Dark Matter (2024) s02e02 Episode Script
A Perfect World
1
["Callin' Out" playing]
And he can't stop us now ♪
He can't stop us now ♪
[Leighton] Today's the day.
Today's the day. Come on, Greg,
I'm still having that spam issue.
- [Greg] Absolutely. [chuckles]
- Is that you, Jay?
[chuckles] Amanda, get down here.
[chuckles] Get over here.
[chuckles]
- Looking sharp.
- [person] Thanks.
You did it. [chortles]
We did it.
Please, no jinxing.
Let's just get her online first.
Oh, no jinxing. No jinxing.
Come on, no jinxing?
Oh, this this is, uh,
- just regular afternoon champagne.
- [Amanda laughs]
- Sure.
- Nothing celebratory about it.
Sure, like you said in Monte Carlo.
- Lock it up about Monte Carlo.
- [chuckles]
Let's get this show on the road.
Where's my engineer? Where's Blair?
- Blizzy. [chuckles]
- Hey, hey.
This thing gonna work?
I don't know. I did my job.
Did y'all do yours?
[chortles]
[snickers]
Let's light it up, Blair.
- Me?
- Absolutely.
Come on.
- Let's go.
- All right.
Okay. [clears throat]
[ominous music playing]
[Leighton blusters]
[softly] Okay.
[mouse clicks]
[keys tapping]
[mouse clicks]
[exhales deeply]
[machinery starting up]
Are we happy?
Just one second.
[machinery grinding]
All levels in the green.
Adaptive shielding is fully engaged.
We're happy.
- Whoo!
- We're happy!
[all cheering]
[Leighton chuckling] Oh, shit.
Oh, shit.
- Go ahead.
- Yes. [chuckles]
- [Leighton] I told you! I told you.
- Congratulations.
Hey, guys, listen up,
listen up, listen up.
I swear to God,
I'm gonna make this one brief. Um
- Yeah, right.
- [Leighton] Hey, hey, knock it off.
- Y-You're all fired. Who's laughing?
- [cackles]
[chuckles]
Oh, my God. I am [exhales deeply]
so proud of each
and every single one of you.
[sighs]
Guys, we are standing
on the precipice of greatness.
Take it in.
I believe that this moment will be marked
as the day that mankind stepped beyond
our finite understanding of reality
and into the infinite.
Through this door are worlds.
Worlds that have cured diseases
that still ravage ours.
Through these doors are worlds
that have reversed climate change,
saved species from extinction,
crushed poverty.
Through these doors
are worlds that have ended war.
We will visit these worlds.
We will find the best technology,
the brightest ideas
and we'll bring them home.
We'll bring them home.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- [Leighton] Yeah?
- Yeah!
[all applauding]
To building a perfect world.
- [Leighton] Let's go. Let's go.
- Hey!
[chuckling] Let's go. Holy shit.
[chuckles]
[squealing] What the fuck?
[both laugh]
Holy shit.
What the fuck?
[partygoers whoop, giggle]
People, are you ready? ♪
Let's start the show ♪
Oh!
[vocalizing]
- That's right.
- [whoops]
Thank you.
He can't stop us now ♪
He can't stop us now ♪
[giggles]
Callin' out to all area crew
We gonna make this shit happen ♪
[clicks tongue]
Hey, why aren't you out there?
What's going on?
Jason told me you want to be
the first one to test the Box.
Yes. Hell yeah.
Come on, the first human being
in superposition?
Sign me all the way up.
That's some Neil-Armstrong-level
shit right there.
There's so much we don't know
about how it all works.
[sighs]
We should keep the pedal down
on your training,
extra mental conditioning.
Just to be safe.
Okay. Anything you say, Doc.
But tonight, we dance.
Get out.
Come on!
[both snickering]
[vocalizing]
[Blair] Go, Jason. Go, Jason.
Hey.
Go, Jason. [exclaims]
[parts clanking]
[beeps, whirs]
[thrums]
[Jason] Okay. Let's try this again.
A good place.
Where we can start over.
Where people are kind,
and we can have a good life.
A good place.
A safe place.
Where we can start over.
[Daniela] Just leave. [breathing shakily]
Please.
- [Jason] Where people are kind.
- [gasps, shrieks]
[Jason] Where we can have
a good life again.
[Charlie] Mom.
Mom, you okay?
Yeah. I'm fine. Let's keep looking.
[Jason] A good place.
A safe place.
Where we can have a good life.
[intriguing music playing]
[Leighton breathing deeply]
[Sandra] Oluko.
[exhales deeply]
Yes, Sandra?
I'm sorry to interrupt.
It's fine.
He's here.
[Ryan] I've never had a job interview
in someone's home before, Mr. Vance.
[Leighton] This is our family home.
My grandfather built the lab
in the garage years ago
for his more sensitive R&D.
Recently, I've adopted the practice.
That's very interesting.
[Leighton] Ah, here he is.
- [scoffs]
- Ryan,
I'd like to introduce you
to Leighton Vance.
It's kind of cruel, huh?
Parents giving identical twins
the same name.
[snickers]
I know, it's very weird
but we're not brothers.
You're not brothers?
[softly] No.
I go by Oluko. Means teacher.
- Okay.
- [Leighton] I know it's confusing
if we both go by Leighton,
but, Oluko, Leighton.
Okay, I'm sorry. [stuttering] Oluko?
- Teacher and
- Thank you.
But you're both
You're both Leighton Vance, huh?
[softly] Oh, wow.
[chortles]
[softly] Um
Mm-hmm.
[chuckles, stammers]
I I believe
it's a lucid dreaming technique.
If you spin around in your dream,
it engages the senses.
You're not dreaming or tripping.
Please, have a seat, Mr. Holder.
Okay, is this how your planet
makes first contact?
We're not aliens
or hallucinations or spirits or--
Glitches in the simulation? [laughing]
Sorry.
Uh, sorry to interrupt. What's happening?
What is happening right now?
This isn't a trick.
My father and mother were both killed
when I was young.
My parents are still alive,
as far as I know.
I went to UChicago, studied chemistry,
physics, computer science.
And I went on a journey to access
the deeper levels of consciousness.
And after school, I built a box
capable of putting a human being
into superposition.
We're the same person.
- Different choices.
- Different lives.
You talking about multidimensional travel?
- Ooh, we don't call it that.
- Yeah, too comic book. [chuckles]
We travel the breadth
of all possible realities.
Let's say I believe you both. At all.
- Why am I here?
- [Leighton] Hmm.
- I need a chemist.
- We.
We
hear you're the best.
[suspenseful music plays]
[chattering]
I gotta get inside
before they move it again.
There are no guarantees
you'll find your world.
If Jason 2 moved back and forth
between specific worlds,
you know it can be done. I just need
to make sure my Lilac Wings works.
I wish you wouldn't do this.
But if you have to,
I'll help you get ready
for what's in there.
So, this is your sister's house?
No, this is just where I've been working
on my Lavender Wings.
It's easier if I just show you.
- Thank you.
- Here we go. Yeah.
We have a lot of fun drinks in here.
Actually, I think there was a Zima
in here last week.
[glass rattles]
[Amanda] What is going on?
What?
The marigolds.
The gladiolus.
Leighton's favorite.
The coffee machine?
It's vintage Belle Epoque.
It was a gift from Chuck Yeager
to Leighton's grandfather.
This isn't what you think.
- [Leighton] Hey, hey.
- [breathes shakily]
- [Leighton] Whoa! Ryan, what the fuck?
- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
I just wanna introduce you
to the Leighton Vance of this world.
It's okay.
He's been helping me,
and I'm sure he's not the one
that tried to kill you.
What? I tried I tried to kill you?
[suspenseful music plays]
For what it's worth, I, uh
I'm sorry.
