Gray Matter (2023) Movie Script

[sparse tense music]

[police siren wailing]

[clock ticking]
[electronic chime]

- Ayla, stop.
- I'm done talking.
- This won't stop anything!
Ayla, please.
Let's talk to the others.
Some of them are on our side.
[police siren wails]
Go. Run! Run! Run!
- Hey, hey, hey!
- Patrolling officer
in pursuit! Hey!
- Hey! Stop! Stop!

Get back here now! Stop!
Get down on the ground!

Stop!

Ah, Jesus Christ!
It's only gonna
be worse for you!

Get down on the ground!

Stop!

- Shit!

[suspenseful music]

- Show me your hands!
Don't you move.
Stay right there!

I'm not gonna say
it again. Hands now!
[indistinct radio chatter]

- You're making a mistake.
- On your knees.
- Backup needed, 1000
block off of Welland.
- Let's go. Come on.
I'm not gonna keep
repeating myself.
On the ground now.
- I'm not going with you.
- I'm sorry, missy.
That's not how this works.
- Actually, that's
exactly how this works...
'cause you won't
like the alternative.
I promise you that.
- Hey! Get back!

- You wanna go home tonight?
- What is that, a threat?
- It's a chance.

- Okay.
I'll give you three seconds
to get on the ground.
You understand?
Stop, stop!
- If she takes one more
step, I'm gonna pull the trigger.
That's what you're
thinking, right?

You, not so much.
Now, you are.
[tense music]

- Fuck!
- Oh, shit! Hey, hey!
Stop!
[scream and gunshot]
- Ayla!
What the hell happened?
[ominous dramatic music]

[jazzy music playing softly]

- Seriously?
- What?

- [exhales deeply]

- [chuckles]

- You started it.

- You... give it to
me. I'm hungry.
- [snickers]
Not my problem.
- Ha-ha!
[laughs]
[soft suspenseful music]
[forks clink and ring]
[sparse dramatic music]
[ball bouncing]

[tennis ball bouncing]

[train tracks clacking]
[dramatic music fading]
- Good touch sensation.
[static hissing]
- Where are you going?
- I told you I quit!
- You can't quit! We're a team!
Two peas in a pod!
- Ugh!
Those are gonna
be black-eyed peas
if you don't get out of my...
[TV clicks off]
[soft tense music]

[both gasp softly]
[Aurora sighs]
- What went wrong?
- The cup, I wasn't
expecting you to drop it.
- Projections need to
be fully formed fictions,
not reactant to the victim.
When you do what we can
do, you make victims of people.
- I know.
- I know you know.
It just bears repeating.
Did you feel the pull?
- Yeah. I kept it back.
- Good. And let's do it again.
- Are you serious? Why?
- Because you're
not fully in control.
These abilities only
work if you are in control.
If you let that
power take over...
- People can die. I know.
But you don't let me use
them outside of the house,
so I think humanity is safe.
My show is on.
- I know your show is on.
That's all you're
thinking about.
- I hate when you do that.
- Then learn how to keep me out.
Again.
- About a dozen
downtown businesses
were boarded up Wednesday,
and glass-littered sidewalks
following two nights
of protests.
This morning,
there were few
people on the streets
as the city school board
shut down all schools
in the downtown metro area.
- Why are you watching that?
It just makes you mad.
- It's good to know
what people are saying.
- They say the
same shit every day.
- Someday, they may
say something different.
It's our early warning system.
- Hiya, hiya, hiya!
I'm Mad Matty, the
mattress master!
And I'm here to tell you
that our hybrid memory
foam line is on sale!
- Yeah, we're getting
early warning signs
about the latest mattress sales.
- [chuckles]
Time for school. [chuckles]
- You know, maybe I could
read something different today?
Something with an actual plot?
- Life doesn't have a plot.
- Yeah, that's why books should.
- You're 16. You
want fairy tales?
We're not like
normal people, Ro.
There's a reason I make
you read the books I do.
- "Virtue Ethics
and Utilitarianism"?
I know right from wrong.
I don't need a
300-page book to tell me.
- The point of that book
is that power has a way of
diminishing moral senses.
- What does that even mean?
- That we have a choice.
And how we use these abilities
when we're out
there in the world,
when it's not just me and you...
those choices matter.
[train whistle blowing]
If you get stopped,
taken, what do you do?
- Mom.
- Tell me what.
- I tell them nothing.
- What do you show them?
- Nothing.
- What happens if they
go into your memories?
- I forget.
- Forget what?
- As much as I can.
- How?
- I think of anything else?
- Use an anchor.
- An anchor memory. Right, yeah.
An anchor memory.
- And you fight.
You fight as long and
as hard as you can.
And where will I be?
- The bus stop on the 730
line off of Route 80, exit 3.
- That's right.
- I told you I quit!
- You can't quit! We're a team!
Two peas in a pod!
- Ugh!
Those are gonna
be black-eyed peas
if you don't get out of my way!
- Hey, I'm sorry.
- You talk, but I
don't believe it.
I'm gone!
- Well, what about...
Um, what about my dead cat?
[laugh track laughter]
- You never had a cat!
- Exactly my point!
So help me fix this before
our parents get back!
- Why should I?
- Well, because it
wasn't exactly my fault!
- You hate what we read,
but you love this garbage?
- Yup.
It's my only way of
seeing regular people.
- You seen regular people?
That's not how they are.
- What? You always...
- Well, it's closer
than how we live.
- Then why are you surprised?
At least I'm consistent!
[laugh track laughter]
- [indistinct]
- I'm going out for supplies.
- Now, that's ridiculous!
- You mean shopping?
Can I come?
- Not this time.
- Why not?
- Stay here with
your regular people.
- I'm worried they're
up to something.
[dog barking]
[engine turns over]
[indistinct shouting]
[R&B music playing]
- [vocalizing]
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Why you gotta
do me like that
Do me like that,
yeah, yeah, yeah
Why you gotta do me
like, do me like that?
Yeah, yeah, yeah
- What do you think?
- I think it's really good.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Okay, well, obviously,
I still gotta, like,
work on the lyrics
and all that and...
And find someone
who can sing 'em.
Do you sing?
- Oh, no.
[chuckles]
I mean, I... I
wouldn't call it singing.
- [laughs]
- So, um...
Okay, I-I kinda
made you something.
It's stupid.
[soft dramatic music]

