Omni Loop (2024) Movie Script
1
You're going to do incredible
things one day, Zoya Lowe.
You're going
to change the world.
And, so what does that mean?
Well, it's...
It... it means just that.
She has a black hole
growing inside of her body.
A black hole?
Yes, a small one,
about the size of a peanut,
right here between her lungs.
Oh, we have a pamphlet here
if you want to take a look.
So, what do we do?
What happens now?
Well, it's...
I'm sorry. Um...
There's not much
we can do for her.
Right now, my advice
is to take her home.
Try to keep her mind off of it.
Try to keep her distracted,
positive.
Just make her feel comfortable.
Comfortable?
How much longer does she have?
It's hard to say.
We honestly don't know.
And if it continues
at this rate, I'd...
I'd say maybe another week.
I'm sorry.
They're watching the game.
Hey, Mom.
How are you doing?
So, it sounds like we're gonna
get to take you home today.
So that'll be nice.
Yeah.
That's great.
Watch your feet!
It says here that it's most
common amongst astronauts
and that people
who have been exposed
to prolonged periods
of intense radiation.
You know, maybe we don't need
to read that right now.
Mom, are you experiencing
any symptoms yet?
It says it can cause
intestinal blockage,
but then also diarrhea.
I bought a new CD, you know?
Um, Soldiers of de Riddem.
Oh, there we go.
It's fine.
You know, I really don't need
a wheelchair.
Are you sure?
I got it right here.
Ah, shoot.
Just give me one second.
Stupid thing.
You okay?
Yes.
I just don't wanna go
to the publishers tomorrow,
that's all.
Ah! Well,
they want to see you.
I mean, they're probably
super excited
about that last chapter we sent.
What do you got there?
Nothing.
Of course. I mean,
we wouldn't wanna rush you.
Um, I know the last chapter
you sent in was a little...
You guys will pull through this.
I know you will.
I know Zoya. She's a fighter.
Yeah. Thank you.
Definitely. We'll make sure
it gets finished.
We even have
a cover mock-up and everything.
And you said you didn't wanna
make any changes, correct?
Yeah.
All righty.
Then we'll want you
to sign here, and here.
And also here.
Thank you so much.
Don't mention it. It's our job.
The important thing is
that you're able to relax,
enjoy some quality family time.
Yeah.
Thanks.
I will.
Here we are again.
Was that your mother?
Yep.
I wouldn't worry
about her too much.
She's always like that.
I know.
Do you mind if I sit down?
Yeah, sure. Just be careful.
What do you mean?
Oh! Oh, my goodness.
Oh. Well, thank you!
How did you know?
Do you wanna hear a secret?
Sure.
I've done this before.
What do you mean?
I take a pill.
Tomorrow night, I take a pill
and I go back a week.
Back?
Right back to the hospital.
This has all happened before.
So many times before.
What are you sayin'?
I'm saying that
I've lived this week before.
I know what's gonna happen
in every second of every moment
of every day.
Because I've seen it all before.
From the wake up,
to the publishers,
to the lawyers, to the beach.
My mom. My birthday.
All of it.
From the bird shit...
To the bocce.
Bocce?
It's always the same.
We've... we've had this
conversation before?
Yes. Well, no.
Usually we talk about
how you see
the same people every day.
How you've been here
for eight years.
How quickly time passes.
Who are you?
It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter
because you won't remember it.
You won't remember
anything I say.
'Cause tomorrow night
my nose will bleed.
I'll lock myself
in the bathroom.
I'll take another pill.
I'll go back a week.
And I'll see you there.
And I'll say...
"Be careful."
Oh, my goodness. Oh...
Thank you.
How did you know?
Lucky guess.
Very lucky. I'll say.
Thank you.
Don't mention it.
Oh, it's hard.
Wow.
I can't believe
I haven't seen this before.
You have.
You just don't remember.
Oh, wow!
Is that Professor Dulseberg?
- Yeah. Mean, old Dulseberg.
- Jesus.
He was even older
than I remembered.
Mm-hmm.
That was the last day at IGE
before they left for Europe.
Oh. Yeah, look at that,
you even got old Mark in there.
Oh, stop.
What?
Don't act like you didn't have
girlfriends before me.
I mean, I didn't.
Hmm.
- I had dates.
- Yeah.
- I had dinner.
- Sure.
Maybe a movie.
This one of your old textbooks?
Yeah. Chem.
So cute.
You always used to write
your name in 'em like that.
Oh, you always took such good
care of your books, too.
Yeah. They're probably
all outdated by now.
- Surprise!
- Surprise!
Wow! How unexpected.
Yeah, we know
it's not for a couple weeks,
but we thought it might
be fun to surprise you.
- Definitely.
- Oh, and we got presents.
Yes. Yes. Get them.
Oh, wait! She's gotta blow
the candles out first.
- Oh, yeah.
- Blow out the candles.
Yay!
Did you make a wish?
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
you gotta make a wish.
I wish we could do
something different.
What do you mean?
My nose is gonna
start bleeding soon.
- What?
- Wait, are you okay?
- I'm fine.
- Mom, what's going on?
Nothing. Uh, I just have to go
to the bathroom for a second.
I'll be right back.
Here I go again.
Hey, Mom...
How are you doing?
So,
we got some good news.
Yeah.
They're gonna let me
go home, right?
Yeah. They are. Isn't that nice?
Watch your feet.
It says intestinal blockage,
but then also diarrhea.
What're ya lookin' at?
It was a little rough.
Quality family time.
Have you ever gotten
a massage before?
Last week.
Awesome. How was it?
I didn't like the music
and your hands were cold.
He arrived last week in Miami.
This is where they keep him
when he's behind the scenes,
off exhibit.
After that, it's off
to Tampa, Sarasota,
pretty much everywhere.
The hope is to give people
one last chance
to see this majestic creature
before it disappears for good.
I spoke to the...
You wanna hear a spoiler?
The rhino dies this week.
Was that your mother?
I wouldn't worry
about it too much.
She's always like that.
Do you mind if I sit down?
Oh, goodness.
These birds are always shitting.
It's hard,
you know?
Seeing the same people
every day.
I've been here eight years.
You forget to be aware
of your surroundings.
You don't really know...
- What?
- I... I can't.
- Can't do what?
- I can't. I can't. I can't.
Are you okay?
Do you need any help?
Oh! Jesus! I'm so sorry.
Oh, yeah.
I'm really sorry. That's...
- No, I'm sorry.
- No!
I wasn't even looking
where I was going.
That's on me.
You're...
you're fine, thank you.
Why do you have this book?
Uh, I picked it.
I've never seen you here before.
Uh...
Where did you get this book?
Well, this is it.
I basically came in here
a few months ago.
Grabbed it.
Didn't really think
anyone would miss it.
I never even knew this was here.
Yeah, I mean, nobody ever really
comes in here, so...
I used to, all the time, with...
with my grandma,
when she first moved in.
I... I think these used
to be my books.
Yeah, that...
that would make sense.
Um, a lot of this stuff here
is donated by the residents,
I mean, upstairs is, like,
completely filled with junk.
Now why would you
choose this book?
I don't know. Trying to study.
I, um, I go to MDC right now,
the... the college.
I'm... I'm working in...
in a lab, so...
- Yeah.
- A lab?
Yeah, um, I'm working under
this guy, Professor Handel.
I don't know if you know him.
He's one of the people
who invented that machine
that shrunk that guy,
the... the nanoscopic man.
- Yeah, so...
- You... you work in the lab?
Yes. Um,
obviously not doing that.
Um, more grunt work,
kind of. But, um...
Yeah, I'm...
I'm actually studying time.
Time?
Yeah. How it, uh...
How it works.
How it moves mostly,
if that makes sense.
Paula Campos?
Yeah, that's, uh,
my name. What's yours?
Zoya. There you are.
I was... I was looking
all over for you.
You ready?
I fucked it up.
Oh, I thought
that one was pretty good.
No, it's just this beginning
part is really tricky.
- Hmm.
- Uh...
What are you thinking about?
What if there was an answer?
Or, what... what if there was...
a solution for me?
Wouldn't it be worth trying?
What do you mean?
I mean, I've just been thinking
about all the work
I was doing at Princeton,
and all of my research, and...
Zoya.
What?
I mean, are we really having
this conversation again?
And you heard the doctor.
And you heard
what the doctor said.
- What if he's wrong?
- The doctor s...
What if he's wrong?
What if... what if there's
something that he doesn't know?
What if there's something
that we could do
that would make it
so that I don't have to die?
Well, so what, then?
You wanna go test out
all of your old college research
at a... at a lab?
Maybe. Rather than sitting
around here all week.
And what, spending time with us?
Um, that's not what I'm saying.
I'm just saying I... I'm s...
So tired of doing
the same thing day after day!
Hey, listen, I didn't wanna ruin
the surprise.
Surprise!
Surprise!
We know it's not
for a couple more weeks,
but we thought it would
be nice to surprise you.
Definitely. What a surprise.
And we got presents, too.
Yes, get the presents,
get the presents.
No. Um...
No?
Oh, well, she's gotta
blow her candles out first.
No, I think I...
What... what's wrong?
Nothing. Um, I just need
to step outside for a sec.
Why? What's wrong?
Yeah, what's up, Mom? You okay?
Yeah, I just need
to get some fresh air.
And we can do
the presents after.
- Okay. Yeah.
- Okay.
Oh, no.
No, no, your nose is bleeding.
Oh, I... I know.
It... it's... it's fine.
I'll be right back.
Hello?
Paula?
Yeah. Who is this?
It's, uh, Zoya Lowe.
We met yesterday at Carville.
Oh, yeah. Um, how are you?
What's, uh, what... what's up?
Nothing. Um, I'm good.
I just wanted to tell you that,
um, I'm gonna come find you
when I wake up.
I'm sorry?
I'm gonna find you
when I wake up
and we're gonna do this.
Uh, do what?
Something great.
What?
I just wanted you to know.
Ma'am, uh...
- Okay, um, I'll see you soon.
- What?
Hey, Mom.
So, we got some good news.
I know. You can
go sign the paperwork.
I already know.
They said I can
go home. It's fine.
Um... okay...
Well, we'll be right back.
What a play.
You know,
we actually had tickets
for the game tomorrow night.
Hmm. It's gonna be a great one.
Yeah. I think maybe we'll just
go to the beach instead.
What's that?
Fire exit. Someone must have
opened it by accident.
Hey, are you on duty?
Where do you wanna go?
South 4th Street.
- You got money?
- Yeah, why?
Why? You're wearin'
a hospital gown.
Yeah, I'll... I'll...
I'll pay you when I get there.
All right, get in.
Hello?
Oh, no, what do I do now?
Two seconds!
Hi.
Hi.
Paula.
Sorry, do I know you?
Could I have, um,
just a minute of your time?