And I bet he is too.
Dinner's ready.
I hope you both love fondue.
But in other news,
we got the results back.
The drug we made is a 99.87% match
to the ampoule, Amanda.
We're so close.
- [Leighton] Mazel.
- Yeah.
[Leighton] Uh, hold up.
I guess now
is as good a time as any other.
Now that the Box is back,
they want to move it
and study it.
You don't have much time.
Also, I had a visitor.
Before they moved the Box
Another Leighton.
Oh.
Might have been yours actually.
[chuckles] He wanted me to join some
doctors-without-multiverse-borders
kind of thing.
He's building a technology trading network
across realities.
He says he wants to build a perfect world.
Sounds like someone I know.
What did you say?
[chuckles]
I'm ambitious, as ambitious as
the next Leighton, but, uh,
changing the course of an entire world
is some god-level shit.
I'm not messing around with that.
He's actually doing it.
That's only the half of it.
He's doing it
with other versions of himself.
What you working on?
I think the differences in your drug
could actually be an improvement.
- Oh.
- It might help suppress
some of the reactiveness
of our subconscious emotional states.
[Ryan] Ooh, is that gonna make
world-targeting a little easier?
- [sighs] Maybe.
- Okay.
We have two options.
We can keep working on your version
until we achieve a 100% match,
- or we can--
- What's the faster option?
Yeah.
- [computer beeps]
- Okay.
You feel good about this?
Yeah, whatever it takes to get home.
Okay.
[Ryan] All right.
So, Jason used to say
that other realities are all around us
Okay.
and if our consciousness were more fluid,
we could reach out and touch them.
[autoinjector beeps, fires]
So, what is consciousness?
- [groans]
- [Amanda grunts]
- Easy, easy.
- [Ryan breathes heavily]
Yeah, well, there's several theories.
Which one you want?
Boiled down.
[Ryan] Boiled down,
one's awareness of one's memories,
thoughts, feelings, sensations, environments.
- The mind.
- [Amanda] Great.
But we can't just tune our minds
into other realities
because our own consciousness
and observation,
as well as the observation of others
- Prevents superposition.
- prevents superposition. Right.
[Jason sighs]
[Amanda] As you know, inside the Box,
we're still observers
stopping superposition.
That's where your drug comes in.
It turns off the region
in the prefrontal cortex
that generates consciousness.
Exactly.
- [huffs]
- [autoinjector beeps, fires]
[sighs]
[door closes]
[breathes deeply]
[both groaning]
This is a lot.
Have you talked to anybody about that?
What?
The PTSD I got from multidimensional
travel in a magic box?
Mm-hmm.
[chuckles]
Who would I talk to?
You can talk to me if you want.
[chuckles]
[eerie music plays]
Hey, you got this.
[eerie music continues]
[pensive music playing]
A stable world.
A peaceful world.
[exhales deeply]
One
where people mind their own business
where it's easy to blend in
with less complications
like facial recognition
or CCTV or digital footprints,
where the Dessens live far away
and aren't
criminals or famous.
Oh, and maybe less stupid shit
like racism and global warming.
- [Jason chuckles]
- [Charlie] That'd be nice.
[chuckles]
[breathes deeply]
[door opens]
[horn honks]
[bird squawks]
[helicopter whirring]
- [chattering]
- [bell tolling]
- [chattering]
- [door opens, closes]
I can't find them anywhere.
Yeah.
Us too
I'm gonna ask this lady.
Excuse me. Hi.
We're looking for the computers.
I'm sorry?
Do you Do you have public computers?
No, we don't have computers here.
Got you. Okay, thank you.
[Charlie] Did we go back in time?
[Jason] No, I mean,
the Box doesn't work that way.
[Charlie] Have you got anything?
[Daniela] Um, not yet. You?
- [footsteps]
- No, not really.
I've only been through 20 issues, though.
It may have been
an overly optimistic plan.
Hey.
So, I looked up the phone book,
and there's no Dessens listed.
- Really?
- Yeah,
and I think I know why
this world is so technologically behind.
They never went to the moon.
- [Charlie scoffs]
- Wait.
Yeah, this world
They never got to the moon.
- Why?
- Well
Look, JFK lost to Nixon,
and then Nixon defunded NASA.
Uh, why would that affect technology?
Well, the development of the microchip
and the microprocessor were all
a direct result of the race to space.
Without that competition, then scientists,
they never would have worked together
or got the funding and the drive
to push the tech that far that fast.
How do people live without computers?
Mmm. Without the Internet,
computer isn't a huge win.
[Jason] Mmm.
Shit.
I didn't even think of that.
How are you supposed to watch stuff?
How do you
- listen to music or-or find stuff to buy?
- [Jason chuckles]
Well,
- in the time before time, you know, like
- [Jason chuckles]
your dad's and my generation?
See, we had these things
that were called stores. And like
- [chuckles]
- we'd drive to them and,
like, go inside
- [chuckles]
- buy a physical album, or like
- [chuckles]
- rent a DVD or a VHS. [mutters]
- Gotcha.
- [Daniela] It was pretty cool.
There was no such thing
as your parents checking up on you
all the time, huh?
Relax, pal.
Seriously, I think you may have just
brought us to the perfect world.
[chattering]
- I have this too.
- Okay.
[employee 1] What're you thinking?
[customer] Yeah. It is nice,
but you got another one?
- [employee 2] Mmm.
- Yeah.
Uh, 500. Four weeks at 20%.
[Daniela] Hmm.
Can you just give us a second?
I mean, that-that barely gets us
- a few nights at the hotel.
- Yeah.
Should we pawn the gun?
We might need it.
Okay.
[gasps] No.
I still have my hair tie.
Hmm.
Anything you can do to help us.
We're really in a bind.
[employee 2] Hmm.
For all of this, I can do 1500.
Can we make it 12 weeks?
I can do ten. That'll cost you 25%.
It's a deal.
[Jason] Here's one for a dog walker.
[siren blares]
Just one dog?
Mmm. Yeah.
- [Daniela] Mmm. [chuckles]
- Just the one. [chuckles]
Mmm.
[Jason] Uh, taxi driver.
Feels like you probably need
a license for that one.
- [Jason] Mmm.
- But can you even get any job without ID?
- [Daniela] Hmm. [gasps]
- Not a good one.
- What?
- [Daniela] Here's one for a paper boy.
- They have paper boys in this world.
- [Jason] Hmm.
Hey, what about, um, school?
[sniffles]
Like, I know making money
is the main thing right now,
but, you know, after you guys have jobs,
can we maybe figure that out?
[Jason] Mmm.
Guess I couldn't persuade you
to give homeschooling a try?
That's, like, literally
the most uncool thing you've ever said.
[Daniela] Yeah, okay, I get it.
[Charlie chuckles]
- We're not gonna make you stay home, pal.
- [chuckles]
[Jason] But, you know, your mom
Your mom's saying we should be cautious,
which I agree with.
- Yeah.
- We are strangers in a strange land.
[eerie music plays]
[dog barks]
[eerie music continues]
[Jason sighs]
[chattering]
Just moved here,
so we're still figuring [stammers]
a lot out [chuckles]
- [bell rings]
- but, um,
in the meantime,
we don't want our son to fall behind.
How old is he?
He's 17.
So, he'd be joining us as a a senior?
He would, yeah.
Let's start with your address,
make sure you're within our zone.
Uh, 25 North Milwaukee. Is that
- Perfect.
- Great. Okay.
[phone rings]
I mean, that place is temporary, but
Do you have a phone number
for emergency contact?
- Um, no, I don't actually. Sorry.
- Not a problem.
Just, uh, add that to the list
along with your son's birth certificate,
his immunization records, uh,
proof of residency, and his transcripts.