- You made this?
- Yeah.
[chuckles]

- Could you?

So, um, tomorrow, I'm
hanging out with some friends.
And, uh, I'd really
like it if you'd come.

- I don't know.
- Well, I know you're
shy or whatever,
but it could be really fun.
And it'll only be a few of us.
- Okay, but, like,
how many is a few?
- I don't know.
[laughs]
You want, like, a
guest list or something?
- No. I just... You're
my only friend.
And adding anything
onto that is a big deal.

- Well...
I think you can handle it.

Plus, what's the worst
thing that could happen?
- Shit, she's home
early. I gotta go!
- Uh, tomorrow night?
- Uh, we'll see!
- We're meeting
by the old school!
- Okay!
[rhythmic tense music]

[grunts]

[Aurora thuds]
[panting]
[indistinct chatter on TV]

- Perfect towel!
The most absorbent
material ever!
- You haven't
moved since I left.
- Yeah. This is, like,
my favorite show.
- The perfect towel
attracts liquid like a magnet.
It doesn't matter
if it's club soda...
- Right.
- Even red wine!
[indistinct chatter on TV]
[bassy thump]
- Shit.
- So what's his name?
- Whose name?
- The boy you were just with.
- There isn't any...
- We're not playing that game.
- towel is odor-free!
Now, you can see...
- Then pick a different game.
- You wanna keep secrets?
[words echoing] Then shield
them better in your mind.
- How about you
stay out of my head
and give me some privacy?
Or, you know, stay in one place
long enough for me
to make some friends?
Have a life?
[indistinct chatter on TV]
- We're leaving on Friday.
- What? Why?
Why?
I don't get a say-so?
- No, you don't get a say-so.
- It has the strength
and the muscle
to pick up and hold
over 30 ounces of liquid!
The perfect towel attracts
liquid like a magnet!
It doesn't matter if it's
club soda, even red wine.
[indistinct chatter on TV]
[birds singing]
[box thuds]
- Move this box across the room.
- I've never moved
anything that heavy before.
- It's not a car, Ro.
If you're strong enough
to pick it up with your arms,
you can pick it
up with your mind.
You need to tap into that energy
to move heavier objects
and not lose control.
From there to the coffee table.
- Fine.
[tense dramatic music]
[supernatural thrumming]

- Good.

Hold it there.
And when you're
ready, start moving it.

Remember, Ro, trust your power.
- [breathing deeply]
I trust my power.
[breathing deeply]

- Ro, look at me!

Fight it, Ro!
- [straining]

- [inaudible]

Damn it!
[supernatural grinding]
- Okay.
- That's why you
don't get a say-so.
You're not ready.
- I could have fought it off!
You barely gave me a chance!
[supernatural thrumming]
- Do you think they'll
give you a chance?
- Okay, I get it!
- You have to learn to
control these abilities
without me there to help you!
One mistake, one,
and they will find you!
You get that?
- Mom, you're hurting me!
[panting]
What is wrong with you?
- I'm just trying...
Trying to give you the
tools to protect yourself.
- From who?
No one is coming for
us, Mom! There is no they!
You and all your
bullshit, your lessons,
"Project this, move
that." I am... I am sick of it!
I didn't ask for these powers.
And if I could give
them back, I would.
My life is shit because of them!
[soft tense music]

[crickets chirping]
[mellow indie music playing]

[knock at door]
[door opens]

- About earlier...
- Forget it.

