Dark Reckoning (2026) Movie Script
1
- So yeah, what's
our new normal gonna be?
I don't know.
Not sure if I wanna know.
Maybe we can call
it a better normal.
As a society, we put our trust
in others maybe too much.
We have representative
government
that doesn't always represent
the people who voted for them.
We must do better for
the next generation
and generations to come.
Look, I'm not one
to live in the past,
so let's just figure
out how to move forward,
which I hope is
possible at this point.
Speaking of the past,
programming note.
This weekend is a
flashback weekend.
We'll be playing mashups
from the previous shows
and, well, that does
it for me tonight.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's
sunrise somewhere in America.
This is Michael
Tanner, signing off
on day 608 in isolation.
- Are you ready, Alex?
I asked. Are you ready?
No, Alex, I don't think you are.
- Hello?
Hello!
- Those who embrace control
must also embrace variables.
Which throw us out of control.
- We don't move forward, we die.
- And I wanna see the world
and all the people
that are part of it.
- You're like a
human boulder on fire,
rocketing down a hill, exploding
through any obstacles
in your way.
- That is a shitty imitation
of dad, but thank you for that.
- I say, and this is just me,
based on, you know, history,
we'll most likely be cooped up
for a few days, maybe a week
and then we'll all get
back to our normal shit.
I say, stock up
on beer and chips
and re-up that
Netflix subscription
and binge watch whatever.
- Shit.
- You have reached local 911,
Moss Creek, New York.
Due to isolation protocols,
emergency service is no longer
in operation in this zone.
We are very sorry.
Good luck.
- No worries.
You've done all you
know to protect us.
- Oh, fuck.
- How is this different?
This already happened.
Feels like that because
we've been talking now
for over three hours.
- I'm still in the truck.
- You're aware?
- Anyway, I appreciate
what you're saying.
- No, you don't because
you're not answering
my simple question.
- Enough.
- How is this different?
- I don't know, Lori, okay?
Frank and Millie are
heading to Africa.
And if taking our
nine-year-old daughter halfway
around the world isn't fucking
my head up enough, the fact
that I won't be there because
of my new position at the CDC
puts me right in front
of the flaming boulder
I apparently am.
- Mom would be pissed.
That's some pretty
messed up grammar.
- How do I let
them go without me?
- Get your old position back.
- I can't.
- Then tell the CDC
the Peace Corps messed
up Frank's schedule
and moved his trip
up six months.
- It's an excuse.
I don't do that.
- Right, then you
have to let them go.
- She's nine.
- Going on 19.
What's the real issue?
- I won't be there.
- Morning.
- Hey.
- Hmm. I think our
blackberry's back.
- Really? That's strange.
- Tripped the sensor way out
the perimeter of the property.
- Odd.
- What?
- Well, if it's
tripped, it's yellow,
but if it's offline, it's red.
- What are you thinking?
- I'm thinking it's early
and I'm gonna enjoy
this cup of coffee
that my beautiful wife made
me and not worry about a bear
or a sensor a mile
and a half away.
- All right.
I love you, you're ridiculous.
- Love you too.
- Oh.
Oh.
You so idolized her.
She was your hero.
- You were my hero.
- What?
Hello?
Hello?
- Do you hear me, Alex?
Because I'm talking to you.
Time to stop reading my comic
and bandage up
that bleeding leg.
- I asked.
Are you ready, Alex?
Those who embrace control
must also embrace variables
that throw us out of control.
- You know, dad, looking
back, I would've appreciated
a nice conversation with you
rather than having to achieve
a random objective
every time we went
for a so-called walkabout.
- Ah.
Well, this is how I
expressed my love.
- The birch tree?
Oh, look, a birch tree.
Did you know that Native
Americans use birch
to paper canoes and houses?
Let's randomly stop here,
peel this entire tree
and build a yacht.
- Don't exaggerate.
It was a simple
passenger rowboat.
- What do you
think gave it away?
Maybe it was the tools you
had stashed behind a log.
- They weren't all planned.
- Oh, please.
- The bear.
- That was totally planned.
- It was not.
I mean, I just thought
it would be a...
Well, I just thought it'd
be a great idea to have you
sort of set up camp since
you were in the woods
all by yourself.
I mean, you, you stashed your
bag 10 feet above the ground
and then 20 feet above
where you were sleeping.
That's my girl.
- Those times in the
woods, dad, they...
- It made you strong, resilient,
without such traits you
couldn't have graduated
two years early, and you
never would have gotten
into Johns Hopkins.
Control.
- They made me fear you,
not respect you.
- But darling, I
am here to tell you
that those times prepared
you for this exact moment.
- Say what you've been
holding in all these years.
Ask me what you never could
because you were gone.
- You met that guy
two months ago.
- Took you long enough
to get here, dad.
- Yeah, well, you're willing
to throw it all away.
- Taking a break from school
isn't throwing away anything.
- You maintain
control of all things
by staying on the chosen path,
not by deviating it with.
- You know, one of the
great traits of this family
is that we always
say what we mean.
- Yes, we do.
Yes, we do.
What did Frank lie about?
- What?
- You heard me.
- What did Frank lie about?
- How do you even
know about that?
You've been dead for 15 years.
- You're just not ready yet.
You're just not ready.
What did Frank lie about?
- Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
Amazonia?
- My friends, my family
who know me, the real me,
call me Millie.
I wish I could help you.
It is what I do,
but I can't this time.
You must help yourself or
millions will surely die.