You were at Carville
visiting your grandma,
and I ran
into you in the garden.
When was this?
Uh, four days
from now, technically.
Right.
Your name is Paula Campos.
You go to school at MDC.
Four days from now, you're gonna
go to Carville Retirement Home
to visit your grandma
and run into me in the...
Sorry, uh,
listen to me, listen to me.
Please.
My name is Zoya Lowe.
Uh, in four days, we meet,
in five days, I'll be dead.
Blood will pour from my nose,
from my ears, and I'm gonna die.
Okay. Uh, you don't look like
you're gonna die.
Yeah, except for
the black hole in my chest,
I'm really pretty healthy.
Yeah, okay, um...
I don't know why
you've come here, but if you...
Because... because y...
you took me to the library.
You showed me where you used
to read with your grandma.
Uh, y...you showed me
where you found my book.
You said you worked in a lab,
and that you were studying time.
And I said I was gonna
come back for you,
and we were gonna do
something great.
And I know all this
because it happened.
Because you were there,
and... and now I'm here,
like I said I would be.
And I... I just really need you
to believe me because it's true.
It's... it's... it's...
it's the truth.
Okay. Okay.
So you know everything
that's gonna happen?
This week. Yes.
How many fingers
am I holding up?
What?
South 4th Street.
Your name is Paula Campos.
My name is Zoya Lowe.
You work in a lab.
I have a black hole in my chest.
I'm from the future.
I know everything
that's gonna happen.
I know that you wanna put
your fingers up right now.
Go ahead. Do it.
Two.
Three.
Now the middle finger.
Now your cat's gonna meow.
And you're gonna ask me,
"Is this really happening
right now?"
And I'm gonna say,
"Yes. Yes, it is."
So you take 'em
just like regular pills?
Pretty much, yeah.
And you think you'll be able
to figure out how they work?
Hopefully.
In the lab. With you.
Very flattering, but, um,
H... h... have you not tried
to work this out before or...
I did, uh, 30 years ago,
but I never could.
Uh, okay, well,
what happened?
I don't know. Life.
You get distracted.
You move on.
You never even notice
you're making
some huge life decision.
Until you blink, look back,
realize you have
nowhere to move on to.
Have you tried maybe taking
multiple pills at the same time?
You know, maybe going back
further, all the way back?
It's not how it works.
I can only take
one pill at a time.
If I take another one now,
nothing happens.
I have to wait until
the other pill leaves my system
until I rejoin
the moment I left.
But you think
if you can break it down,
you'll be able to tweak it?
I do.
Then I can actually go back.
Back to when I was your age,
before I gave up and settled.
Before you had a black hole
growing inside your chest.
I wanna do all the things
I always thought I would.
I... I wanna figure out
what's in the pills.
I wanna figure out
what makes them work.
Make it so I don't only have...
five days left.
So I have 20, 30, 40 years.
I have my whole life.
Yeah, all right.
Let's solve time travel.
I feel like I should tell you
the lab isn't really... like...
The equipment's pretty old.
It's not really, uh, good.
I'm sure it's fine.
No, like,
you definitely know people
who work at better places.
Maybe. Maybe.
So...
I say not the, um...
- Yeah.
- Best, but, I mean, you know?
Where do you, uh,
where do you wanna start?
The pills don't really behave
like anything else.
They don't burn
or melt or dissolve.
It's... it's almost like they
were never even really there.
Uh, I don't totally understand
how that's possible.
It's like they're
constantly regenerating.
They're existing
in some kind of...
some kind of state of limbo.
Okay, well, maybe then we look
at the regeneration itself.
No, no, no.
Whatever mutations
are happening,
they're at such
a subatomic level, you'd...
you'd never be able
to read them.
And even if we did, we'd still
ultimately need to break down
the sequencing, right?
This is why I'm thinking
that we just replicate it.
That's what I was trying
to do at Princeton,
and this is basically
all the same...
- Uh...
- Equipment that they had there.
Even if it might be
the same equipment,
that doesn't mean we have to do
the same things you did, right?
I... I... I mean, do you even
still have your research
from back then?
No, but...
So what you're proposing
would take...
forever.
And... and... and that's, uh,
kinda crazy. No offense, just...
I think what we need to do is...
is... is break this down.
I know, but...
but there's no way to do that.
I'm telling you, I've...
I've tried so many times.
- Trust me, there's no...
- I... I... I... I trust you.
But it's not true
that there's no way,
because if it's happening,
even if it's at
a subatomic level,
it's still happening.
What we need, I think, is...
is a... a different way in,
like a... a... something
or... or someone.
I think I know somebody
who can help us.
Who?
Um, stay here, and I'll...
I'll just be right back,
two seconds.
Zoya? Zoya Lowe?
Zoya Lowe.
Professor Dulseberg?
Yeah, what in the world
are you doing here?
It... it's a whole, um...
I'm just...
I'm here to use the lab.
Lab? Why?
What do you need a lab for?
Uh, I'm testing
a compound with a friend.
We're trying to see
if we can replicate it.
Replicate? Compound?
Sir. Professor.
Why don't you come
into my office? We'll discuss.
Um, o... okay.
I... I guess I didn't realize
you were teaching here.
Oh, yeah.
You know, thanks
to your friend Mark. Harrison.
You remember him?
He's at IASA now.
- Brilliant man.
- He... he got you this job?
Yeah. Yeah, can you believe it?
Me, needing help to get
a job at community college.
What the fuck?
Now they put my office out here
in the middle of nowhere.
Out in the fucking parking lot.
Takes forever to get anywhere.
They told me
it's because of insurance.
You believe that?
Said I had to be near
handicapped spaces or...
or something. Because of my age.
Oh, well,
you sure look good.
- I'm 107.
- Oh, wow!
Yeah, you know,
I'm really curious
to know what you've been up to,
Zoya Lowe.
Who the fuck are you?
Uh...
What are you doing in my office?
Oh, I was, uh...
She's... she's with me.
What?
Yeah, yes.
Uh, well, hello.
Uh, we were working,
uh, we are working, uh,
across the building in the lab.
Yeah, well, so why do
I see you in my office,
rifling through my desk? Huh?
You're right, and I'm sorry.
What... what, are you
a student here?
- Uh, kind of.
- Kind of?
I'm working in
with Professor Handel in...
in the, um, in the assisting.
Well, this is typical
Zoya Lowe behavior.
Yeah, is it not?
Oh. Uh...
Thinking you can do just
whatever you want to do.
Uh, wait, I...
no, this isn't her fault.
Yeah, I am sure, yeah.
You know,
I remember you, Zoya Lowe.
Oh, yes, I remember very well.
I remember telling everyone,
before you showed up,
how brilliant you were.
How brilliant!
I showed them your...
your test scores,
and I showed them your papers.
And I said, "Oh, my God,
what potential, what talent."
But no, no,
it was not like that.
No, you were...
you were entitled.
You were lazy.
You were impatient.
You... you... you
squandered every
opportunity that I gave you.
In the four years
that I knew you,
never, never, not once...
did you ever give me any reason
to believe that you were...
Anything.
You shouldn't have
gone in there.
- Okay, well, I'm sorry,
like, I didn't think...
- You don't just do that.
...it was gonna be
that big of a deal.
You don't just... go in
like that without telling me.
I said sorry.
I should have told you.
That was stupid, okay?
It was.
This whole thing is stupid.
'Cause some old man yelled
at you? He's like a thousand!
He's gonna die tomorrow.
- Oh, no, that?
- Yeah!
No, that was true.
That was true. He was right.
You wanna know how I got
into IGE and Princeton?
Why my test scores were so high?
'Cause I knew all the answers.
I got something wrong,
I'd just restart.
Go back five days.
He's a 100% right.
I'm not smart enough.
Oh, well, no, that...
that is not true.
You don't even know me.
Well, do...
do you at least wanna
know why I was in there?
What I was getting?
Wh...what is it?
What's gonna help us
break down this pill?
Oh, an... an empty box.
A nanoscopic man.
I guess what happened
was they shrunk him,
but they didn't realize
they didn't know how to stop.
So he's just
been shrinkin' ever since.
I can't see him at all.
Oh, I mean, no one can.
They didn't know how to fix it
or really what to do with him.
So, just left him in a drawer.
Yeah, it's pretty shitty.
Such a waste of research.
So you brought him
to a meat locker?
It's a dry-aging room.
You can't put him
anywhere room temperature
- Because, you know, bacteria,
and mold, and all that stuff.
- Mmm.
So we needed somewhere
cold enough that, you know,
stuff wasn't rotting,
but not so cold
that he would freeze. So, yeah.
Plus, Luiz is a friend anyway.
Good luck.
Can you, um, plug
this in for me, please?
Back.
He has a transmitter
in his suit,
so that way
he can communicate with us.
And he can reply?
Yeah, right through
that display.
- That's crazy.
- Yeah.
Handel showed me how to use it
for research purposes, but...
sometimes I just like
talkin' to him.
He's actually
a really chill dude.
And he already knows
what we need?
I am telling him right now.
The other thing in his suit
is a particle detector.
I was thinking...
It is... it's a...
- Yes.
- Wow!
He might be able to analyze
the cell structure for us.
- Then relay everything back.
- Yeah.
- Just drop it through the top.
- Nice.
Thanks.
Like that?
Yeah, perfect.
How long
do you think it'll take?
That I don't really know.
I mean, time moves so fast
for him, you know?
He... he's like, uh,
the opposite of the edge
of the universe,
where everything moves
really slowly.
He's so far inside
that a hundred years
could go by in, like, a second.
Is he ever gonna die?
I don't know.
I mean, my thought is
he just keeps shrinking
until he gets so small he...
disappears for good.
Yeah.
Is that it?
Wait, what... what's happening?
Oh. Uh, yeah, okay.
Um, just a minute.
Whoa. Uh...
You were right.
Uh, th... It's, uh,
constantly changing.
It's, like, it's cycling through
all these different structures.
This is a...
I was right.
Y... yes. Very.
Thank you.
I never asked
how you got these, by the way.
Do you remember?
Um...
yeah.
It was such
a whatever moment.
I was 12.
I was walking by myself
in this golf course
in the back of our house
and...
it was just lying there.
And you just took it?
Well, had my name on it.
I remember looking around,
thinking it was
some kind of prank,
but I didn't see anybody.
Then I heard...
I heard this voice...
this little whisper,
in the back of my head.
What did it say?
It said that I was going
to change the world.
Yeah.
Well...
Time to change
the world, I guess.
Yeah...
Maybe.
We're gonna need to go through
and synthesize the compounds
to test them out.
Or maybe it'll be
like it was 30 years ago.
We start with the simplest
structures, work our way up.
Running
into the same walls,
getting stuck
in the same places.
No, it won't.
'Cause you'll be with me.
Ready?
I don't think anybody else
matters, it's us.