What album is it?

- You like them, right?

Goodnight.
- Night.

[dramatic ambient music]

[music playing on stereo]
[indistinct chatter]
- We might just
have to leave early.
- Wow.
- Just gotta to figure it out.
- [laughs]
- No, I want you to... I
need you to... I need...
- Hey! Where are you
going? Come over here!
See? I told you she'd come.
- I'm just shocked
she exists, bro.
- She actually kinda hot.
- Hey, bro, shut up!
- 50 bucks says
she's not hot, bro.
- Hey.
[hip-hop music
playing on stereo]

Hi. [chuckles]
- Hi.
[chuckles]

- You okay?
- Yeah.
- Um, do you wanna
go somewhere just us?

- No. I wanna meet your friends.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.

- Okay.

So that's Aaron.
- Yo.
- That's Calah.
That's Dina.
- [laughs]
- And that's Caleb.
I'm embarrassed by all of them.
- We're embarrassed by you.
- [laughs]
- Hey, come over here.
How much is his mom paying
you to hang out with him?
- Don't answer that, okay?
- Don't tell her what to do.
- Um, a lot.
[laughter]
- I knew it! She got
you on a payment plan?
- She gets paid every
Friday, all right? Now drop it.
- That's why your
mom stays broke.
- You don't go to
Thomas Jefferson, right?
- Um, Thomas Jefferson?
- Yeah.
The school?
- Uh, no. I'm... I'm
homeschooled, I guess.
- Shit. I wish I was
homeschooled.
- Trust me, you don't.
Unless you want your
mom as your teacher.
- Yeah, that won't
work. I hate my mom.
- I love your mom.
[laughter]
- Shut up.
- God, buddy, not again.
- You live around here?
- Yeah, over there.
- You live in the
Stevens Complex?
- Uh, yeah.
- I didn't think anyone
but homeless people
still live in those
houses over there.
- Bro, it's unhoused.
- Idiot, homeless
people don't have homes.
- Unhoused, dude. Come on.
- All right, Mr. Woke.
- You know what I mean, bro.
- We're not...
We're not homeless.
- Whatever you say.
- [spits]
- Ew.
- Bro.
- [laughing] What?
- Whatever's in
this tastes like ass.
- That's top shelf.
- Like you know
what top shelf is.
- It's top shelf.
- Bottom of my ass shelf.
- I think this is going well.
- Top of what shelf?
- [imitating Aaron's accent]
That's what you sip in London?
- Um...
- What is in this?
- You want a drink?
- Oh, um...
- It's just Coke.
- Okay, Zay, I see you.
- What is in that?
I'm not drinking that. Get
out. No. This is bullshit.
- So nobody wants this?
[both laugh]
- Um, do you wanna...
Do you wanna sit?
- Yeah, sure.
- Okay.
[upbeat music playing on stereo]

[supernatural thrumming]
[echoing] I should've
put on a warmer jacket.
[soft tense music]
I really like her.
[normally] Hey, are you cold?
- [echoing] She's weird.
- [echoing] Maybe I should
try and hold her hand.

What's going on?
- [echoing] He is such a simp.
- [echoing] Why aren't
I TikTok-famous yet?
- [echoing] What does
he even see in her?
- You okay?
- What's going on over there?
- Nothing. We're just talking.
[echoing laughter]
- What's going on? Aurora.
- What the hell
is wrong with her?
- Hey, what's going
on over there, bro?
- What was in
that drink, Isaiah?
- Nothing. Okay?
- Stop it! Stop it! Stop!
- Bro, she's freaking out.
- What is she on?
- I-I don't know.
- Yo, Zay, take
her ass home, bro.
She's killing my high.
- Guys, stop!
- She's so weird.
- Hey.
Hey, talk to me. Breathe.
I'm right here. It's okay.
[upbeat music playing on stereo]

[soft tense music]

- Isaiah!

Isaiah!
There's blood everywhere!
What did you do?
[dissonant tense music]

What did you do?
- I need... I need help.
- We need an ambulance!
- What did you do?
- That was our friend!
- [indistinct]
[overlapping chatter]

- What's going on?
- I need...
I need help.
[breathing heavily] I need...
[tense musical crescendo]
I need...
[high-pitched whining]
[supernatural snarling]

- Ro!
[echoing] Ro?
[tense music]
Shit!
Ro, can you hear me?
Ro, please, if
you can hear this,
just send me a message.
Shit!

[engine turns over]

Ro, meet me at
the appointed place.
Do not go home.

God!

