humming ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Springs creaking ]
[ Footsteps approaching,
door sliding ]
-Good morning.
I bet you're wondering
where you are, huh?
Well, there's a hint for you
in that cupboard over there.
Go take a look.
-They're cups.
-They're semen collection cups.
Just like a sperm bank.
As per our deal, you'll still be
expected to supply your sperm,
enough to impregnate
my daughters many times over.
I'd much rather do things
the natural way.
But you know what?
You're worth it.
All you have to do is fill
every single one of those cups,
place them in the freezer,
and I'll let you go.
-But that's not possible.
-With the right attitude,
it's certainly possible.
You want to know how I won
best in group in '93?
By picking the right stud.
-Okay, but that's --
that's not me, okay?
I'm not the right stud.
-Yes, you are.
And you should be proud
I picked you.
-But I-I have
an anxiety disorder.
I've had it my whole life.
-You want to know what I do
with the wrong studs?
The wrong studs get put down.
I choke them out,
put them in the freezer,
then bury their bodies
beside the barn.
Oh, and there's pornography
in that basket.
Little basket of porn there.
-Wait. Wait, wait.
Hold on. Hold on!
I'll do it...
with your daughters.
I want to fuck your daughters!
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Thud ]
[ Thudding, Russell grunting ]
[ Grunts ]
[ Paper crinkling ]
[ Whirring softly ]
[ Rhythmic tapping ]
-Okay.
I'm here to collect.
-Collect...the cup?
-Well, my daughters aren't gonna
impregnate themselves, are they?
Wonderful.
Prep the gear.
-Yes, Chief.
-Tell Ainsley she's up first
for insemination.
-Yes, Chief.
-Uh, Patti? Quick question.
-Nope.
[ Tray scraping ]
-Patti?
Patti?
Oh. Sorry.
Uh, i-it's Yara, right?
The freezer stopped working.
The samples are getting warm.
-The freezer broke?
-Yeah. It just turned off.
What do I do?
-I'll get Patti.
-Okay.
Hurry!
[ Dramatic music plays ]
[ Footsteps approaching ]
[ Door sliding ]
-What's wrong with the freezer?
-I don't know.
It just stopped working.
The samples are getting warm.
-Show me.
-How long before they go bad?
-Russell?
[ Singsong voice ]
Look at me.
This door does not open till
you're finished with those cups.
Understand?
-Okay, but --
-So you'd better figure out
a way to fix that freezer
or you're gonna have to
start over.
-I don't know
what you want me to --
-Do you want to start over?
-I don't know how to fix it.
-You went to M.I.T., right?
Yeah.
-If you went to M.I.T.,
you can fix a freezer.
-Um...no.
That's actually not true at all.
[ Sighs ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
[ Beep, freezer humming ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-Why'd you leave me?
-Again.
-Why'd you leave me?
-Again.
-Why'd you leave me?
-Again.
[ Music builds, continues ]
-Why'd you leave me?
-Really think about
how that makes you feel. Go.
-[ Voice breaking ]
Why'd you leave me?
-Again, Yara.
Why did your mom leave you?
-Why'd you leave me?!
-Again! Like she's right here!
-Why did you leave me?!
Why did you leave me?!
Why?! Why -- Why did you
leave me like that?
-It's okay. Come here.
I got you.
-Come here. Come here.
-[ Sobbing ]
-Come here. I got you.
Come here, girls.
It's okay. It's
-- Honey, it's okay.
It's okay to cry sometimes.
It's all cleansing.
[ Exhales deeply ]
We all need to cleanse
sometimes, right?
-[ Sobs ]
-Okay.
I got you.
-[ Inhales deeply, whimpers ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Metal clanking,
hinges creaking ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Door creaking ]
-Chief!
Chief!
[ Door rattling ]
-Oh, goodness.
Look who it is.
-Where's Russell?
-It's Haley, right?
-Where's Russell?
-She broke in.
-Oh, no.
She broke in?
You know what that means?
-Whoa! I-I'm sorry.
Please.
-That means I'm within my rights
to shoot you in the face.
-Please.
-Why are you in my barn?
-It's t-the only place
the cops didn't search.
But if you kill me...they will.
-Really?
What do you think they'd find?
-Whatever's in there.
-Oh, they'd look
in my survival shelter?
What do you think they'd find
in my survival shelter?
-Russell?
-Nope.
Just emergency rations.
Cans of soup, cans of beans --
-And ravioli.
-Shut the fuck up.
My point is he's not here.
Right now he's halfway
to Montreal with my daughter.
Ran off with her last night.
-He...
...wouldn't do that.
Cops might believe that, but...
-Look.
I have pictures.
Look.
He's been cheating on you
this whole time.
Look.
There's more.
[ Phone clicks ]
Believe me now?
-Okay.
-Wonderful.
Yara, would you please
escort Haley back to her car?
[ Phone thuds ]
[ Electric razor buzzing ]
[ Music builds ]
-[ Whispering ]
Russell.
Are you okay?
Hold on.
I'm gonna get you out, okay?
[ Keys jingling ]
Jesus.
There's a lot of keys.
[ Keys jingling ]
-Why didn't you call the cops?
-Just -- Just hold on, okay?
-Why didn't you call the cops?
-I...I just had to, um...
...I had to look out for myself.
-Had to get your cut.
-I-I'm still breaking you out,
okay?
I wasn't lying about that.
-Okay.
-It's fine, okay?
You don't have to --
[ Gasping ]
-Patti! Jesus! Stop!
What the fuck?! Stop!
[ Dramatic music plays ]
Patti, stop!
Patti! What the fuck?!
-[ Grunts ]
[ Body thuds ]
-Hello?
[ Door closes in distance ]
Ainsley?
[ Fan whirring ]
[ Voice echoing ] Ainsley?
Hello?
Hello?
-Hey.
I hear you.
-Hey. Hey.
Hey, are you okay?
-[ Grunts ]
[ Door rattling ]
-[ Voice echoing ]
Are you okay?
-No.
I'm in the freezer.
Really fucking cold.
-Okay. Okay.
We're gonna get through this
together, okay?
Just -- Just keep breathing.
Is there anything...
What's around you?
What do you see?
-Mm, just boxes.
Empty food boxes.
-Okay, Okay.
What else?
-Um...trash bags.
-Okay. Grab the trash bags.
-Okay.
[ Breathing heavily ]
Okay.
-You're gonna start wrapping
your body with those trash bags.
Like a...like a poncho.
That should maintain
your core body temperature.
-Okay.
Yeah.
-How's that?
Is that helping?
-Mm, I think so.
-I'm right here.
I'm right here.
Just keep breathing.
-[ Whispering ]
Just keep breathing.
-Just keep breathing.
-Russell?
-Yeah.
-I would have kept our baby.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-What?
-I wouldn't have let Patti
sell her.
-Our baby?
-Yeah.
She's in the other room.
I haven't named her yet.
M--
I thought...you might want to be
a part of that.
-We're gonna get through this
together, okay?
Just...Just keep breathing.
-[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
Just keep breathing.
[ Door opens ]
-Ainsley?
[ Voice echoing ]
Ainsley, are you okay?
Ainsley?
[ Dramatic music plays ]
Ainsley, are you okay?
-No.
[ Exhales deeply ]
[ Shovel clanks, ice cracking ]
[ Shovel scraping ]
[ Door opens, hinges creaking ]
-Chief!
