The Institute (2025) s01e04 Episode Script
The Box
1
Previously on The Institute
- [humming]
- What was that?
We feel it sometimes.
It's definitely something
coming from Back Half.
Can't really tell you what's
going on in there. No contact.
But I thought Back Half
was a good thing.
You know,
one step closer to home?
It is. Supposedly.
The Ellis boy's superior IQ
might make him
uniquely valuable.
Uh
Don't worry.
The microphones on this corridor
are experiencing
a temporary malfunction.
Asshole.
I have a possible security risk.
If you'll just--
[Lisping Man] I don't credit
Mr. Stackhouse's
gossip about you.
Hard to expect me
to credit yours about him.
They made the pilot
read the numbers wrong.
[anchorman] North Dakota Senator
Gavin Ramsey feared dead
after a small plane crashed.
What can you tell me about
that big disease-research place
up on Route 10?
- The Institute?
- What is that place?
You know, what are they
actually doing there?
Far as I can tell,
they don't do shit.
What we really need would be
to recruit an inside man.
Boy, is she sad.
And I know her big secret.
It's not too late, Maureen.
I connected to The Hum.
[sobbing]
[Kalisha]
"You will see me no more."
[hyperventilating]
I lost her.
It's okay. We'll find her.
["Shout" performed
by The Lumineers plays]
♪
Shout, shout ♪
Let it all out ♪
These are the things
I can do without ♪
Come on ♪
I'm talking to you ♪
Come on ♪
In violent times ♪
You shouldn't have
to sell your soul ♪
In black and white ♪
They really,
really ought to know ♪
Shout, shout ♪
Let it all out ♪
These are the things
I can do without ♪
Come on ♪
I'm talking to you ♪
Come on ♪
♪
I don't like when you
think things like that.
Things like what?
You know.
Easy fix then, Avery.
Just stay
the fuck out of my head.
I hate it here so much.
Okay, I'm sorry. I thought
we would've heard
from her by now.
Okay, just promise me you won't
think that she might be dead.
Believe me, I'm trying to.
It's probably just
the distance, though, right?
I mean, she's far away.
They probably designed it
like that.
- You don't believe that.
- Well, I'm trying to.
'Kay, I--I
I won't think she could be dead.
Okay? You have my word.
Oh, God.
Your fingers are sticky.
I don't like spoons.
[suspenseful music]
Uh, hi.
My name is, uh, Luke,
and this is Avery,
George, and Nicky,
and, believe me
[Sigsby]
Who was our last set of twins?
Three years ago?
Uh, the Davidsons.
Davidsons. Good memory.
Dr. Hendricks,
didn't you have a theory
that twins might be able to amp
each other's abilities?
I believe I said it
was worth further study.
Particularly in the area of PC.
I believe you said
that it allowed
for the development of a PC
of less-than-exceptional
intelligence.
The Davidsons
were certainly that.
[sighs] At any rate,
we agreed research of that kind
would be impractical.
[sighs] Yes, we did.
I know how weird you guys must
be feeling, because, you know,
we've been through that.
- I peed.
- [chuckles]
Uh, it passes
mostly.
- I'm Gerda.
- I'm Greta.
Are we dead?
[chuckles]
What the fuck?
Where the hell am I?
Where the fuck am I?
The Institute.
My name's Avery.
- Outta my face!
- [Nicky] Leave him alone!
Easy, big fella. All right,
I know you're confused,
but let's just keep
our hands to ourselves
and we'll explain
No, let's see what they do.
What if they get damaged?
We're seizing the opportunity
to observe
their response to stress.
Call it a calculated risk.
- Who the fuck are you?
- I'm Nick Wilholm.
This is Luke Ellis,
George Iles,
and this is Avery.
You should apologize to him.
- What?
- I mean, look, we all get it.
We all remember how scary it is
waking up the first time.
And that's why you
yelled at him, right?
'Cause you're scared, I mean,
even if he weighs less
than one of your legs.
I'm not scared.
I don't fucking apologize.
You do this time, boss.
I mean, look,
you tell him you're sorry,
we fill you in
as far as we can.
What if I don't?
- [Nicky sighs]
- [Harry] Huh?
Look, I know
it's your first day.
But my experience with bullies
is you gotta cut 'em down early.
I'd like to see you try.
[sighs]
It's okay, guys. I'm fine.
Fuck you! Fuck your apology.
I don't know what this place is,
but I'm not staying.
Now get out of my face.
I'm not going anywhere
and neither are you.
You're here for the long haul,
man, just like us.
Last warning.
Move or I'll lay you
the fuck out!
[grunting]
- I'll get all you fuckers!
- [Nicky] Listen!
All right. We're not
your problem, man. Okay?
[breathing heavily] Okay.
- Okay.
- NICKY: All right.
Come on.
Off, man!
- Where am I?
- The Institute.
Like Avery tried
to tell you, actually.
How did I get here?
Look, like I said,
we'll answer anything you want,
but you need to cut the shit
because this place
is bad enough without it.
I'm gonna puke.
Okay, come here.
Luke, help me.
Now you can go.
[spitting]
- I think I'm gonna pass out.
- Nope, you're not.
And you still owe Avery
an apology.
Whatever.
Sorry I yelled at you, kid.
[Stackhouse] Harry.
Ms. Sigsby and Dr. Hendricks
would like to see you now.
Who the fuck are they?
Who the fuck are you?
They are in charge.
Yeah, good luck
with the Queen Bitch.
Look, she'll answer
all your questions,
except for the ones,
you know, she won't.
- I'm not fucking going--
- Harry.
Remember what Coach Finley said
before the State semis
at Montgomery Catholic?
[Zeke] Keep moving.
How did you know he was
thinking about football?
You're TP now!
Shh. Keep your voice down, yeah?
But--But you are.
I can see it in your head.
I told you it'd happen.
Shots for dots.
Why didn't you tell us?
I was hoping
it wasn't real, you know.
But now, I've gotta
figure out a way to hide it.
If they send you to Back Half,
our plans are fucked.
That's right. So we carry on
like nothing's changed, hmm?
Okay, yeah.
- And I'll keep looking for Sha.
- Yeah.
Uh, yeah. I just--
I wanna make sure she's--
Of course, dude.
Yeah, I get it.
Hey, what did
Coach Finley say?
Uh, "Don't lose your temper
until it's time
to lose your temper."
I know that you all knew Annie
a lot better than I did.
But an OD? It doesn't fit
with what I saw of her.
Obviously, it's no secret
she had issues.
I believe the term most people
use is "batshit crazy."
You see, Annie didn't think
of her "crazy" as crazy.
She thought that it
was her superpower.
She wanted to feel everything.
She also said
the earth was flat.
She saw the edge
when she was a kid
working a mussel-dragger
out of Jonesport.
All I'm asking is,
does an OD track here?
You all dealt
with her lots of times.
Was she ever high?
Did you ever catch her
stealing booze or any--
No, no. But I'm no
addiction expert. Thank God.
See, she told me
that mind-altering substances,
they dulled the sharpness
of her purpose.
It's why she wouldn't
take anti-psychotics.
- So, why would she--
- Due respect, Tim,
you knew Annie what? A week?
Yeah.