[high-pitched ringing]
[door latch clunking]
- Hello?
Is anyone there? Hello?
[soft ominous music]

Mom? Mom, are you there?
I did something
really, really bad.
And I'm sorry, but I really,
really need you right now.

Mom, please.
Please tell me you can hear me.

[door latch clicks]
[gasps] No.
- Ah, you're awake.
[door closes]
How you feeling?
Are you okay?
- No.
- Okay, okay, okay.
- Wh-where am I?
- You're someplace safe.
- How did I get here?
- I heard your call for help.
[echoing] I brought you here.
- You're like me?
- Yes.
This entire place was designed
specifically for people like us.
So like I said, you're safe.
[chuckles]
Clean clothes for you, a towel.
Bathroom's right
around the corner.
Okay? [door opens]
- What's gonna happen to me?
- Nothing you
need to worry about.
Clean yourself
up. We'll talk after.
[door closes]

When's the last time you ate?
- I'm not hungry.
- Most psionics I detect young,
at five or six.
But here you are in your teens,
and I know nothing about you.
Maybe we can start with a name.
- Aurora.
- Ah, Aurora.
It's very nice to
meet you, Aurora.
I'm Derek.
I'm very sorry about what
happened to your friend.
How often have you
replayed it in your head?
- It won't stop.
He was...
He was my only friend.
And he was nice to me. And I...
I didn't mean to.
I didn't mean to. And
I... I couldn't control it.
- The surge is what we call it.
It's how I found you.
That power...
it'll pull you in and
make you lose control
if you don't know
how to resist it.
- I'm done using them.
- Oh, no. No.
All you need is proper training.
- Training, that's what...
That's what you do here?
- It is.
And I can already tell
that you're exceptional
because throughout
this entire conversation,
you've managed to
keep me out of your head.
And that's...
[chuckles softly]
Who are your parents, Aurora?
Who do you... Who
do you live with?
- No one. I-I-I ran away.
- Is there anyone
you'd like me to call?
Anyone at all?
No?
Well, it's getting late.
I'm gonna have
one of the attendants
show you to your room
if you would, in
fact, like to stay here,
and I hope you do.
There are some kids
here around your age
I'd like to introduce
you to at some point.
Yeah?
- What about...
What about what I did to Isaiah?
- Yeah.
I'll take care of it.
Okay.
This is Gloria.
Don't mind the
contraption on her face.
All of our attendants
are non-psionic.
They wear those
to keep the rest of us
out of their heads.
She'll get you settled.
- You ready?
[soft disjointed music]

Bathroom is through that door.
If you need anything
else, let us know.
We're glad you're here.

- Morning. Did you
get some sleep?
- A little.
- Did you eat?
- A little.
- Aurora, what happened
wasn't your fault.
These abilities,
they're complicated.
They're transformative.
And, as you've seen,
they can be dangerous.
Can I ask you
about your abilities?
Not all of us possess...
Or I should say can
access the same ones.
- What do you wanna know?
- Well, I already know
you can read minds
because you've been trying to
get inside mine since we met.
It's okay.
I'd be doing the same
thing if I was in your shoes.
But can you move objects?
- I'm not good at it.
Not if it's heavy.
- Foresight?
- I like to do projections.
- Really?
Well, young lady,
I'm very interested
to find out what
else you can do,
given the right focus,
the right opportunity.
- How can you teleport?
- Ooh.
With an immense amount
of focus, control, will.
It rivals astral projection in
terms of the energy required.
- I don't know what that is.
- Astral projection?
Oh, it's... it's pretty cool.
You project your own
form, your... your presence,
away from your physical body.
It's like being in
two places at once.
Incredibly taxing physically
and very difficult to master.
- Can you do it?
- [chuckles]
Not well.
Let's take a walk.
Come on.
[soft dramatic music]

So how you feeling
about this place?

- You said there were
other kids here my age?
- Mm-hmm, that's right.
[birds calling]
- When do I get to meet them?
- Well, most are in
class at the moment.
Education's a priority here.
But if you'd like,
you can start taking your
meals in the dining hall
with them this evening.
Is that good?
- Okay.

- Do you know how
memory works, Aurora?
And I don't mean in a
brain chemical sense.
I mean in the dream,
Freudian, associative sense.
- No.
- Well, for example,
if I say to you,
"Who do you live with?"
it sparks a memory in you.

I'm gonna put all my
cards on the table here.
I know that you
weren't honest with me
when I asked who you live with.
It's okay. Why would you be?
Can I show you something?
[dissonant crescendo]
[finger snap echoing]
[dreamy ambient music]
- What... what is
this? Where are we?
- We're in your memory.
- Where are you going?
- I told you, I quit!
- You can't quit! We're a team!
Two peas in a pod!
- Ugh!
Those are gonna
be black-eyed peas
if you don't get out of my way!
- What you thought of when
I asked you where you live.
[indistinct chatter on TV]
You like sitcoms?
- What about my dead cat?
[laugh track laughter]
- And "The
Metaphysics of Morals."
Interesting.