Chief!
[ Thud ]
[ Coughs, wheezing ]
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-[ Grunts ]
[ Body thuds, Yara gagging ]
[ Keys jingling ]
[ Latch clicks ]
[ Yara groaning, wheezing ]
[ Music slows, continues ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-Where's Yara?
-Stabbed her in the neck.
-She's dead?
-Correct.
[ Gunshots echoing,
babies crying ]
-Stop!
[ Music builds ]
Stop!
[ Babies crying ]
Step away.
[ Music builds ]
Now!
[ Baby crying ]
-[ Grunts ]
[ Wood clatters ]
[ Babies crying,
floorboards creaking ]
[ Coughing, groans ]
Aah. Aah.
[ Grunts, breathing heavily ]
-[ Growls ]
-Aah!
[ Dramatic music plays ]
Get out of here.
Go. Go!
-That was your baby.
[ Breathing heavily ]
[ Exhales sharply ]
You almost killed her.
-I knew you'd catch it.
-Wait.
W-Wait.
I have your...
I have your check.
Take it.
It's -- It's all yours.
Well, hold on. Hold on.
If...
If you kill me...
...the -- the business
will stop, and...t--
the check will be worthless.
No one will see your brilliance.
Don't you want them to see that?
That's why I picked you.
Because you're a special breed.
-Better genes don't make
better people.
But...I'm doing something
important here.
[ Music builds ]
-Four years ago,
an average of 30% of beehives
in the western United States
were lost to mites each winter.
Today, with the implementation
of gene editing,
we're now looking at
only a 15% loss each year,
and those numbers
are continuing to improve.
Helping these bees has taught me
a lot of life-changing lessons.
I believe that the best version
of our society
would function like a colony,
where each effort matters
and we all play a role
in something greater.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
[ Applause continues ]
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-It's okay.
Take your time.
-I guess I just...
...need to feel secure.
-And what are your needs
from Russell?
-Just need him to be honest.
-You hear her?
-Of course.
-And what are your needs,
Russell?
-I'm, um...
I'm trying to earn her trust.
-Tell her.
-I need you to trust me
that I won't keep secrets.
-What kind of secrets?
Be specific.
-Like...my affair in Montreal.
-Good.
Yeah.
[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
It's tough, I know.
After all the work we've done,
it's not easy to go back there.
But it's important to be able
to talk about these things.
-Today, with the implementation
of gene editing,
we're now looking at
only a 15% loss each year.
And those numbers...
-Mommy!
Mommy, look.
-Helping these bees has...
-Is she okay?
-Yeah. Yeah. She's fine.
I believe...
-Wow!
Almost finished?
Where does that one go?
Oh, my God.
Have you done this one before?
-[ Laughs ]
She's pretty smart, huh?
-Yeah. She sure is.
-Just like her dad, I guess.
-Oh, actually, she's adopted.
-Oh. Is she?
-Mm-hmm.
-Yeah. We just got
really lucky with her.
Russell pulled some strings
at the adoption agency.
-You'd never know.
She looks just like him.
What's her name again?
-Ainsley.
[ Applause ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music builds, continues ]
[ Thudding,
birds calling in distance ]
-Chief!
[ Vehicle approaching ]
Chief!
[ Engine idling ]
[ Suspenseful music plays ]
[ Door closes,
footsteps approaching ]
[ Music builds ]
-Hi. Are you Patti?
-Yeah.
-I'm Cindy.
It's nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
-Those pictures you sent --
-Good facial symmetry.
-W-What's that?
-I said you have good
facial symmetry.
-Oh.
Thanks.
I think you're the first
to notice.
Should w-- Should we, uh,
go see the litter?
-Let's go see the litter.
-[ Exhales deeply ] Oh. Perfect.
Can't wait to see them
in person.
[ Birds cawing, cage rattling ]
[ Puppies barking, whining ]
Those pictures you sent
are so adorable.
I think --
I think I've fallen in love
with them already, you know?
Oh. I look at them over
and over and over again.
It's --
Thank you for...sending...
[ Door rumbling, thuds ]
-Before we go inside, I'd like
to go over the rules again.
-Of course. Yes.
Makes sense.
-One -- I don't allow
price negotiations.
I've arrived at my valuations
through careful research,
so any discussion over this
would be a waste of your time
and mine.
Two -- If for any reason I tell
you to exit the litter room,
I do mean it,
and I won't ask twice.
Three -- Anything capable
of taking photos
would need to be turned off
and placed in your trunk.
Are you carrying a cellphone?
-Uh, no.
It's in my trunk.
[ Music builds ]
Jesus.
They're beautiful.
[ Music builds ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-And what's so powerful
about this approach
is the modifications are
passed on to their offspring.
So I've run some simulations.
Uh, five generations --
That's how long it takes
to spread through
the entire apiary.
So with your contributions,
uh, you won't just be saving
these specific colonies.
You'll be helping to stabilize
an entire ecological system.
Uh, thank you.
-Thank you Russell.
-[ Clears throat ]
-On your CV here,
I see that you've taken
all the required courses,
but I don't see a PhD.
Is that right?
-Yeah.
That is right.
Um, I-I took some time off
school to focus on the project.
-Well, if you're
the principal investigator,
you need a PhD
to qualify for this grant.
-Yeah. If you just, uh, l-look
at the data, though, um...
-We've read the proposal.
-Uh-huh.
Well, the methodology
is correct.
Anyone with a --
with a PhD would agree.
Um...
-Right.
I'll tell you what.
Come back to see us
when you have your degree. Okay?
You okay?
-Um...
[ Bees buzzing ]
-Russell?
-Um...yeah.
Sorry.
Will you just excuse me
for a second, please?
[ Suspenseful music plays ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
[ Bees buzzing ]
So, you got any tips
for tonight?
-Tips?
-Yeah.
You know, for your mom.
How do I, like,
avoid another confrontation?
-Well, for starters,
maybe don't bring up
any of the twisted shit
we like to talk about.
-Yeah.
That's fair.
-And if she starts asking
about your career,
just...change the subject.
-Yeah?
Why would I need to do that?
-No. Because she does it
to everyone.
I wasn't saying that
'cause of what you do.
-Okay.
-You know I didn't mean it
like that.
-I know.
It's fine.
Ready?
-Yeah.
Let's go.
-All right.
-[ Laughing ]
-This is -- This is false.
-Surprising. I'm surprised.
-You are surprising me right --
-Mm! What's this?
-Oh.
That's honeycomb.
Russell brought it
for the dinner.
-Really?
Well, isn't that nice of him?
-That's...beeswax in there?
-Uh, yeah. Yeah. I got it
from my hive last night.
-Oh.
-And how's that going
with your bees?
-Oh, with the -- the hive?
-Aren't you starting some kind
of business with your bees?
-Oh, no.
It's, um...
It's a -- It's an environmental
research project.
-That's the one you dropped out
of M.I.T. for.
-He didn't drop out.
He's taking time off
to focus more on it.
-Oh, I see.
-Yeah. No.
It's actually going really well.
I've got some interest from some
of the top research grants,
so...
-Well, that sounds
very ambitious.
-It is. He's been working on it
for four years now.
-And you can make money
doing that?
-Mom.
-What?
-It's not for profit, but, um...
if I land one of those research
grants, then I get a salary,
and that'll support me
for a while.
-Enough to support a family?