Doing this, it's just us.
All the time in the world.
Yeah.
In some ways,
that scares me even more.
I could have
all the time in the world.
And still...
...I can't do it.
Okay, well, start over.
All we ever do is start over.
Hey, Mom.
Well, we'll get there.
These pills
had your name on them.
You... you had to have
found them for a... a reason.
Yeah, unless it was
a coincidence or a mistake.
Unless I'm just someone
who wasn't meant
to leave a mark.
I'm not upset,
I'm just saying some of them
are clearly better than I am.
- That's not true.
- Okay.
It's not, you know?
And they're probably saying
the exact same thing
to their parents about you.
Yeah, sure.
I have no idea
where you got this from.
Because I see them!
I'm in class with them!
I'm watching them play,
I'm with them every day!
And this isn't like
Miss Bronca's class at Cypress.
Some of these kids are like
the best pianists in the state.
- And you're not?
- No, I'm not. I'm really not.
Not compared to someone
who's been playing since
they were four years old.
I really don't like hearing you
talk about yourself like this.
- I don't. I think...
- Like, what? Realistically?
I don't think
there's anything wrong
with being a music teacher
instead of a composer.
I never said there was.
Did I say there was?
I just don't want you to quit.
I'm not gonna quit.
Great.
You promise?
Yes.
Good.
Because you can be
anything you set your mind to.
Don't forget.
I know.
I already know
I'm gonna be a scientist.
Yeah? Like me?
Yeah. Just like you.
That's good.
Two seconds!
I feel like I should tell you.
You know, the lab
isn't really all that great.
I know.
Ready?
Yeah.
Hello. Hi, good morning.
How are you?
Yeah, um, well, I...
I just saw your email,
and so I wanted to,
uh, ask if, um...
Right. Okay.
Do you... do you know
when you're coming back or,
um...
Okay. I just, uh...
Uh, I wanted to be
your assistant for a reason.
And I guess, uh, if I knew
that you were going
to be going on sabbatical,
then I wouldn't have...
Of course. Yeah.
No, no, that's, um,
that's understandable.
I understand. You...
Thank you, uh, and, um, yeah,
and good luck with everything.
Yeah, I completely understand.
Of course. Of course.
Yep.
Fuck!
Okay. Uh...
Uh, two seconds!
There's gotta be
someone who can help, right?
Like, didn't... didn't anybody
help you at Princeton?
Like who?
Like, my ex-boyfriend,
or Dulseberg, or...
Okay, well, what
if we take it to a lab?
Like, an actual working lab?
There's gotta be
something we can do.
Oh! Whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Oh, my God!
- Call fire!
- Oh, uh...
I think...
are they gonna be okay?
They'll be fine.
I don't mean to overstep
or anything, but, um...
There's clearly so much
potential in this work,
and in the pills,
and... and in you, and...
I just... It's a little
fucked up, right?
Like, nobody,
I don't know, cared, or...
- Oh.
- Or supported you, or, like...
No, it wa...
It really wasn't like that.
I mean, uh, it was more...
I don't know.
I remember when I graduated,
my group got invited
to this special
two-year program at CERN.
All the most brilliant minds
in the world.
Everyone was going.
And I just remember
Donald saying...
Well, just make sure that's
what's gonna make you happy.
And that's all it took?
Well, yeah,
I mean, he was right.
I don't completely enjoy
this part of it.
I love the part
where you solve something,
but the rest of it, it's just...
- I don't know.
- I... I guess, I just...
I think I would've gone.
Yeah, instead of taking years
of research and hard work,
and shoving it in a box.
Wait...
Wait, do you still
have that research? Like...
I wish.
The last time I saw it, I think
it was with my mom's stuff,
but...
Well, where's your mom?
Um, your nose is, uh...
Uh, yeah.
Does... does that mean it's...
Yeah.
Wait, you'll come find me,
right?
Like, when you...
when you wake up?
Yeah.
I always do.
Hey, Mom.
It's a pill
that takes you back in time.
- And we've met before?
We've had
this exact conversation.
- So what did I say?
- Last time?
- Sure.
- You asked me if I kept
any of my old research,
and you asked me
where my mom was.
Do you really think we're
gonna find anything in here?
Well, considering she held on
to the high school textbook
I wrote, yeah.
Maybe.
What? Oh, here we go.
Sandra Lowe.
Okay.
Does it look like anything or...
Um, mostly
her psychology papers.
Anything
interesting, though, or...
Yeah.
If you're into mid-century
childhood development theories.
Not no.
There we go.
Anything?
A very stinky box.
That's good.
Ugh.
Man!
That is really smelling
like shit. Okay.
Oh, fuck.
What's that?
It's, um, a newspaper article.
About Mark.
Uh, who... who's Mark?
Nobody.
They got promoted at the IASA.
It's pretty fucking good
for a nobody.
Yeah.
I think that's about
what my mom said at the time.
Wow...
She kept that.
Didn't keep any of my work.
He arrived last week in Miami.
This is where they keep him
when he's behind
the scenes, off exhibit.
After that, it's off
to Tampa, Sarasota,
pretty much everywhere.
The hope is to give people
one last chance
to see this majestic creature
before it disappears for good.
Mrs. Lowe?
Your husband was just
in here looking for you.
My husband?
He looked very worried.
Estaba llorando, desesperado.
- Where?
- Uh, just at the entrance.
Excuse me, where's my husband?
- The guy?
- Yeah.
Uh, he just left.
Hey, Zoya, it's Donald.
We're at the hospital.
- Where'd you go?
- Zoya! Zoya!
Hey, where'd you go?
A woman there, the caretaker,
She said that if
it's not in the archives,
then it probably isn't gonna be.
Hey, uh...
she said my husband was here.
Uh, okay...
Uh...
Are you really not gonna go?
I just don't think
it makes any sense.
Didn't you say it was a really
great opportunity, though?
Yeah, but, like, a great
opportunity for what?
To spend two years hanging out
with Dulseburg and Mark?
So that they can
feel progressive
for having a woman
on their team.
Like, oh, God,
I don't need that shit.
- That sounds awful.
- I'm sure it wouldn't be
that bad.
Oh, it would be.
You know it would.
You would be in Europe, Zoya.
Doing what you've always wanted
to do with some of
the most talented people
in the world. I mean, so what
if it's a little frustrating?
Because I would
miss you, you idiot.
Because...
I don't wanna be
without you right now.
We'll figure it out.
I just wanna make sure
that whatever you're doing,
that's what's gonna
make you happy.
You miss them.
Hmm?
Oh.
Yeah, I guess I do.
Well, you'll see them soon.
Right? I mean,
that's why we're doing this,
so you can be with them.
I guess.
I mean,
not I guess. It... it is.
And it'll be
worth it. Right?
It's... it's just hard.
Leaving them all the time.
It... it's just hard
going back and...
And doing it all over again,
only to wake up
and hear her say...
Hey, Mom.
Like, not even
a second has passed.
So, we got some good news.
Have you ever thought
about what it's like
when you disappear?
Um...
I don't know.
Should I go check on her?
Uh...
Uh, no.
I... I'm sure she's fine.
Like, if it carries on or if...
Yeah, I guess I just...
I always imagine
it disappeared along with me.
I never imagine...
them still
in the living room, like...
waiting for me.
Huh, I didn't realize
that rhino died today.
Whoa.
Uh, you were right.
It's... it's constantly
changing,
but within
these different structures.
Yeah.
I was right.
Where do you wanna start?
I... I was thinking
we just wanna
synthesize the compounds
and then test from there.
Yeah.
I think a good place
to get started might be
synthesizing the compounds
and then testing from there.
Yeah.
I was, uh,
thinking maybe synthesize
the compound and...
What are we thinkin'?
I don't know
if I can do this again.
- Uh...
- We... we've tried everything.
We always end up
at the exact same spot.
Okay, uh, I mean,
this is complicated, obviously.
It's just going to be
a matter of time before...
No, no.
No, we've tried everything.
We've tried every possible
combination of things.
And then we've tried
those things again.
And then
I've forgotten about them.
Okay, um, maybe
we reach out for help.
- Like, a colleague
from Princeton.
- Who?
- Mark.
- Uh... yeah.
- You said he works
at the IASA, right?
- Mark's not going to help us.
- Oh.
- Paula.
Do... do we know that?
It... uh...
I... I... I'm not sure
we've exhausted
all of our options.
There's gotta be something
we can do or... or try.
I...
I need to go back.
I need to be with my family.
You have no idea
how long it's been.
I mean, you're right,
I... I don't know.
I don't even
really know who you are.
I... I... I... I just...
All I know is you're some lady
who came to my apartment
asking me for my help
to solve time travel.
And I believed you.
I... uh, uh...
I risked my job for you.
- I stole the nanoscopic fucking
man for you!
- Why?
Do you really think
you're the only person
who has a reason to go back?
- I'm sorry.
- No, mm-mm.
It's good, it's all good.
Um, you were right,
and good luck with your family.
Hey, Mom.
Were you actually
gonna take one?
I don't know.
Uh...
I thought about it...
And I just kept having
this image of me being, like,
s... swallowed by a black hole.
And...
I...
I kept thinking of all
the times that you've left.
Times I don't even know about.
If you've ever even offered
them to me before,
if... if...
if I would've taken them then,
I just... I kept... I just...
- Yeah.
- I don't know.
I never asked
why you were doing this.
I g... I guess I was selfish
enough to think
you were just doing it
to help me.
I do wanna help.
I know.
But that's not why
you keep opening the door.
I don't need you
feeling sorry for me.
Okay.
It's so...
So stupid.
Um...
I was 15, and I...
I took the car out.
I... I wasn't supposed to,
um,
and I drove over...
a nail.
And I... I thought, uh,
I thought they would notice.
I thought my parents
would notice.
And, um...
But they didn't.
And the tire blew out.
You... you were a kid.
I...
I guess.
We're gonna do this.
We're gonna go
to Princeton, find Mark.
We'll get you back there.
I really, really
wanted to go back...
After I lost my dad.
How old were you?
But I only found the pills
a week after he died,
so I kept trying and trying,
but I was always a day late.
Were you close?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
He was a really,
really good dad.
He used to tell me these...
Science-fiction fairy tales
where an ordinary girl
turns out to be...
empress of the galaxy or...
- Sweet.
- Yeah.
Yeah.
He always made me feel like
I could have achieved anything.
You did a lot, though.
Did I?
I mean,
I look
at other people, like Mark or...
Whoever.
My life seems really small.
I don't think so.
I don't.
Besides,
we're gonna go back, right?
You and me, we're gonna fix it.
I hope so.
You were the only one
ever made me feel
like I could actually do it.
- Really?
- Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
You can feel it.
Can't you?
It's as though we've lived
a whole lifetime together.
Have we?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh, uh, your nose.