That's a little tricky.
Um, part of the reason why we relocated
is we had a house fire.
Uh, we lost everything,
including our papers.
I am so sorry to hear that.
Thank you.
Um, I mean, we're working on
getting new papers, but
Well, if you have
your Social Security numbers,
you'd be surprised how quickly
they replace those things.
Yeah, that makes sense.
I just have to say you really remind me
of someone.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah, a lovely woman named Daniela Dessen.
Very involved in the PTA. I mean,
- you could be her twin.
- [chuckles] That's funny.
[inhales sharply] Um
[eerie music plays]
Safe word?
You tell me.
Tomato.
- [sighs]
- [Jason] Tomato.
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Hey, kiddo.
- Hi.
How was your day?
[scoffs]
You're looking at it.
[kisses]
Please don't mess with the safe word.
It freaks me out.
Sorry.
So, how'd it go?
Can we talk in the hall?
So, what, would they not take him?
Actually, he could start right away. Um,
the registrar recognized me.
Charlie of this world went to that school.
- What, the Dessens are in Chicago?
- They were.
Apparently, they moved
to California three years ago.
Which is good news,
but he can't go to that school
- [sighs]
- and wherever he does go,
we have to provide papers within 30 days.
So,
we need a plan.
- Hmm.
- He needs to get back in school.
He can't start if we're
going to take him back out again.
There's a guy on the crew who knows
has a friend who needed some papers,
so I have a number of someone
that may be able to help us.
[bell dings, doors open]
[door opens]
- [door closes]
- [Jason sighs]
[Daniela clears throat]
We should also do some research
on the Dessens, huh?
- No more surprises.
- Yeah, agreed.
Be a lot easier if we weren't in Chicago.
Yeah.
After After we get rid of
the Box. [stammers]
Also, in the good news column
[pensive music plays]
- Mm-hmm?
- I got a little gig today.
Seriously?
Yeah.
I spoke to the hotel manager,
if I clean three rooms a day, ours
is free, and if I clean more, I get cash.
[stammers]
It's low five.
- [chuckles]
- [mutters]
[Jason] Like a maybe a common last name,
not too common, you know?
Yeah, yeah, something between,
um, Smith and Shufflebottom.
[chuckles] Yeah.
If she gets too needy, let me know.
[Jason chuckles] It's okay.
Do you do background checks?
Absolutely, yeah.
You got some names for me?
Yeah. Jason, Daniela, and Charlie Dessen.
Uh, you and your family?
Yeah.
Well, because I just want to know
what anyone who looked into us might
or, you know, knew us, might find.
Is
Is that weird?
[music playing on radio]
I deal in weird.
[chuckles]
All right, well, so let's, uh
Yeah, what, um
What might those people be looking for?
Uh, last known address, uh,
employment records,
education, criminal records, maybe?
- So, who's after you?
- [Jason chuckles]
Really, I just want to know if anyone
is looking into us,
what they might find,
and if there is any way
that it could connect us back to Chicago.
Is it a loan shark?
I mean, you don't strike me
as the jealous-lover type.
I haven't done anything wrong. Promise.
See, it helps if I know who's looking
for you, you know.
I can guarantee total confidentiality.
Mum's the word to the missus.
Listen.
We are just looking for a new start.
All three of you?
Yeah.
[eerie music plays]
[sighs]
Hey.
[Amanda sighs]
What's going on?
I
am leaving in the morning.
What are you talking about?
We're not done training.
Leighton says
the city's putting more security
around the Box, so I
so I say just we should get on with it.
I need to show you something.
Sit down.
Please.
Velocity was asked by the city
to investigate a video
that was taken the moment
the Box reappeared in the park.
[sighs] Most people still think it's just
part of the art installation,
but the city needs to be quietly sure.
[sighs]
[suspenseful music plays]
Oh, my God.
[Ryan sighs]
- Is that
- It must be.
[breathes shakily]
[Amanda] After everything we went through.
Everything we survived.
He never made it home.
I'm not pretending I'm some kind of saint.
I just want to go home and have my life,
but this
- this kills me.
- Ryan.
- Amanda, listen listen to me.
- Ryan
- I see you, okay? I see you hurting.
- [Amanda breathes shakily]
And how every day
that you come in and help me,
you just lose a little bit more
of your own peace,
- and I can't let you do this anymore.
- [sighs]
I can't. I've opened up
all your old wounds.
The least I can do is get on with it.
And maybe I can
I can pay back your help with a little bit
of justice along the way. Okay?
Listen to me. Hey, hear me out.
I'm going to try my hardest to get home
and kick the ever-loving shit
out of Jason 2.
For Jason and Daniela and Charlie.
[suspenseful music plays]
And for me and you.
[sniffles, breathes shakily]
[thunder howling, rain pattering]
[Amanda panting]
Jason told me you want
to be the first one to test the Box.
Yes. Hell yeah.
We should keep the pedal down
on your training.
Just to be safe.
You came looking for me.
- I'm sorry I didn't prepare you better.
- [panting]
- [Amanda] Ryan?
- Yeah?
[Amanda, echoing]
I'm sorry I didn't prepare you better.
I'm sorry I didn't--
[gasps, breathes shakily, sighs]
[sighs]
I'm sorry I didn't prepare you better.
It's because of you
I've survived this long.
[sighs]
[eerie music plays]
- [Amanda] Good morning.
- Jesus.
Hi.
Hi.
What are you doing at the park
at the ass crack of dawn?
I'm coming with you.
I thought the Box
was the last place you wanted to go.
I was pretty clear about that, huh?
Yeah. [sniffles]
I may not have stranded you here,
but my work made it possible.
I need to make some things right.
- [inhales deeply, sighs]
- Starting with us.
At least this time
I know what I'm getting into.
Wow. Well, okay.
Great. Shall we?
Let's do it.
What you got there?
- A lot of worlds look the same.
- Mm-hmm.
Sometimes, it takes a while to figure out
if you're in the right place.
This way
I'll know when I'm back.
[hopeful music plays]
Ooh.
The "make things right," that's
that's about Jason 2?
[sighs] It's about a lot of things.
Okay, but one of those things
has to be your desire
to give him a swift kick in the dick.
Come on.
[laughs]
- Fuck that guy.
- Fuck that guy.
Yeah.
- [door closes]
- [machine beeps]
- [Ryan grunts, breathes deeply]
- [Amanda breathes deeply]
[inhales sharply, exhales sharply]
[eerie music plays]
Did you get used to this?
I'll never get used to this.
[Ryan groans]
- [Amanda exhales sharply]
- [Ryan exhales sharply]
[Amanda] Okay.
So, we know memories, details, feelings,
all guide our connection to worlds, right?
How about a warm-up?
I'll choose the first door.
Yes, please. [breathes shakily]
- Okay?
- [Ryan] Okay. [breathes shakily, sighs]
How are you feeling?
Good, confident scared.
[breathes shakily]
Okay.
- Close your eyes.
- [breathes shakily]
- Take a deep breath in.
- [inhales shakily]
Imagine Lake Michigan on a clear,
sunny day.
- Exhale.
- [Ryan exhales shakily]
It's not too hot,
it's not too cold. Inhale.
- [inhales deeply]
- You're on a sailboat
with a gentle wind pushing you up
the shoreline.
Exhale.
[exhales deeply]
Good.
Okay.
[door opens]
[birds chirping]
[people chattering]
[Ryan gasps]
Hey
[sighs]
Is this what you were going for?
- [chattering]
- [birds squawking]
Not really. No.
[shutter clicks]
Let's go.
- Come on.
- Okay.
- [spectator] Bye.
- [shutter clicks]
Wow.
I was thinking about a safe,
beautiful Chicago.
What were you thinking about?