-Oh. [ Chuckles ]
Oh, I don't know if we're gonna
be ready for that for a while.
[ Clears throat ]
Your mom was really coming in
hot about having a kid, huh?
-Yeah.
That's new.
-I can tell something's off.
-Well...
I didn't want to freak you out,
but...
-What's up?
-I've been, uh, looking into
some adoption agencies.
-Whoa.
[ Chuckles ]
Um...okay.
Um...
I mean, we're not even close
to being ready for that.
I mean, I have like $200,000
in student loans right now.
-I know.
-And that's just not going away.
Like, those people hit me up
like every week.
-Yeah, I know.
-And -- And -- And you think
that we can afford a kid?
Last week,
the cramps were really bad.
So I took a melatonin, and I had
this, like, super vivid dream.
-Yeah?
-You were showing our daughter
how to feed the bees.
Might not happen.
-Today I want to explore the
science behind recognition --
why it's a fundamental
human need
and how we can create
meaningful connections
in an age
of superficial affirmation.
The brain's limbic system,
which governs our emotions,
thrives on social affirmation.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-I feel like you just got to
take a minute to appreciate it.
-What's that?
-I was just saying
you should take a minute
to, like, be present,
soak it in.
-I am. Yeah.
No. I'm -- I'm -- I'm soaking.
-Here you go, superstar.
-Thank you, superstar.
Cheers.
Mm! Ah.
-Hoo! [ Exhales deeply ]
-[ Clears throat ]
-How do you feel?
-[ Exhales deeply ]
I mean, fuck.
Finally, somebody believes in
this thing, right?
Like, they get it.
They can see the potential.
-Yeah.
Absolutely.
You deserve that.
So, who is this person?
-Uh, I mean, it says
right here -- Patti Kolb.
-Right.
But what does Patti want?
-Why? 'Cause that's
the only plausible reason
somebody would do this?
-Oh, come on. I didn't say that.
-No. It's fine. Here.
[ Clears throat ]
"Russell -- I recently stumbled
across the Mensa newsletter
about your achievement
on their admissions test.
You looked great in the photo,
and your research sounds
fascinating.
You're tackling
a very serious problem
that will affect everyone,
especially the farmers."
[ Fingers snap ]
Maybe she's a farmer.
"I'm potentially interested
in financing
the rest of your project..."
-Whoa.
-"...but would first like
to meet in person
to hear more
about your research.
If you're available
and interested,
please join me for dinner
to discuss.
Patti Kolb."
And then she puts her phone
number and her address here.
[ Exhales deeply ]
God. She's in Bridesville.
-Where's that?
-Uh, east.
It's like five hours east.
-Right.
-Okay. Okay.
I get it.
But hear me out.
You can see why I'd want to meet
with an investor, right?
It's like 20,000 bucks.
-Yeah.
-So can you try to put yourself
in my shoes here a little bit?
-I will try.
-Thank you.
-[ Exhales deeply, groans ]
Can you crack me?
-Yeah. I got you.
Yeah.
Okay. Breathe in. Yeah.
Yeah.
-[ Popping ]
-[ Straining ] Ooh. Fuck, yeah.
[ Silverware tapping ]
-All right, then.
I think you're ready
to take that off
and join us at the table.
Manon.
[ Chair scraping ]
-Come on, Manon. Just --
-Shh. Don't speak.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Zero.
I guess she'd rather eat dinner
in the doghouse.
[ Music builds ]
Girls, handle your business.
-No!
No!
-She's a dog breeder.
-Yeah.
Miniature poodles.
Yeah. It looks like, uh,
she won a bunch of awards, too.
Look at that.
Best in breed,
Westminster Kennel Club.
-Okay.
So that's, like, a big deal.
-Hell, yeah.
That's a huge deal.
That's like the Super Bowl
for dog breeding.
-Please don't act like you knew
what that was.
-Okay. Fine.
But still.
Come on.
She seems harmless.
Look at that fanny pack.
-Yeah. That's not really
helping your case.
Also, how can she afford
to throw around 20 grand?
-You know, that would be a great
question for the dinner...
...which I will be attending.
Dog whistle in hand.
-No rape whistle?
-Wow.
That's a pretty fucked-up thing
to say, even for you.
[ Both laughing ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Music builds ]
Uh, hey.
It's -- It's, uh, Russell.
I'm, uh,
I'm here to see Patti?
[ Button clicks, metal rattling]
[ Engine stops ]
[ Clears throat ]
[ Knock on door ]
[ Scraping ]
Hey.
How's it going?
-Just feeding the new litter.
-Gotcha.
-They get a little restless
if they don't get their din-din.
-Oh. Yeah.
I'm sure.
Well, it's great
to finally meet you.
-Come on.
-Oh, yeah.
-Ah.
I've been really looking forward
to this.
-Yeah. Me too.
[ Clears throat ]
-I just want to soak you all up.
-Sounds great.
[ Chuckles ]
Uh, you mean, like, uh,
about my project.
-Of course.
We got a lot to talk about.
-Definitely.
-[ Scraping ]
Um, I think your dog
is trying to...
-Yeah. That's Mama.
Want to see the baby.
-Oh. [ Chuckles ]
Yeah.
-Mm.
You want to see the babies?
-Uh, yeah.
Let's do it.
-Okay.
-Okay.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Door rattling ]
-Let's go.
-Yeah.
-There's my babies.
There's my babies.
[ Puppies barking softly ]
Oh. Hey.
Oh, my goodness.
Come here.
Come here. Come here.
[ Music builds ]
Okay, okay. Come here.
Come here.
Oh!
Who's this little puppers?
-Oh, yeah.
-Who is this little puppers?
Really cute.
-Who is it?
[ Smooching ]
I know.
[ Smooching ]
I love you so much.
[ Whispering indistinctly ]
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, my goodness.
-There you go.
-Okay.
Over here.
There he is.
-Oh, wow.
He's beautiful.
-He's smart too.
-Oh, nice.
Uh, can he do shake?
[ Chuckles ]
-[ Chuckles ] I don't know.
Why don't you ask him?
-Oh, God.
I'm sorry. I, uh...
-Can you do shake, little buddy?
-[ Chuckles ]
-Yes, you can.
You're so pretty.
[ Whispering ] You're my baby,
and I love you so much.
I love you forever.
We won best in group at WKC.
-Oh. Wow.
-Do you want to see it?
Oh, of course. Yeah. Yeah.
Show me your stuff.
- ...applause this breed
consistently draws.
And here we have
toy poodle number...
-Okay. I'm coming up. Hold on.
-Listen to that crowd.
-Here comes.
-They love seeing a poodle.
-Yeah.
Poodles are always popular.
There have been a lot
of best-in-group winners
over the years.
-This is huge.
You must be so proud.
-Nobody really cares about
best in group.
Mama said the only reason
people care about best in show
is 'cause of the movie.
-Ah.
Well, I bet she's still proud.
-She was a tough nut to crack.
-Mm.
-I used to think she might have
stayed for the medal ceremony
if I'd have got best in show,
but...I don't know.
-Ah.
That's, uh...
I'm sorry.
[ Exhales deeply ]
-My brother makes 300,000 a year
as an anesthesiologist.
Mama was never gonna care
about poodle breeding.
-They rank amongst the smartest
of dogs.
-Well, I still think
it's amazing.
It's like the Super Bowl
for dog breeding.