Oh, yeah.
It's time.
You'll... you'll come back
to find me, right?
When...
when you,
uh, wake up or...
Yeah.
I always do.
Hey, Mom.
Yeah?
What is it?
I... I need something.
From you.
- Is that Zoya Lowe?
- Yes.
And I need you to help me
find Mark Harrison.
Mark Harrison?
The last time we talked,
you mentioned him,
and I know you guys are close.
- The last time we talked?
- Mm-hmm.
You know,
I remember you, Zoya Lowe.
I know.
I know. I know!
- I...
I know.
And there was a time
when I really did care
what you thought about me,
but I just don't anymore.
And, yeah,
you're probably right.
I probably
am still impatient and lazy.
And entitled or whatever!
But I'm trying.
And regardless
of what you, or anybody else,
used to think about me,
I'm going to do this, so...
Hmm, well...
Uh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Good luck.
It's been a long time.
10 years.
You look good.
Okay.
- What?
- Yeah.
Well, nothing. Just... yeah.
You guys are back
in Miami now, right?
How's that goin'?
It's good.
Yeah, it's good.
Um,
Donald's teaching at UM
and finishing up his postdoc,
so it's just me
and Jayne at home.
Oh, right.
Yeah.
It's good.
It's... it's nice to be
back home and...
And...
to be close to my mom again.
God,
I could never move back there.
Even moving here
from Europe was hard.
Yeah. You get used to it.
Are you still, uh, working on
any of your old research?
Oh, um,
not really.
No, I mean, with him gone
all day and, um...
Jayne at home, it just didn't
make sense, you know, to...
I mean,
I guess it never really
did make sense, right?
I thought it did.
I didn't mean that.
I just mean...
I'm just... I'm saying, um...
I can't really imagine anything
more frustrating than working
on something you know
is probably impossible to solve.
It's not impossible.
Okay.
I'm not trying to start a fight.
- I'm just saying you look good.
- I...
Happy?
I always knew
you'd make a good mother.
Wow.
That sounds so completely
demeaning coming from you.
Well, I meant it as a, uh,
genuine compliment.
You seem happy.
I am.
I'm glad to see you.
You should, uh,
let me know
next time you're coming to town.
We could catch up for real.
Yeah, I will.
Uh, hi. Uh, can I help you?
Hi.
Um, I'm an old friend
of Mark Harrison's.
Is... is he...
Uh, it's my... my father,
but, uh...
Been getting kind of,
uh, weaker and weaker
in the past few years.
I didn't even
really see much of him.
Yeah, he looks so...
Yeah.
I think the, uh, last time I saw
him was maybe four months ago.
And he wasn't in good shape.
He wasn't eating.
He wasn't sleeping.
All he did was work.
We tried to talk to him, but...
I don't know.
Yeah, I'm sorry
if this is, like...
No, no, it's fine. It's fine.
Um, my therapist says I should
actually talk more about it
to help accept it or whatever.
She said that's why
it would have been good to do
some type of memorial service
or something.
I never, um...
I wish I'd known.
No. No, it's fine.
Yeah.
You guys knew
each other from, uh, college?
- Princeton.
- Oh, yeah.
What was he like back then?
He was... really brilliant.
- So smart.
- Yeah.
That's what everybody says.
So smart.
Ended up shovin'
all his stuff in here.
All his awards and shit.
Wow.
The Hinckley Prize?
Yeah.
You think that would be enough.
Is this...
is this
everything he was doing?
Yeah, I guess.
Yeah.
This is...
Everything I've been working on.
Yeah, well, at least you seem
like you're handling it better.
Oh, my God.
This is mine.
He kept my research.
I'm sorry. I can't...
I can't believe this.
Do you know how long
he was working on this?
Uh, I don't... I don't know.
It's a long time.
You know?
I just...
I fuckin' hate bein' down here.
I just keep
remembering him saying
that one day
I'd actually be proud of him.
Like...
as though this is the shit
that was gonna make me proud.
God!
I'm really sorry.
Yeah.
Me too.
You have any kids?
Yeah.
One.
About your age.
They... they work
on this type of stuff, too?
Uh, no.
No.
No, she's a pianist.
Just got engaged.
That's great.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Hey, Zoya.
We're at the hospital.
Where'd you go?
Mom, where are you?
Why aren't you answering
your phone right now?
We're really worried.
Please pick up.
Zoya, honey,
just please pick up your phone.
I miss you so much, mom.
I really don't wanna lose you.
This can't be how I lose you.
This can't be it. Please.
Please,
I have to see you again.
I... I thought
you would never...
Just... just please,
please, please...
I keep thinking about
the last thing I said to you.
- About how I was gonna
go fill out paperwork.
Please.
- Why didn't you say anything?
- Just please, Zoya.
Mom, I don't...
I can't... I can't lose you.
I don't know
how to be a person without you.
I don't know what to do.
Oh, god.
Come back please.
Please, I miss you so much.
This is the fucking worst,
please come back.
Mom, I just want you
to know I love you so much.
I just wish
I could see you one more time.
I wish I could hear you.
Anything.
I wish I could hear you
say anything to me.
Please.
Please, I just wish
you would come home.
Mom, where are you?
Why aren't you answering
your phone right now?
I miss you so much, Mom.
I don't wanna lose you.
Please pick up.
I hope you're getting
these messages.
This can't be how I lose you.
This can't be it.
Please.
Please,
I have to see you again.
Please, please, Mom.
Mom, where are you?
Why aren't you answering
your phone right now?
We're really worried.
Please pick up.
I miss you so much, Mom.
Come back please.
This can't be it, mom.
This can't be it.
Please pick up the phone.
Please. I miss you so much.
Jayne.
Jayne.
Jayne.
Mom.
- I'm so... I'm so sorry.
- Why are you sorry?
I'm sorry we scared you.
No, you didn't.
You didn't. I just...
- You were passed out.
- I missed you.
Watch your feet.
You guys wanna listen
to some music?
Yeah, sure. What have you got?
Well, I, uh, I got a new CD.
I am not sure. Oh.
Soldiers of de Riddem.
No!
Yeah. Sounds good.
- Play it!
- No!
I don't know
what kinda music this is, but...
What? No, Dad.
She's being nice.
She doesn't wanna
listen to that.
Put on something
we actually wanna listen to.
I honestly think we're all gonna
really enjoy this.
I mean, look at that.
Look how happy they all look.
They do look happy.
Get ready.
Ready for the riddem.
It's forbidden
to hate on the riddem.
- Morris understands.
- How much you pay for that CD?
This was $1.99.
I talked him down from $2.50.
You think I've lived
a good life?
Yeah. Of course.
Well, don't...
Don't talk like that.
Please. Are...
Are you okay?
Well, I'm dying.
That's kind of
the opposite of okay.
I just...
I can't stop thinking about...
What could have happened,
you know? Like...
Everything I could have done.
All the other versions of me...
And my life, and you, and Jayne.
Do you think there's
an alternate timeline
where I do go on,
where I don't die
of a black hole in my chest?
Maybe.
But maybe that's a timeline
where we don't meet.
Where we don't have Jayne.
Who knows?
She grew up too fast.
- It went by so fast.
- Hmm.
Blink of an eye.
I still remember so well
when she was a baby.
She was so little.
Take her to the beach.
Remember how excited
she used to get by everything.
Just, "Yeah!"
Yeah.
I remember this one day...
where she wasn't.
I took her to the beach
and we just laid there.
Just staring up
at the clouds and like the...
Mm-hmm.
The top of the palm trees.
Listening to the ocean.
Just her and me.
With her little...
Her little finger
wrapped around mine.
Just totally silent.
I've relived
that moment a million times.
I wish I could be back there.
Right now.
With you two.
What would you change
if you could?
Hmm.
Probably buy
a different album instead of...
Soldiers of de Riddem.
Come on.
You wouldn't change anything?
I don't know.
I mean, there's things
I could change I guess.
Hmm.
I don't know that I wanna risk
losing this moment with you.
What about you?
- Hmm?
- What would you want?
More.
More days.
Aww...
he's beautiful.
How did
you know that song?
I don't know.
Just from hearing it.
It's an original.
I know.
It's perfect.
Two seconds!
Hi.
Hi.
Do I know you?
No.
But I know you.
This has your name on it.
Yeah.
I always thought
that was for a reason.
That it meant
they were supposed to be for me.
Maybe they are or were.
Maybe you solved it,
and... and you go back,
and you give the pills
to yourself, and...
Or maybe I was only
supposed to have 'em
so I could give 'em to you.
Here.
Take it.
- What is...
- It's our work.
It's all the work
we did together.
Wait.
Uh, this is... I can't.
You can.
You can and you will.
You don't have to worry so much.
Your parents would be proud.
What?
Did I...
I... I told you about...
Yeah.
And I told you about mine.
And we sat on the floor.
Talked about the future.
I know your life isn't
exactly what you want it
to be yet,
but you'll get there.
Whatever you end up doing,
you'll be okay.
You'll be more than okay.
You don't need me.
Yay!
Bravo! Yay!
Did you make a wish?
Yes, I did.
- What was it?
- I did.
- She can't say.
- I'm not telling you!
- She can't tell you.
- Yeah.
- It won't come true!
- That's just an urban legend.
No, that's how it works.
- Okay, it's present time.
- No!
- Oh, yes!
- I'm so bad at presents!
- No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
- Hey, sit down.
This is from me and Morris,
so you better like it.
- You better.
- Hmm.
What do you hope it is?
- I don't know.
I don't...
I don't even know...
if I remember...
Uh, did I...
did I never open this before?
What do you mean?
Did... did I never make it
this far...
before?
We're thinking
about naming it Zoya.
- You okay with that?
- You are thinking
about it or you are?
Oh, my God! I'm so happy!
You're gonna be s...
such a good mother.
Oh, no, Mom. Your nose.
- Oh, oh.
- You okay?
This is it.
Hmm?
This is it. Um...
Thank you for this.
Um, I'm...
I'm sorry I wasn't better.
And, I'm... I'm sorry
I wasn't always there.
- Oh, Mom!
No, no, Zoya, Zoya.
You're fine. You're fine.
You don't have to say that.
You're gonna...
you're gonna be okay.
I know.
I am...
I'm gonna miss you so much.
I couldn't have asked
for a better week.
I love you, Mom.
I love you guys so much.
And all of a sudden,
she could see the whole world.
Past and present.
She could see it all.
And she saw a little girl...
walking along
all alone in the world.
And she could see
her whole future.
All the wonderful times
with friends and family.
And also all the hardships,
and struggles, and mistakes.
She could see it all.
And she wanted to reach out
so desperately and hold her,
but she couldn't.
So instead, she looked
at the girl's entire life
in front of her.
And with tears in her eyes,
she whispered...
You're gonna do incredible
things one day,
Zoya Lowe.
