Bliss (2021) - full transcript

I have a picture
in my head of a place.

Home.

A woman.

I don't know
if any of it's real,

but it has a feeling,

and the feeling's real.

I'm sorry you're having
technical difficulties.

Yeah. You know what?
I'm gonna transfer you.

Hold on.

I'm sorry you're having
technical difficulties.

What seems to be the problem?



Seriously, what the "F"?

Wittle's not picking up
his phone again.

- Hi, my love.
- Hi.

I'm so happy you called me back.

- How's your shoulder?
- My shoulder's good.

My leg is a little bit achy,
but I'm taking the meds, so...

Enough about me. How are you?

I'm good. I'm good.

Um, I wanted to talk to you
about my graduation.

I can't believe
you're graduating.

Can't believe?

- Really?
- Oh, it's hard to keep track of the time,

but I'm...
I'm really proud of you.

Uh, so, um, Mom is,



uh, she's getting a reservation
at Cliff's Edge.

- Okay.
- Um...

Mm-hmm. That'll be nice.

Well, I want you to come.

D-Does she want me to come?

I want you to come, Dad.

Well, I wonder if maybe,

if I take you and your brother
out the next day and...

Are-are you not coming
to the ceremony?

Of course I'm coming.

I'm gonna be there
in the bleachers.

I'm gonna see you in your...
cap and gown,

walking across there,
and be cheering.

I-I just... I-I don't want to...

I don't want to complicate
things with your mom and...

I know that I messed up,
and I just want this to be...

- the focus to be on... Yeah.
- Dad.

I have so many thoughts
I wish you could see.

Are-are you, are you sure
you're okay, Daddy?

I'm...
Yes, I'm better than okay.

I'm great. I just...

Let me... let me...
How about I call you back?

- Okay. All right.
- Okay. I love you.

- Okay. Love you, too.
- I love you. Bye.

Okay. Bye.

Greg Wittle.

Bjorn wants to see you.

Okay, I'll be right there.

Hey, Wittle.

Hey.

Taking the day off in here?

No.
I was just getting off a call.

Heard the boss wants to see you.

Yeah, I'm headed down there
right now.

I just was speaking with...

What you got there?

Nothing, nothing.

No, it's just kind of private,
sort of a...

Oh, shit.

- That's okay. That's all right.
- I'm sorry, man.

That's okay. Yeah.

- Just let me get this phone call.
- Sorry.

- Now, Mr. Wittle.
- I'm... Okay.

I'm... Be there momentarily.

Could you get that door
for me, please?

- What seems to be the problem?
- I'm sorry you're having...

To refill
your prescription, press eight.

For the...

Please enter
the prescription number

plus the five numbers
after the dash.

You entered prescription number
eight, nine, seven,

nine, seven, eight, four, four,

five, five, nine, zero,

one, one, two.

If this is correct, press one.

We have no record of

prescription number eight, nine...

...seven, nine, seven, eight,

- four, four, five...
- Sorry.

Yeah, he's on a tight schedule.

I understand,
and I'm coming down right now.

I'm just wrapping up a call.
Thank you.

...number, press eight.

For the pharmacy department,
press one.

- Pharmacy.
- Hi.

It's Greg Wittle, and there's...

I'm having a little problem
refilling this prescription.

You can only refill five times.

- You need a new script from your doctor.
- Uh...

I understand. I've only
refilled it four times.

You have to count the first one
in the five, sir.

But why... But that wasn't
a refill, the first one.

Can you hold on just one second?

I'm just... Hold on.

- Mr. Wittle.
- Racing out the door.

Understood. Sorry.

Goodbye. Thank you.

Would it be poss... Hello?

Hel...

I'm sorry you're having
technical difficulties.

What seems to be the problem?

Hi, Doris. Sorry.

Follow me.

He must have stepped out.
You can sit there.

Greg Wittle. How are you, buddy?

Good. Good, Bjorn.

Thank you.

Look, uh, I'm gonna
cut to the chase.

Our Indian counterparts
are crushing us,

autobots are screwing us,

- and a lot of this is because of you, man.
- What?

Where's your head been?

Have you been drawing pictures
of your dream house

instead of answering the phone?

- Is that what that note...
- What time is it?

I'm sorry?

That's how
you should've led this.

You buried the lede, buddy.

We always start with "sorry"
here at Technical Difficulties.

Look, uh, there's, uh,

no easy way
to tell you this, but...

...you're fired.

Greg, you're fired.

Greg?

The inside of your head
must be amazing.