-[ Laughs softly ]
That -- That same year,
I won Breeder of the Year at
the AKC National Championship.
-What?
That's incredible.
-I actually have that one
on tape, too.
-Oh.
Nice.
-Okay. Wait a second.
-Mm-hmm.
-Where are you?
Where are you?
-Uh, actually, I was thinking...
maybe we should probably
start dinner.
Right?
-They're natural performers.
It's part of the charm.
That mix of poise
and playfulness --
You just can't teach
that kind of personality.
-I have heard handlers say
breeders actually enjoy
the grooming...
-Oh, I forgot.
You're just here
for your dinner.
-What?
No. I was --
-You don't actually fucking care
about any of this, do you?
[ Dramatic music plays ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Wind whistling ]
[ Sighs ]
God damn it.
-Hey.
Sorry.
Um, I, uh, I forgot to mention
I brought this for you.
Um, it's, uh, from my hive.
Um, there's lavender nearby,
so...it's lavendery.
[ Sniffs, clears throat ]
I can just leave it right here
for you.
-Sometimes when my
blood sugar drops,
I can get a little crabby.
-Oh, no worries.
I'm the same way.
[ Clears throat ]
Do you need any help?
-Why don't you go put your honey
on the dining room table?
-Okay.
Will do.
[ Foil crinkling ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Bell clanging in distance ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Clears throat ]
-Russell, I'd like you to meet
my daughters.
-Hey there.
-This is Manon,
Yara, Ainsley, Cosette,
and Celeste.
-Nice to meet you.
All of you.
[ Chuckles ]
-Sit.
-Yeah.
Thank you.
[ Clears throat ]
-[ Singsong voice ]
Be right back.
-Hey.
-[ Whispering ]
We're not a cult, I swear.
-Oh, no.
I wasn't thinking that.
[ Clears throat ]
-I can tell you two are gonna
get along without a hitch.
Very compatible intelligence.
-Oh, yeah.
Nice.
-I read the article
about your high IQ-test score.
Four standard deviations
above the norm.
It's a 160, isn't it?
-Oh, uh, I'm just good
at taking tests.
-So is Ainsley.
-Mm.
She's been telling me
all about your research.
-Oh. Sorry that she
put you through that.
-Ainsley's also working on
a research project.
-Oh. No way.
What's the project?
-I work in epidemiology.
It's a study
on venereal diseases.
But the scope isn't nearly
as big as what you're doing.
-She's being modest.
Ainsley just had
her essay published
in a scholarly journal.
-Oh. What?
That's incredible.
-And Yara is working hard
on her genetics PhD.
-Oh, wow.
That's amazing.
-Thank you very much.
-My two most valuable assets.
-Okay, Mom. You can stop
with the rsums now.
-Would you like a glass of wine?
-Uh, yes. Absolutely.
Thank you.
Great.
Chianti.
So, how long you been
in the dog-breeding game?
-Oh. I started right
when I got out of college,
so...about 30 years now.
-Thirty years.
Wow.
-Yeah. Most people don't realize
how much work goes into it.
-So what's the, uh,
what's the secret sauce?
How do you breed
the best-in-group type?
-Well, you have to start
with the right ingredients.
You can't make good wine
with bad grapes, can you?
-Right. Yeah.
-The same goes for breeding.
A best in group
doesn't just fall in your lap.
It takes a very careful
selection of the parents.
-Got it. So you're looking for
certain physical attributes?
Like, um...
-I focus on breeding
for intelligence.
Easier to train.
I only allow the smartest dogs
to breed.
-Gotcha. That makes sense.
Yeah.
-Makes a whole lot of sense.
Same should go for everyone.
-Mm.
Uh, interesting.
S-So you mean, um...
-Only certain people
should be allowed to reproduce.
The best people.
I mean, don't you think?
-Well, uh...
-What?
That makes you uncomfortable?
-No. I just, um...
It's not something
that I, uh...
Um, y-you're -- you're --
you're talking about eugenics.
-I'm a firm believer.
-Gotcha.
-You did just say it made sense
for me to breed my dogs
for intelligence.
Why shouldn't we expect the same
from everyone else?
-Um...
Well, you know, who decides
which people are fit
for breeding?
-Well, preferably someone
with experience.
-Okay.
But...
-Okay but what?
-No.
I just mean, um...
you know, who can say which
people are better than others?
-A breeder can.
-All right, Mom.
Maybe we should just...
Maybe this isn't the best
dinner conversation.
-[ Sighs ]
He's the one who said
it makes sense.
-[ Whispering ]
Sorry.
She just gets a little worked up
about this stuff.
-[ Whispering ]
Oh. No worries. No worries.
[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
-Would you like another glass
of wine?
-Um, no. I, uh...
I should probably head out soon.
I g-- I got to drive.
But thank you, though.
[ Clears throat ]
Oh.
What's that?
-Look inside.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-Is this...
What is this?
-I'm gonna fund
the rest of your project.
-Oh, my God.
This is...
Oh, my God.
I'm gonna make your project
possible
if you make my project possible.
-Wow. Um, yeah. Okay.
W-What's -- What's your project?
-Well...
...I'm actually moving on
from dog breeding.
Now I'm doing something
more important.
-Okay.
-Now I'm breeding people.
-Oh.
-And you and Ainsley happen
to be a perfect mated pair.
-Whoa, whoa. W-Whoa.
Whoa. Hold on.
Um, I can't, um...
I can't do that.
-You a homo?
-What?
-A homosexual.
-No. I just -- I-I just...
I have a fiance, so I can't
just, you know, have sex here.
-That's a blank check.
-No. I know. I know.
I know it is. I just, um...
I, uh...
-Fully financed.
-Um, I just, uh --
I-I'm not --
I-I can't, um --
Can you just give me a minute?
-Russell!
-Yeah.
-Make a decision right now.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-Uh...
I'm sorry. I just, um...
[ Chuckles weakly ]
I'm sorry.
Um...
I'm sorry.
Can you excuse me for a second?
[ Music builds ]
-We're gonna go through this
together, okay?
Just keep breathing.
Now take a deep breath in
through your nose...
-[ Inhales deeply ]
-...and out through your mouth.
-[ Exhales deeply ]
-That's it. Just like that.
-Okay.
[ Inhales deeply ]
[ Door opens ]
-Whoa. It's okay. It's just me.
-What's going on?
What are you doing?
-Relax, okay?
I'm just trying to help.
-I'm sorry.
This is, uh, this is just
way too weird for me, so...
-I get that.
But I am just trying to help.
-Can you get out of my car,
please?
-You don't want my mom
to fund your project?
-Can you just get out of my car,
please?
-It's easier than you think,
okay?
You don't even have to cheat.
-I don't even know
what that means.
-I can fake a pregnancy test.
I can take an HCG pill,
and it'll give a false positive
on the test.
-Okay.
So?
-So we tell her
we slept together,
and then we split the money.
Russell.
-What?
-I have to get out of here.
And to do that,
I need money, okay?
-[ Exhales deeply ]
-Okay?
Or you can head home
and your project
never gets off the ground.
-Um...
can't I, uh, just, like,
do it in a Petri dish or --
or, you know, whatever they do
at a sperm bank?
-Yeah. That won't work. She
calls that backyard breeding.
She hates that.
-Yeah. Of course she does.
-She just prefers to do things
naturally.
-Wait. Um, what does she do
with the babies?
-She sells them,
and I get a cut.