She put up a good front,
but you know what life
on the streets means,
even around here.
When do you get
the tox screen back?
Tox screen?
Yeah. Toxicology report
for the postmortem.
A request like that has got
to go to the State's Crime Lab
down in Augusta,
which means that,
in addition to the $3,700
this department does not have,
we would not see the results
for at least
another three weeks.
Now, I--I--I might
be able to swing that,
maybe,
if I believed for one second
that we would find out anything
new about Annie's death.
But I will be good and goddamned
if I spend that kind of time
and money on a report
when I already know
what it's going to say.
I don't like it, Chief.
Well, lucky for me, I don't give
a Frenchman's fuck
what you do and do not like.
I know that you feel some sort
of personal connection to this,
given your family history
[sighs]
but what I'm trying to say is
there's no--
there's no "there" there.
I know what the night shift
can do to a fella's mind.
Ed Whitlock used
to say all the time
that he thought he saw all kinds
of shit walking your beat.
And I also know
that you're upset.
So take the night off,
catch up on your sleep.
I'm fine, thank you.
Son, you do not look fine,
and that was not a request.
I appreciate
your concern, Chief.
My concern is that you're
running around playing cop.
Your job is to knock on doors to
make sure that they're locked,
everyone inside is tucked in
safe and sound.
That's it. Nothing else.
We clear on that?
Yes, sir.
Sorry for wasting your time.
[door opens]
Hey!
What?
Look, I'm sorry.
Chief was hot when he heard you
were questioning cause of death.
Thought you were trying
to show the hicks
what a big-city cop can do.
I figured he'd calm down
if he knew about your
emotional connection
to the case.
Uh-huh.
It's your story to tell,
and I'm sorry.
She didn't OD, okay? She didn't.
I never saw her drink.
Her tent's still up, you know.
Crew from the dump's
coming to haul it away,
but they can't get here
till tomorrow.
Thank you.
For what?
[guard]
Have a good night, Ms. Sigsby.
[sighs]
We're on.
Fetch the Ellis boy.
I'll meet you on B-Level.
Copy that.
[elevator beeps]
- [beeping]
- [elevator beeps]
[dramatic music]
[beeping]
Welcome, Luke.
This is the essential heart
of what we do here.
This goes to why you're here.
You should be excited.
Yeah, I am.
I thought Dream Box
was supposed to be the last.
Oh, is that what
you thought, smart boy?
But that would mean
that you don't know everything.
Sometimes, in special cases,
we switch things up,
Keeps everyone on their toes.
Right.
So, am I a special case?
No, not to me.
[Hendricks]
Think of it as garbage day.
We're gonna show you
some images
that will help you to
[whooshing] clean house.
You may have noticed
psychic power is activated
and enhanced by physical pain.
Our conundrum
is that joining The Hum
requires divorcing yourself
from your body,
which makes physical pain
counterproductive.
The solution: psychic pain.
Keep in mind, Luke.
As soon as you connect
to The Hum,
all the pain stops.
There you go. Okay.
Okay.
- No more shots. Come on.
- [Tony] Shh.
Oh, you'll hardly feel this one.
[tense music]
[buttons clacking]
[whooshing]
[buzzing]
[screeching]
[whooshing]
[screeching]
[screeching continues]
[distorted grunting]
[Luke grunting]
[grunting]
[shrieking]
[shrieking continues]
[screaming]
[grunting]
Stop, please! Please stop!
Aah! [grunting]
[whooshing]
[groaning]
[screeching]
[screeching continues]
[Herb] You know what they say
about the abyss, right?
You look into it
and it looks right back at you.
[Eileen]
Your brain is a gift.
- Your brain
- [groaning]
and what it can do
is a gift.
[groaning]
♪
[knocking]
Go away!
Luke! It's me, Avery!
Avery, can I catch up
with you in the morning?
They just gave me The Box.
I've got her.
I've got Kalisha.
What? What? What do you mean
you've got her?
Like you can hear her?
Right--Right now?
See her, too.
Want me to show you?
- Uh, what do you mean?
- I think I can do it.
The shots have been making me
feel so much stronger.
Don't worry. I washed them.
Don't let go.
[suspenseful music]
[gasping]
[Hum droning softly]
Holy fuck. It worked.
[gasps]
You're really here.
Yup, I guess I am.
[Hum droning softly]
God, it is so good
I mean, I'm so relieved--
I know. Me--Me, too.
Look, I don't know how long I
have with you guys here, but
Yeah, yeah, Avery's had
a real hard time reaching you.
Yeah.
I guess I've been in sort
of a daze since I got here.
I mean, everyone here
is sort of in a daze.
But, obvious
difference number one:
we get to wear this
very, very sexy jumpsuit.
[chuckles]
Do you think it's because
they're washing our clothes,
so we can wear them home?
[Hum droning softly]
[clears throat] Uh, could be.
Yeah. Because uniform
promotes community.
That's why they're
so popular with fascists
and--and communists.
[Hum droning softly]
- What's that noise?
- Wait. You can hear that?
I wish I couldn't.
- Luke, can you hear that?
- Not a whisper.
Hmm. Lucky you.
When you're actually back here,
it's pretty much the only thing
that you can hear.
I think even
the Guards can feel it.
Oh, I know
that makes it sound bad,
but actually, thing is,
in a lot of ways,
Back Half's a lot better
than Front Half.
There's no more tokens, so
candy, booze, smokes all free.
Um, no more tests,
no more deprivation tank,
no more fucking Dream Box!
Yeah, pretty much all they do
is gather us for Movie Nights,
at least,
that's what they call it.
Feels more like
Do you know those Twitch games
that grown men play
think it's, like,
Soldier something?
First-person shooter?
Yeah, except you're not
shooting, just living.
Living?
Last night, we were brushing
our teeth, then we were driving,
then we were
doing doctor stuff,
like checking in on patients,
giving injections,
that sort of thing.
And you were watching
the screen the whole time?
No.
Actually,
the movie on the screen
was from across
the exam room.
It sort of looked
like the camera
was filming from
inside someone's shirt?
I could only see
the doctor's point of view
when I closed my eyes.
Hey. Iris?
Hey, Sha.
- Who you got with you?
- What do you mean?
Sorry.
- I'm just tired.
- [Kalisha] It's okay.
I'll see you later.
Something's wrong
inside her head,
really wrong.
Movie Nights take a toll.
They make you
feel clear at first.
I'm pretty sure that's
why I could reach you guys,
but the headache,
it just comes back worse
every time,
and I think Iris has just been
through too many of them.
They're gonna move her on soon.
What? Like, send her home?
[Hum droning softly]
First, they'll have
her lead a Sparkler Night,
and then
they'll move her to Recovery.
That's where the Hum's
coming from.
- [Hum droning softly]
- Yeah, it's true.
I think even I can hear that.
[Hum droning softly]
Avery, can you see
what's behind that door?
No. I don't want to.
Avery, look, we gotta know.
No! No!
[breathing rapidly]
Ice cream.
[lighter clicking]
- [door beeping on screen]
- [door opening]
[door closing]
So there's no Dream Box
in Back Half? Ever?
No, she didn't say so.
Hmm. Well, sign me the fuck up.