You're gonna change the world.
You're going to do incredible
things one day, Zoya Lowe.
You're going
to change the world.
And, so what does that mean?
Well, it's...
It... it means just that.
She has a black hole
growing inside of her body.
A black hole?
Yes, a small one,
about the size of a peanut,
right here between her lungs.
Oh, we have a pamphlet here
if you want to take a look.
So, what do we do?
What happens now?
Well, it's...
I'm sorry. Um...
There's not much
we can do for her.
Right now, my advice
is to take her home.
Try to keep her mind off of it.
Try to keep her distracted,
positive.
Just make her feel comfortable.
Comfortable?
How much longer does she have?
It's hard to say.
We honestly don't know.
And if it continues
at this rate, I'd...
I'd say maybe another week.
I'm sorry.
They're watching the game.
Hey, Mom.
How are you doing?
So, it sounds like we're gonna
get to take you home today.
So that'll be nice.
Yeah.
That's great.
Watch your feet!
It says here that it's most
common amongst astronauts
and that people
who have been exposed
to prolonged periods
of intense radiation.
You know, maybe we don't need
to read that right now.
Mom, are you experiencing
any symptoms yet?
It says it can cause
intestinal blockage,
but then also diarrhea.
I bought a new CD, you know?
Um, Soldiers of de Riddem.
Oh, there we go.
It's fine.
You know, I really don't need
a wheelchair.
Are you sure?
I got it right here.
Ah, shoot.
Just give me one second.
Stupid thing.
You okay?
Yes.
I just don't wanna go
to the publishers tomorrow,
that's all.
Ah! Well,
they want to see you.
I mean, they're probably
super excited
about that last chapter we sent.
What do you got there?
Nothing.
Of course. I mean,
we wouldn't wanna rush you.
Um, I know the last chapter
you sent in was a little...
You guys will pull through this.
I know you will.
I know Zoya. She's a fighter.
Yeah. Thank you.
Definitely. We'll make sure
it gets finished.
We even have
a cover mock-up and everything.
And you said you didn't wanna
make any changes, correct?
Yeah.
All righty.
Then we'll want you
to sign here, and here.
And also here.
Thank you so much.
Don't mention it. It's our job.
The important thing is
that you're able to relax,
enjoy some quality family time.
Yeah.
Thanks.
I will.
Here we are again.
Was that your mother?
Yep.
I wouldn't worry
about her too much.
She's always like that.
I know.
Do you mind if I sit down?
Yeah, sure. Just be careful.
What do you mean?
Oh! Oh, my goodness.
Oh. Well, thank you!
How did you know?
Do you wanna hear a secret?
Sure.
I've done this before.
What do you mean?
I take a pill.
Tomorrow night, I take a pill
and I go back a week.
Back?
Right back to the hospital.
This has all happened before.
So many times before.
What are you sayin'?
I'm saying that
I've lived this week before.
I know what's gonna happen
in every second of every moment
of every day.
Because I've seen it all before.
From the wake up,
to the publishers,
to the lawyers, to the beach.
My mom. My birthday.
All of it.
From the bird shit...
To the bocce.
Bocce?
It's always the same.
We've... we've had this
conversation before?
Yes. Well, no.
Usually we talk about
how you see
the same people every day.
How you've been here
for eight years.
How quickly time passes.
Who are you?
It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter
because you won't remember it.
You won't remember
anything I say.
'Cause tomorrow night
my nose will bleed.
I'll lock myself
in the bathroom.
I'll take another pill.
I'll go back a week.
And I'll see you there.
And I'll say...
"Be careful."
Oh, my goodness. Oh...
Thank you.
How did you know?
Lucky guess.
Very lucky. I'll say.
Thank you.
Don't mention it.
Oh, it's hard.
Wow.
I can't believe
I haven't seen this before.
You have.
You just don't remember.
Oh, wow!
Is that Professor Dulseberg?
- Yeah. Mean, old Dulseberg.
- Jesus.
He was even older
than I remembered.
Mm-hmm.
That was the last day at IGE
before they left for Europe.
Oh. Yeah, look at that,
you even got old Mark in there.
Oh, stop.
What?
Don't act like you didn't have
girlfriends before me.
I mean, I didn't.
Hmm.
- I had dates.
- Yeah.
- I had dinner.
- Sure.
Maybe a movie.
This one of your old textbooks?
Yeah. Chem.
So cute.
You always used to write
your name in 'em like that.
Oh, you always took such good
care of your books, too.
Yeah. They're probably
all outdated by now.
- Surprise!
- Surprise!
Wow! How unexpected.
Yeah, we know
it's not for a couple weeks,
but we thought it might
be fun to surprise you.
- Definitely.
- Oh, and we got presents.
Yes. Yes. Get them.
Oh, wait! She's gotta blow
the candles out first.
- Oh, yeah.
- Blow out the candles.
Yay!
Did you make a wish?
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
you gotta make a wish.
I wish we could do
something different.
What do you mean?
My nose is gonna
start bleeding soon.
- What?
- Wait, are you okay?
- I'm fine.
- Mom, what's going on?
Nothing. Uh, I just have to go
to the bathroom for a second.
I'll be right back.
Here I go again.
Hey, Mom...
How are you doing?
So,
we got some good news.
Yeah.
They're gonna let me
go home, right?
Yeah. They are. Isn't that nice?
Watch your feet.
It says intestinal blockage,
but then also diarrhea.
What're ya lookin' at?
It was a little rough.
Quality family time.
Have you ever gotten
a massage before?
Last week.
Awesome. How was it?
I didn't like the music
and your hands were cold.
He arrived last week in Miami.
This is where they keep him
when he's behind the scenes,
off exhibit.
After that, it's off
to Tampa, Sarasota,
pretty much everywhere.
The hope is to give people
one last chance
to see this majestic creature
before it disappears for good.
I spoke to the...
You wanna hear a spoiler?
The rhino dies this week.
Was that your mother?
I wouldn't worry
about it too much.
She's always like that.
Do you mind if I sit down?
Oh, goodness.
These birds are always shitting.
It's hard,
you know?
Seeing the same people
every day.
I've been here eight years.
You forget to be aware
of your surroundings.
You don't really know...
- What?
- I... I can't.
- Can't do what?
- I can't. I can't. I can't.
Are you okay?
Do you need any help?
Oh! Jesus! I'm so sorry.
Oh, yeah.
I'm really sorry. That's...
- No, I'm sorry.
- No!
I wasn't even looking
where I was going.
That's on me.
You're...
you're fine, thank you.
Why do you have this book?
Uh, I picked it.
I've never seen you here before.
Uh...
Where did you get this book?
Well, this is it.
I basically came in here
a few months ago.
Grabbed it.
Didn't really think
anyone would miss it.
I never even knew this was here.
Yeah, I mean, nobody ever really
comes in here, so...
I used to, all the time, with...
with my grandma,
when she first moved in.
I... I think these used
to be my books.
Yeah, that...
that would make sense.
Um, a lot of this stuff here
is donated by the residents,
I mean, upstairs is, like,
completely filled with junk.
Now why would you
choose this book?
I don't know. Trying to study.
I, um, I go to MDC right now,
the... the college.
I'm... I'm working in...
in a lab, so...
- Yeah.
- A lab?
Yeah, um, I'm working under
this guy, Professor Handel.
I don't know if you know him.
He's one of the people
who invented that machine
that shrunk that guy,
the... the nanoscopic man.
- Yeah, so...
- You... you work in the lab?
Yes. Um,
obviously not doing that.
Um, more grunt work,
kind of. But, um...
Yeah, I'm...
I'm actually studying time.
Time?
Yeah. How it, uh...
How it works.
How it moves mostly,
if that makes sense.
Paula Campos?
Yeah, that's, uh,
my name. What's yours?
Zoya. There you are.
I was... I was looking
all over for you.
You ready?
I fucked it up.
Oh, I thought
that one was pretty good.
No, it's just this beginning
part is really tricky.
- Hmm.
- Uh...
What are you thinking about?
What if there was an answer?
Or, what... what if there was...
a solution for me?
Wouldn't it be worth trying?
What do you mean?
I mean, I've just been thinking
about all the work
I was doing at Princeton,
and all of my research, and...
Zoya.
What?
I mean, are we really having
this conversation again?
And you heard the doctor.
And you heard
what the doctor said.
- What if he's wrong?
- The doctor s...
What if he's wrong?
What if... what if there's
something that he doesn't know?
What if there's something
that we could do
that would make it
so that I don't have to die?
Well, so what, then?
You wanna go test out
all of your old college research
at a... at a lab?
Maybe. Rather than sitting
around here all week.
And what, spending time with us?
Um, that's not what I'm saying.
I'm just saying I... I'm s...
So tired of doing
the same thing day after day!
Hey, listen, I didn't wanna ruin
the surprise.
Surprise!
Surprise!
We know it's not
for a couple more weeks,
but we thought it would
be nice to surprise you.
Definitely. What a surprise.
And we got presents, too.
Yes, get the presents,
get the presents.
No. Um...
No?
Oh, well, she's gotta
blow her candles out first.
No, I think I...
What... what's wrong?
Nothing. Um, I just need
to step outside for a sec.
Why? What's wrong?
Yeah, what's up, Mom? You okay?
Yeah, I just need
to get some fresh air.
And we can do
the presents after.
- Okay. Yeah.
- Okay.
Oh, no.
No, no, your nose is bleeding.
Oh, I... I know.
It... it's... it's fine.
I'll be right back.
Hello?
Paula?
Yeah. Who is this?
It's, uh, Zoya Lowe.
We met yesterday at Carville.
Oh, yeah. Um, how are you?
What's, uh, what... what's up?
Nothing. Um, I'm good.
I just wanted to tell you that,
um, I'm gonna come find you
when I wake up.
I'm sorry?
I'm gonna find you
when I wake up
and we're gonna do this.
Uh, do what?
Something great.
What?
I just wanted you to know.
Ma'am, uh...
- Okay, um, I'll see you soon.
- What?
Hey, Mom.
So, we got some good news.
I know. You can
go sign the paperwork.
I already know.
They said I can
go home. It's fine.
Um... okay...
Well, we'll be right back.
What a play.
You know,
we actually had tickets
for the game tomorrow night.
Hmm. It's gonna be a great one.
Yeah. I think maybe we'll just
go to the beach instead.
What's that?
Fire exit. Someone must have
opened it by accident.
Hey, are you on duty?
Where do you wanna go?
South 4th Street.
- You got money?
- Yeah, why?
Why? You're wearin'
a hospital gown.
Yeah, I'll... I'll...
I'll pay you when I get there.
All right, get in.
Hello?
Oh, no, what do I do now?
Two seconds!
Hi.
Hi.
Paula.
Sorry, do I know you?
Could I have, um,
just a minute of your time?