-Sells them?
Like -- Like --
Like on the black market?
-Yeah. How do you think
she can afford all this?
If we do this...
I don't ever have to have
another baby.
-Jesus.
-How good are you at lying?
-Um...uh, weird question.
Uh, not quite sure
how to answer that.
-Well, I happen to be
a great liar, okay?
-So that's why
I should trust you?
Because you happen to be
a great liar?
-When it comes to my mom, yes.
-Cool.
-What would I get
from lying to you?
-I don't know.
I don't know what your deal is.
But you're clearly trying to get
me to go back into that house.
-Hold on.
Why would I have these if
I wasn't planning on using them?
-I don't know.
Why would you have those?
-Maybe because I don't want to
spend the next nine months
carrying around
some stranger's baby.
-Yeah, it makes sense.
-Wonderful.
So...are we doing this?
Uh...
[ Laughing ]
Um...
[ Chuckles, sniffs ]
Can you just give me a minute?
-Sure.
-[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
-[ Softly ] I know it. I know.
[ Door opens, closes ]
-Mom.
He's gonna do it.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-What made you change your mind?
-Uh, I just, uh, couldn't
pass up the opportunity.
[ Clears throat ]
So...let's do this.
-Were you thinking about
the money
or were you thinking about
fucking my daughter?
-Uh...both.
-I take my work very seriously.
-Okay.
-And I expect that
from you, too.
-Absolutely.
Yeah.
-Lights-out is at 9 p.m. sharp.
After that, no one leaves
their room.
Understood?
-Understood.
Yeah.
-Ainslie's peak fertile period
is tomorrow night.
So starting then,
you'll be expected
to mate with her twice a day.
You'll stay on my ranch
as long as it takes.
-[ Softly ]
Mm-hmm.
-And while you're working
for me, you call me Chief.
-Chief.
-Just while you're working.
Follow me.
-Yeah.
[ Music builds, ends ]
Oh, cool.
Uh, this is a guest room or...
-Ainsley's room.
You'll share a bed.
-Hey.
Sorry.
-[ Clears throat ]
Um...
Hey, so, um, I completely
understand why I'm here.
Um, I'm just, uh --
With my fiance and all,
I just don't feel comfortable,
you know, sharing a bed.
So I'm wondering if there's a,
like, air mattress
or something I could use.
-In my experience, I find
it's best for the stud and bitch
to get acquainted
before breeding.
-I have a-an extra toothbrush
for you if you like.
-Thank you.
[ Clears throat ]
Huh.
Hm.
[ Phone buzzing ]
Oh, shit.
-What?
-Um, I'll be right back.
[ Buzzing continues ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Frogs, insects chirping ]
-Hey.
-Hey. What's going on?
-Not much.
What's up?
-I thought you were gonna
call me on your way back.
-Um, yeah.
She wanted me to help her, uh...
She thought I could help her
with her breeding.
Like, advise her.
-What?
-Uh, 'cause of my
genetics degree,
she wanted to, like,
pick my brain a little bit.
-When are you heading back?
-Um... [ Clears throat ]
...she actually invited me
to stay the night,
so I think I'm just gonna
crash here.
-Baby?
This is really weird.
Like, what?
-No. It's fine.
Um...look.
She offered to fund the rest
of my project If I helped her.
[ Exhales sharply ]
So...
-Why is she offering you
all this money?
You don't even know this woman.
-Baby, I just need you
to trust me on this one, okay?
This is a really big
opportunity,
you know, for both of us.
-I knew something like this
was gonna happen.
Has she been weird with you?
-No. No.
She's fine.
She just has me crashing on
the couch...in the living room.
-[ Sighs ]
Just promise you'll call me
if things get weird, all right?
-I will.
I promise.
-All right.
I love you.
-Okay.
I love you more.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Door opens ]
[ Whispering ] Oh, shit.
[ Door closes ]
[ Music builds ]
Hey.
Sorry.
My fiance was worried.
I was just calling her back.
-You left your room.
-Uh, I know.
I-I just forgot to mention
that I was staying, so, uh,
she just wanted to know
what was going on.
-And what'd you tell her?
-I told her I was helping you
with your breeding --
dog breeding.
-Get inside.
-Yep.
[ Door opens ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
-Give me your phone.
-Oh. Why?
-You just lost
your phone privileges.
-Um, yeah.
Sorry.
I, uh...I need my phone.
[ Footsteps approaching ]
-Do you want me to rip up
your check?
Give me your phone.
You'll get it back
when I feel you've earned it.
Go.
-Everything okay?
-Uh, yeah.
Yeah. Um...
She's just a little upset.
-Yeah. It's probably best
to just follow the rules.
-Yeah.
For sure.
Is that my proposal?
-Oh. Yeah. Sorry.
Uh, I was just curious.
-Oh, no. Yeah. Go ahead.
I don't care.
It'll probably help put you
to sleep.
-You know, I actually think
this is really interesting.
-Yeah?
-Honest truth.
This is good stuff.
Do you mind if I keep reading?
-Please. Yeah.
Go ahead.
[ Clears throat ]
I'm sorry.
-That's all right.
-I have to go to the bathroom.
-Okay.
[ Suspenseful music plays ]
[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
[ Gasps ]
Jesus fucking Christ.
[ Breathing heavily ]
Fuck me.
[ Wind blowing ]
-How do you plan on targeting
the sequences?
-Um, CRISPR-Cas9.
It's the most efficient protein.
-Yeah.
I heard China's already using it
to treat cancer patients.
-Uh, yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, um, they're even going
beyond that now.
They're editing human embryos.
-Damn.
China doesn't mess around.
-Yeah.
Seriously.
Uh, I mean, it took the U.S.
like five years to get approval
for clinical trials,
and China just said
fuck all that
and started modifying babies.
It's bat shit.
-But don't you think
that's a bit hypocritical?
-What do you mean?
-Well, I mean, you're gonna
modify those bees, right?
-Uh, yeah, but that's different.
-How's it different?
-Well, um, I'm using it to fix a
problem in their genetic makeup.
Once you start engineering your
kids for genetic perfection,
that's a-a door
that can't be closed.
-But if you're gonna give your
kid an immunity to Alzheimer's,
why not just make them smarter,
too?
-Yeah. Well, while we're at it,
why don't we, um, you know,
make them less creative and --
and -- and more analytical
because I want them to be
a lawyer?
You know, it's a slippery slope.
-But that's inevitable.
I mean,
every parent wants to make
the best version of themselves.
-Yeah. Yeah.
No. That's a fair point.
-You must be excited to actually
play a role in all this.
-[ Chuckles softly ]
I mean, not yet.
Maybe if more people valued
my work.
-Fuck that.
Value yourself.
-Yeah, but that's not really
how it works.
I can't peer-review myself.
-All right.
Whatever.
-I'm sorry. I just...
-No. It's fine.
It's just...
For the record,
I think what you're doing
is really important.
-Thank you.
[ Clock ticking ]
-I'm gonna go to sleep now.
-Yeah. Me too.
-Good night.
-Good night.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-[ Singsong voice ]
Who wants breakfast?
-[ Exhales deeply,
clears throat ]
-You two are just perfect,
aren't you?
-Ah. Yeah.
Thanks.
-I made you something
nutritious,
so come on out
before it gets cold.
-Cool.
Thanks.
[ Door closes ]
Okay.