Uh-huh.

What am I supposed to buy here?
That you live in this paradise
of philosophy and potato
chips all by yourself?
- You don't need
to buy it. It's true.
- This girl here
got all these books,
all this food, this TV.
- I love that TV.

[bassy thump]
- [sighs]
I meant it when I said
you're exceptional.
You're actively
manipulating this memory
in real time, aren't you?
Mm.
As we stand here in
this memory of yours,
you've been reading page 45,
and yet, the page
is always the same.
- Well, what about, um...
Both: What about my dead cat?
- I've heard that
punchline three times now.
[soft tense music]
You live here with someone.
And they're somewhere
in this memory with you.
Based on your visual clues,
whoever it is you're hiding
comes in through there.
- Why does it matter?
- It only matters because
you think it's important
enough to lie about.
- It's not important.

- I'm gonna say some words...
and see which ones
trigger the right memories.
Father.
Mother.
[bassy thump]
[clicks tongue]
What does she look like?
- Mm.
You say you hate what we read,
and yet you love that garbage?
- [chuckles]
That's good. That's very good.
But what does your
mother really look like?
- You say you hate
what we read, and yet...
- Aurora.
[soft tense music]

What does she say
to you in this moment?
- Nothing.

[tense notes]
- What's her voice sound like?

[sighs softly]

That photo on the wall.
[tense music]

Ayla.

[tense music fading]
- You know her?
- I did.
You shouldn't be protecting her.
[soft ominous music]

- What is this?
- Your mother murdered
these three people.
- What?
She wouldn't...
She wouldn't do this.
- I wish that were true.
You shouldn't have
to find out this way.
I'm sorry.
- She wouldn't do this.
- Has she ever allowed
you to get in her mind?
Ever wonder why?
These officers were
just doing their job.
Both of them had
families, children.
This third man there,
he was our friend.
- Stop.
- I take it you guys
moved around a lot.
Well, now, you know why.
Aurora,
you understand what I'm
offering you here, right?
Freedom, an
opportunity to belong,
to have friends
that are like you.
Help us find your mother.
- I can't.
- You can't or won't?
- She's my mom.
- I know what I'm asking,
and I know it's hard.
Your mother and I
were friends once.
I thought we shared a vision
for a future where psionics
could be happy and safe.
She chose a different path.
- I wanna leave.
- Well, I can't let you do that.
Not while she's still out there.

Come.
Joseph's gonna show
you back to your room.

- [echoing] I'm gonna
give you three seconds
to get on the ground.
Three...

Two...
one...

Oh, shit! Hey, hey!
No, stop!
[gunshot]
[scream and gunshot]
- Ayla!
[tense music]

What the hell happened?
[police siren wailing]

[tense musical crescendo]
- [groans softly]
[panting]
[soft tense rhythmic music]

[laugh track laughter]
- Who's that?
[laugh track laughter]
[studio audience applauding]
- Look at this picture
of domestic tranquility.
- Uh, it's... It's
great, isn't it?
- I don't trust it.
[laugh track laughter]
- Oh, hi, Mom.
I didn't even see
you guys come in.
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah.
How was it?
- Oh, it was marvelous.
The music, the set decoration.
[tense music]

[inaudible]

[glass shatters]

[crickets chirping]
[soft tense rhythmic music]

[indistinct whispering]

- What the hell?
[indistinct whispering]

- Security breach,
East Wing, Sector 426.
[clock ticking]
Security breach,
East Wing, Sector 426.

Security breach,
East Wing, Sector 426.

[door closes]
[dramatic music]

- Let's go!
- [words distorted] Help!
[indistinct whispering]
[suspenseful music]
[indistinct
whispering continuing]

- [echoing] You're not real.
None of this is real,
none of this is real,
none of this is real.
- [echoing] Run, run!

- [echoing] Go
get help! Get help!
I need some help.
I don't wanna be here
anymore. Please, please.

- [echoing] Get me outta here.
Help me out.
Come on. Get me outta here.
- I'll kill you.
- Hey. Hey. Hey, I'm here.
[indistinct whispering]
- Hey. Hey, come here.
- [laughs]

[intense music]

[birds singing]
- [panting]
[ominous music]

[door closes]

- I thought we were
making progress.
- What the hell is
this place, really?
- How did you get
out of your room?
Unless you can teleport,
those locks require
1,500 pounds of force.
- What is this place?

- What's a human
without a conscience?
- What?
- What is a human
without a conscience?
Dangerous.

So what's a psionic
without a conscience?
What happens when a psionic
decides to use their powers
in a way that goes
against the basic principles
that govern moral conduct?
Who would be able to stop them?
When enough people think
something is dangerous,
they'll work to make
a law forbidding it,
and they will punish
those who break that law!