You were at Carville
visiting your grandma,
and I ran
into you in the garden.
When was this?
Uh, four days
from now, technically.
Right.
Your name is Paula Campos.
You go to school at MDC.
Four days from now, you're gonna
go to Carville Retirement Home
to visit your grandma
and run into me in the...
Sorry, uh,
listen to me, listen to me.
Please.
My name is Zoya Lowe.
Uh, in four days, we meet,
in five days, I'll be dead.
Blood will pour from my nose,
from my ears, and I'm gonna die.
Okay. Uh, you don't look like
you're gonna die.
Yeah, except for
the black hole in my chest,
I'm really pretty healthy.
Yeah, okay, um...
I don't know why
you've come here, but if you...
Because... because y...
you took me to the library.
You showed me where you used
to read with your grandma.
Uh, y...you showed me
where you found my book.
You said you worked in a lab,
and that you were studying time.
And I said I was gonna
come back for you,
and we were gonna do
something great.
And I know all this
because it happened.
Because you were there,
and... and now I'm here,
like I said I would be.
And I... I just really need you
to believe me because it's true.
It's... it's... it's...
it's the truth.
Okay. Okay.
So you know everything
that's gonna happen?
This week. Yes.
How many fingers
am I holding up?
What?
South 4th Street.
Your name is Paula Campos.
My name is Zoya Lowe.
You work in a lab.
I have a black hole in my chest.
I'm from the future.
I know everything
that's gonna happen.
I know that you wanna put
your fingers up right now.
Go ahead. Do it.
Two.
Three.
Now the middle finger.
Now your cat's gonna meow.
And you're gonna ask me,
"Is this really happening
right now?"
And I'm gonna say,
"Yes. Yes, it is."
So you take 'em
just like regular pills?
Pretty much, yeah.
And you think you'll be able
to figure out how they work?
Hopefully.
In the lab. With you.
Very flattering, but, um,
H... h... have you not tried
to work this out before or...
I did, uh, 30 years ago,
but I never could.
Uh, okay, well,
what happened?
I don't know. Life.
You get distracted.
You move on.
You never even notice
you're making
some huge life decision.
Until you blink, look back,
realize you have
nowhere to move on to.
Have you tried maybe taking
multiple pills at the same time?
You know, maybe going back
further, all the way back?
It's not how it works.
I can only take
one pill at a time.
If I take another one now,
nothing happens.
I have to wait until
the other pill leaves my system
until I rejoin
the moment I left.
But you think
if you can break it down,
you'll be able to tweak it?
I do.
Then I can actually go back.
Back to when I was your age,
before I gave up and settled.
Before you had a black hole
growing inside your chest.
I wanna do all the things
I always thought I would.
I... I wanna figure out
what's in the pills.
I wanna figure out
what makes them work.
Make it so I don't only have...
five days left.
So I have 20, 30, 40 years.
I have my whole life.
Yeah, all right.
Let's solve time travel.
I feel like I should tell you
the lab isn't really... like...
The equipment's pretty old.
It's not really, uh, good.
I'm sure it's fine.
No, like,
you definitely know people
who work at better places.
Maybe. Maybe.
So...
I say not the, um...
- Yeah.
- Best, but, I mean, you know?
Where do you, uh,
where do you wanna start?
The pills don't really behave
like anything else.
They don't burn
or melt or dissolve.
It's... it's almost like they
were never even really there.
Uh, I don't totally understand
how that's possible.
It's like they're
constantly regenerating.
They're existing
in some kind of...
some kind of state of limbo.
Okay, well, maybe then we look
at the regeneration itself.
No, no, no.
Whatever mutations
are happening,
they're at such
a subatomic level, you'd...
you'd never be able
to read them.
And even if we did, we'd still
ultimately need to break down
the sequencing, right?
This is why I'm thinking
that we just replicate it.
That's what I was trying
to do at Princeton,
and this is basically
all the same...
- Uh...
- Equipment that they had there.
Even if it might be
the same equipment,
that doesn't mean we have to do
the same things you did, right?
I... I... I mean, do you even
still have your research
from back then?
No, but...
So what you're proposing
would take...
forever.
And... and... and that's, uh,
kinda crazy. No offense, just...
I think what we need to do is...
is... is break this down.
I know, but...
but there's no way to do that.
I'm telling you, I've...
I've tried so many times.
- Trust me, there's no...
- I... I... I... I trust you.
But it's not true
that there's no way,
because if it's happening,
even if it's at
a subatomic level,
it's still happening.
What we need, I think, is...
is a... a different way in,
like a... a... something
or... or someone.
I think I know somebody
who can help us.
Who?
Um, stay here, and I'll...
I'll just be right back,
two seconds.
Zoya? Zoya Lowe?
Zoya Lowe.
Professor Dulseberg?
Yeah, what in the world
are you doing here?
It... it's a whole, um...
I'm just...
I'm here to use the lab.
Lab? Why?
What do you need a lab for?
Uh, I'm testing
a compound with a friend.
We're trying to see
if we can replicate it.
Replicate? Compound?
Sir. Professor.
Why don't you come
into my office? We'll discuss.
Um, o... okay.
I... I guess I didn't realize
you were teaching here.
Oh, yeah.
You know, thanks
to your friend Mark. Harrison.
You remember him?
He's at IASA now.
- Brilliant man.
- He... he got you this job?
Yeah. Yeah, can you believe it?
Me, needing help to get
a job at community college.
What the fuck?
Now they put my office out here
in the middle of nowhere.
Out in the fucking parking lot.
Takes forever to get anywhere.
They told me
it's because of insurance.
You believe that?
Said I had to be near
handicapped spaces or...
or something. Because of my age.
Oh, well,
you sure look good.
- I'm 107.
- Oh, wow!
Yeah, you know,
I'm really curious
to know what you've been up to,
Zoya Lowe.
Who the fuck are you?
Uh...
What are you doing in my office?
Oh, I was, uh...
She's... she's with me.
What?
Yeah, yes.
Uh, well, hello.
Uh, we were working,
uh, we are working, uh,
across the building in the lab.
Yeah, well, so why do
I see you in my office,
rifling through my desk? Huh?
You're right, and I'm sorry.
What... what, are you
a student here?
- Uh, kind of.
- Kind of?
I'm working in
with Professor Handel in...
in the, um, in the assisting.
Well, this is typical
Zoya Lowe behavior.
Yeah, is it not?
Oh. Uh...
Thinking you can do just
whatever you want to do.
Uh, wait, I...
no, this isn't her fault.
Yeah, I am sure, yeah.
You know,
I remember you, Zoya Lowe.
Oh, yes, I remember very well.
I remember telling everyone,
before you showed up,
how brilliant you were.
How brilliant!
I showed them your...
your test scores,
and I showed them your papers.
And I said, "Oh, my God,
what potential, what talent."
But no, no,
it was not like that.
No, you were...
you were entitled.
You were lazy.
You were impatient.
You... you... you
squandered every
opportunity that I gave you.
In the four years
that I knew you,
never, never, not once...
did you ever give me any reason
to believe that you were...
Anything.
You shouldn't have
gone in there.
- Okay, well, I'm sorry,
like, I didn't think...
- You don't just do that.
...it was gonna be
that big of a deal.
You don't just... go in
like that without telling me.
I said sorry.
I should have told you.
That was stupid, okay?
It was.
This whole thing is stupid.
'Cause some old man yelled
at you? He's like a thousand!
He's gonna die tomorrow.
- Oh, no, that?
- Yeah!
No, that was true.
That was true. He was right.
You wanna know how I got
into IGE and Princeton?
Why my test scores were so high?
'Cause I knew all the answers.
I got something wrong,
I'd just restart.
Go back five days.
He's a 100% right.
I'm not smart enough.
Oh, well, no, that...
that is not true.
You don't even know me.
Well, do...
do you at least wanna
know why I was in there?
What I was getting?
Wh...what is it?
What's gonna help us
break down this pill?
Oh, an... an empty box.
A nanoscopic man.
I guess what happened
was they shrunk him,
but they didn't realize
they didn't know how to stop.
So he's just
been shrinkin' ever since.
I can't see him at all.
Oh, I mean, no one can.
They didn't know how to fix it
or really what to do with him.
So, just left him in a drawer.
Yeah, it's pretty shitty.
Such a waste of research.
So you brought him
to a meat locker?
It's a dry-aging room.
You can't put him
anywhere room temperature
- Because, you know, bacteria,
and mold, and all that stuff.
- Mmm.
So we needed somewhere
cold enough that, you know,
stuff wasn't rotting,
but not so cold
that he would freeze. So, yeah.
Plus, Luiz is a friend anyway.
Good luck.
Can you, um, plug
this in for me, please?
Back.
He has a transmitter
in his suit,
so that way
he can communicate with us.
And he can reply?
Yeah, right through
that display.
- That's crazy.
- Yeah.
Handel showed me how to use it
for research purposes, but...
sometimes I just like
talkin' to him.
He's actually
a really chill dude.
And he already knows
what we need?
I am telling him right now.
The other thing in his suit
is a particle detector.
I was thinking...
It is... it's a...
- Yes.
- Wow!
He might be able to analyze
the cell structure for us.
- Then relay everything back.
- Yeah.
- Just drop it through the top.
- Nice.
Thanks.
Like that?
Yeah, perfect.
How long
do you think it'll take?
That I don't really know.
I mean, time moves so fast
for him, you know?
He... he's like, uh,
the opposite of the edge
of the universe,
where everything moves
really slowly.
He's so far inside
that a hundred years
could go by in, like, a second.
Is he ever gonna die?
I don't know.
I mean, my thought is
he just keeps shrinking
until he gets so small he...
disappears for good.
Yeah.
Is that it?
Wait, what... what's happening?
Oh. Uh, yeah, okay.
Um, just a minute.
Whoa. Uh...
You were right.
Uh, th... It's, uh,
constantly changing.
It's, like, it's cycling through
all these different structures.
This is a...
I was right.
Y... yes. Very.
Thank you.
I never asked
how you got these, by the way.
Do you remember?
Um...
yeah.
It was such
a whatever moment.
I was 12.
I was walking by myself
in this golf course
in the back of our house
and...
it was just lying there.
And you just took it?
Well, had my name on it.
I remember looking around,
thinking it was
some kind of prank,
but I didn't see anybody.
Then I heard...
I heard this voice...
this little whisper,
in the back of my head.
What did it say?
It said that I was going
to change the world.
Yeah.
Well...
Time to change
the world, I guess.
Yeah...
Maybe.
We're gonna need to go through
and synthesize the compounds
to test them out.
Or maybe it'll be
like it was 30 years ago.
We start with the simplest
structures, work our way up.
Running
into the same walls,
getting stuck
in the same places.
No, it won't.
'Cause you'll be with me.
Ready?
I don't think anybody else
matters, it's us.