- Millions have already
died because I failed.
I failed you every way
that a mother could
fail her daughter.
I did try
and I failed.
- So much anger, so
much regret, guilt,
so much self-pity.
When did you become this?
- You have no idea
who I am.
- Fine.
I'll quit you then,
as you quit them.
As you quit me.
No wait.
Don't go.
- Human beings evolve.
We progress.
We move forward.
Well, we die.
- Well,
I'm not moving forward anymore.
So,
great.
Dead.
- You're not dying.
- My bleeding leg differs.
- You're not going
to lose your leg
and you're not going to die.
- You don't know that.
- I do.
- How could you
possibly know that?
- I've been dead for 15 years,
and here we are chatting it up.
I do know some things
that can help you.
- How could you
possibly help me at all?
- By being here.
I will always be here.
Okay. Okay.
18 million dead.
400 million.
400 million worldwide.
How are they...
How are they
patient one and two?
How is that possible?
Okay. Okay.
100% mortality rate.
1%.
Ah, natural immunity.
Why is it so specific?
Okay.
Mm.
I wanna fully support
Frank with what he's doing.
I'm saying something.
What he believes in
and what he stands for.
Despite understanding
that he is taking risks
that he can no longer afford.
- He has responsibilities
now more than himself.
- Yeah. He does.
Before Millie, if he
wanted to take risks
and go to the hardest
places on earth, great.
I didn't care.
I mean, of course I cared,
but he's a grown man
and doesn't need
me micromanaging.
- So, you're letting them go.
- I am. My choice.
I am controlling the situation.
Ah!
Two, four, three.
Okay. HBMI.
Oh, that's not...
It's not making any sense.
Why can't I see it?
- Because you're
not ready to see it.
- What did Frank lie about?
- No, you don't get to do that.
You don't get to
suddenly play, dad.
Not now.
Not after all this
time we've lost.
- Ah, time.
You're familiar with all that.
- Control is choice
based on research.
You look at the facts, you
determine a course of action,
execute that action,
and control the outcome.
- Control is an illusion.
You use it to reflect
your insecurity
with no control over anything,
and having no control
frightens the shit out of you.
Life is not an equation, Alex.
It's not an experiment
that can be tried
over and over again until
it's successful or not.
- I weighed the
risks of them going.
I did the math.
I may not like it in my heart,
but my mind knows
they'll be fine.
- Convincing yourself is not
the same as accepting reality.
You're conning yourself
into believing your husband
and daughter are
gonna be in no danger
and you know different,
and you're doing nothing.
- I am doing everything
not to lose my mind.
Frank and Millie
are going to one
of the most dangerous
places on earth right now.
And I won't be there.
And I have to come to
terms with the fact
that I am choosing.
It's just...
Okay. Let him go.
Oh, hey.
Hello?
Hello?
Is there somebody with you?
Huh?
Well, I'm...
I'm really sorry.
I, I don't have
anything to give you,
but you know what?
There is something
you can do for me.
Can you run to the nearest
police station or hospital
and get someone and
bring them back?
Huh?
Can you do that? Huh?
Hmm?
No. I guess not.
Too much to ask, huh?
Oh.
Looks like your paw's bleeding.
Well, you know what?
It's kind of your lucky
day because I'm a doctor.
Come here.
Let me see that.
God?
Your name is God?.
Oh.
Yes, you are very
imposing, aren't you?
Okay.
Here, I got a
little bit of water.
Yeah, yeah, you're thirsty
like me, aren't you?
Okay.
Let's see here.
Oh. Yeah.
Nothing more than
a little scratch.
Probably just nicked it
on a rock or something.
Or maybe you were in a pitched
battle with a killer wolf.
Huh?
Is that what happened?
Nah. I don't think so.
Looks like you're lost out here.
Like I am.
No one looking for us.
And you know what?
I'm gonna be honest with you.
I'm not gonna call you God,
because that just
opens up like a whole
shipping container full
of stuff for me, so,
I'm just gonna call you dog.
Huh?
No?
All right.
I'll call you God.
So be honest with me here, God.
What are you really
doing out here?
Huh?
Because I know how I got here.
I was driving recklessly
and I flipped my truck,
but I have a feeling that's
not how you got out here,
because apart from that cut
on your foot, you smell nice.
Your coat is shiny, so I think
you're primarily a house dog.
So get real.
What are you really
doing here, God?
Huh?
Are you looking for me?
Hmm.
I'm not gonna find my
answers with you, am I?
Hey, wait.
No, come back.
Please?
God.
Come back.
No worries.
I'll be right here.
- And here,
we
go.
It's time.
- No.
No, Daniel.
- Julia, it's time.
- I'm not ready.
- Next, news update.
With 90% of the country
in self-lockdown,
as if we really had a choice,
and so far, according to the
top immunologists at the CDC,
Dr. Walden herself
saying, "Only 1%
of the population appears
to be naturally immune."
Her included to this thing.
Thank God we have
a test for that.
We all appear to be stuck
right where we are, though,
this slow and steady
trajectory of the assured rise
of mental health issues
cannot be overlooked.
- Tell me about it.
- I mean, yes, I'm
on board with staying inside,
not interacting with
people and all that,
but how long until the
preventive measures become worse
than the infection?
- None.
There's no amount of time when
the infection becomes better
than the treatment or the cure.
- But I'm just moving my mouth,
not having any idea
what I'm talking about,
as they didn't teach this stuff
in my communications class.
- Ah!