I was thinking just about
all the things you said.
And that I'm I'm glad that you're here.
And that I'm pretty sure I left my shades
at Leighton's.
- [chuckles]
- [chuckles] Sorry.
Well, there you have it.
All of that somehow equals zoo.
It also equals Lilac Wings works.
Up top.
- That's great.
- Yeah.
- You choose the next door.
- [mutters]
Try to stay calm.
Focus on a memory of your home world
or a person.
Something positive.
[Ryan inhales deeply, sighs]
[hopeful music plays]
[Leighton] Rainier's eruption liquified
most of the Pacific Northwest.
They're already dealing
with massive crop death.
[Ryan] Goddamn.
And do we have any idea
how big this will get?
[Leighton] They're projecting
millions of deaths globally this year.
[Ryan] Millions.
Are they concerned
about drastic weather changes?
Yeah, but for now their focus is food.
UV grow operations are being set up,
but it's not enough.
They need to take action soon.
What about the world
where they had several nuclear blasts?
That's right.
They managed
to solve their food supply issue.
Yeah, wasn't it something to do with,
um, shade-tolerant cereals?
Pull up that world's map.
I'll go see their Leighton.
Okay.
Uh
Okay.
[door opens]
- Oh, hey. You're early. Good.
- [Jason] Hey.
Um, well,
it's all here.
It's the whole kit.
Just, uh, be sure to do things
in the order we discussed.
Social Security cards are first,
then driver's license.
Passports are last. That's very important.
Oh, also, you know,
I was able to track down
some of those names you shared with me.
If anyone ran a background check on you,
they'd, uh, learn
that Jason Ashley Dessen
and Daniela Vargas Dessen's
last known address was 1949 Green Street
in San Francisco, California.
They'd also discover, uh, that you have
a 17-year-old son named Charlie,
a senior at a magnet school
in the Mission.
You taught English at Stanford, and that
that your wife works at an art gallery
in the Mission.
- Mmm.
- It's all there in the file.
Amazing.
Uh, good old San Francisco.
[chuckles] Did you leave your heart there?
Yeah.
- So
- No need to count it. I trust you.
All right. Well [sighs]
happy trails, uh, Mr. Stewart.
Uh [chuckles] yeah.
[stammers] I
I really can't thank you enough.
- Pleasure.
- All right.
- See you around.
- Yeah.
[phone rings]
[sighs]
[eerie music plays]
[sighs]
- [Jason] Yeah?
- It's me.
Pinot noir?
- Correct. And also, yes, please.
- [chuckles]
[locks click]
- Hey.
- Hi.
I only did three rooms.
Well, at least this room is free tonight.
Come here. I wanna show you something.
What?
I made us some dinner.
Well, when when I say made,
I got takeout from the diner
that you like down the street.
Where's Charlie?
I gave him 20 bucks
and told him not to be home before 10:00.
["All My Life" plays on speakers]
All my love ♪
[laughs]
Has been waiting for you ♪
Yeah.
Listen, how
how are you?
With-With everything?
[laughs]
I'm fine.
Yeah?
Yeah.
How are things at the Box?
Um
Really good. I've been I've been out
to the pool maybe a few times.
I'm just really just trying to,
you know, puzzle out how to get it done.
Right.
How long do you think it might take?
Oh, don't know.
Also, been
I guess waiting until we have
all the stuff, you know.
Jobs and papers and Charlie's school.
I mean, hopefully a new home.
We're basically there now, right?
Yeah,
back on track to having a normal life.
[song continues]
Hmm. That would be good.
Yeah.
Um
can you close your eyes?
Close your eyes.
You seem so lovely ♪
So far above me ♪
[laughs]
- Give me your hand.
- [laughs]
But I adore you ♪
[breathes shakily]
[exhales sharply]
I know that we've been through a lot.
And I really just cannot imagine, uh,
going through it with anyone else but you.
- [Jason sniffles]
- Um [inhales sharply]
Hold my love, darling ♪
All ♪
["Until Then" plays on speakers]
[Jason laughing]
Where will I go?
What do I do? ♪
[Daniela breathes shakily, sniffles]
[Jason] Wait.
- What? What?
- [Jason mutters]
- Stop. [grunts, chuckles, mutters]
- [Daniela] Stop.
- [shushes]
- Okay.
Okay. [mutters] It's late.
What?
- Hey.
- What?
Are you okay?
[song continues]
Um
Sorry. [cries]
Hey. What's going on?
[inhales sharply] I just
Nothing, I just thought
Charlie would be back.
Yeah.
But
are you okay?
We just haven't been able to be together.
So
I know I been a fool ♪
Yeah.
Till I get you back in my arms again ♪
We can be together. Of course.
Until then where am I gonna go? ♪
Until then what am I gonna do? ♪
It's just
I'm just gonna sit here and cry ♪
Can we
Can we be us?
[breathes shakily]
[suspenseful music plays]
Oh, shit.
This isn't my world.
Oh, fuck, I suck at this.
Would you hold this?
[inhales sharply] Why does the drug
wearing off only bother me? [sniffles]
You seem fine. I just can't do this.
[Amanda shushes]
[sighs] I'm starving.
Same.
Okay.
[Ryan sighs]
- Let's get some food, get some rest.
- Yeah. [sighs]
We'll come back with more positive vibes.
Wait, what are you saying
about my vibes currently?
They're not positive?
- I'm saying you're grumpy as fuck, Ryan.
- [sighs]
That's fair.
[chuckles] Come on.
[suspenseful music continues]
[cab driver speaks indistinctly]
[Ryan grunting]
[clears throat]
Why do you always stay here?
You love this place?
Yeah, it's great.
In every world, they always take cash
and never ask questions.
Oh, nice,
like an inter-dimensional hostel.
[Amanda laughs]
[elevator bell dings, door opens]
[both laugh]
Ah, that's me.
Oh, okay.
- That was fun.
- Yeah, it was great.
I've never drank an Angry Grandma before.
- [Amanda laughs]
- [laughs] That was delicious.
It was a good drink.
- It was.
- Yeah, I liked it.
- Tasted like Pop Rocks.
- [laughs]
I don't know if they have them
in your world. I'm exhausted.
I'm so tired.
- [Ryan sighs]
- I'm gonna sleep for 12 hours.
I'm gonna sleep for 13. I win.
Good night.
- Good night.
- Good morning.
- [chuckles]
- Good "norning."
- Rest.
- You too.
[eerie music plays]
[chewing]
[bell dings, doors open]
[eerie music continues]
[Ryan] Hey, did you notice
no one had phones?
- Is that right?
- Yeah,
and one guy was listening to what looked
like a badass Walkman.
I am feeling this vibe.
Next door is it. I call it.
I'm calling it.
Am I right? Tell me I'm right.
I feel it.
- [door closes]
- [suspenseful music plays]
[suspenseful music continues]
["Skin" plays]
Where are we?
We're one ♪
Who are we?
We're one ♪
Where are we?
We're one ♪
- Who are we? We're one ♪
- I've been rolling in tint ♪
Hiding my skin ♪
Been embarrassed since day one
In my thoughts ♪
Don't come my way ♪
Don't come my way
True colors don't fly ♪
No-fly zone here ♪
I don't feel like the man
I'm so flaky with myself ♪
I'm the shit, I am shit ♪
It's clear
Probably couldn't be any more clear ♪
I've been rolling in tint ♪
Hiding my skin ♪
Been embarrassed since day one
In my thoughts ♪
Don't come my way ♪
Don't come my way
True colors don't fly ♪
- Whoo ♪
- No-fly zone here ♪
I don't feel like the man
I'm so flaky with myself ♪
I'm the shit, I am shit ♪
It's clear
Probably couldn't be any more clear ♪
Where are we?