- What law?
- Not the kind written in books.
- And the people in those cells,
they're psionics?
- Yes.
- What did they do?
- Exist.
- Exist? That's it?
- Psionics are too dangerous
to live free in the world.
To borrow a phrase
from your readings,
it's a utilitarian decision.
The best outcome
for the most people.
I find them and bring them here,
and I take care of them.
- But you're a psionic.
- It's called self-preservation.
If it wasn't me, it
would be someone else.
20 years ago,
they recruited me to
track down psionics
who were using their powers
in ways that were unethical.
Can't put 'em in jail, so
an idea was proposed.
We build this facility,
find psionics to run it.
I tried to help your mother!
Offered her the
chance to run it with me.
Compromise... not
her strongest trait.
- You lied to me.
- No.
- Everything you said
about... About this place,
about helping
me was all bullshit!
- No.
Each of those people,
they're living inside
their projections,
living in their own
memories, their own fantasies.
They're happy!
- That's not living!
- They have no consequence
for their decisions,
no chance to hurt anyone.
[claps hands] And
that's the whole truth!
Now, where's Ayla?
Where's Ayla? Where's Ayla?
Ayla! Ayla! Ayla!

What did she tell you
to do if you get caught?

No?

- I tell them nothing.
- What do you show them?
- Nothing.
- What happens if they
go into your memories?
- I forget.
- Forget what?
- As much as I can.
- How?
- Think of anything else.
- Use an anchor memory.
- An anchor memory. Right, yeah.

- Oh, there's that Ayla fire.
By using this
memory as a shield,
you give yourself away.
This represents what you
most wanted your life to be like.
- Get out of my head.

- [sighs]
Well, this isn't gonna work.
[door closes]
[approaching footsteps]
[door opens]
- What are you...
Stop! Get off me!
[thudding impact and screaming]
[high-pitched ringing]
[tense music]

[straining]
[panting]
[ominous music]
- This could have been easy.
Whatever happens
now, you chose it.

- What are you... what...
What are... what are you...
No, no, no, no!
[groaning]
- The more you
fight, the more it hurts.
- [straining]
[gasps]

Hello?

[bassy thump]
[dissonant whine]
- Hi.

What's wrong?
- No. You're not real.
- Sure, I am.

Feels real.
Right?
- Stop.
- Why? What's wrong?
It's just us.
Like you always wanted.
- No.
Why are you doing this to me?

[bassy thump]

No.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no,
no, No, no, no, no, no, no!
- Help me, Aurora.
- You're okay!
You're okay, you're
okay, you're okay,
you're okay, you're okay.
[panting]

[supernatural thrumming]

[otherworldly groaning]

[dissonant musical crescendo]
I'm... I'm sorry,
I'm sorry, I'm sorry,
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,
I'm... I'm sorry, I'm sorry,
I'm sorry, I'm
sorry, I-I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
[quirky guitar chord]
[laugh track laughter]
[tense music]
What?

[doorbell chimes]
- Ro, you gonna get that?
[laugh track laughter]
- Mom?

[doorbell chimes]
- That's your date, Ro.
[singsong] You better open it!
[laugh track laughter]

- Hi.
Wow, you look amazing.
Um...
[laugh track laughter]
[quirky upbeat music]

- Oh, Ro!
Did you go and
kill your boyfriend?
Again? [laugh track laughter]
But then again,
what can you expect
from someone so...
Weak?
[doorbell chimes] Uh,
there goes another one.
Try to keep from...
pew, pew, pew!
[ricochet sound
effect] Killing this one.
[laughs]

There's only one
way to stop it, though.
Tell us where she is.
Tell us where she is.
Tell us where she is.
[dissonant notes]
[birds singing]

[dramatic percussive note]
[deep ominous music]

[thumping intense music]

[door rattling]
- [panting]
[rattling fading]
[school bell rings]
[ominous music]

- Hello, Aurora.
[tense notes]
- Why don't you join us?
We have a seat
for you right here.
- Just join us.
This is what you wanted, right?
Together: Friends?

[tense musical crescendo]

- Let me out!
- Aurora.
- [panting]

That's a cool name.

- Isaiah...
I'm so sorry.
I couldn't control it,
and I didn't mean to.
- It'll be okay, Ro.
Just tell us.
Just tell us.

- Please.

- Just tell us!
[thumping intense music]
[sparse ominous music]

- Aurora!
What did you do?
- Mom?
- You never listen!
- You... you're not real.
- You left the house
when I told you...
I told you not to!
But I knew you were weak.
Didn't I tell you? You are weak!
- Mom, please.
- And I was right.
You killed that boy!
- Stop!
- That's on you!
You are my one regret!