You miss what he said about Iris
ashing in her fucking oatmeal?
'Kay. So it takes a toll on you
being back there, so what?
They send you to Recovery,
then you go home.
Wow. You really
are just dead set
on believing their bullshit.
And you're so smart.
You know everything, huh?
Luke sees through it.
Right? He knows.
That's right, Georgie.
The resident genius
agrees with
Okay.
You really think there's
no chance we can trust them?
I think we still don't know.
- Bullshit.
- Yeah, get caught
trying to break out of
this place, all bets are off.
We need to see
behind that door.
[Nicky] Weird they bonded
so quick, huh?
It's more evidence
for the George Iles
Theory of Institute
relationships.
Yeah, I just hope he's not,
uh, interfering with them.
What? Your grandmas never
made you watch Dateline?
I never knew my grandmas.
Grandpas either, actually.
Aves?
Can you see what Harry thinks
of the twins?
[Harry] Whoa. Careful.
He had cocker spaniels
back home.
Technically,
they were his mom's.
Anyway, those girls
are like his
substitutes, yeah.
I don't know what Harry
was like with his dogs,
but those little girls
pretty much run him.
[thunder crashing]
"When thunder roars,
head indoors."
[George] Yeah, looks like
we're about to get drenched.
Luke, a word, if you please.
[thunder crashing]
Alone.
It's okay. It's all right.
[thunder rumbling]
[thunder rumbling]
Shouldn't we, um,
go into your office?
It's about to start pouring.
Don't tell me you're
afraid of a little water.
You know,
I feel I saw somewhere
that those things
are bad for you.
[exhaling sharply]
Sometimes,
it's fun to be bad.
[thunder crashing]
I'm afraid
we have a problem.
[thunder rumbling]
Some of your test scores
aren't corroborating
with the progress
you're clearly making.
Any idea why that might be?
Your smoke
is ruining the petrichor.
[gasps] "Petrichor"!
No wonder
you aced the SATs.
Hmm.
[thunder crashing]
You know,
I read this interview once
with a chess player.
Josh Waitzkin, maybe.
Anyway, he said the first thing
he likes to know
about his opponents
is what they would do
if they were caught
in the rain.
If they go inside, he would
play an open and wild game
- [thunder rumbling]
- and they'd lose.
I love the rain.
Yeah, well, see,
if they stayed outside,
he figured they
were drawn to chaos,
and he'd play
a closed, tight game
until they ran out of patience,
then they'd lose.
You still haven't
answered my question.
Why aren't my test results
showing them
what you want them to?
I don't know. Maybe because
the tests are bullshit,
and so is this place,
and so are you,
with all due respect.
- I'm not the enemy, Luke.
- Oh, yeah?
- Who is, then?
- [thunder rumbling]
Dr. Hendricks put you through
the Dream Box last night.
Are you asking me
or telling me?
I thought Dr. Hendricks
would keep you apprised.
He does.
You may have noticed there are
no cameras in the testing rooms.
That's probably smart.
Not really the kind of video
you'd want played
at your war crimes tribunal.
So, no video means I have
to trust my people to tell me.
[thunder rumbling]
Although, now
you're not sure
if you can trust them.
Why would Hendricks
go behind your back?
To undermine you?
Maybe even replace you.
Why are we even out here
having this conversation
in the rain?
Is it because they'll
hear us in your office?
You think Stackhouse
is going against you, too.
[chuckles]
Stop fighting me, Luke.
[Luke] Why?
Because you're not the enemy?
No.
Because you can't win.
[thunder crashing]
[door closing]
- Hi.
- Hi.
I hope it's not weird
that I just showed up here.
Why would it be weird?
Come in.
[elevator beeps]
[groaning]
What's with him?
[Tony]
He ate a bad oyster.
I am really not in the mood
for your bullshit.
Tony, he's
in bad shape, man.
Oh, do you think so, Doctor?
The shots hit
everyone different.
Oh, goddamn it!
[grumbling]
See? He needs a doctor, man.
You need to mind
your own damn business.
We need a clean-up.
East wing, south hall.
[coughing]
Unless you wanna
clean it up, genius.
Get up!
[Luke] Harry.
[door beeping]
Stop.
You don't gotta keep me
company for this, Luke.
I know these tests
are hard on you kids.
Yeah, you can drop
the 'aw-shucks' routine.
Luke.
You know what they do here.
Listen, anything you need
to say without them hearing,
you say it here
by the ice machine
or the playground.
Nowhere else.
We can't talk for long.
You never know who's watching.
You're the only one
who feels ashamed, Maureen.
The only one.
What do you want?
Why not blow the whistle?
[scoffing] To who?
You have no idea what these
people are capable of.
What was his name?
Your son,
what was his name?
Jacob.
But he made everyone
call him Jake.
Because Jacob is
a grown-up's name
and, well
he was a kid.
Yeah.
So am I.
A kid.
We're all fucking kids here.
There's nothing I can do.
Look, I'm not Jake,
I know that,
but the thing is
I could be.
So could anybody
else here.
I can't do anything.
I'm a glorified janitor.
You're stronger
than you think, Maureen.
[door opening]
[door closing]
Most people bring wine.
Appears you're a man
after my own heart.
Most people also
bring the bottle full,
but I guess it's the thought.
I found it in Annie's tent.
At least she went peacefully.
- Do me a favor.
- Depends what it is.
Just take a close look
at that,
see if anything stands out.
$11.99.
Annie drinks
the good stuff.
You've, uh, known Annie a lot
longer than I have, but
have you ever once
seen her--
- Without her lipstick.
- Mm-hmm.
Actually,
I don't think I have.
Yeah, so, what if
the reason there's no lipstick
on the bottle is because
it never touched her lips?
What if, I don't know,
somebody funneled it
down her throat?
You have any idea how
ridiculous that sounds?
- Yeah.
- Who would do that? Why?
To shut her up without
drawing attention.
Shut her up about what?
Did NASA have her killed
because she knew the truth about
the moon landings?
You know that Senator?
Plane went down a few days ago?
Yeah. Ramsey. North Dakota.
My dad liked him.
Yeah. Well,
Annie told me about that
before it was on TV.
Come on.
The Red Steps Tragedy?
That's the map Annie
drew of the area.
Come on,
you were here back then.
What do you remember about it?
Hang on.
Page 3.
[Tim] Wait.
So, you knew them.
Not really.
They were seniors.
I was just a frosh.
Okay. I only took a year
of high school French
[Wendy]
"Notre Pain."
[Tim]
Doesn't that mean "Our Bread"?
Yeah, it's some weird
inside joke they all had.
We never understood it.
[Tim] Oh, seems like I'm not
the only one with an obsession.
That has nothing
to do with the Red Steps.
Come on, gimme a break!
- Your shift's about to start.
- Yes, it is.
My dinner's ready.
Anything else I can get you?
Yeah. I was wondering
if tomorrow, maybe,
you, uh, might
let me borrow your car.
Sure.
Thanks.
[shouting]
[distorted]
Come on, Harry. Please.
Just have a little something.
Come on, you need to eat.
Shut up!
And fuck off!
Fuck off!
Harry!
Shut up!
Guard! Somebody, please!
Harry!
Harry, open the door, please!