We're one ♪
Who are we? ♪
["Callin' Out" playing]
And he can't stop us now ♪
He can't stop us now ♪
[Leighton] Today's the day.
Today's the day. Come on, Greg,
I'm still having that spam issue.
- [Greg] Absolutely. [chuckles]
- Is that you, Jay?
[chuckles] Amanda, get down here.
[chuckles] Get over here.
[chuckles]
- Looking sharp.
- [person] Thanks.
You did it. [chortles]
We did it.
Please, no jinxing.
Let's just get her online first.
Oh, no jinxing. No jinxing.
Come on, no jinxing?
Oh, this this is, uh,
- just regular afternoon champagne.
- [Amanda laughs]
- Sure.
- Nothing celebratory about it.
Sure, like you said in Monte Carlo.
- Lock it up about Monte Carlo.
- [chuckles]
Let's get this show on the road.
Where's my engineer? Where's Blair?
- Blizzy. [chuckles]
- Hey, hey.
This thing gonna work?
I don't know. I did my job.
Did y'all do yours?
[chortles]
[snickers]
Let's light it up, Blair.
- Me?
- Absolutely.
Come on.
- Let's go.
- All right.
Okay. [clears throat]
[ominous music playing]
[Leighton blusters]
[softly] Okay.
[mouse clicks]
[keys tapping]
[mouse clicks]
[exhales deeply]
[machinery starting up]
Are we happy?
Just one second.
[machinery grinding]
All levels in the green.
Adaptive shielding is fully engaged.
We're happy.
- Whoo!
- We're happy!
[all cheering]
[Leighton chuckling] Oh, shit.
Oh, shit.
- Go ahead.
- Yes. [chuckles]
- [Leighton] I told you! I told you.
- Congratulations.
Hey, guys, listen up,
listen up, listen up.
I swear to God,
I'm gonna make this one brief. Um
- Yeah, right.
- [Leighton] Hey, hey, knock it off.
- Y-You're all fired. Who's laughing?
- [cackles]
[chuckles]
Oh, my God. I am [exhales deeply]
so proud of each
and every single one of you.
[sighs]
Guys, we are standing
on the precipice of greatness.
Take it in.
I believe that this moment will be marked
as the day that mankind stepped beyond
our finite understanding of reality
and into the infinite.
Through this door are worlds.
Worlds that have cured diseases
that still ravage ours.
Through these doors are worlds
that have reversed climate change,
saved species from extinction,
crushed poverty.
Through these doors
are worlds that have ended war.
We will visit these worlds.
We will find the best technology,
the brightest ideas
and we'll bring them home.
We'll bring them home.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- [Leighton] Yeah?
- Yeah!
[all applauding]
To building a perfect world.
- [Leighton] Let's go. Let's go.
- Hey!
[chuckling] Let's go. Holy shit.
[chuckles]
[squealing] What the fuck?
[both laugh]
Holy shit.
What the fuck?
[partygoers whoop, giggle]
People, are you ready? ♪
Let's start the show ♪
Oh!
[vocalizing]
- That's right.
- [whoops]
Thank you.
He can't stop us now ♪
He can't stop us now ♪
[giggles]
Callin' out to all area crew
We gonna make this shit happen ♪
[clicks tongue]
Hey, why aren't you out there?
What's going on?
Jason told me you want to be
the first one to test the Box.
Yes. Hell yeah.
Come on, the first human being
in superposition?
Sign me all the way up.
That's some Neil-Armstrong-level
shit right there.
There's so much we don't know
about how it all works.
[sighs]
We should keep the pedal down
on your training,
extra mental conditioning.
Just to be safe.
Okay. Anything you say, Doc.
But tonight, we dance.
Get out.
Come on!
[both snickering]
[vocalizing]
[Blair] Go, Jason. Go, Jason.
Hey.
Go, Jason. [exclaims]
[parts clanking]
[beeps, whirs]
[thrums]
[Jason] Okay. Let's try this again.
A good place.
Where we can start over.
Where people are kind,
and we can have a good life.
A good place.
A safe place.
Where we can start over.
[Daniela] Just leave. [breathing shakily]
Please.
- [Jason] Where people are kind.
- [gasps, shrieks]
[Jason] Where we can have
a good life again.
[Charlie] Mom.
Mom, you okay?
Yeah. I'm fine. Let's keep looking.
[Jason] A good place.
A safe place.
Where we can have a good life.
[intriguing music playing]
[Leighton breathing deeply]
[Sandra] Oluko.
[exhales deeply]
Yes, Sandra?
I'm sorry to interrupt.
It's fine.
He's here.
[Ryan] I've never had a job interview
in someone's home before, Mr. Vance.
[Leighton] This is our family home.
My grandfather built the lab
in the garage years ago
for his more sensitive R&D.
Recently, I've adopted the practice.
That's very interesting.
[Leighton] Ah, here he is.
- [scoffs]
- Ryan,
I'd like to introduce you
to Leighton Vance.
It's kind of cruel, huh?
Parents giving identical twins
the same name.
[snickers]
I know, it's very weird
but we're not brothers.
You're not brothers?
[softly] No.
I go by Oluko. Means teacher.
- Okay.
- [Leighton] I know it's confusing
if we both go by Leighton,
but, Oluko, Leighton.
Okay, I'm sorry. [stuttering] Oluko?
- Teacher and
- Thank you.
But you're both
You're both Leighton Vance, huh?
[softly] Oh, wow.
[chortles]
[softly] Um
Mm-hmm.
[chuckles, stammers]
I I believe
it's a lucid dreaming technique.
If you spin around in your dream,
it engages the senses.
You're not dreaming or tripping.
Please, have a seat, Mr. Holder.
Okay, is this how your planet
makes first contact?
We're not aliens
or hallucinations or spirits or--
Glitches in the simulation? [laughing]
Sorry.
Uh, sorry to interrupt. What's happening?
What is happening right now?
This isn't a trick.
My father and mother were both killed
when I was young.
My parents are still alive,
as far as I know.
I went to UChicago, studied chemistry,
physics, computer science.
And I went on a journey to access
the deeper levels of consciousness.
And after school, I built a box
capable of putting a human being
into superposition.
We're the same person.
- Different choices.
- Different lives.
You talking about multidimensional travel?
- Ooh, we don't call it that.
- Yeah, too comic book. [chuckles]
We travel the breadth
of all possible realities.
Let's say I believe you both. At all.
- Why am I here?
- [Leighton] Hmm.
- I need a chemist.
- We.
We
hear you're the best.
[suspenseful music plays]
[chattering]
I gotta get inside
before they move it again.
There are no guarantees
you'll find your world.
If Jason 2 moved back and forth
between specific worlds,
you know it can be done. I just need
to make sure my Lilac Wings works.
I wish you wouldn't do this.
But if you have to,
I'll help you get ready
for what's in there.
So, this is your sister's house?
No, this is just where I've been working
on my Lavender Wings.
It's easier if I just show you.
- Thank you.
- Here we go. Yeah.
We have a lot of fun drinks in here.
Actually, I think there was a Zima
in here last week.
[glass rattles]
[Amanda] What is going on?
What?
The marigolds.
The gladiolus.
Leighton's favorite.
The coffee machine?
It's vintage Belle Epoque.
It was a gift from Chuck Yeager
to Leighton's grandfather.
This isn't what you think.
- [Leighton] Hey, hey.
- [breathes shakily]
- [Leighton] Whoa! Ryan, what the fuck?
- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
I just wanna introduce you
to the Leighton Vance of this world.
It's okay.
He's been helping me,
and I'm sure he's not the one
that tried to kill you.
What? I tried I tried to kill you?
[suspenseful music plays]
For what it's worth, I, uh
I'm sorry.
And I bet he is too.