- Anyway, I feel like
saying we should all aspire
to spread hope, not fear,
convey truth, not lies.
And most of all, support those
on the front lines, of course.
But also, let's not forget
the ones that have paid
and are paying the
ultimate price.
Those bleeding life so the
rest of us won't have to.
Ladies and gentlemen, at
sunrise, somewhere in America.
- There will be no more
tomorrows, like today.
For an eternity, I have battled.
I have suffered.
I have pled for what I believe.
I have nothing left.
Nothing left to give.
- You are so wrong.
Humans have the power of choice,
the freedom of will, the
ability to forge ahead
and fulfill great destinies.
But you are choosing
not to evolve, to grow.
You are choosing to be still.
Stay this course, and
you will surely fail.
- Humans must move forward.
Will we die?
- It's okay to let go.
And look at things differently.
Consider what you never
would have considered before.
Have you ever considered
that the prehistoric strain
was not the source
of the pandemic?
- Millie was a lot like you.
One month premature
and just too impatient
to stay in one place.
She was like, "I'm out of here."
And arrived, she did,
kicking and screaming
and ugh, just leaving an
enormous mess on her wake.
Boy, was she
daddy's little girl.
Could never do any harm.
History doesn't
necessarily repeat itself,
but does tend to rhyme.
You got settled with two girls.
- I never regretted
having you two girls.
- I know.
- What do you think drove
Frank to lie to you?
- Don't do that.
Why would you attack someone
who can't defend themselves?
- I'm not attacking him.
It's a question.
- Yeah, an accusatory question.
- No, it's only accusatory
because you're answering
it so defensively.
- I'm not being defensive.
I know the answer.
- Well say it out loud.
- No.
Frank didn't lie to me
about anything ever.
- Hm.
Well, he did go to Africa
with the Peace Corps.
That part is true 100%.
- Yes, it is.
- But where else did he go?
Oh, Daddy, please.
Can you just let this go?
Please?
- Honey, you are aware
that it isn't only my voice
asking these questions?
- Yeah.
Glacial, microbes.
Comparisons of bacterial,
production on glacial surf.
Surfaces between the
Arctic and Antarctica.
China.
- It's not really
that you believe
that you can
control our destiny.
It's such you'd rather,
it's better, easier for you,
as if all the choices
are made are yours.
So,
if things go a little wrong,
you have no one else to
blame other than yourself,
because
if someone else is to blame,
well,
that unleashes your
terrible demon.
- No, no, no.
This won't be that.
Taking all possible precautions.
And yes,
I am okay not being
able to forgive myself.
- I know.
That's right.
You're just not ready.
- Climate change melts glaciers.
It gives us access to viruses.
Millions of years.
Ancient viruses provide a first
window of viral
genomes in there.
- You know-
- Origins.
- You know what
I was thinking yesterday?
Thinking how easy the top
of the food chain, us,
has been so easily laid low
by this microscopic murderer.
Things are getting kind
of biblical out there.
We think we have such
control over our future.
Control.
Control is simply a myth.
We try to convince ourselves
that control is
something tangible
as if we literally
have any active choice
over the course of our lives
when we truly don't.
This is Michael Tanner.
Signing off.
- Nothing you've ever
said, Michael Tanner.
Not my dark night, dad.
- It is, but you
just don't understand it.
- What don't I understand?
- You wake up every single day
angry that you've survived.
You look at your natural
immunity as a curse,
as a punishment,
when it's a gift.
- Outliving my
child is not a gift.
- That anger will kill you.
- My leg has taken care of that.
And it's the anger
that keeps me going.
- Well, love is a
much better motivator.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
- Do tell.
- Do you remember the rabbit?
- My big failure in the woods.
- How do you remember that day?
- I refused to kill the
rabbit and let it go.
That showed weakness,
and it pissed you off.
- Well, I was wrong.
- What?
- I was totally wrong.
- I, I, I'm, I'm, I'm sorry.
One more time, please.
- You heard me.
I was totally wrong.
- You see, you keep saying that,
but I've, you're my father,
and I've never heard
you say that before.
- I have.
Alone.
Quite frequently.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Yeah, but this time,
it's different.
I was a fool to think
that not killing a rabbit
was a sign of weakness.
- It wasn't.
- I didn't know.
I didn't think that
then, but you did.
Until you can wake up every day
and not be fueled by rage,
you'll never be ready.
What did Frank lie about?
- Why keep asking
that same question?
- Hoping to get to the truth.
- The confidence of wisdom
is not your problem.
It's the confidence of
omnipotence you struggle with.
- How do I let that go?
- By letting go of the
responsibility of us.
Do you remember what I told
you the day dad and I left?
- Alex, this is about
what needs to be done
for this planet, for Millie.
It's about progress. Evolution.
If we don't move
forward, we die.
- And I wanna see the world
and all the people
that are part of it.
- All the people.
Look what we did.
We gave our kid hope.
No worries.
Done all you know to protect us.
- The only true constant
in life is the unexpected.
I couldn't protect you from
something that didn't exist yet.
- In this first verse,
the soul tells the mode
and manner in which it departs.
As to its affection, from itself
and from all things,
dying a true mortification
to all of them and
to itself, to a rye,
a sweet and delicious
life with God.
- Well, who is
to blame if not Frank?
- I'm to blame.
It's all my fault.
I don't wanna close
my eyes anymore
and see them.
I can't because I'm just...
I'm just sad and angry.
I can be with you now.
- Alex, what is it
that you keep missing?