Shut up and fuck off!
- [banging]
- [Luke] Harry!
- What the fuck is this?
- The twins are in
and they need help. Please,
just open the door! Hurry!
- [Greta] Harry!
- [Harry] Shut up!
- [Gerda] Greta!
- [Tony] What the fuck?
Greta!
- [Harry] Fuck! What did I do?
- [Gerda] Wake up!
[screaming]
Harry didn't mean to hurt you!
Greta, please wake up!
[dramatic music]
Why isn't anybody eating?
It's the most
important meal of the day.
So
I know we're all disturbed
by the unfortunate
incident last night
between Harry Cross
and the Wilcox girls.
As most of you know,
following the visual field
and acuity tests--
you know them
as "shots for dots"--
Um Harry suffered a
slight
seizure.
And when Greta
tried to comfort him,
he inadvertently struck her,
resulting in some
neck sprain and a little
light head trauma.
All three are
resting comfortably
and expected to make
a full recovery.
And in no way
will this incident affect
or put in jeopardy
the important work
we're all doing.
But I want you to know that
Harry felt so awful
about injuring his friend,
and Greta so graciously accepted
his apology, saying,
"After all,
accidents happen."
So let's follow
in their example
of generosity
by picking up the slack
that their absence has left.
That's the true
spirit of friendship.
Can we see them?
No. No.
Anyone, um
who contradicts anything
that I'm saying is lying
and should be reported.
Okay?
Am I understood?
Do you understand?
If I'm understood,
can I get a "Yes, Ms. Sigsby."
[all] Yes, Ms. Sigsby.
Oh! You can do better
than that!
[louder] Yes, Ms. Sigsby.
Excellent.
Enjoy your breakfast.
[Luke]
I fucked up last night, man.
You were so brave.
Yeah, but
how do I explain I knew what
going on in that room?
There were a couple guards
closer than I was.
They didn't hear a thing.
They're gonna know you're TP.
Look, if I get
sent to Back Half,
you know, maybe I'll look
for that old playground.
You know, the one the dog
saw with the old fence?
Oh, yeah!
So, maybe it's a good thing.
[ice clattering]
No. We haven't done
any recon back there.
You know, Kalisha hasn't
told us anything about security,
cameras, bed checks.
If we're gonna pull this off,
it's gotta be while
we're still in Front Half.
Then we'd better do it soon.
[ice clattering]
Do you
Do you ever see things
before they happen?
Don't think so.
Before? Why?
Luke.
I need you
to come with me.
I thought it was
breakfast and then--
You wanna make it
harder than it has to be?
[door opening]
Aside from the normal tests
that we conduct here,
there are some certain
special somethings that we save
for certain special kids.
Especially those who don't
always tell the truth.
Do you always tell
the truth, Luke?
Of course.
Well, here's
your chance to prove it.
Are you TP?
No.
No, I'm TK.
- Remember?
- [Tony] No.
TK is what you were
when you got here.
By now, we should've been able
to unlock your TP as well.
Supposed to happen
once you see the dots.
Well, maybe it just doesn't--
it doesn't work for everybody.
[Hendricks]
But it does.
Everybody.
Because the abilities
are related.
If you have one, you have the
capacity to develop the others.
I was on the team
that proved it.
Okay. Maybe I haven't
developed yet.
You saw the dots.
It's science.
We have found
over the years
that instinctive
primal fear reactions,
galvanic fear reactions
you might say,
are extremely helpful
in generating
authentic responses.
Hence
Step in the tank.
You gonna make me
do it for you?
[whirring]
Luke,
when you feel your lungs
start to deflate,
you may be tempted
to try to hold your breath.
Now, given
the risk of rupture,
I have to recommend against.
Now
I'm thinking of an animal.
What is it?
I don't know.
Okay, sport,
if that's how you
want to play it
[whirring]
[air hissing]
[whirring]
[air hissing]
[air continues hissing]
[powering down]
[exhaling sharply]
[Tony]
That was 15 seconds.
The next time'll be 30.
[Hendricks]
Now
what animal
am I thinking of?
I-I honestly don't know.
Okay?
I told you, I'm not--
I'm not TP;
I'm TK, and
I'm not even TK-positive yet!
Okay, sport,
30 seconds this time.
- It's not gonna get any easier.
- No.
[whirring]
No, no, no.
No, no, no, no.
[whirring]
- [air hissing]
- [groaning]
[groaning]
♪
[breathing heavily]
[Hendricks] Now
I'm thinking of a sports team.
[Tony]
Sports team! Go!
I fucking don't know!
Abalone fisherman can hold
their breath for nine minutes!
Now, what team
is he thinking of?
[whirring]
[air hissing]
[groaning]
[thudding against glass]
[groaning]
Fuck all the sports teams
and the animals
and all that bullshit; all you
have to tell us is the truth.
You're TP now, aren't you?
"I'm TP now." Say it!
Tony
have Maureen
take him back to his room.
[powering down]
[door beeping]
See? Right on time.
Don't have to tell me twice.
Let's slow it down a bit.
Julia Sigsby wants
to slow it down?
Next thing I know,
you'll be wanting to talk.
I do, actually.
Uh, just keep in mind
that I popped
my daddy's little helper
almost a half-hour ago, so
You've been working with
Luke Ellis off-the-books.
That's ridiculous.
You gave him
the Dream Box last night,
though he's not
due it for another week.
You're running him
through the P.C. track,
aren't you?
Well, I
It was Stackhouse's idea.
I mean, not initially,
but he's the one who
told me to keep going.
After I told you to stop.
Julia, I'm so,
so sorry. I
Have you--
Have you told them?
- Not yet.
- Please
I swear, I will shut it down;
it'll never happen again.
Any idea what Stackhouse
plans to do with Ellis
once you've built him
into a precog?
Sell him off.
To anyone in particular?
Highest bidder.
- How's he doing?
- Luke?
Well, uh
the IQ
makes me optimistic, but,
you know,
the PC development
is a slow process.
Yes, I do know.
One of the reasons we put
the project on hold!
Well, I'll just tell
Stackhouse it's over.
You'll tell Stackhouse
nothing.
Other than the deprivation
tank proved Ellis is TP
and I'm insisting on sending him
to the Back Half immediately.
But it didn't prove it.
- You're kidding.
- [exhaling sharply]
Tony choked him out
seven times.
Kid never budged.
Send him to
the Back Half anyway.
I--I know
I don't have to tell you
what'll happen if we
connect him to the Hum
before he's got access
to his TP.
He has access.
He's just not admitting it.
That's a helluva risk.
Fine.
Let's leave things
as they are for the moment.
And don't say another word
to Stackhouse.
Jackass!
Thank you. Thank you.
Wh-Wh-What about Ellis?
What about him?
We still need to find
a way to prove he's TP.
Leave that to me.
Luke! Luke!
I could feel you.
You were dying.
That was so scary.
Hey.
No, I wasn't dying.
They were just
messing around.
Get some rest, Luke.
- I gotta get back to work.
- [Luke] 'Kay.
Thanks, Maureen.
♪
Okay, I've gotta go.
Luke.
Luke, don't fall asleep!
What?
I know what's behind that door,
the one that Sha showed us.