Dinner's ready.
I hope you both love fondue.
But in other news,
we got the results back.
The drug we made is a 99.87% match
to the ampoule, Amanda.
We're so close.
- [Leighton] Mazel.
- Yeah.
[Leighton] Uh, hold up.
I guess now
is as good a time as any other.
Now that the Box is back,
they want to move it
and study it.
You don't have much time.
Also, I had a visitor.
Before they moved the Box
Another Leighton.
Oh.
Might have been yours actually.
[chuckles] He wanted me to join some
doctors-without-multiverse-borders
kind of thing.
He's building a technology trading network
across realities.
He says he wants to build a perfect world.
Sounds like someone I know.
What did you say?
[chuckles]
I'm ambitious, as ambitious as
the next Leighton, but, uh,
changing the course of an entire world
is some god-level shit.
I'm not messing around with that.
He's actually doing it.
That's only the half of it.
He's doing it
with other versions of himself.
What you working on?
I think the differences in your drug
could actually be an improvement.
- Oh.
- It might help suppress
some of the reactiveness
of our subconscious emotional states.
[Ryan] Ooh, is that gonna make
world-targeting a little easier?
- [sighs] Maybe.
- Okay.
We have two options.
We can keep working on your version
until we achieve a 100% match,
- or we can--
- What's the faster option?
Yeah.
- [computer beeps]
- Okay.
You feel good about this?
Yeah, whatever it takes to get home.
Okay.
[Ryan] All right.
So, Jason used to say
that other realities are all around us
Okay.
and if our consciousness were more fluid,
we could reach out and touch them.
[autoinjector beeps, fires]
So, what is consciousness?
- [groans]
- [Amanda grunts]
- Easy, easy.
- [Ryan breathes heavily]
Yeah, well, there's several theories.
Which one you want?
Boiled down.
[Ryan] Boiled down,
one's awareness of one's memories,
thoughts, feelings, sensations, environments.
- The mind.
- [Amanda] Great.
But we can't just tune our minds
into other realities
because our own consciousness
and observation,
as well as the observation of others
- Prevents superposition.
- prevents superposition. Right.
[Jason sighs]
[Amanda] As you know, inside the Box,
we're still observers
stopping superposition.
That's where your drug comes in.
It turns off the region
in the prefrontal cortex
that generates consciousness.
Exactly.
- [huffs]
- [autoinjector beeps, fires]
[sighs]
[door closes]
[breathes deeply]
[both groaning]
This is a lot.
Have you talked to anybody about that?
What?
The PTSD I got from multidimensional
travel in a magic box?
Mm-hmm.
[chuckles]
Who would I talk to?
You can talk to me if you want.
[chuckles]
[eerie music plays]
Hey, you got this.
[eerie music continues]
[pensive music playing]
A stable world.
A peaceful world.
[exhales deeply]
One
where people mind their own business
where it's easy to blend in
with less complications
like facial recognition
or CCTV or digital footprints,
where the Dessens live far away
and aren't
criminals or famous.
Oh, and maybe less stupid shit
like racism and global warming.
- [Jason chuckles]
- [Charlie] That'd be nice.
[chuckles]
[breathes deeply]
[door opens]
[horn honks]
[bird squawks]
[helicopter whirring]
- [chattering]
- [bell tolling]
- [chattering]
- [door opens, closes]
I can't find them anywhere.
Yeah.
Us too
I'm gonna ask this lady.
Excuse me. Hi.
We're looking for the computers.
I'm sorry?
Do you Do you have public computers?
No, we don't have computers here.
Got you. Okay, thank you.
[Charlie] Did we go back in time?
[Jason] No, I mean,
the Box doesn't work that way.
[Charlie] Have you got anything?
[Daniela] Um, not yet. You?
- [footsteps]
- No, not really.
I've only been through 20 issues, though.
It may have been
an overly optimistic plan.
Hey.
So, I looked up the phone book,
and there's no Dessens listed.
- Really?
- Yeah,
and I think I know why
this world is so technologically behind.
They never went to the moon.
- [Charlie scoffs]
- Wait.
Yeah, this world
They never got to the moon.
- Why?
- Well
Look, JFK lost to Nixon,
and then Nixon defunded NASA.
Uh, why would that affect technology?
Well, the development of the microchip
and the microprocessor were all
a direct result of the race to space.
Without that competition, then scientists,
they never would have worked together
or got the funding and the drive
to push the tech that far that fast.
How do people live without computers?
Mmm. Without the Internet,
computer isn't a huge win.
[Jason] Mmm.
Shit.
I didn't even think of that.
How are you supposed to watch stuff?
How do you
- listen to music or-or find stuff to buy?
- [Jason chuckles]
Well,
- in the time before time, you know, like
- [Jason chuckles]
your dad's and my generation?
See, we had these things
that were called stores. And like
- [chuckles]
- we'd drive to them and,
like, go inside
- [chuckles]
- buy a physical album, or like
- [chuckles]
- rent a DVD or a VHS. [mutters]
- Gotcha.
- [Daniela] It was pretty cool.
There was no such thing
as your parents checking up on you
all the time, huh?
Relax, pal.
Seriously, I think you may have just
brought us to the perfect world.
[chattering]
- I have this too.
- Okay.
[employee 1] What're you thinking?
[customer] Yeah. It is nice,
but you got another one?
- [employee 2] Mmm.
- Yeah.
Uh, 500. Four weeks at 20%.
[Daniela] Hmm.
Can you just give us a second?
I mean, that-that barely gets us
- a few nights at the hotel.
- Yeah.
Should we pawn the gun?
We might need it.
Okay.
[gasps] No.
I still have my hair tie.
Hmm.
Anything you can do to help us.
We're really in a bind.
[employee 2] Hmm.
For all of this, I can do 1500.
Can we make it 12 weeks?
I can do ten. That'll cost you 25%.
It's a deal.
[Jason] Here's one for a dog walker.
[siren blares]
Just one dog?
Mmm. Yeah.
- [Daniela] Mmm. [chuckles]
- Just the one. [chuckles]
Mmm.
[Jason] Uh, taxi driver.
Feels like you probably need
a license for that one.
- [Jason] Mmm.
- But can you even get any job without ID?
- [Daniela] Hmm. [gasps]
- Not a good one.
- What?
- [Daniela] Here's one for a paper boy.
- They have paper boys in this world.
- [Jason] Hmm.
Hey, what about, um, school?
[sniffles]
Like, I know making money
is the main thing right now,
but, you know, after you guys have jobs,
can we maybe figure that out?
[Jason] Mmm.
Guess I couldn't persuade you
to give homeschooling a try?
That's, like, literally
the most uncool thing you've ever said.
[Daniela] Yeah, okay, I get it.
[Charlie chuckles]
- We're not gonna make you stay home, pal.
- [chuckles]
[Jason] But, you know, your mom
Your mom's saying we should be cautious,
which I agree with.
- Yeah.
- We are strangers in a strange land.
[eerie music plays]
[dog barks]
[eerie music continues]
[Jason sighs]
[chattering]
Just moved here,
so we're still figuring [stammers]
a lot out [chuckles]
- [bell rings]
- but, um,
in the meantime,
we don't want our son to fall behind.
How old is he?
He's 17.
So, he'd be joining us as a a senior?
He would, yeah.
Let's start with your address,
make sure you're within our zone.
Uh, 25 North Milwaukee. Is that
- Perfect.
- Great. Okay.
[phone rings]
I mean, that place is temporary, but
Do you have a phone number
for emergency contact?
- Um, no, I don't actually. Sorry.
- Not a problem.
Just, uh, add that to the list
along with your son's birth certificate,
his immunization records, uh,
proof of residency, and his transcripts.
That's a little tricky.