- In 2013, a group of
French scientists discovered
what is known as
a Pandora virus.
These are ancient microbes.
Prehistoric viruses have never
seemed harmful to humans.
They're mainly found
in marine environments,
infecting amoeba.
How could a pure
prehistoric strain?
That's it.
That's what I've
always been missing.
What if it was re-engineered?
It'd have to be
done at its source.
Before Frank left the NSA, there
was a theory that they had.
They believed that a group
of terrorists had gotten hold
of a prehistoric virus
and weaponized it.
- So you're telling
me that a group
of terrorists killed
millions of people?
- No.
The CDC did.
Frank and I never believed
the terrorist theory.
The more apt theory was
that the CDC got hold
of a prehistoric strain, was
running some experiments on it,
they accidentally got it
right and it got loose.
Frank's lied.
Frank's trip to Zambia with
the Peace Corps was 100% legit.
He would never put
Millie in harm's way.
But I believe that
he had a meeting
he kept off the record.
- With whom?
- His old contact at the NSA,
who likely passed him a sample
that they didn't
trust with the CDC.
He would then bring it
home, give it to me,
and I'd get to
work on a vaccine.
Secretly.
- So how do you explain the
death of Frank and Millie?
- Transporting a virus
is like keeping a raw egg
from breaking while sitting
on the nose of a 747,
flying at 35,000 feet.
- It's hard.
- So the container must
have gotten damaged somehow,
and Frank and
Millie got exposed.
It likely mutated to
a respiratory strain.
It became airport.
Frank and Millie
never had a chance.
Oh, they never had a
chance from the start.
Pathology report showed
that they died from
a prehistoric strain,
and that's why I spent
two years focused on it.
Two wasted years.
- Honey, now that you know
what you're looking for,
can you fix it?
- Fix it?
- Yeah. Can you find a cure?
- Yeah. Maybe.
What difference does it make?
They're dead.
- The world is still spinning,
and it needs people like you.
Specifically, you.
It wasn't your fault.
You had no control over this.
You never did.
Frank did what he
thought was right.
You made a promise.
You told them you'd find a cure.
Now you've got to
keep your promise.
You're alive.
You've gotta fight.
- I don't know how.
- Yes, you do.
- I don't know how anymore.
It's too hard.
- Life is hard.
Living is hard.
But you've got to survive.
But you have got to
survive your dark night
so we all can survive.
Wake up, Alex.
It is time for you to wake up.
- You're here.
- This is a mistake.
- It's been two years.
- The thread still exists.
- I'm aware.
- Not just from the
virus, getting sick.
Remember the looters,
the squatters?
- I'm aware, but that
was early on, okay?
You remember they were just kids
and they were just
looking for shelter,
and we sent them away.
- It could be worse now.
- I thought it was a bear.
- Either way, it's dangerous.
- Look, a bear, a deer would
have set off multiple sensors
as one single sensor is offline.
I think that...
- What?
- I think it's someone who needs
our help and I wanna find out.
I need to find out what's
going on out there.
Don't you wanna know?
- I do, but I'm scared.
- I'm scared, too.
- It's time, isn't it?
- It's long past time.
- Let's go.
I'm driving.
- Straight on to Route 10.
Just make a right, go
straight onto Route 10,
and then we'll pull
past that open field
where they were logging
before isolation.
- You got it.
- Holy fuck.
Dr. Walden?
I'm not getting a pulse.
- Alex Walden?
Nothing. I've got nothing.
She's out there, baby.
- Damn it.
I'm sorry.
- No.
Come on, Alex.
- I am so proud to be.
- You're here.
- I am.
To ask you, what do
you think you're doing?
Killing yourself?
- No, I, I'm letting go.
- Like you said, no.
This is giving up.
Not letting go.
- Yeah, but yeah, but
they'll find my notes.
They don't need me.
- Oh, mom, of course,
they need you.
Your passion, your
focus, your intellect.
Don't diminish your
faith in others.
- No, but I wanna be here.
I wanna be with you.
- Oh, mom.
I'm not really here.
- What?
- I am so proud to have
been your daughter.
Now feel me and hear me.
You are ready.
You are ready.
- Come on, Alex.
Alex?
I got her back.
- Millie? Millie?
- Alex?
- Millie. Millie.
Millie.
Where's Millie?
- Alex, my name is Daniel.
This is my wife, Julia.
This is my wife, Julia,
you're gonna be okay.
- We're paramedics, Alex.
You're gonna be okay.
- All right, I'm gonna
go underneath her.
We're gonna pull
her out, all right?
- Okay.
- Here we go, one, two.
- Three.
- Okay, okay. Nice and gentle.
There we go.
Watch your head.
Watch your neck.
Okay.
Here we go.
Hand me that gauze.
- Oh, is this?
What are you looking for?
- Everything I know.
- We're gonna get you
to the hospital, okay?
Here we go.
- Hang on.
Get babe.
What is this?
- This is my daughter.
- Okay. Grab the bags.
I'm gonna come
around and left drop.
Hang on.
I got you.
Ready? Here we go.
Ready? Up.
- There you go.
Watch your head.
There we go.
- Okay.
- Here we go.
- Okay.
- Thank you for saving my life.
- We're gonna move.
Are you ready, Alex?
- I am ready.
- To all my listeners
out there, everywhere,
enjoying our new freedoms,
and yes, they are still new.
Today is a special day, a
special day to remember,
to remember those who we lost,
and to cherish those who
survived this darkness
on day 365, one year
out of isolation.