I saw it in Maureen's head.
♪
Previously on The Institute
- [humming]
- What was that?
We feel it sometimes.
It's definitely something
coming from Back Half.
Can't really tell you what's
going on in there. No contact.
But I thought Back Half
was a good thing.
You know,
one step closer to home?
It is. Supposedly.
The Ellis boy's superior IQ
might make him
uniquely valuable.
Uh
Don't worry.
The microphones on this corridor
are experiencing
a temporary malfunction.
Asshole.
I have a possible security risk.
If you'll just--
[Lisping Man] I don't credit
Mr. Stackhouse's
gossip about you.
Hard to expect me
to credit yours about him.
They made the pilot
read the numbers wrong.
[anchorman] North Dakota Senator
Gavin Ramsey feared dead
after a small plane crashed.
What can you tell me about
that big disease-research place
up on Route 10?
- The Institute?
- What is that place?
You know, what are they
actually doing there?
Far as I can tell,
they don't do shit.
What we really need would be
to recruit an inside man.
Boy, is she sad.
And I know her big secret.
It's not too late, Maureen.
I connected to The Hum.
[sobbing]
[Kalisha]
"You will see me no more."
[hyperventilating]
I lost her.
It's okay. We'll find her.
["Shout" performed
by The Lumineers plays]
♪
Shout, shout ♪
Let it all out ♪
These are the things
I can do without ♪
Come on ♪
I'm talking to you ♪
Come on ♪
In violent times ♪
You shouldn't have
to sell your soul ♪
In black and white ♪
They really,
really ought to know ♪
Shout, shout ♪
Let it all out ♪
These are the things
I can do without ♪
Come on ♪
I'm talking to you ♪
Come on ♪
♪
I don't like when you
think things like that.
Things like what?
You know.
Easy fix then, Avery.
Just stay
the fuck out of my head.
I hate it here so much.
Okay, I'm sorry. I thought
we would've heard
from her by now.
Okay, just promise me you won't
think that she might be dead.
Believe me, I'm trying to.
It's probably just
the distance, though, right?
I mean, she's far away.
They probably designed it
like that.
- You don't believe that.
- Well, I'm trying to.
'Kay, I--I
I won't think she could be dead.
Okay? You have my word.
Oh, God.
Your fingers are sticky.
I don't like spoons.
[suspenseful music]
Uh, hi.
My name is, uh, Luke,
and this is Avery,
George, and Nicky,
and, believe me
[Sigsby]
Who was our last set of twins?
Three years ago?
Uh, the Davidsons.
Davidsons. Good memory.
Dr. Hendricks,
didn't you have a theory
that twins might be able to amp
each other's abilities?
I believe I said it
was worth further study.
Particularly in the area of PC.
I believe you said
that it allowed
for the development of a PC
of less-than-exceptional
intelligence.
The Davidsons
were certainly that.
[sighs] At any rate,
we agreed research of that kind
would be impractical.
[sighs] Yes, we did.
I know how weird you guys must
be feeling, because, you know,
we've been through that.
- I peed.
- [chuckles]
Uh, it passes
mostly.
- I'm Gerda.
- I'm Greta.
Are we dead?
[chuckles]
What the fuck?
Where the hell am I?
Where the fuck am I?
The Institute.
My name's Avery.
- Outta my face!
- [Nicky] Leave him alone!
Easy, big fella. All right,
I know you're confused,
but let's just keep
our hands to ourselves
and we'll explain
No, let's see what they do.
What if they get damaged?
We're seizing the opportunity
to observe
their response to stress.
Call it a calculated risk.
- Who the fuck are you?
- I'm Nick Wilholm.
This is Luke Ellis,
George Iles,
and this is Avery.
You should apologize to him.
- What?
- I mean, look, we all get it.
We all remember how scary it is
waking up the first time.
And that's why you
yelled at him, right?
'Cause you're scared, I mean,
even if he weighs less
than one of your legs.
I'm not scared.
I don't fucking apologize.
You do this time, boss.
I mean, look,
you tell him you're sorry,
we fill you in
as far as we can.
What if I don't?
- [Nicky sighs]
- [Harry] Huh?
Look, I know
it's your first day.
But my experience with bullies
is you gotta cut 'em down early.
I'd like to see you try.
[sighs]
It's okay, guys. I'm fine.
Fuck you! Fuck your apology.
I don't know what this place is,
but I'm not staying.
Now get out of my face.
I'm not going anywhere
and neither are you.
You're here for the long haul,
man, just like us.
Last warning.
Move or I'll lay you
the fuck out!
[grunting]
- I'll get all you fuckers!
- [Nicky] Listen!
All right. We're not
your problem, man. Okay?
[breathing heavily] Okay.
- Okay.
- NICKY: All right.
Come on.
Off, man!
- Where am I?
- The Institute.
Like Avery tried
to tell you, actually.
How did I get here?
Look, like I said,
we'll answer anything you want,
but you need to cut the shit
because this place
is bad enough without it.
I'm gonna puke.
Okay, come here.
Luke, help me.
Now you can go.
[spitting]
- I think I'm gonna pass out.
- Nope, you're not.
And you still owe Avery
an apology.
Whatever.
Sorry I yelled at you, kid.
[Stackhouse] Harry.
Ms. Sigsby and Dr. Hendricks
would like to see you now.
Who the fuck are they?
Who the fuck are you?
They are in charge.
Yeah, good luck
with the Queen Bitch.
Look, she'll answer
all your questions,
except for the ones,
you know, she won't.
- I'm not fucking going--
- Harry.
Remember what Coach Finley said
before the State semis
at Montgomery Catholic?
[Zeke] Keep moving.
How did you know he was
thinking about football?
You're TP now!
Shh. Keep your voice down, yeah?
But--But you are.
I can see it in your head.
I told you it'd happen.
Shots for dots.
Why didn't you tell us?
I was hoping
it wasn't real, you know.
But now, I've gotta
figure out a way to hide it.
If they send you to Back Half,
our plans are fucked.
That's right. So we carry on
like nothing's changed, hmm?
Okay, yeah.
- And I'll keep looking for Sha.
- Yeah.
Uh, yeah. I just--
I wanna make sure she's--
Of course, dude.
Yeah, I get it.
Hey, what did
Coach Finley say?
Uh, "Don't lose your temper
until it's time
to lose your temper."
I know that you all knew Annie
a lot better than I did.
But an OD? It doesn't fit
with what I saw of her.
Obviously, it's no secret
she had issues.
I believe the term most people
use is "batshit crazy."
You see, Annie didn't think
of her "crazy" as crazy.
She thought that it
was her superpower.
She wanted to feel everything.
She also said
the earth was flat.
She saw the edge
when she was a kid
working a mussel-dragger
out of Jonesport.
All I'm asking is,
does an OD track here?
You all dealt
with her lots of times.
Was she ever high?
Did you ever catch her
stealing booze or any--
No, no. But I'm no
addiction expert. Thank God.
See, she told me
that mind-altering substances,
they dulled the sharpness
of her purpose.
It's why she wouldn't
take anti-psychotics.
- So, why would she--
- Due respect, Tim,
you knew Annie what? A week?
Yeah.
She put up a good front,
but you know what life
on the streets means,
even around here.