-I'd make a pretty decent
matchmaker, huh?
-[ Chuckles weakly ]
Yeah. [ Clears throat ]
Hey, uh, so, last night, um,
I noticed some, uh, mounds
behind the barn.
Um, are those just...
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-Dead people?
Is that what you want me to say?
-No. Sorry. I -- There's been
a miscommunication here.
I was just curious
what they were.
-[ Sighs ]
-I wasn't implying that --
-It's fine.
They're just compost piles.
-Gotcha.
-Just compost piles.
-Okay.
-I mean,
if you don't believe us,
you're more than welcome
to grab a shovel from the barn.
-No, no. No. No.
I believe you.
Uh, thank you for breakfast,
by the way.
These eggs are perfect.
[ Wind whistling ]
-Once again, congratulations
on your big win today.
This poodle just continued
to wow everyone.
What do you think set him apart
from the competition?
-I think my mom left.
-Your mom?
-Uh-huh.
-Oh. Um, well,
do you want to go find her?
-What?
-W-Was she supposed to be here?
-She was supposed to see this.
-Oh.
-W-What was your question?
[ Phone buzzing in distance ]
-Uh, what do you think
set your dog apart today?
[ Buzzing continues ]
[ Hinges creaking ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Buzzing stops ]
[ Door opens in distance ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Footsteps approaching ]
-[ Singsong voice ]
Russell?
-[ Clears throat ]
Uh, in here!
[ Footsteps approaching ]
-[ Singsong voice ]
When you're done,
come down to the dining room.
-Okay.
I'll be out in one minute.
What's up?
-Sit.
[ Floorboards creaking ]
Sit closer.
-[ Clears throat ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
What's going on?
-I'd like you to tell me
why I have your phone here.
-Well, it was vibrating, so...
-And?
-And...
Uh, I just didn't want
my fiance to get worried, so...
-[ Sighs ]
She's a waste of your time.
-Well, uh, you don't know her,
so...
-I know she's infertile.
-How do you know that?
-You'd be surprised
how easy it is
to find someone's
medical records.
-Wait.
You looked up my fiance?
-I did.
And I was sad to see
she's genetically inferior.
-Jesus Christ.
-My daughters are in
a whole different genetic tier.
That's why I picked them.
-Picked them?
From the adoption agencies.
They were the cream of the crop.
You could be adding another
intellectual to our society.
Why would you let that
go to waste?
[ Phone buzzing ]
-I-I should probably get that.
-You're not listening.
-I just don't want her
to get worried
and do something like call
the police or something.
-And why would she call
the police?
-Because she's probably
really worried about me.
[ Buzzing continues ]
Are you thinking about calling
the police?
-No. Of course not.
No.
-[ Exhales deeply ]
-I'm not.
[ Buzzing continues ]
-Go to your room.
Go!
[ Buzzing continues ]
[ Line ringing ]
-Your call has been
forwarded...
-[ Sighs ]
What the fuck, dude?
[ Phone beeping, line ringing ]
What's the emergency, please?
[ Tapping on door ]
-Russell?
[ Tapping continues ]
[ Singsong voice ]
Russell.
Guess what time it is.
Mating time.
You excited?
-Yeah. Definitely.
Uh, so...
-So take your clothes off.
-Um, right now or...
-Right now.
-Cool.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-I'll go get Ainsley.
You're not naked.
-Uh, yeah.
I just need a minute to --
-Be naked.
-Right.
-Good.
[ Music builds ]
Here she is.
Wonderful.
Let's get started.
Now I went three minutes
of foreplay.
Then I want you to crawl
onto the bed and mount her.
When you ejaculate,
I want deep penetration
to help get the sperm as close
to the cervix as possible.
When you're finished,
Ainsley will lay on her back
for five minutes
to help put gravity
in our favor.
Foreplay.
Now.
[ Music builds ]
-Uh --
-What are you doing?
-I thought we were faking it.
-We are faking it.
Get on the bed.
-What? You just kissed me.
-Get on the fucking bed.
What the fuck are you doing?
Just get on top. Go.
-Uh, okay.
-[ Moaning ]
-[ Clears throat ]
-[ Moaning ]
-[ Groaning ]
Ohh!
-All finished?
That wasn't so hard, was it?
Quick and easy.
-Emphasis on the quick.
-[ Laughing ]
All right.
I'll give you some time
to recharge your batteries.
We're gonna try again
in the morning.
You up for it?
-Uh, yeah.
Yeah, I think so.
-Good.
I'm gonna go start dinner.
We got to put some more fuel
in that tank.
[ Chuckles softly ]
[ Door closes ]
-You did fine.
She had no idea.
-I don't know how you live
like this.
How do you deal with this?
-[ Exhales deeply ]
Best advice I can give
is just always follow the rules.
-You've never broken them?
-Aside from right now?
-Yeah.
-Sometimes I hold the babies.
-Hold the babies?
-We're not supposed to
'cause it causes attachment
issues with the buyers.
-Oh.
-She just lets them cry and cry
in the dark.
-[ Sighs ]
Jesus. That's horrible.
-Yeah.
It's pretty fucked up.
-You ever think about quitting?
-Yeah.
But my cut pays for everything.
I can't finish school
without it.
-Till you get that blank check.
-Yep.
That's it.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-I hope you like eggs
and spinach,
because you're gonna be eating
a lot of it.
-Yeah. Thanks.
I'm a fan.
-Very nutritious.
Full of folic acid,
which is vital
to healthy semen development.
-You really did your research.
[ Clears throat ]
-I did.
Thank you.
Eggs are also known
to increase sperm count.
Thankfully, there's
a thousand ways to cook an egg.
-Right? Yeah.
[ Chuckles ] Yeah.
-I had such a good laugh earlier
about the "quick and easy."
-[ Laughing ]
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
That was a good one.
-Then, the more
I thought about it,
it did seem kind of strange.
-What, uh, what do you mean?
-Mm.
How quick it all was.
I mean, I did say three minutes
of foreplay, didn't I?
-Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, you know, I guess
we just got right into it.
-How long do you usually last?
[ Teeth squeak ]
-What's that?
-How long do you usually last
when you have sex?
-[ Inhales deeply ]
Uh...Oh.
Um, I guess...
I guess I'm just a premature
kind of dude.
[ Chuckles weakly,
clears throat ]
Sorry.
-There's nothing to be sorry
about.
The female orgasm
isn't necessary for copulation.
The way you do things
is actually more efficient.
-Yeah.
Hm.
I, uh, I never...
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-Go to your room.
Now!
[ Door opens, closes ]
[ Man shouting indistinctly,
sobbing ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Patti grunting ]
[ Head thudding,
bones cracking ]
-[ Breathing heavily ]
[ Gasps ]
[ Music slows, continues ]
I was just...
-Take your clothes off.
-Okay.
Yeah.
-[ Breathing heavily ]
Go to your room.
[ Music builds ]
Russell.
Russell.
This time, I'm gonna watch.
Is there a problem with that?
-Um, no.
-Foreplay.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-[ Whispering ]
What's wrong?
-I, um, I can't, um...
I-I can't with you. Uh --
-Excuse me?
-Can you just, uh...
I c-- I can't with you here.
-Yes, you can.
-Uh, I'm sorry.
It's just not gonna work
right now.
-[ Exhales deeply ]
God damn it.
-[ Whispering ] Just go with it.
-Who was that guy?