Doing this, it's just us.
All the time in the world.
Yeah.
In some ways,
that scares me even more.
I could have
all the time in the world.
And still...
...I can't do it.
Okay, well, start over.
All we ever do is start over.
Hey, Mom.
Well, we'll get there.
These pills
had your name on them.
You... you had to have
found them for a... a reason.
Yeah, unless it was
a coincidence or a mistake.
Unless I'm just someone
who wasn't meant
to leave a mark.
I'm not upset,
I'm just saying some of them
are clearly better than I am.
- That's not true.
- Okay.
It's not, you know?
And they're probably saying
the exact same thing
to their parents about you.
Yeah, sure.
I have no idea
where you got this from.
Because I see them!
I'm in class with them!
I'm watching them play,
I'm with them every day!
And this isn't like
Miss Bronca's class at Cypress.
Some of these kids are like
the best pianists in the state.
- And you're not?
- No, I'm not. I'm really not.
Not compared to someone
who's been playing since
they were four years old.
I really don't like hearing you
talk about yourself like this.
- I don't. I think...
- Like, what? Realistically?
I don't think
there's anything wrong
with being a music teacher
instead of a composer.
I never said there was.
Did I say there was?
I just don't want you to quit.
I'm not gonna quit.
Great.
You promise?
Yes.
Good.
Because you can be
anything you set your mind to.
Don't forget.
I know.
I already know
I'm gonna be a scientist.
Yeah? Like me?
Yeah. Just like you.
That's good.
Two seconds!
I feel like I should tell you.
You know, the lab
isn't really all that great.
I know.
Ready?
Yeah.
Hello. Hi, good morning.
How are you?
Yeah, um, well, I...
I just saw your email,
and so I wanted to,
uh, ask if, um...
Right. Okay.
Do you... do you know
when you're coming back or,
um...
Okay. I just, uh...
Uh, I wanted to be
your assistant for a reason.
And I guess, uh, if I knew
that you were going
to be going on sabbatical,
then I wouldn't have...
Of course. Yeah.
No, no, that's, um,
that's understandable.
I understand. You...
Thank you, uh, and, um, yeah,
and good luck with everything.
Yeah, I completely understand.
Of course. Of course.
Yep.
Fuck!
Okay. Uh...
Uh, two seconds!
There's gotta be
someone who can help, right?
Like, didn't... didn't anybody
help you at Princeton?
Like who?
Like, my ex-boyfriend,
or Dulseberg, or...
Okay, well, what
if we take it to a lab?
Like, an actual working lab?
There's gotta be
something we can do.
Oh! Whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Oh, my God!
- Call fire!
- Oh, uh...
I think...
are they gonna be okay?
They'll be fine.
I don't mean to overstep
or anything, but, um...
There's clearly so much
potential in this work,
and in the pills,
and... and in you, and...
I just... It's a little
fucked up, right?
Like, nobody,
I don't know, cared, or...
- Oh.
- Or supported you, or, like...
No, it wa...
It really wasn't like that.
I mean, uh, it was more...
I don't know.
I remember when I graduated,
my group got invited
to this special
two-year program at CERN.
All the most brilliant minds
in the world.
Everyone was going.
And I just remember
Donald saying...
Well, just make sure that's
what's gonna make you happy.
And that's all it took?
Well, yeah,
I mean, he was right.
I don't completely enjoy
this part of it.
I love the part
where you solve something,
but the rest of it, it's just...
- I don't know.
- I... I guess, I just...
I think I would've gone.
Yeah, instead of taking years
of research and hard work,
and shoving it in a box.
Wait...
Wait, do you still
have that research? Like...
I wish.
The last time I saw it, I think
it was with my mom's stuff,
but...
Well, where's your mom?
Um, your nose is, uh...
Uh, yeah.
Does... does that mean it's...
Yeah.
Wait, you'll come find me,
right?
Like, when you...
when you wake up?
Yeah.
I always do.
Hey, Mom.
It's a pill
that takes you back in time.
- And we've met before?
We've had
this exact conversation.
- So what did I say?
- Last time?
- Sure.
- You asked me if I kept
any of my old research,
and you asked me
where my mom was.
Do you really think we're
gonna find anything in here?
Well, considering she held on
to the high school textbook
I wrote, yeah.
Maybe.
What? Oh, here we go.
Sandra Lowe.
Okay.
Does it look like anything or...
Um, mostly
her psychology papers.
Anything
interesting, though, or...
Yeah.
If you're into mid-century
childhood development theories.
Not no.
There we go.
Anything?
A very stinky box.
That's good.
Ugh.
Man!
That is really smelling
like shit. Okay.
Oh, fuck.
What's that?
It's, um, a newspaper article.
About Mark.
Uh, who... who's Mark?
Nobody.
They got promoted at the IASA.
It's pretty fucking good
for a nobody.
Yeah.
I think that's about
what my mom said at the time.
Wow...
She kept that.
Didn't keep any of my work.
He arrived last week in Miami.
This is where they keep him
when he's behind
the scenes, off exhibit.
After that, it's off
to Tampa, Sarasota,
pretty much everywhere.
The hope is to give people
one last chance
to see this majestic creature
before it disappears for good.
Mrs. Lowe?
Your husband was just
in here looking for you.
My husband?
He looked very worried.
Estaba llorando, desesperado.
- Where?
- Uh, just at the entrance.
Excuse me, where's my husband?
- The guy?
- Yeah.
Uh, he just left.
Hey, Zoya, it's Donald.
We're at the hospital.
- Where'd you go?
- Zoya! Zoya!
Hey, where'd you go?
A woman there, the caretaker,
She said that if
it's not in the archives,
then it probably isn't gonna be.
Hey, uh...
she said my husband was here.
Uh, okay...
Uh...
Are you really not gonna go?
I just don't think
it makes any sense.
Didn't you say it was a really
great opportunity, though?
Yeah, but, like, a great
opportunity for what?
To spend two years hanging out
with Dulseburg and Mark?
So that they can
feel progressive
for having a woman
on their team.
Like, oh, God,
I don't need that shit.
- That sounds awful.
- I'm sure it wouldn't be
that bad.
Oh, it would be.
You know it would.
You would be in Europe, Zoya.
Doing what you've always wanted
to do with some of
the most talented people
in the world. I mean, so what
if it's a little frustrating?
Because I would
miss you, you idiot.
Because...
I don't wanna be
without you right now.
We'll figure it out.
I just wanna make sure
that whatever you're doing,
that's what's gonna
make you happy.
You miss them.
Hmm?
Oh.
Yeah, I guess I do.
Well, you'll see them soon.
Right? I mean,
that's why we're doing this,
so you can be with them.
I guess.
I mean,
not I guess. It... it is.
And it'll be
worth it. Right?
It's... it's just hard.
Leaving them all the time.
It... it's just hard
going back and...
And doing it all over again,
only to wake up
and hear her say...
Hey, Mom.
Like, not even
a second has passed.
So, we got some good news.
Have you ever thought
about what it's like
when you disappear?
Um...
I don't know.
Should I go check on her?
Uh...
Uh, no.
I... I'm sure she's fine.
Like, if it carries on or if...
Yeah, I guess I just...
I always imagine
it disappeared along with me.
I never imagine...
them still
in the living room, like...
waiting for me.
Huh, I didn't realize
that rhino died today.
Whoa.
Uh, you were right.
It's... it's constantly
changing,
but within
these different structures.
Yeah.
I was right.
Where do you wanna start?
I... I was thinking
we just wanna
synthesize the compounds
and then test from there.
Yeah.
I think a good place
to get started might be
synthesizing the compounds
and then testing from there.
Yeah.
I was, uh,
thinking maybe synthesize
the compound and...
What are we thinkin'?
I don't know
if I can do this again.
- Uh...
- We... we've tried everything.
We always end up
at the exact same spot.
Okay, uh, I mean,
this is complicated, obviously.
It's just going to be
a matter of time before...
No, no.
No, we've tried everything.
We've tried every possible
combination of things.
And then we've tried
those things again.
And then
I've forgotten about them.
Okay, um, maybe
we reach out for help.
- Like, a colleague
from Princeton.
- Who?
- Mark.
- Uh... yeah.
- You said he works
at the IASA, right?
- Mark's not going to help us.
- Oh.
- Paula.
Do... do we know that?
It... uh...
I... I... I'm not sure
we've exhausted
all of our options.
There's gotta be something
we can do or... or try.
I...
I need to go back.
I need to be with my family.
You have no idea
how long it's been.
I mean, you're right,
I... I don't know.
I don't even
really know who you are.
I... I... I... I just...
All I know is you're some lady
who came to my apartment
asking me for my help
to solve time travel.
And I believed you.
I... uh, uh...
I risked my job for you.
- I stole the nanoscopic fucking
man for you!
- Why?
Do you really think
you're the only person
who has a reason to go back?
- I'm sorry.
- No, mm-mm.
It's good, it's all good.
Um, you were right,
and good luck with your family.
Hey, Mom.
Were you actually
gonna take one?
I don't know.
Uh...
I thought about it...
And I just kept having
this image of me being, like,
s... swallowed by a black hole.
And...
I...
I kept thinking of all
the times that you've left.
Times I don't even know about.
If you've ever even offered
them to me before,
if... if...
if I would've taken them then,
I just... I kept... I just...
- Yeah.
- I don't know.
I never asked
why you were doing this.
I g... I guess I was selfish
enough to think
you were just doing it
to help me.
I do wanna help.
I know.
But that's not why
you keep opening the door.
I don't need you
feeling sorry for me.
Okay.
It's so...
So stupid.
Um...
I was 15, and I...
I took the car out.
I... I wasn't supposed to,
um,
and I drove over...
a nail.
And I... I thought, uh,
I thought they would notice.
I thought my parents
would notice.
And, um...
But they didn't.
And the tire blew out.
You... you were a kid.
I...
I guess.
We're gonna do this.
We're gonna go
to Princeton, find Mark.
We'll get you back there.
I really, really
wanted to go back...
After I lost my dad.
How old were you?
But I only found the pills
a week after he died,
so I kept trying and trying,
but I was always a day late.
Were you close?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
He was a really,
really good dad.
He used to tell me these...
Science-fiction fairy tales
where an ordinary girl
turns out to be...
empress of the galaxy or...
- Sweet.
- Yeah.
Yeah.
He always made me feel like
I could have achieved anything.
You did a lot, though.
Did I?
I mean,
I look
at other people, like Mark or...
Whoever.
My life seems really small.
I don't think so.
I don't.
Besides,
we're gonna go back, right?
You and me, we're gonna fix it.
I hope so.
You were the only one
ever made me feel
like I could actually do it.
- Really?
- Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
You can feel it.
Can't you?
It's as though we've lived
a whole lifetime together.
Have we?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh, uh, your nose.
Oh, yeah.