When do you get
the tox screen back?
Tox screen?
Yeah. Toxicology report
for the postmortem.
A request like that has got
to go to the State's Crime Lab
down in Augusta,
which means that,
in addition to the $3,700
this department does not have,
we would not see the results
for at least
another three weeks.
Now, I--I--I might
be able to swing that,
maybe,
if I believed for one second
that we would find out anything
new about Annie's death.
But I will be good and goddamned
if I spend that kind of time
and money on a report
when I already know
what it's going to say.
I don't like it, Chief.
Well, lucky for me, I don't give
a Frenchman's fuck
what you do and do not like.
I know that you feel some sort
of personal connection to this,
given your family history
[sighs]
but what I'm trying to say is
there's no--
there's no "there" there.
I know what the night shift
can do to a fella's mind.
Ed Whitlock used
to say all the time
that he thought he saw all kinds
of shit walking your beat.
And I also know
that you're upset.
So take the night off,
catch up on your sleep.
I'm fine, thank you.
Son, you do not look fine,
and that was not a request.
I appreciate
your concern, Chief.
My concern is that you're
running around playing cop.
Your job is to knock on doors to
make sure that they're locked,
everyone inside is tucked in
safe and sound.
That's it. Nothing else.
We clear on that?
Yes, sir.
Sorry for wasting your time.
[door opens]
Hey!
What?
Look, I'm sorry.
Chief was hot when he heard you
were questioning cause of death.
Thought you were trying
to show the hicks
what a big-city cop can do.
I figured he'd calm down
if he knew about your
emotional connection
to the case.
Uh-huh.
It's your story to tell,
and I'm sorry.
She didn't OD, okay? She didn't.
I never saw her drink.
Her tent's still up, you know.
Crew from the dump's
coming to haul it away,
but they can't get here
till tomorrow.
Thank you.
For what?
[guard]
Have a good night, Ms. Sigsby.
[sighs]
We're on.
Fetch the Ellis boy.
I'll meet you on B-Level.
Copy that.
[elevator beeps]
- [beeping]
- [elevator beeps]
[dramatic music]
[beeping]
Welcome, Luke.
This is the essential heart
of what we do here.
This goes to why you're here.
You should be excited.
Yeah, I am.
I thought Dream Box
was supposed to be the last.
Oh, is that what
you thought, smart boy?
But that would mean
that you don't know everything.
Sometimes, in special cases,
we switch things up,
Keeps everyone on their toes.
Right.
So, am I a special case?
No, not to me.
[Hendricks]
Think of it as garbage day.
We're gonna show you
some images
that will help you to
[whooshing] clean house.
You may have noticed
psychic power is activated
and enhanced by physical pain.
Our conundrum
is that joining The Hum
requires divorcing yourself
from your body,
which makes physical pain
counterproductive.
The solution: psychic pain.
Keep in mind, Luke.
As soon as you connect
to The Hum,
all the pain stops.
There you go. Okay.
Okay.
- No more shots. Come on.
- [Tony] Shh.
Oh, you'll hardly feel this one.
[tense music]
[buttons clacking]
[whooshing]
[buzzing]
[screeching]
[whooshing]
[screeching]
[screeching continues]
[distorted grunting]
[Luke grunting]
[grunting]
[shrieking]
[shrieking continues]
[screaming]
[grunting]
Stop, please! Please stop!
Aah! [grunting]
[whooshing]
[groaning]
[screeching]
[screeching continues]
[Herb] You know what they say
about the abyss, right?
You look into it
and it looks right back at you.
[Eileen]
Your brain is a gift.
- Your brain
- [groaning]
and what it can do
is a gift.
[groaning]
♪
[knocking]
Go away!
Luke! It's me, Avery!
Avery, can I catch up
with you in the morning?
They just gave me The Box.
I've got her.
I've got Kalisha.
What? What? What do you mean
you've got her?
Like you can hear her?
Right--Right now?
See her, too.
Want me to show you?
- Uh, what do you mean?
- I think I can do it.
The shots have been making me
feel so much stronger.
Don't worry. I washed them.
Don't let go.
[suspenseful music]
[gasping]
[Hum droning softly]
Holy fuck. It worked.
[gasps]
You're really here.
Yup, I guess I am.
[Hum droning softly]
God, it is so good
I mean, I'm so relieved--
I know. Me--Me, too.
Look, I don't know how long I
have with you guys here, but
Yeah, yeah, Avery's had
a real hard time reaching you.
Yeah.
I guess I've been in sort
of a daze since I got here.
I mean, everyone here
is sort of in a daze.
But, obvious
difference number one:
we get to wear this
very, very sexy jumpsuit.
[chuckles]
Do you think it's because
they're washing our clothes,
so we can wear them home?
[Hum droning softly]
[clears throat] Uh, could be.
Yeah. Because uniform
promotes community.
That's why they're
so popular with fascists
and--and communists.
[Hum droning softly]
- What's that noise?
- Wait. You can hear that?
I wish I couldn't.
- Luke, can you hear that?
- Not a whisper.
Hmm. Lucky you.
When you're actually back here,
it's pretty much the only thing
that you can hear.
I think even
the Guards can feel it.
Oh, I know
that makes it sound bad,
but actually, thing is,
in a lot of ways,
Back Half's a lot better
than Front Half.
There's no more tokens, so
candy, booze, smokes all free.
Um, no more tests,
no more deprivation tank,
no more fucking Dream Box!
Yeah, pretty much all they do
is gather us for Movie Nights,
at least,
that's what they call it.
Feels more like
Do you know those Twitch games
that grown men play
think it's, like,
Soldier something?
First-person shooter?
Yeah, except you're not
shooting, just living.
Living?
Last night, we were brushing
our teeth, then we were driving,
then we were
doing doctor stuff,
like checking in on patients,
giving injections,
that sort of thing.
And you were watching
the screen the whole time?
No.
Actually,
the movie on the screen
was from across
the exam room.
It sort of looked
like the camera
was filming from
inside someone's shirt?
I could only see
the doctor's point of view
when I closed my eyes.
Hey. Iris?
Hey, Sha.
- Who you got with you?
- What do you mean?
Sorry.
- I'm just tired.
- [Kalisha] It's okay.
I'll see you later.
Something's wrong
inside her head,
really wrong.
Movie Nights take a toll.
They make you
feel clear at first.
I'm pretty sure that's
why I could reach you guys,
but the headache,
it just comes back worse
every time,
and I think Iris has just been
through too many of them.
They're gonna move her on soon.
What? Like, send her home?
[Hum droning softly]
First, they'll have
her lead a Sparkler Night,
and then
they'll move her to Recovery.
That's where the Hum's
coming from.
- [Hum droning softly]
- Yeah, it's true.
I think even I can hear that.
[Hum droning softly]
Avery, can you see
what's behind that door?
No. I don't want to.
Avery, look, we gotta know.
No! No!
[breathing rapidly]
Ice cream.
[lighter clicking]
- [door beeping on screen]
- [door opening]
[door closing]
So there's no Dream Box
in Back Half? Ever?
No, she didn't say so.
Hmm. Well, sign me the fuck up.
You miss what he said about Iris
ashing in her fucking oatmeal?