- So yeah, what's
our new normal gonna be?
I don't know.
Not sure if I wanna know.
Maybe we can call
it a better normal.
As a society, we put our trust
in others maybe too much.
We have representative
government
that doesn't always represent
the people who voted for them.
We must do better for
the next generation
and generations to come.
Look, I'm not one
to live in the past,
so let's just figure
out how to move forward,
which I hope is
possible at this point.
Speaking of the past,
programming note.
This weekend is a
flashback weekend.
We'll be playing mashups
from the previous shows
and, well, that does
it for me tonight.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's
sunrise somewhere in America.
This is Michael
Tanner, signing off
on day 608 in isolation.
- Are you ready, Alex?
I asked. Are you ready?
No, Alex, I don't think you are.
- Hello?
Hello!
- Those who embrace control
must also embrace variables.
Which throw us out of control.
- We don't move forward, we die.
- And I wanna see the world
and all the people
that are part of it.
- You're like a
human boulder on fire,
rocketing down a hill, exploding
through any obstacles
in your way.
- That is a shitty imitation
of dad, but thank you for that.
- I say, and this is just me,
based on, you know, history,
we'll most likely be cooped up
for a few days, maybe a week
and then we'll all get
back to our normal shit.
I say, stock up
on beer and chips
and re-up that
Netflix subscription
and binge watch whatever.
- Shit.
- You have reached local 911,
Moss Creek, New York.
Due to isolation protocols,
emergency service is no longer
in operation in this zone.
We are very sorry.
Good luck.
- No worries.
You've done all you
know to protect us.
- Oh, fuck.
- How is this different?
This already happened.
Feels like that because
we've been talking now
for over three hours.
- I'm still in the truck.
- You're aware?
- Anyway, I appreciate
what you're saying.
- No, you don't because
you're not answering
my simple question.
- Enough.
- How is this different?
- I don't know, Lori, okay?
Frank and Millie are
heading to Africa.
And if taking our
nine-year-old daughter halfway
around the world isn't fucking
my head up enough, the fact
that I won't be there because
of my new position at the CDC
puts me right in front
of the flaming boulder
I apparently am.
- Mom would be pissed.
That's some pretty
messed up grammar.
- How do I let
them go without me?
- Get your old position back.
- I can't.
- Then tell the CDC
the Peace Corps messed
up Frank's schedule
and moved his trip
up six months.
- It's an excuse.
I don't do that.
- Right, then you
have to let them go.
- She's nine.
- Going on 19.
What's the real issue?
- I won't be there.
- Morning.
- Hey.
- Hmm. I think our
blackberry's back.
- Really? That's strange.
- Tripped the sensor way out
the perimeter of the property.
- Odd.
- What?
- Well, if it's
tripped, it's yellow,
but if it's offline, it's red.
- What are you thinking?
- I'm thinking it's early
and I'm gonna enjoy
this cup of coffee
that my beautiful wife made
me and not worry about a bear
or a sensor a mile
and a half away.
- All right.
I love you, you're ridiculous.
- Love you too.
- Oh.
Oh.
You so idolized her.
She was your hero.
- You were my hero.
- What?
Hello?
Hello?
- Do you hear me, Alex?
Because I'm talking to you.
Time to stop reading my comic
and bandage up
that bleeding leg.
- I asked.
Are you ready, Alex?
Those who embrace control
must also embrace variables
that throw us out of control.
- You know, dad, looking
back, I would've appreciated
a nice conversation with you
rather than having to achieve
a random objective
every time we went
for a so-called walkabout.
- Ah.
Well, this is how I
expressed my love.
- The birch tree?
Oh, look, a birch tree.
Did you know that Native
Americans use birch
to paper canoes and houses?
Let's randomly stop here,
peel this entire tree
and build a yacht.
- Don't exaggerate.
It was a simple
passenger rowboat.
- What do you
think gave it away?
Maybe it was the tools you
had stashed behind a log.
- They weren't all planned.
- Oh, please.
- The bear.
- That was totally planned.
- It was not.
I mean, I just thought
it would be a...
Well, I just thought it'd
be a great idea to have you
sort of set up camp since
you were in the woods
all by yourself.
I mean, you, you stashed your
bag 10 feet above the ground
and then 20 feet above
where you were sleeping.
That's my girl.
- Those times in the
woods, dad, they...
- It made you strong, resilient,
without such traits you
couldn't have graduated
two years early, and you
never would have gotten
into Johns Hopkins.
Control.
- They made me fear you,
not respect you.
- But darling, I
am here to tell you
that those times prepared
you for this exact moment.
- Say what you've been
holding in all these years.
Ask me what you never could
because you were gone.
- You met that guy
two months ago.
- Took you long enough
to get here, dad.
- Yeah, well, you're willing
to throw it all away.
- Taking a break from school
isn't throwing away anything.
- You maintain
control of all things
by staying on the chosen path,
not by deviating it with.
- You know, one of the
great traits of this family
is that we always
say what we mean.
- Yes, we do.
Yes, we do.
What did Frank lie about?
- What?
- You heard me.
- What did Frank lie about?
- How do you even
know about that?
You've been dead for 15 years.
- You're just not ready yet.
You're just not ready.
What did Frank lie about?
- Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
Amazonia?
- My friends, my family
who know me, the real me,
call me Millie.
I wish I could help you.
It is what I do,
but I can't this time.
You must help yourself or
millions will surely die.
- Millions have already
died because I failed.