-[ Whispering ]
The other stud.
-Mm.
-Take this.
-Uh, w-what is that?
-It's a little blue pill.
-Oh. Um, no. I'm fine.
I-I'm --
-Take the fuckin' boner pill.
-Hello?
Anyone home?
I'm with the Bridesville
Police Department.
I just have a few questions
for you.
Yara!
-She's in the barn.
-Who's that?
-It's Cosette.
-Get the kit.
-On it.
-How heavy are you?
-What?
-How much do you weigh?
-Uh, one -- one sixty-five.
-One sixty-five.
Would you please open the gate
for our new friend?
-Yeah.
On it.
-Wait. Give it a few minutes
before you let him in.
-Yes, Chief.
-Get on the bed and kneel with
your hands behind your back.
[ Gun cocks ]
Go.
Cross your ankles!
[ Gun clicks ]
-[ Grunts ]
Jesus fucking Christ!
-Keep your fucking legs crossed!
-What was that?
-Don't leave till he's out.
Got it?
-Got it.
-If he tries to leave,
give him another dose.
-Okay.
So that might kill him.
-Yeah?
-Was that a tranquilizer dart?
-Go to sleep.
-I don't feel anything.
-I said go to sleep.
I know what you're thinking,
and it's stupid.
-What?
-You're thinking, 'Why didn't
that dart knock me out already?"
-I-I wasn't thinking that.
-Okay.
Well, that's stupid.
-Okay.
-I know a lot about tranq guns.
I did a lot of research on this.
-Are you sure that you got
the dose right?
-Yes, I got the fucking dose
right.
Have you never seen a video
of an animal getting tranqed?
-Uh, sure.
-Yeah.
Sometimes they run around for
a while before they fall down.
Usually they're unsafe to
approach for about 10 minutes.
-Okay.
So?
-So shut the fuck up
for 10 minutes.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
[ Vehicle approaching ]
[ Music slows, ends ]
[ Door opens, closes ]
-You Patti Kolb?
-Yes, I am.
How can I help you?
-I got a call from someone.
Said their fianc, Russell, was
through here the other night.
-R-Russell. Yes.
He -- He came over for dinner.
-You, uh, you invited him over?
-He came to see my daughter.
I believe they're on a date
at the moment, though.
-Oh. I-I see.
And, uh, when did they leave?
About an hour ago.
-Ah.
You mind if I take a look
around?
-No, not at all.
-Uh, I was gonna start
with the house,
if that's all right.
-Yeah. Absolutely.
Right this way.
-You, uh,
you got a permit for that?
-Yes, I do.
Would you like to see it?
-No.
That's fine.
-All right, then.
[ Door opens ]
-[ Whispering ] Don't talk.
-Huh?
-Anyone home?
-Are they to come in?
-[ Whispering ] Stop talking.
-I believe my daughters
are all working at the moment.
-How many daughters do you have?
-Five. Yara's in the barn
if you'd like to talk to her.
-No. I'll check the barn later.
-Wonderful.
Which of your daughters
was on a date with Russell?
-That would be Ainsley.
-I see.
You mind showing me her room?
-Not at all.
Could I get you something
from the kitchen?
Homemade cookie?
-No, thanks.
-Okay.
-You were...
gonna show me Ainsley's room?
-[ Chuckles ]
Of course. Duh!
Right this way.
[ Suspenseful music plays ]
-[ Moans softly,
exhales deeply ]
[ Footsteps approaching ]
-[ Whispering ]
Don't move.
-It's right down here.
-[ Moans weakly ]
[ Groans ]
[ Headboard thuds ]
-One of your daughters?
-It's just an old house,
I guess.
-[ Moaning, grunts ]
-[ Whispering ]
Shut the fuck up.
[ Russell moaning softly ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Knock on door ]
-Hello?
-[ Gasps ]
Oh, my God!
Get the fuck out!
-Oh, shit! I'm...I'm sorry!
-I guess they got home
a little early.
-Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
I am so sorry.
-Oh, Russell didn't seem
to mind.
-[ Exhales deeply ]
-So, you still want to go see
the barn?
-No. No.
I, um...
I-I don't think
that'll be necessary.
-All right, then.
You sure I can't get you
anything from the kitchen?
-[ Exhales deeply ]
You said something
about a cookie?
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Lamp humming ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Springs creaking ]
[ Footsteps approaching,
door sliding ]
-Good morning.
I bet you're wondering
where you are, huh?
Well, there's a hint for you
in that cupboard over there.
Go take a look.
-They're cups.
-They're semen collection cups.
Just like a sperm bank.
As per our deal, you'll still be
expected to supply your sperm,
enough to impregnate
my daughters many times over.
I'd much rather do things
the natural way.
But you know what?
You're worth it.
All you have to do is fill
every single one of those cups,
place them in the freezer,
and I'll let you go.
-But that's not possible.
-With the right attitude,
it's certainly possible.
You want to know how I won
best in group in '93?
By picking the right stud.
-Okay, but that's --
that's not me, okay?
I'm not the right stud.
-Yes, you are.
And you should be proud
I picked you.
-But I-I have
an anxiety disorder.
I've had it my whole life.
-You want to know what I do
with the wrong studs?
The wrong studs get put down.
I choke them out,
put them in the freezer,
then bury their bodies
beside the barn.
Oh, and there's pornography
in that basket.
Little basket of porn there.
-Wait. Wait, wait.
Hold on. Hold on!
I'll do it...
with your daughters.
I want to fuck your daughters!
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Thud ]
[ Thudding, Russell grunting ]
[ Grunts ]
[ Paper crinkling ]
[ Whirring softly ]
[ Rhythmic tapping ]
-Okay.
I'm here to collect.
-Collect...the cup?
-Well, my daughters aren't gonna
impregnate themselves, are they?
Wonderful.
Prep the gear.
-Yes, Chief.
-Tell Ainsley she's up first
for insemination.
-Yes, Chief.
-Uh, Patti? Quick question.
-Nope.
[ Tray scraping ]
-Patti?
Patti?
Oh. Sorry.
Uh, i-it's Yara, right?
The freezer stopped working.
The samples are getting warm.
-The freezer broke?
-Yeah. It just turned off.
What do I do?
-I'll get Patti.
-Okay.
Hurry!
[ Dramatic music plays ]
[ Footsteps approaching ]
[ Door sliding ]
-What's wrong with the freezer?
-I don't know.
It just stopped working.
The samples are getting warm.
-Show me.
-How long before they go bad?
-Russell?
[ Singsong voice ]
Look at me.
This door does not open till
you're finished with those cups.
Understand?
-Okay, but --
-So you'd better figure out
a way to fix that freezer
or you're gonna have to
start over.
-I don't know
what you want me to --
-Do you want to start over?
-I don't know how to fix it.
-You went to M.I.T., right?
Yeah.
-If you went to M.I.T.,
you can fix a freezer.
-Um...no.
That's actually not true at all.
[ Sighs ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
[ Beep, freezer humming ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-Why'd you leave me?
-Again.
-Why'd you leave me?
-Again.
-Why'd you leave me?
-Again.
[ Music builds, continues ]
-Why'd you leave me?
-Really think about
how that makes you feel. Go.
-[ Voice breaking ]
Why'd you leave me?
-Again, Yara.
Why did your mom leave you?
-Why'd you leave me?!
-Again! Like she's right here!
-Why did you leave me?!