It's time.
You'll... you'll come back
to find me, right?
When...
when you,
uh, wake up or...
Yeah.
I always do.
Hey, Mom.
Yeah?
What is it?
I... I need something.
From you.
- Is that Zoya Lowe?
- Yes.
And I need you to help me
find Mark Harrison.
Mark Harrison?
The last time we talked,
you mentioned him,
and I know you guys are close.
- The last time we talked?
- Mm-hmm.
You know,
I remember you, Zoya Lowe.
I know.
I know. I know!
- I...
I know.
And there was a time
when I really did care
what you thought about me,
but I just don't anymore.
And, yeah,
you're probably right.
I probably
am still impatient and lazy.
And entitled or whatever!
But I'm trying.
And regardless
of what you, or anybody else,
used to think about me,
I'm going to do this, so...
Hmm, well...
Uh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Good luck.
It's been a long time.
10 years.
You look good.
Okay.
- What?
- Yeah.
Well, nothing. Just... yeah.
You guys are back
in Miami now, right?
How's that goin'?
It's good.
Yeah, it's good.
Um,
Donald's teaching at UM
and finishing up his postdoc,
so it's just me
and Jayne at home.
Oh, right.
Yeah.
It's good.
It's... it's nice to be
back home and...
And...
to be close to my mom again.
God,
I could never move back there.
Even moving here
from Europe was hard.
Yeah. You get used to it.
Are you still, uh, working on
any of your old research?
Oh, um,
not really.
No, I mean, with him gone
all day and, um...
Jayne at home, it just didn't
make sense, you know, to...
I mean,
I guess it never really
did make sense, right?
I thought it did.
I didn't mean that.
I just mean...
I'm just... I'm saying, um...
I can't really imagine anything
more frustrating than working
on something you know
is probably impossible to solve.
It's not impossible.
Okay.
I'm not trying to start a fight.
- I'm just saying you look good.
- I...
Happy?
I always knew
you'd make a good mother.
Wow.
That sounds so completely
demeaning coming from you.
Well, I meant it as a, uh,
genuine compliment.
You seem happy.
I am.
I'm glad to see you.
You should, uh,
let me know
next time you're coming to town.
We could catch up for real.
Yeah, I will.
Uh, hi. Uh, can I help you?
Hi.
Um, I'm an old friend
of Mark Harrison's.
Is... is he...
Uh, it's my... my father,
but, uh...
Been getting kind of,
uh, weaker and weaker
in the past few years.
I didn't even
really see much of him.
Yeah, he looks so...
Yeah.
I think the, uh, last time I saw
him was maybe four months ago.
And he wasn't in good shape.
He wasn't eating.
He wasn't sleeping.
All he did was work.
We tried to talk to him, but...
I don't know.
Yeah, I'm sorry
if this is, like...
No, no, it's fine. It's fine.
Um, my therapist says I should
actually talk more about it
to help accept it or whatever.
She said that's why
it would have been good to do
some type of memorial service
or something.
I never, um...
I wish I'd known.
No. No, it's fine.
Yeah.
You guys knew
each other from, uh, college?
- Princeton.
- Oh, yeah.
What was he like back then?
He was... really brilliant.
- So smart.
- Yeah.
That's what everybody says.
So smart.
Ended up shovin'
all his stuff in here.
All his awards and shit.
Wow.
The Hinckley Prize?
Yeah.
You think that would be enough.
Is this...
is this
everything he was doing?
Yeah, I guess.
Yeah.
This is...
Everything I've been working on.
Yeah, well, at least you seem
like you're handling it better.
Oh, my God.
This is mine.
He kept my research.
I'm sorry. I can't...
I can't believe this.
Do you know how long
he was working on this?
Uh, I don't... I don't know.
It's a long time.
You know?
I just...
I fuckin' hate bein' down here.
I just keep
remembering him saying
that one day
I'd actually be proud of him.
Like...
as though this is the shit
that was gonna make me proud.
God!
I'm really sorry.
Yeah.
Me too.
You have any kids?
Yeah.
One.
About your age.
They... they work
on this type of stuff, too?
Uh, no.
No.
No, she's a pianist.
Just got engaged.
That's great.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Hey, Zoya.
We're at the hospital.
Where'd you go?
Mom, where are you?
Why aren't you answering
your phone right now?
We're really worried.
Please pick up.
Zoya, honey,
just please pick up your phone.
I miss you so much, mom.
I really don't wanna lose you.
This can't be how I lose you.
This can't be it. Please.
Please,
I have to see you again.
I... I thought
you would never...
Just... just please,
please, please...
I keep thinking about
the last thing I said to you.
- About how I was gonna
go fill out paperwork.
Please.
- Why didn't you say anything?
- Just please, Zoya.
Mom, I don't...
I can't... I can't lose you.
I don't know
how to be a person without you.
I don't know what to do.
Oh, god.
Come back please.
Please, I miss you so much.
This is the fucking worst,
please come back.
Mom, I just want you
to know I love you so much.
I just wish
I could see you one more time.
I wish I could hear you.
Anything.
I wish I could hear you
say anything to me.
Please.
Please, I just wish
you would come home.
Mom, where are you?
Why aren't you answering
your phone right now?
I miss you so much, Mom.
I don't wanna lose you.
Please pick up.
I hope you're getting
these messages.
This can't be how I lose you.
This can't be it.
Please.
Please,
I have to see you again.
Please, please, Mom.
Mom, where are you?
Why aren't you answering
your phone right now?
We're really worried.
Please pick up.
I miss you so much, Mom.
Come back please.
This can't be it, mom.
This can't be it.
Please pick up the phone.
Please. I miss you so much.
Jayne.
Jayne.
Jayne.
Mom.
- I'm so... I'm so sorry.
- Why are you sorry?
I'm sorry we scared you.
No, you didn't.
You didn't. I just...
- You were passed out.
- I missed you.
Watch your feet.
You guys wanna listen
to some music?
Yeah, sure. What have you got?
Well, I, uh, I got a new CD.
I am not sure. Oh.
Soldiers of de Riddem.
No!
Yeah. Sounds good.
- Play it!
- No!
I don't know
what kinda music this is, but...
What? No, Dad.
She's being nice.
She doesn't wanna
listen to that.
Put on something
we actually wanna listen to.
I honestly think we're all gonna
really enjoy this.
I mean, look at that.
Look how happy they all look.
They do look happy.
Get ready.
Ready for the riddem.
It's forbidden
to hate on the riddem.
- Morris understands.
- How much you pay for that CD?
This was $1.99.
I talked him down from $2.50.
You think I've lived
a good life?
Yeah. Of course.
Well, don't...
Don't talk like that.
Please. Are...
Are you okay?
Well, I'm dying.
That's kind of
the opposite of okay.
I just...
I can't stop thinking about...
What could have happened,
you know? Like...
Everything I could have done.
All the other versions of me...
And my life, and you, and Jayne.
Do you think there's
an alternate timeline
where I do go on,
where I don't die
of a black hole in my chest?
Maybe.
But maybe that's a timeline
where we don't meet.
Where we don't have Jayne.
Who knows?
She grew up too fast.
- It went by so fast.
- Hmm.
Blink of an eye.
I still remember so well
when she was a baby.
She was so little.
Take her to the beach.
Remember how excited
she used to get by everything.
Just, "Yeah!"
Yeah.
I remember this one day...
where she wasn't.
I took her to the beach
and we just laid there.
Just staring up
at the clouds and like the...
Mm-hmm.
The top of the palm trees.
Listening to the ocean.
Just her and me.
With her little...
Her little finger
wrapped around mine.
Just totally silent.
I've relived
that moment a million times.
I wish I could be back there.
Right now.
With you two.
What would you change
if you could?
Hmm.
Probably buy
a different album instead of...
Soldiers of de Riddem.
Come on.
You wouldn't change anything?
I don't know.
I mean, there's things
I could change I guess.
Hmm.
I don't know that I wanna risk
losing this moment with you.
What about you?
- Hmm?
- What would you want?
More.
More days.
Aww...
he's beautiful.
How did
you know that song?
I don't know.
Just from hearing it.
It's an original.
I know.
It's perfect.
Two seconds!
Hi.
Hi.
Do I know you?
No.
But I know you.
This has your name on it.
Yeah.
I always thought
that was for a reason.
That it meant
they were supposed to be for me.
Maybe they are or were.
Maybe you solved it,
and... and you go back,
and you give the pills
to yourself, and...
Or maybe I was only
supposed to have 'em
so I could give 'em to you.
Here.
Take it.
- What is...
- It's our work.
It's all the work
we did together.
Wait.
Uh, this is... I can't.
You can.
You can and you will.
You don't have to worry so much.
Your parents would be proud.
What?
Did I...
I... I told you about...
Yeah.
And I told you about mine.
And we sat on the floor.
Talked about the future.
I know your life isn't
exactly what you want it
to be yet,
but you'll get there.
Whatever you end up doing,
you'll be okay.
You'll be more than okay.
You don't need me.
Yay!
Bravo! Yay!
Did you make a wish?
Yes, I did.
- What was it?
- I did.
- She can't say.
- I'm not telling you!
- She can't tell you.
- Yeah.
- It won't come true!
- That's just an urban legend.
No, that's how it works.
- Okay, it's present time.
- No!
- Oh, yes!
- I'm so bad at presents!
- No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
- Hey, sit down.
This is from me and Morris,
so you better like it.
- You better.
- Hmm.
What do you hope it is?
- I don't know.
I don't...
I don't even know...
if I remember...
Uh, did I...
did I never open this before?
What do you mean?
Did... did I never make it
this far...
before?
We're thinking
about naming it Zoya.
- You okay with that?
- You are thinking
about it or you are?
Oh, my God! I'm so happy!
You're gonna be s...
such a good mother.
Oh, no, Mom. Your nose.
- Oh, oh.
- You okay?
This is it.
Hmm?
This is it. Um...
Thank you for this.
Um, I'm...
I'm sorry I wasn't better.
And, I'm... I'm sorry
I wasn't always there.
- Oh, Mom!
No, no, Zoya, Zoya.
You're fine. You're fine.
You don't have to say that.
You're gonna...
you're gonna be okay.
I know.
I am...
I'm gonna miss you so much.
I couldn't have asked
for a better week.
I love you, Mom.
I love you guys so much.
And all of a sudden,
she could see the whole world.
Past and present.
She could see it all.
And she saw a little girl...
walking along
all alone in the world.
And she could see
her whole future.
All the wonderful times
with friends and family.
And also all the hardships,
and struggles, and mistakes.
She could see it all.
And she wanted to reach out
so desperately and hold her,
but she couldn't.
So instead, she looked
at the girl's entire life
in front of her.
And with tears in her eyes,
she whispered...
You're gonna do incredible
things one day,
Zoya Lowe.
You're gonna change the world.