I failed you every way
that a mother could
fail her daughter.
I did try
and I failed.
- So much anger, so
much regret, guilt,
so much self-pity.
When did you become this?
- You have no idea
who I am.
- Fine.
I'll quit you then,
as you quit them.
As you quit me.
No wait.
Don't go.
- Human beings evolve.
We progress.
We move forward.
Well, we die.
- Well,
I'm not moving forward anymore.
So,
great.
Dead.
- You're not dying.
- My bleeding leg differs.
- You're not going
to lose your leg
and you're not going to die.
- You don't know that.
- I do.
- How could you
possibly know that?
- I've been dead for 15 years,
and here we are chatting it up.
I do know some things
that can help you.
- How could you
possibly help me at all?
- By being here.
I will always be here.
Okay. Okay.
18 million dead.
400 million.
400 million worldwide.
How are they...
How are they
patient one and two?
How is that possible?
Okay. Okay.
100% mortality rate.
1%.
Ah, natural immunity.
Why is it so specific?
Okay.
Mm.
I wanna fully support
Frank with what he's doing.
I'm saying something.
What he believes in
and what he stands for.
Despite understanding
that he is taking risks
that he can no longer afford.
- He has responsibilities
now more than himself.
- Yeah. He does.
Before Millie, if he
wanted to take risks
and go to the hardest
places on earth, great.
I didn't care.
I mean, of course I cared,
but he's a grown man
and doesn't need
me micromanaging.
- So, you're letting them go.
- I am. My choice.
I am controlling the situation.
Ah!
Two, four, three.
Okay. HBMI.
Oh, that's not...
It's not making any sense.
Why can't I see it?
- Because you're
not ready to see it.
- What did Frank lie about?
- No, you don't get to do that.
You don't get to
suddenly play, dad.
Not now.
Not after all this
time we've lost.
- Ah, time.
You're familiar with all that.
- Control is choice
based on research.
You look at the facts, you
determine a course of action,
execute that action,
and control the outcome.
- Control is an illusion.
You use it to reflect
your insecurity
with no control over anything,
and having no control
frightens the shit out of you.
Life is not an equation, Alex.
It's not an experiment
that can be tried
over and over again until
it's successful or not.
- I weighed the
risks of them going.
I did the math.
I may not like it in my heart,
but my mind knows
they'll be fine.
- Convincing yourself is not
the same as accepting reality.
You're conning yourself
into believing your husband
and daughter are
gonna be in no danger
and you know different,
and you're doing nothing.
- I am doing everything
not to lose my mind.
Frank and Millie
are going to one
of the most dangerous
places on earth right now.
And I won't be there.
And I have to come to
terms with the fact
that I am choosing.
It's just...
Okay. Let him go.
Oh, hey.
Hello?
Hello?
Is there somebody with you?
Huh?
Well, I'm...
I'm really sorry.
I, I don't have
anything to give you,
but you know what?
There is something
you can do for me.
Can you run to the nearest
police station or hospital
and get someone and
bring them back?
Huh?
Can you do that? Huh?
Hmm?
No. I guess not.
Too much to ask, huh?
Oh.
Looks like your paw's bleeding.
Well, you know what?
It's kind of your lucky
day because I'm a doctor.
Come here.
Let me see that.
God?
Your name is God?.
Oh.
Yes, you are very
imposing, aren't you?
Okay.
Here, I got a
little bit of water.
Yeah, yeah, you're thirsty
like me, aren't you?
Okay.
Let's see here.
Oh. Yeah.
Nothing more than
a little scratch.
Probably just nicked it
on a rock or something.
Or maybe you were in a pitched
battle with a killer wolf.
Huh?
Is that what happened?
Nah. I don't think so.
Looks like you're lost out here.
Like I am.
No one looking for us.
And you know what?
I'm gonna be honest with you.
I'm not gonna call you God,
because that just
opens up like a whole
shipping container full
of stuff for me, so,
I'm just gonna call you dog.
Huh?
No?
All right.
I'll call you God.
So be honest with me here, God.
What are you really
doing out here?
Huh?
Because I know how I got here.
I was driving recklessly
and I flipped my truck,
but I have a feeling that's
not how you got out here,
because apart from that cut
on your foot, you smell nice.
Your coat is shiny, so I think
you're primarily a house dog.
So get real.
What are you really
doing here, God?
Huh?
Are you looking for me?
Hmm.
I'm not gonna find my
answers with you, am I?
Hey, wait.
No, come back.
Please?
God.
Come back.
No worries.
I'll be right here.
- And here,
we
go.
It's time.
- No.
No, Daniel.
- Julia, it's time.
- I'm not ready.
- Next, news update.
With 90% of the country
in self-lockdown,
as if we really had a choice,
and so far, according to the
top immunologists at the CDC,
Dr. Walden herself
saying, "Only 1%
of the population appears
to be naturally immune."
Her included to this thing.
Thank God we have
a test for that.
We all appear to be stuck
right where we are, though,
this slow and steady
trajectory of the assured rise
of mental health issues
cannot be overlooked.
- Tell me about it.
- I mean, yes, I'm
on board with staying inside,
not interacting with
people and all that,
but how long until the
preventive measures become worse
than the infection?
- None.
There's no amount of time when
the infection becomes better
than the treatment or the cure.
- But I'm just moving my mouth,
not having any idea
what I'm talking about,
as they didn't teach this stuff
in my communications class.
- Ah!