Um, part of the reason why we relocated
is we had a house fire.
Uh, we lost everything,
including our papers.
I am so sorry to hear that.
Thank you.
Um, I mean, we're working on
getting new papers, but
Well, if you have
your Social Security numbers,
you'd be surprised how quickly
they replace those things.
Yeah, that makes sense.
I just have to say you really remind me
of someone.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah, a lovely woman named Daniela Dessen.
Very involved in the PTA. I mean,
- you could be her twin.
- [chuckles] That's funny.
[inhales sharply] Um
[eerie music plays]
Safe word?
You tell me.
Tomato.
- [sighs]
- [Jason] Tomato.
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Hey, kiddo.
- Hi.
How was your day?
[scoffs]
You're looking at it.
[kisses]
Please don't mess with the safe word.
It freaks me out.
Sorry.
So, how'd it go?
Can we talk in the hall?
So, what, would they not take him?
Actually, he could start right away. Um,
the registrar recognized me.
Charlie of this world went to that school.
- What, the Dessens are in Chicago?
- They were.
Apparently, they moved
to California three years ago.
Which is good news,
but he can't go to that school
- [sighs]
- and wherever he does go,
we have to provide papers within 30 days.
So,
we need a plan.
- Hmm.
- He needs to get back in school.
He can't start if we're
going to take him back out again.
There's a guy on the crew who knows
has a friend who needed some papers,
so I have a number of someone
that may be able to help us.
[bell dings, doors open]
[door opens]
- [door closes]
- [Jason sighs]
[Daniela clears throat]
We should also do some research
on the Dessens, huh?
- No more surprises.
- Yeah, agreed.
Be a lot easier if we weren't in Chicago.
Yeah.
After After we get rid of
the Box. [stammers]
Also, in the good news column
[pensive music plays]
- Mm-hmm?
- I got a little gig today.
Seriously?
Yeah.
I spoke to the hotel manager,
if I clean three rooms a day, ours
is free, and if I clean more, I get cash.
[stammers]
It's low five.
- [chuckles]
- [mutters]
[Jason] Like a maybe a common last name,
not too common, you know?
Yeah, yeah, something between,
um, Smith and Shufflebottom.
[chuckles] Yeah.
If she gets too needy, let me know.
[Jason chuckles] It's okay.
Do you do background checks?
Absolutely, yeah.
You got some names for me?
Yeah. Jason, Daniela, and Charlie Dessen.
Uh, you and your family?
Yeah.
Well, because I just want to know
what anyone who looked into us might
or, you know, knew us, might find.
Is
Is that weird?
[music playing on radio]
I deal in weird.
[chuckles]
All right, well, so let's, uh
Yeah, what, um
What might those people be looking for?
Uh, last known address, uh,
employment records,
education, criminal records, maybe?
- So, who's after you?
- [Jason chuckles]
Really, I just want to know if anyone
is looking into us,
what they might find,
and if there is any way
that it could connect us back to Chicago.
Is it a loan shark?
I mean, you don't strike me
as the jealous-lover type.
I haven't done anything wrong. Promise.
See, it helps if I know who's looking
for you, you know.
I can guarantee total confidentiality.
Mum's the word to the missus.
Listen.
We are just looking for a new start.
All three of you?
Yeah.
[eerie music plays]
[sighs]
Hey.
[Amanda sighs]
What's going on?
I
am leaving in the morning.
What are you talking about?
We're not done training.
Leighton says
the city's putting more security
around the Box, so I
so I say just we should get on with it.
I need to show you something.
Sit down.
Please.
Velocity was asked by the city
to investigate a video
that was taken the moment
the Box reappeared in the park.
[sighs] Most people still think it's just
part of the art installation,
but the city needs to be quietly sure.
[sighs]
[suspenseful music plays]
Oh, my God.
[Ryan sighs]
- Is that
- It must be.
[breathes shakily]
[Amanda] After everything we went through.
Everything we survived.
He never made it home.
I'm not pretending I'm some kind of saint.
I just want to go home and have my life,
but this
- this kills me.
- Ryan.
- Amanda, listen listen to me.
- Ryan
- I see you, okay? I see you hurting.
- [Amanda breathes shakily]
And how every day
that you come in and help me,
you just lose a little bit more
of your own peace,
- and I can't let you do this anymore.
- [sighs]
I can't. I've opened up
all your old wounds.
The least I can do is get on with it.
And maybe I can
I can pay back your help with a little bit
of justice along the way. Okay?
Listen to me. Hey, hear me out.
I'm going to try my hardest to get home
and kick the ever-loving shit
out of Jason 2.
For Jason and Daniela and Charlie.
[suspenseful music plays]
And for me and you.
[sniffles, breathes shakily]
[thunder howling, rain pattering]
[Amanda panting]
Jason told me you want
to be the first one to test the Box.
Yes. Hell yeah.
We should keep the pedal down
on your training.
Just to be safe.
You came looking for me.
- I'm sorry I didn't prepare you better.
- [panting]
- [Amanda] Ryan?
- Yeah?
[Amanda, echoing]
I'm sorry I didn't prepare you better.
I'm sorry I didn't--
[gasps, breathes shakily, sighs]
[sighs]
I'm sorry I didn't prepare you better.
It's because of you
I've survived this long.
[sighs]
[eerie music plays]
- [Amanda] Good morning.
- Jesus.
Hi.
Hi.
What are you doing at the park
at the ass crack of dawn?
I'm coming with you.
I thought the Box
was the last place you wanted to go.
I was pretty clear about that, huh?
Yeah. [sniffles]
I may not have stranded you here,
but my work made it possible.
I need to make some things right.
- [inhales deeply, sighs]
- Starting with us.
At least this time
I know what I'm getting into.
Wow. Well, okay.
Great. Shall we?
Let's do it.
What you got there?
- A lot of worlds look the same.
- Mm-hmm.
Sometimes, it takes a while to figure out
if you're in the right place.
This way
I'll know when I'm back.
[hopeful music plays]
Ooh.
The "make things right," that's
that's about Jason 2?
[sighs] It's about a lot of things.
Okay, but one of those things
has to be your desire
to give him a swift kick in the dick.
Come on.
[laughs]
- Fuck that guy.
- Fuck that guy.
Yeah.
- [door closes]
- [machine beeps]
- [Ryan grunts, breathes deeply]
- [Amanda breathes deeply]
[inhales sharply, exhales sharply]
[eerie music plays]
Did you get used to this?
I'll never get used to this.
[Ryan groans]
- [Amanda exhales sharply]
- [Ryan exhales sharply]
[Amanda] Okay.
So, we know memories, details, feelings,
all guide our connection to worlds, right?
How about a warm-up?
I'll choose the first door.
Yes, please. [breathes shakily]
- Okay?
- [Ryan] Okay. [breathes shakily, sighs]
How are you feeling?
Good, confident scared.
[breathes shakily]
Okay.
- Close your eyes.
- [breathes shakily]
- Take a deep breath in.
- [inhales shakily]
Imagine Lake Michigan on a clear,
sunny day.
- Exhale.
- [Ryan exhales shakily]
It's not too hot,
it's not too cold. Inhale.
- [inhales deeply]
- You're on a sailboat
with a gentle wind pushing you up
the shoreline.
Exhale.
[exhales deeply]
Good.
Okay.
[door opens]
[birds chirping]
[people chattering]
[Ryan gasps]
Hey
[sighs]
Is this what you were going for?
- [chattering]
- [birds squawking]
Not really. No.
[shutter clicks]
Let's go.
- Come on.
- Okay.
- [spectator] Bye.
- [shutter clicks]
Wow.
I was thinking about a safe,
beautiful Chicago.
What were you thinking about?
I was thinking just about
all the things you said.