[pounding on door]
- Please, please
just leave me alone.
Please just...
[pounding on door]
- Come on, Ro, let's
go! We got shit to do!
[pounding on door]
You are weak! You are small!
You are nothing but
a disappointment!
Tell us. Take away the guilt.
We'll make you strong.
Tell us. Tell us.
[latch rattling] Aurora!
- Please, just stop.
[pounding on door]
- Tell us. You are weak!
You are nothing! Tell us.
Aurora, tell us. Tell us.
Aurora!
Ro.
[peaceful music]
It's okay, Ro.
You can tell them.
I'm here.

- Okay.
- What happens if they
go into your memories?
- I forget.
- Forget what?
- As much as I can.
- How?
- Think of anything else.
- Use an anchor memory.
- An anchor
memory, yeah, I know.
- And you fight.
You fight as long and
as hard as you can.
And where will I be?
- Bus stop on the 730
line off of Route 80, exit 3.
- That's right.
[ominous music]

- [breathing heavily]
What are you gonna
do when you catch her?

[ominous music fades]
[jazzy music playing softly]

- Right up till now
You didn't care
[dissonant notes]
- Hi, honey.
Just making some dinner.

- Mom?
- The one and only.
[chuckles]

Isaiah will be here soon.
You better get washed up.
Here, this will
make you feel better.

[dissonant notes]
[soft ominous music]

[gasps softly]
- This isn't real.
- [chuckles softly]
This is the life you wanted.
Why fight it?
[distorted jazzy music]

[distorted jazzy music fades]
- Ayla!
- What did you do to her?
- Oh, it's good to see you too.
- You know I'm
gon' kill you, right?
- Well, you're skipping
the pleasantries.
Well, at least
you're consistent.
Well, your daughter and I
have been having some,
uh, insightful conversations.
- I know you did.
- Nobody wants unsolicited
parenting advice...
[chuckling] But, Jesus, Ayla,
you have fucked that kid up.
- I did what I needed to do
to keep her away from you.
- Yeah? How's that going?
[soft ominous music]
See, this is why
I'm not a parent.
'Cause kids just
don't listen, do they?
But then again, nobody listens.
- Let her go. Take me.
- Why? Why would I do that?

- Hope.
- Hope?
[chuckling] Oh, gee,
Ayla, that's ironic.
I mean, uh... [blows air]
We both hoped
for a better world.
[clears throat]
The difference is...
I created one.
[dramatic music]

- Where is she?
[tense music]
[glass shatters]
- Oh, you know where she is.
And you know how this ends.
We had a good thing, Ayla.
We really did.
I miss it, I confess.
I offered you a way out.
- What, by working for you?
- By working beside me.
- In that rotten hell hole
you are so proud of?
[dramatic music]
- I could have
killed you that night.
- Why didn't you?
- I-I wasn't ready
to kill my friend.
- You talk about
me being consistent?
But you, you are
consistent. You are a coward.
You've always been a coward!
And instead of fighting them,
you became their errand boy.
[takes deep breath]

- I promoted the greater good.

- Wake up!
- I am awake.
What you want would lead to war.
The whole world
against psionics.
That's not a fight
we're gonna win.
- You don't know that.
There are other ways.
You need to wake up now.
Look at me.
- Mom? Are you... is this real?
- Yes, this is real.

- What did you say?

- Goodbye, Derek.
[phone chimes]

[electronic chiming]

[tense percussive music]

- Lock this place down.
Ayla!
[alarm blaring]

[electronic chime]
[locks click shut]
- No, no, no, no!
- [echoing] Ayla.
I know you're in the building.
- Shut your mind, Ro. Come on.

[tense music fading]
[door rattles]
[alarm blaring]
- Ayla!
[suspenseful music]

Ayla?

- [groans]
- So close!
- [groans]
- Remember astral projections?
Your mama here
just put on a clinic.
- [snarls]
- Oh, but she refuses
to see the necessity
of what I do here!
- Stop, stop!
- It didn't need to
come to this, Ayla.
It didn't need to end like this!
But your idea of freedom,
it only works when
paired with duty!
- Stop!
- The world is safer and
better because of me!
Oh, but you never
believed in absolutes.
That was the problem.
- [choking]
[deep suspenseful music]

- Ro.
Trust your power.

- I said...
stop!