'Kay. So it takes a toll on you
being back there, so what?
They send you to Recovery,
then you go home.
Wow. You really
are just dead set
on believing their bullshit.
And you're so smart.
You know everything, huh?
Luke sees through it.
Right? He knows.
That's right, Georgie.
The resident genius
agrees with
Okay.
You really think there's
no chance we can trust them?
I think we still don't know.
- Bullshit.
- Yeah, get caught
trying to break out of
this place, all bets are off.
We need to see
behind that door.
[Nicky] Weird they bonded
so quick, huh?
It's more evidence
for the George Iles
Theory of Institute
relationships.
Yeah, I just hope he's not,
uh, interfering with them.
What? Your grandmas never
made you watch Dateline?
I never knew my grandmas.
Grandpas either, actually.
Aves?
Can you see what Harry thinks
of the twins?
[Harry] Whoa. Careful.
He had cocker spaniels
back home.
Technically,
they were his mom's.
Anyway, those girls
are like his
substitutes, yeah.
I don't know what Harry
was like with his dogs,
but those little girls
pretty much run him.
[thunder crashing]
"When thunder roars,
head indoors."
[George] Yeah, looks like
we're about to get drenched.
Luke, a word, if you please.
[thunder crashing]
Alone.
It's okay. It's all right.
[thunder rumbling]
[thunder rumbling]
Shouldn't we, um,
go into your office?
It's about to start pouring.
Don't tell me you're
afraid of a little water.
You know,
I feel I saw somewhere
that those things
are bad for you.
[exhaling sharply]
Sometimes,
it's fun to be bad.
[thunder crashing]
I'm afraid
we have a problem.
[thunder rumbling]
Some of your test scores
aren't corroborating
with the progress
you're clearly making.
Any idea why that might be?
Your smoke
is ruining the petrichor.
[gasps] "Petrichor"!
No wonder
you aced the SATs.
Hmm.
[thunder crashing]
You know,
I read this interview once
with a chess player.
Josh Waitzkin, maybe.
Anyway, he said the first thing
he likes to know
about his opponents
is what they would do
if they were caught
in the rain.
If they go inside, he would
play an open and wild game
- [thunder rumbling]
- and they'd lose.
I love the rain.
Yeah, well, see,
if they stayed outside,
he figured they
were drawn to chaos,
and he'd play
a closed, tight game
until they ran out of patience,
then they'd lose.
You still haven't
answered my question.
Why aren't my test results
showing them
what you want them to?
I don't know. Maybe because
the tests are bullshit,
and so is this place,
and so are you,
with all due respect.
- I'm not the enemy, Luke.
- Oh, yeah?
- Who is, then?
- [thunder rumbling]
Dr. Hendricks put you through
the Dream Box last night.
Are you asking me
or telling me?
I thought Dr. Hendricks
would keep you apprised.
He does.
You may have noticed there are
no cameras in the testing rooms.
That's probably smart.
Not really the kind of video
you'd want played
at your war crimes tribunal.
So, no video means I have
to trust my people to tell me.
[thunder rumbling]
Although, now
you're not sure
if you can trust them.
Why would Hendricks
go behind your back?
To undermine you?
Maybe even replace you.
Why are we even out here
having this conversation
in the rain?
Is it because they'll
hear us in your office?
You think Stackhouse
is going against you, too.
[chuckles]
Stop fighting me, Luke.
[Luke] Why?
Because you're not the enemy?
No.
Because you can't win.
[thunder crashing]
[door closing]
- Hi.
- Hi.
I hope it's not weird
that I just showed up here.
Why would it be weird?
Come in.
[elevator beeps]
[groaning]
What's with him?
[Tony]
He ate a bad oyster.
I am really not in the mood
for your bullshit.
Tony, he's
in bad shape, man.
Oh, do you think so, Doctor?
The shots hit
everyone different.
Oh, goddamn it!
[grumbling]
See? He needs a doctor, man.
You need to mind
your own damn business.
We need a clean-up.
East wing, south hall.
[coughing]
Unless you wanna
clean it up, genius.
Get up!
[Luke] Harry.
[door beeping]
Stop.
You don't gotta keep me
company for this, Luke.
I know these tests
are hard on you kids.
Yeah, you can drop
the 'aw-shucks' routine.
Luke.
You know what they do here.
Listen, anything you need
to say without them hearing,
you say it here
by the ice machine
or the playground.
Nowhere else.
We can't talk for long.
You never know who's watching.
You're the only one
who feels ashamed, Maureen.
The only one.
What do you want?
Why not blow the whistle?
[scoffing] To who?
You have no idea what these
people are capable of.
What was his name?
Your son,
what was his name?
Jacob.
But he made everyone
call him Jake.
Because Jacob is
a grown-up's name
and, well
he was a kid.
Yeah.
So am I.
A kid.
We're all fucking kids here.
There's nothing I can do.
Look, I'm not Jake,
I know that,
but the thing is
I could be.
So could anybody
else here.
I can't do anything.
I'm a glorified janitor.
You're stronger
than you think, Maureen.
[door opening]
[door closing]
Most people bring wine.
Appears you're a man
after my own heart.
Most people also
bring the bottle full,
but I guess it's the thought.
I found it in Annie's tent.
At least she went peacefully.
- Do me a favor.
- Depends what it is.
Just take a close look
at that,
see if anything stands out.
$11.99.
Annie drinks
the good stuff.
You've, uh, known Annie a lot
longer than I have, but
have you ever once
seen her--
- Without her lipstick.
- Mm-hmm.
Actually,
I don't think I have.
Yeah, so, what if
the reason there's no lipstick
on the bottle is because
it never touched her lips?
What if, I don't know,
somebody funneled it
down her throat?
You have any idea how
ridiculous that sounds?
- Yeah.
- Who would do that? Why?
To shut her up without
drawing attention.
Shut her up about what?
Did NASA have her killed
because she knew the truth about
the moon landings?
You know that Senator?
Plane went down a few days ago?
Yeah. Ramsey. North Dakota.
My dad liked him.
Yeah. Well,
Annie told me about that
before it was on TV.
Come on.
The Red Steps Tragedy?
That's the map Annie
drew of the area.
Come on,
you were here back then.
What do you remember about it?
Hang on.
Page 3.
[Tim] Wait.
So, you knew them.
Not really.
They were seniors.
I was just a frosh.
Okay. I only took a year
of high school French
[Wendy]
"Notre Pain."
[Tim]
Doesn't that mean "Our Bread"?
Yeah, it's some weird
inside joke they all had.
We never understood it.
[Tim] Oh, seems like I'm not
the only one with an obsession.
That has nothing
to do with the Red Steps.
Come on, gimme a break!
- Your shift's about to start.
- Yes, it is.
My dinner's ready.
Anything else I can get you?
Yeah. I was wondering
if tomorrow, maybe,
you, uh, might
let me borrow your car.
Sure.
Thanks.
[shouting]
[distorted]
Come on, Harry. Please.
Just have a little something.
Come on, you need to eat.
Shut up!
And fuck off!
Fuck off!
Harry!
Shut up!
Guard! Somebody, please!
Harry!
Harry, open the door, please!
Shut up and fuck off!