And that I'm I'm glad that you're here.
And that I'm pretty sure I left my shades
at Leighton's.
- [chuckles]
- [chuckles] Sorry.
Well, there you have it.
All of that somehow equals zoo.
It also equals Lilac Wings works.
Up top.
- That's great.
- Yeah.
- You choose the next door.
- [mutters]
Try to stay calm.
Focus on a memory of your home world
or a person.
Something positive.
[Ryan inhales deeply, sighs]
[hopeful music plays]
[Leighton] Rainier's eruption liquified
most of the Pacific Northwest.
They're already dealing
with massive crop death.
[Ryan] Goddamn.
And do we have any idea
how big this will get?
[Leighton] They're projecting
millions of deaths globally this year.
[Ryan] Millions.
Are they concerned
about drastic weather changes?
Yeah, but for now their focus is food.
UV grow operations are being set up,
but it's not enough.
They need to take action soon.
What about the world
where they had several nuclear blasts?
That's right.
They managed
to solve their food supply issue.
Yeah, wasn't it something to do with,
um, shade-tolerant cereals?
Pull up that world's map.
I'll go see their Leighton.
Okay.
Uh
Okay.
[door opens]
- Oh, hey. You're early. Good.
- [Jason] Hey.
Um, well,
it's all here.
It's the whole kit.
Just, uh, be sure to do things
in the order we discussed.
Social Security cards are first,
then driver's license.
Passports are last. That's very important.
Oh, also, you know,
I was able to track down
some of those names you shared with me.
If anyone ran a background check on you,
they'd, uh, learn
that Jason Ashley Dessen
and Daniela Vargas Dessen's
last known address was 1949 Green Street
in San Francisco, California.
They'd also discover, uh, that you have
a 17-year-old son named Charlie,
a senior at a magnet school
in the Mission.
You taught English at Stanford, and that
that your wife works at an art gallery
in the Mission.
- Mmm.
- It's all there in the file.
Amazing.
Uh, good old San Francisco.
[chuckles] Did you leave your heart there?
Yeah.
- So
- No need to count it. I trust you.
All right. Well [sighs]
happy trails, uh, Mr. Stewart.
Uh [chuckles] yeah.
[stammers] I
I really can't thank you enough.
- Pleasure.
- All right.
- See you around.
- Yeah.
[phone rings]
[sighs]
[eerie music plays]
[sighs]
- [Jason] Yeah?
- It's me.
Pinot noir?
- Correct. And also, yes, please.
- [chuckles]
[locks click]
- Hey.
- Hi.
I only did three rooms.
Well, at least this room is free tonight.
Come here. I wanna show you something.
What?
I made us some dinner.
Well, when when I say made,
I got takeout from the diner
that you like down the street.
Where's Charlie?
I gave him 20 bucks
and told him not to be home before 10:00.
["All My Life" plays on speakers]
All my love ♪
[laughs]
Has been waiting for you ♪
Yeah.
Listen, how
how are you?
With-With everything?
[laughs]
I'm fine.
Yeah?
Yeah.
How are things at the Box?
Um
Really good. I've been I've been out
to the pool maybe a few times.
I'm just really just trying to,
you know, puzzle out how to get it done.
Right.
How long do you think it might take?
Oh, don't know.
Also, been
I guess waiting until we have
all the stuff, you know.
Jobs and papers and Charlie's school.
I mean, hopefully a new home.
We're basically there now, right?
Yeah,
back on track to having a normal life.
[song continues]
Hmm. That would be good.
Yeah.
Um
can you close your eyes?
Close your eyes.
You seem so lovely ♪
So far above me ♪
[laughs]
- Give me your hand.
- [laughs]
But I adore you ♪
[breathes shakily]
[exhales sharply]
I know that we've been through a lot.
And I really just cannot imagine, uh,
going through it with anyone else but you.
- [Jason sniffles]
- Um [inhales sharply]
Hold my love, darling ♪
All ♪
["Until Then" plays on speakers]
[Jason laughing]
Where will I go?
What do I do? ♪
[Daniela breathes shakily, sniffles]
[Jason] Wait.
- What? What?
- [Jason mutters]
- Stop. [grunts, chuckles, mutters]
- [Daniela] Stop.
- [shushes]
- Okay.
Okay. [mutters] It's late.
What?
- Hey.
- What?
Are you okay?
[song continues]
Um
Sorry. [cries]
Hey. What's going on?
[inhales sharply] I just
Nothing, I just thought
Charlie would be back.
Yeah.
But
are you okay?
We just haven't been able to be together.
So
I know I been a fool ♪
Yeah.
Till I get you back in my arms again ♪
We can be together. Of course.
Until then where am I gonna go? ♪
Until then what am I gonna do? ♪
It's just
I'm just gonna sit here and cry ♪
Can we
Can we be us?
[breathes shakily]
[suspenseful music plays]
Oh, shit.
This isn't my world.
Oh, fuck, I suck at this.
Would you hold this?
[inhales sharply] Why does the drug
wearing off only bother me? [sniffles]
You seem fine. I just can't do this.
[Amanda shushes]
[sighs] I'm starving.
Same.
Okay.
[Ryan sighs]
- Let's get some food, get some rest.
- Yeah. [sighs]
We'll come back with more positive vibes.
Wait, what are you saying
about my vibes currently?
They're not positive?
- I'm saying you're grumpy as fuck, Ryan.
- [sighs]
That's fair.
[chuckles] Come on.
[suspenseful music continues]
[cab driver speaks indistinctly]
[Ryan grunting]
[clears throat]
Why do you always stay here?
You love this place?
Yeah, it's great.
In every world, they always take cash
and never ask questions.
Oh, nice,
like an inter-dimensional hostel.
[Amanda laughs]
[elevator bell dings, door opens]
[both laugh]
Ah, that's me.
Oh, okay.
- That was fun.
- Yeah, it was great.
I've never drank an Angry Grandma before.
- [Amanda laughs]
- [laughs] That was delicious.
It was a good drink.
- It was.
- Yeah, I liked it.
- Tasted like Pop Rocks.
- [laughs]
I don't know if they have them
in your world. I'm exhausted.
I'm so tired.
- [Ryan sighs]
- I'm gonna sleep for 12 hours.
I'm gonna sleep for 13. I win.
Good night.
- Good night.
- Good morning.
- [chuckles]
- Good "norning."
- Rest.
- You too.
[eerie music plays]
[chewing]
[bell dings, doors open]
[eerie music continues]
[Ryan] Hey, did you notice
no one had phones?
- Is that right?
- Yeah,
and one guy was listening to what looked
like a badass Walkman.
I am feeling this vibe.
Next door is it. I call it.
I'm calling it.
Am I right? Tell me I'm right.
I feel it.
- [door closes]
- [suspenseful music plays]
[suspenseful music continues]
["Skin" plays]
Where are we?
We're one ♪
Who are we?
We're one ♪
Where are we?
We're one ♪
- Who are we? We're one ♪
- I've been rolling in tint ♪
Hiding my skin ♪
Been embarrassed since day one
In my thoughts ♪
Don't come my way ♪
Don't come my way
True colors don't fly ♪
No-fly zone here ♪
I don't feel like the man
I'm so flaky with myself ♪
I'm the shit, I am shit ♪
It's clear
Probably couldn't be any more clear ♪
I've been rolling in tint ♪
Hiding my skin ♪
Been embarrassed since day one
In my thoughts ♪
Don't come my way ♪
Don't come my way
True colors don't fly ♪
- Whoo ♪
- No-fly zone here ♪
I don't feel like the man
I'm so flaky with myself ♪
I'm the shit, I am shit ♪
It's clear
Probably couldn't be any more clear ♪
Where are we?
We're one ♪
Who are we? ♪