- [gasps and chuckles]
- [panting]
- Are you okay?
[both panting]
- Mom.
[dogs barking in the distance]
- Where... where are we, Ro?
- The only place
I could think of.
The farm. Back in Missouri.
- How did you do that?
- [panting] I don't
know, I don't know.
I just... I just... I...
I knew I had to be the
strong one for once, and...
And I stopped being
afraid of disappointing you.
- We need to go.
[engine turns over]
- You knew I'd break.
You knew I'd tell them
about the bus stop.
- I had to figure out a way
to make your
weakness into an asset.
- [sighs] Wow.
- That's not what I meant.
You should have never
left the house that night.
- Are you serious right now?
I know what you did.
The murders.
Mom, I need you to
start telling me the truth.
No more lies or I am
getting out of this car.
- What do you wanna know?
- Everything.
Tell me everything.
- My mind is open.
It's all there.
[supernatural thrumming]
[soft ominous music]
- Where are we?
- Where you just were.
- Ayla!
- His facility 15 years ago.
I'm done talking.
- This won't stop anything!
- You were trying to stop him.
- It was supposed to be a
place to help dangerous psionics,
and then he started
going after all of us.
Even the ones who
had done nothing wrong.
You were just a baby.
I couldn't have you end up here.
[police siren wailing]
- Go. Run! Run! Run!
- Patrolling officer
in pursuit. Hey!
- Hey! Stop! Stop!

- If she takes one more
step, I'm gonna pull the trigger.
That's what you're
thinking, right?
You, not so much.
Now, you are.
- Fuck!
- Oh, shit! Hey, hey!
Don't! Stop!
[gunshot]
- Ayla!
What the hell happened?
[wet crunch]
[Ayla screams]
- Talk to me. Ugh!
Why... why did you do that?
- To illustrate a point.
Psionics are dangerous,
huh? [blows air]
- He was our friend!
- No, he was your friend.
Like you, he was in the way.
When people ask
what happened here,
I'm gonna tell them exactly
who's responsible for it.
- You're crazy!
I didn't kill them!
- Five people know what
happened in this room.
Three of them are dead.
And let's not
forget you just tried
to blow a hole in the
side of my building.
[police sirens wailing]
- [sobbing]
[swelling orchestral music]

I've been running so long...
I don't know how to stop.

- Why didn't you just tell me?
You didn't have to shut me out.
And my whole life,
you made me feel like...
Like I did something wrong.
And I know you think I'm
weak, but I could have helped.
I can help.
- Look, I was only
trying to protect you.
- [scoffs]
How did that turn out?
I killed my only friend.

- I'm sorry.
For all of it.
Aurora, please.
Look at me.
You are not weak.
I never thought you were weak.
It's just...
I didn't want you
to see my pain.

I was the weak one.

- I'm not going back to
living the way we were.

[thumping dramatic music]

[insects droning]
- I was thinking
when we're done here,
we should head north.
[birds singing]
I was thinking of Portland.
- Maine?
- Oregon.
- Oregon.
- I know some people there.
It's a great city.
He's gonna keep
coming after us, Ro.
It... it'll be
different this time.
I don't know another way, Ro.
You've gotten very good at it.
Keeping me out of your head.
- I'm not gonna keep running.
[tense music]

- Why did you do that?
- [echoing] So he
knows where we are.

- Hi.
- Goddammit, Ro!
- We need to talk.
- Yeah.
Lifetime of running and hiding
no longer seems so
appealing, does it?
- Not so much, no.
- [chuckling] Yeah.
That was real impressive.
What you did back
there, the teleporting.

There's a world where you
and I could work together.
- Ro.
- Work together how?
- Succession.
- That come with a pension?
- Well, it comes with stability.
And, uh, autonomy.
I'm not gonna live forever.
Someone needs to
take over when I'm gone.
And you need a teacher, Ro.

- Yeah, no, that doesn't...
That doesn't work for me.
And don't call me Ro.
- Okay.
- I want you to let us go.
- Let you go where?
- Just leave us alone.
- [inhales deeply]
Or?
- Ro, we need to go.
- Just trust me.

So what is it?
What are we doing?
- I think you know.

- You are not weak.
- We have a choice how
we use these powers.
That's what you said.
[panting]
He wasn't gonna stop.
I'm not going to Oregon.
[tense notes]
[tense notes]

- I been told a lie
I been played a song
I been fed a line
Dreamin' is wrong
When I was a child
I was civilized
Better get along,
get along, get along
Or no man would try
I can feel my
heartbeat change
I can't deny it
I can feel the
whole tide sway
To the right
I can feel it rush my veins
God, I'm alive
I can tell they won't
go down without a fight
'Out a fight
- Yeah
- I'll stop when the power
Turns back all the hours
I'll stop when you go

I'll stop when
the tower falls
On all the callous ones
Who won't give up
All your time is gone
This is all a crime
But they don't need a gun
This is not a man's world
On its own
Can every woman stand up?
We'll be civilized
'Cause you got it wrong,
got it wrong, got it wrong
But we'll make it right
I'll stop when the power
Turns back all the hours
I'll stop when you go

I'll stop when
the tower falls
On all the callous ones
Who won't give up
All your time is gone
- Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

- I'll stop when the power
Turns back all the hours
I'll stop when you go

I'll stop when
the tower falls
On all the callous ones
Who won't give up
All your time is gone