- Anyway, I feel like
saying we should all aspire
to spread hope, not fear,
convey truth, not lies.
And most of all, support those
on the front lines, of course.
But also, let's not forget
the ones that have paid
and are paying the
ultimate price.
Those bleeding life so the
rest of us won't have to.
Ladies and gentlemen, at
sunrise, somewhere in America.
- There will be no more
tomorrows, like today.
For an eternity, I have battled.
I have suffered.
I have pled for what I believe.
I have nothing left.
Nothing left to give.
- You are so wrong.
Humans have the power of choice,
the freedom of will, the
ability to forge ahead
and fulfill great destinies.
But you are choosing
not to evolve, to grow.
You are choosing to be still.
Stay this course, and
you will surely fail.
- Humans must move forward.
Will we die?
- It's okay to let go.
And look at things differently.
Consider what you never
would have considered before.
Have you ever considered
that the prehistoric strain
was not the source
of the pandemic?
- Millie was a lot like you.
One month premature
and just too impatient
to stay in one place.
She was like, "I'm out of here."
And arrived, she did,
kicking and screaming
and ugh, just leaving an
enormous mess on her wake.
Boy, was she
daddy's little girl.
Could never do any harm.
History doesn't
necessarily repeat itself,
but does tend to rhyme.
You got settled with two girls.
- I never regretted
having you two girls.
- I know.
- What do you think drove
Frank to lie to you?
- Don't do that.
Why would you attack someone
who can't defend themselves?
- I'm not attacking him.
It's a question.
- Yeah, an accusatory question.
- No, it's only accusatory
because you're answering
it so defensively.
- I'm not being defensive.
I know the answer.
- Well say it out loud.
- No.
Frank didn't lie to me
about anything ever.
- Hm.
Well, he did go to Africa
with the Peace Corps.
That part is true 100%.
- Yes, it is.
- But where else did he go?
Oh, Daddy, please.
Can you just let this go?
Please?
- Honey, you are aware
that it isn't only my voice
asking these questions?
- Yeah.
Glacial, microbes.
Comparisons of bacterial,
production on glacial surf.
Surfaces between the
Arctic and Antarctica.
China.
- It's not really
that you believe
that you can
control our destiny.
It's such you'd rather,
it's better, easier for you,
as if all the choices
are made are yours.
So,
if things go a little wrong,
you have no one else to
blame other than yourself,
because
if someone else is to blame,
well,
that unleashes your
terrible demon.
- No, no, no.
This won't be that.
Taking all possible precautions.
And yes,
I am okay not being
able to forgive myself.
- I know.
That's right.
You're just not ready.
- Climate change melts glaciers.
It gives us access to viruses.
Millions of years.
Ancient viruses provide a first
window of viral
genomes in there.
- You know-
- Origins.
- You know what
I was thinking yesterday?
Thinking how easy the top
of the food chain, us,
has been so easily laid low
by this microscopic murderer.
Things are getting kind
of biblical out there.
We think we have such
control over our future.
Control.
Control is simply a myth.
We try to convince ourselves
that control is
something tangible
as if we literally
have any active choice
over the course of our lives
when we truly don't.
This is Michael Tanner.
Signing off.
- Nothing you've ever
said, Michael Tanner.
Not my dark night, dad.
- It is, but you
just don't understand it.
- What don't I understand?
- You wake up every single day
angry that you've survived.
You look at your natural
immunity as a curse,
as a punishment,
when it's a gift.
- Outliving my
child is not a gift.
- That anger will kill you.
- My leg has taken care of that.
And it's the anger
that keeps me going.
- Well, love is a
much better motivator.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
- Do tell.
- Do you remember the rabbit?
- My big failure in the woods.
- How do you remember that day?
- I refused to kill the
rabbit and let it go.
That showed weakness,
and it pissed you off.
- Well, I was wrong.
- What?
- I was totally wrong.
- I, I, I'm, I'm, I'm sorry.
One more time, please.
- You heard me.
I was totally wrong.
- You see, you keep saying that,
but I've, you're my father,
and I've never heard
you say that before.
- I have.
Alone.
Quite frequently.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Yeah, but this time,
it's different.
I was a fool to think
that not killing a rabbit
was a sign of weakness.
- It wasn't.
- I didn't know.
I didn't think that
then, but you did.
Until you can wake up every day
and not be fueled by rage,
you'll never be ready.
What did Frank lie about?
- Why keep asking
that same question?
- Hoping to get to the truth.
- The confidence of wisdom
is not your problem.
It's the confidence of
omnipotence you struggle with.
- How do I let that go?
- By letting go of the
responsibility of us.
Do you remember what I told
you the day dad and I left?
- Alex, this is about
what needs to be done
for this planet, for Millie.
It's about progress. Evolution.
If we don't move
forward, we die.
- And I wanna see the world
and all the people
that are part of it.
- All the people.
Look what we did.
We gave our kid hope.
No worries.
Done all you know to protect us.
- The only true constant
in life is the unexpected.
I couldn't protect you from
something that didn't exist yet.
- In this first verse,
the soul tells the mode
and manner in which it departs.
As to its affection, from itself
and from all things,
dying a true mortification
to all of them and
to itself, to a rye,
a sweet and delicious
life with God.
- Well, who is
to blame if not Frank?
- I'm to blame.
It's all my fault.
I don't wanna close
my eyes anymore
and see them.
I can't because I'm just...
I'm just sad and angry.
I can be with you now.
- Alex, what is it
that you keep missing?