- [banging]
- [Luke] Harry!
- What the fuck is this?
- The twins are in
and they need help. Please,
just open the door! Hurry!
- [Greta] Harry!
- [Harry] Shut up!
- [Gerda] Greta!
- [Tony] What the fuck?
Greta!
- [Harry] Fuck! What did I do?
- [Gerda] Wake up!
[screaming]
Harry didn't mean to hurt you!
Greta, please wake up!
[dramatic music]
Why isn't anybody eating?
It's the most
important meal of the day.
So
I know we're all disturbed
by the unfortunate
incident last night
between Harry Cross
and the Wilcox girls.
As most of you know,
following the visual field
and acuity tests--
you know them
as "shots for dots"--
Um Harry suffered a
slight
seizure.
And when Greta
tried to comfort him,
he inadvertently struck her,
resulting in some
neck sprain and a little
light head trauma.
All three are
resting comfortably
and expected to make
a full recovery.
And in no way
will this incident affect
or put in jeopardy
the important work
we're all doing.
But I want you to know that
Harry felt so awful
about injuring his friend,
and Greta so graciously accepted
his apology, saying,
"After all,
accidents happen."
So let's follow
in their example
of generosity
by picking up the slack
that their absence has left.
That's the true
spirit of friendship.
Can we see them?
No. No.
Anyone, um
who contradicts anything
that I'm saying is lying
and should be reported.
Okay?
Am I understood?
Do you understand?
If I'm understood,
can I get a "Yes, Ms. Sigsby."
[all] Yes, Ms. Sigsby.
Oh! You can do better
than that!
[louder] Yes, Ms. Sigsby.
Excellent.
Enjoy your breakfast.
[Luke]
I fucked up last night, man.
You were so brave.
Yeah, but
how do I explain I knew what
going on in that room?
There were a couple guards
closer than I was.
They didn't hear a thing.
They're gonna know you're TP.
Look, if I get
sent to Back Half,
you know, maybe I'll look
for that old playground.
You know, the one the dog
saw with the old fence?
Oh, yeah!
So, maybe it's a good thing.
[ice clattering]
No. We haven't done
any recon back there.
You know, Kalisha hasn't
told us anything about security,
cameras, bed checks.
If we're gonna pull this off,
it's gotta be while
we're still in Front Half.
Then we'd better do it soon.
[ice clattering]
Do you
Do you ever see things
before they happen?
Don't think so.
Before? Why?
Luke.
I need you
to come with me.
I thought it was
breakfast and then--
You wanna make it
harder than it has to be?
[door opening]
Aside from the normal tests
that we conduct here,
there are some certain
special somethings that we save
for certain special kids.
Especially those who don't
always tell the truth.
Do you always tell
the truth, Luke?
Of course.
Well, here's
your chance to prove it.
Are you TP?
No.
No, I'm TK.
- Remember?
- [Tony] No.
TK is what you were
when you got here.
By now, we should've been able
to unlock your TP as well.
Supposed to happen
once you see the dots.
Well, maybe it just doesn't--
it doesn't work for everybody.
[Hendricks]
But it does.
Everybody.
Because the abilities
are related.
If you have one, you have the
capacity to develop the others.
I was on the team
that proved it.
Okay. Maybe I haven't
developed yet.
You saw the dots.
It's science.
We have found
over the years
that instinctive
primal fear reactions,
galvanic fear reactions
you might say,
are extremely helpful
in generating
authentic responses.
Hence
Step in the tank.
You gonna make me
do it for you?
[whirring]
Luke,
when you feel your lungs
start to deflate,
you may be tempted
to try to hold your breath.
Now, given
the risk of rupture,
I have to recommend against.
Now
I'm thinking of an animal.
What is it?
I don't know.
Okay, sport,
if that's how you
want to play it
[whirring]
[air hissing]
[whirring]
[air hissing]
[air continues hissing]
[powering down]
[exhaling sharply]
[Tony]
That was 15 seconds.
The next time'll be 30.
[Hendricks]
Now
what animal
am I thinking of?
I-I honestly don't know.
Okay?
I told you, I'm not--
I'm not TP;
I'm TK, and
I'm not even TK-positive yet!
Okay, sport,
30 seconds this time.
- It's not gonna get any easier.
- No.
[whirring]
No, no, no.
No, no, no, no.
[whirring]
- [air hissing]
- [groaning]
[groaning]
♪
[breathing heavily]
[Hendricks] Now
I'm thinking of a sports team.
[Tony]
Sports team! Go!
I fucking don't know!
Abalone fisherman can hold
their breath for nine minutes!
Now, what team
is he thinking of?
[whirring]
[air hissing]
[groaning]
[thudding against glass]
[groaning]
Fuck all the sports teams
and the animals
and all that bullshit; all you
have to tell us is the truth.
You're TP now, aren't you?
"I'm TP now." Say it!
Tony
have Maureen
take him back to his room.
[powering down]
[door beeping]
See? Right on time.
Don't have to tell me twice.
Let's slow it down a bit.
Julia Sigsby wants
to slow it down?
Next thing I know,
you'll be wanting to talk.
I do, actually.
Uh, just keep in mind
that I popped
my daddy's little helper
almost a half-hour ago, so
You've been working with
Luke Ellis off-the-books.
That's ridiculous.
You gave him
the Dream Box last night,
though he's not
due it for another week.
You're running him
through the P.C. track,
aren't you?
Well, I
It was Stackhouse's idea.
I mean, not initially,
but he's the one who
told me to keep going.
After I told you to stop.
Julia, I'm so,
so sorry. I
Have you--
Have you told them?
- Not yet.
- Please
I swear, I will shut it down;
it'll never happen again.
Any idea what Stackhouse
plans to do with Ellis
once you've built him
into a precog?
Sell him off.
To anyone in particular?
Highest bidder.
- How's he doing?
- Luke?
Well, uh
the IQ
makes me optimistic, but,
you know,
the PC development
is a slow process.
Yes, I do know.
One of the reasons we put
the project on hold!
Well, I'll just tell
Stackhouse it's over.
You'll tell Stackhouse
nothing.
Other than the deprivation
tank proved Ellis is TP
and I'm insisting on sending him
to the Back Half immediately.
But it didn't prove it.
- You're kidding.
- [exhaling sharply]
Tony choked him out
seven times.
Kid never budged.
Send him to
the Back Half anyway.
I--I know
I don't have to tell you
what'll happen if we
connect him to the Hum
before he's got access
to his TP.
He has access.
He's just not admitting it.
That's a helluva risk.
Fine.
Let's leave things
as they are for the moment.
And don't say another word
to Stackhouse.
Jackass!
Thank you. Thank you.
Wh-Wh-What about Ellis?
What about him?
We still need to find
a way to prove he's TP.
Leave that to me.
Luke! Luke!
I could feel you.
You were dying.
That was so scary.
Hey.
No, I wasn't dying.
They were just
messing around.
Get some rest, Luke.
- I gotta get back to work.
- [Luke] 'Kay.
Thanks, Maureen.
♪
Okay, I've gotta go.
Luke.
Luke, don't fall asleep!
What?
I know what's behind that door,
the one that Sha showed us.
I saw it in Maureen's head.
♪