Why did you leave me?!
Why?! Why -- Why did you
leave me like that?
-It's okay. Come here.
I got you.
-Come here. Come here.
-[ Sobbing ]
-Come here. I got you.
Come here, girls.
It's okay. It's
-- Honey, it's okay.
It's okay to cry sometimes.
It's all cleansing.
[ Exhales deeply ]
We all need to cleanse
sometimes, right?
-[ Sobs ]
-Okay.
I got you.
-[ Inhales deeply, whimpers ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Metal clanking,
hinges creaking ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Door creaking ]
-Chief!
Chief!
[ Door rattling ]
-Oh, goodness.
Look who it is.
-Where's Russell?
-It's Haley, right?
-Where's Russell?
-She broke in.
-Oh, no.
She broke in?
You know what that means?
-Whoa! I-I'm sorry.
Please.
-That means I'm within my rights
to shoot you in the face.
-Please.
-Why are you in my barn?
-It's t-the only place
the cops didn't search.
But if you kill me...they will.
-Really?
What do you think they'd find?
-Whatever's in there.
-Oh, they'd look
in my survival shelter?
What do you think they'd find
in my survival shelter?
-Russell?
-Nope.
Just emergency rations.
Cans of soup, cans of beans --
-And ravioli.
-Shut the fuck up.
My point is he's not here.
Right now he's halfway
to Montreal with my daughter.
Ran off with her last night.
-He...
...wouldn't do that.
Cops might believe that, but...
-Look.
I have pictures.
Look.
He's been cheating on you
this whole time.
Look.
There's more.
[ Phone clicks ]
Believe me now?
-Okay.
-Wonderful.
Yara, would you please
escort Haley back to her car?
[ Phone thuds ]
[ Electric razor buzzing ]
[ Music builds ]
-[ Whispering ]
Russell.
Are you okay?
Hold on.
I'm gonna get you out, okay?
[ Keys jingling ]
Jesus.
There's a lot of keys.
[ Keys jingling ]
-Why didn't you call the cops?
-Just -- Just hold on, okay?
-Why didn't you call the cops?
-I...I just had to, um...
...I had to look out for myself.
-Had to get your cut.
-I-I'm still breaking you out,
okay?
I wasn't lying about that.
-Okay.
-It's fine, okay?
You don't have to --
[ Gasping ]
-Patti! Jesus! Stop!
What the fuck?! Stop!
[ Dramatic music plays ]
Patti, stop!
Patti! What the fuck?!
-[ Grunts ]
[ Body thuds ]
-Hello?
[ Door closes in distance ]
Ainsley?
[ Fan whirring ]
[ Voice echoing ] Ainsley?
Hello?
Hello?
-Hey.
I hear you.
-Hey. Hey.
Hey, are you okay?
-[ Grunts ]
[ Door rattling ]
-[ Voice echoing ]
Are you okay?
-No.
I'm in the freezer.
Really fucking cold.
-Okay. Okay.
We're gonna get through this
together, okay?
Just -- Just keep breathing.
Is there anything...
What's around you?
What do you see?
-Mm, just boxes.
Empty food boxes.
-Okay, Okay.
What else?
-Um...trash bags.
-Okay. Grab the trash bags.
-Okay.
[ Breathing heavily ]
Okay.
-You're gonna start wrapping
your body with those trash bags.
Like a...like a poncho.
That should maintain
your core body temperature.
-Okay.
Yeah.
-How's that?
Is that helping?
-Mm, I think so.
-I'm right here.
I'm right here.
Just keep breathing.
-[ Whispering ]
Just keep breathing.
-Just keep breathing.
-Russell?
-Yeah.
-I would have kept our baby.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-What?
-I wouldn't have let Patti
sell her.
-Our baby?
-Yeah.
She's in the other room.
I haven't named her yet.
M--
I thought...you might want to be
a part of that.
-We're gonna get through this
together, okay?
Just...Just keep breathing.
-[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
Just keep breathing.
[ Door opens ]
-Ainsley?
[ Voice echoing ]
Ainsley, are you okay?
Ainsley?
[ Dramatic music plays ]
Ainsley, are you okay?
-No.
[ Exhales deeply ]
[ Shovel clanks, ice cracking ]
[ Shovel scraping ]
[ Door opens, hinges creaking ]
-Chief!
Chief!
[ Thud ]
[ Coughs, wheezing ]
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-[ Grunts ]
[ Body thuds, Yara gagging ]
[ Keys jingling ]
[ Latch clicks ]
[ Yara groaning, wheezing ]
[ Music slows, continues ]
[ Music builds ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-Where's Yara?
-Stabbed her in the neck.
-She's dead?
-Correct.
[ Gunshots echoing,
babies crying ]
-Stop!
[ Music builds ]
Stop!
[ Babies crying ]
Step away.
[ Music builds ]
Now!
[ Baby crying ]
-[ Grunts ]
[ Wood clatters ]
[ Babies crying,
floorboards creaking ]
[ Coughing, groans ]
Aah. Aah.
[ Grunts, breathing heavily ]
-[ Growls ]
-Aah!
[ Dramatic music plays ]
Get out of here.
Go. Go!
-That was your baby.
[ Breathing heavily ]
[ Exhales sharply ]
You almost killed her.
-I knew you'd catch it.
-Wait.
W-Wait.
I have your...
I have your check.
Take it.
It's -- It's all yours.
Well, hold on. Hold on.
If...
If you kill me...
...the -- the business
will stop, and...t--
the check will be worthless.
No one will see your brilliance.
Don't you want them to see that?
That's why I picked you.
Because you're a special breed.
-Better genes don't make
better people.
But...I'm doing something
important here.
[ Music builds ]
-Four years ago,
an average of 30% of beehives
in the western United States
were lost to mites each winter.
Today, with the implementation
of gene editing,
we're now looking at
only a 15% loss each year,
and those numbers
are continuing to improve.
Helping these bees has taught me
a lot of life-changing lessons.
I believe that the best version
of our society
would function like a colony,
where each effort matters
and we all play a role
in something greater.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
[ Applause continues ]
[ Dramatic music plays ]
-It's okay.
Take your time.
-I guess I just...
...need to feel secure.
-And what are your needs
from Russell?
-Just need him to be honest.
-You hear her?
-Of course.
-And what are your needs,
Russell?
-I'm, um...
I'm trying to earn her trust.
-Tell her.
-I need you to trust me
that I won't keep secrets.
-What kind of secrets?
Be specific.
-Like...my affair in Montreal.
-Good.
Yeah.
[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
It's tough, I know.
After all the work we've done,
it's not easy to go back there.
But it's important to be able
to talk about these things.
-Today, with the implementation
of gene editing,
we're now looking at
only a 15% loss each year.
And those numbers...
-Mommy!
Mommy, look.
-Helping these bees has...
-Is she okay?
-Yeah. Yeah. She's fine.
I believe...
-Wow!
Almost finished?
Where does that one go?
Oh, my God.
Have you done this one before?
-[ Laughs ]
She's pretty smart, huh?
-Yeah. She sure is.
-Just like her dad, I guess.
-Oh, actually, she's adopted.
-Oh. Is she?
-Mm-hmm.
-Yeah. We just got
really lucky with her.
Russell pulled some strings
at the adoption agency.
-You'd never know.
She looks just like him.
What's her name again?
-Ainsley.
[ Applause ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music builds, continues ]