- In 2013, a group of
French scientists discovered
what is known as
a Pandora virus.
These are ancient microbes.
Prehistoric viruses have never
seemed harmful to humans.
They're mainly found
in marine environments,
infecting amoeba.
How could a pure
prehistoric strain?
That's it.
That's what I've
always been missing.
What if it was re-engineered?
It'd have to be
done at its source.
Before Frank left the NSA, there
was a theory that they had.
They believed that a group
of terrorists had gotten hold
of a prehistoric virus
and weaponized it.
- So you're telling
me that a group
of terrorists killed
millions of people?
- No.
The CDC did.
Frank and I never believed
the terrorist theory.
The more apt theory was
that the CDC got hold
of a prehistoric strain, was
running some experiments on it,
they accidentally got it
right and it got loose.
Frank's lied.
Frank's trip to Zambia with
the Peace Corps was 100% legit.
He would never put
Millie in harm's way.
But I believe that
he had a meeting
he kept off the record.
- With whom?
- His old contact at the NSA,
who likely passed him a sample
that they didn't
trust with the CDC.
He would then bring it
home, give it to me,
and I'd get to
work on a vaccine.
Secretly.
- So how do you explain the
death of Frank and Millie?
- Transporting a virus
is like keeping a raw egg
from breaking while sitting
on the nose of a 747,
flying at 35,000 feet.
- It's hard.
- So the container must
have gotten damaged somehow,
and Frank and
Millie got exposed.
It likely mutated to
a respiratory strain.
It became airport.
Frank and Millie
never had a chance.
Oh, they never had a
chance from the start.
Pathology report showed
that they died from
a prehistoric strain,
and that's why I spent
two years focused on it.
Two wasted years.
- Honey, now that you know
what you're looking for,
can you fix it?
- Fix it?
- Yeah. Can you find a cure?
- Yeah. Maybe.
What difference does it make?
They're dead.
- The world is still spinning,
and it needs people like you.
Specifically, you.
It wasn't your fault.
You had no control over this.
You never did.
Frank did what he
thought was right.
You made a promise.
You told them you'd find a cure.
Now you've got to
keep your promise.
You're alive.
You've gotta fight.
- I don't know how.
- Yes, you do.
- I don't know how anymore.
It's too hard.
- Life is hard.
Living is hard.
But you've got to survive.
But you have got to
survive your dark night
so we all can survive.
Wake up, Alex.
It is time for you to wake up.
- You're here.
- This is a mistake.
- It's been two years.
- The thread still exists.
- I'm aware.
- Not just from the
virus, getting sick.
Remember the looters,
the squatters?
- I'm aware, but that
was early on, okay?
You remember they were just kids
and they were just
looking for shelter,
and we sent them away.
- It could be worse now.
- I thought it was a bear.
- Either way, it's dangerous.
- Look, a bear, a deer would
have set off multiple sensors
as one single sensor is offline.
I think that...
- What?
- I think it's someone who needs
our help and I wanna find out.
I need to find out what's
going on out there.
Don't you wanna know?
- I do, but I'm scared.
- I'm scared, too.
- It's time, isn't it?
- It's long past time.
- Let's go.
I'm driving.
- Straight on to Route 10.
Just make a right, go
straight onto Route 10,
and then we'll pull
past that open field
where they were logging
before isolation.
- You got it.
- Holy fuck.
Dr. Walden?
I'm not getting a pulse.
- Alex Walden?
Nothing. I've got nothing.
She's out there, baby.
- Damn it.
I'm sorry.
- No.
Come on, Alex.
- I am so proud to be.
- You're here.
- I am.
To ask you, what do
you think you're doing?
Killing yourself?
- No, I, I'm letting go.
- Like you said, no.
This is giving up.
Not letting go.
- Yeah, but yeah, but
they'll find my notes.
They don't need me.
- Oh, mom, of course,
they need you.
Your passion, your
focus, your intellect.
Don't diminish your
faith in others.
- No, but I wanna be here.
I wanna be with you.
- Oh, mom.
I'm not really here.
- What?
- I am so proud to have
been your daughter.
Now feel me and hear me.
You are ready.
You are ready.
- Come on, Alex.
Alex?
I got her back.
- Millie? Millie?
- Alex?
- Millie. Millie.
Millie.
Where's Millie?
- Alex, my name is Daniel.
This is my wife, Julia.
This is my wife, Julia,
you're gonna be okay.
- We're paramedics, Alex.
You're gonna be okay.
- All right, I'm gonna
go underneath her.
We're gonna pull
her out, all right?
- Okay.
- Here we go, one, two.
- Three.
- Okay, okay. Nice and gentle.
There we go.
Watch your head.
Watch your neck.
Okay.
Here we go.
Hand me that gauze.
- Oh, is this?
What are you looking for?
- Everything I know.
- We're gonna get you
to the hospital, okay?
Here we go.
- Hang on.
Get babe.
What is this?
- This is my daughter.
- Okay. Grab the bags.
I'm gonna come
around and left drop.
Hang on.
I got you.
Ready? Here we go.
Ready? Up.
- There you go.
Watch your head.
There we go.
- Okay.
- Here we go.
- Okay.
- Thank you for saving my life.
- We're gonna move.
Are you ready, Alex?
- I am ready.
- To all my listeners
out there, everywhere,
enjoying our new freedoms,
and yes, they are still new.
Today is a special day, a
special day to remember,
to remember those who we lost,
and to cherish those who
survived this darkness
on day 365, one year
out of isolation.