This is the beginning
of your new life.

Bjorn?

Yo, I'll be done in a moment!

Is he not here?

Not yet.

Toilet's all you.

Well, I'm gonna get some lunch,

and he can give me a call
when he gets back.

I'm sorry you're having
technical difficulties.

I'm sorry you're
having technical difficulties.

- I'm sorry you're having...
- I'm sorry you're having...

I'm sorry you're having
technical difficulties.

I'm sorry you're
having technical difficulties.

I'm sorry you're having
technical difficulties.

What seems to be the problem?

I'm sorry you're having
technical difficulties.

What seems to be the problem?

I'm sorry you're having
technical difficulties.

I'm sorry you're
having technical difficulties.

- I'm sorry you're having...
- I'm sorry you're having...

I'm sorry you're having
technical difficulties.

- What seems to be the problem?
- I'm sorry you're having...

I'm sorry you're having
technical difficulties.

Can I get a whiskey?

Double.

- No ice.
- You got it, Greggo.

Be right back.

- I'll start you a tab.
- Great.

You're real.

Sorry?

You know you're real, right?

I was just waiting for...
I'm sorry, do I know you?

You deflected my powers.

I'm sorry?

Stop apologizing.

I'm not apologizing.

I don't hear you.

I can't understand
what you're saying.

I don't recognize you.

I-I-I don't know you.

It's always blurry at first.

I'm Isabel.

Come sit with me.

I'm-I'm fine.

I'm just gonna have my drink.
Thank you.

You need an alibi, don't you?

What?

Interesting view.

Your next step is
extremely important.

You do not want to spend
this life in prison.

That would be very, very bad.

Look at me.

I am going to help you because,

personally, I feel a little bit
responsible for your situation.

Why do you feel responsible?

Let's just say it's kind of
my fault this world exists.

Don't worry about it.

It's gonna be okay.
I'm gonna fix it.

But first, you need to do
something for me.

I have a boyfriend... an ex.

He's a real asshole,
and he's in the bathroom.

Okay.

He has something
that belongs to me.

Are you even listening to me?

Yes.

- About your boyfriend.
- Ex.

He has my amulet necklace,
and I need it back.

Why can't you use your powers
on your boyfriend?

Because he's real,
like you and I.

You keep saying "real."
What do you mean by "real"?

You see all these people
outside?

They're not real.

The bartender... not real.

Nothing, nothing,
nothing of this is real.

There's very few of us.

I think you need help.

No, you need help.

Get me my necklace,

and I will fix
the problem for you, Greg.

How do you know my name?

I took it from your mind.

I'm just kidding.

The bartender just said it
like a minute ago.

Come on, Greg.

What have you got to lose?

Why is this necklace
so important?

It contains
special yellow crystals

with the power
to manipulate this fake world.

Well done. That was fast.

Did he give you any trouble?

No, he was just passed out.

Really? Great.

Get back in there
and get the wallet.

Drinks on him.

No, I can... I got money.

He owes me.

Okay, guapo.

Time to solve your problem.

You deserve a clean break.

Okay.

I'm gonna fix it.

Hey.

You see this?

The world is simply light
bouncing around your neurons.

It's manufactured and malleable.

You're free.

He jumped!

- He jumped! He jumped!
- No.

He jumped out of the window!
Right there.

He just fucking
committed suicide

- in the middle of the day!
- What?

What were you doing in the bar?

Nothing.
I was just getting a snack.

- I was just...
- Let's go.

- Did you do that?
- Did what?

A dozen witnesses saw him
jump out of the window,

and then saw you walk out
of the bar across the street.

Convinced yet?

I forgot my wallet.

- Forget about it.
- No, no, I can go back.

- I'm innocent, right?
- You can't go back.

You have to lay low for a while
till the case closes.

But you said yourself that

they saw me at the bar...
The witnesses.

Exactly.

Let them do the talking.

Last thing you need is
to be in a dark room,

bright light on your face,
with the Five-O tripping you up,

because you will
for sure fuck it up.

Just lay low.

You have a phone?

Yeah. Why?

...inequality
of income and wealth

has surged in recent years.
Protestors are...

We'll use science
to shape policy.

Not everyone is convinced.

It doesn't make any sense.

Bjorn was happy.

He wasn't depressed.

It's not possible.

The most likely cause of death
is suicide,

although police have not
ruled out foul play.

Yo. Phone.

Hi. I'm Dad, and this is...

Emily.

And who's the one on your shirt?

This is... Turtleistic.

That's perfect.

- That's great.
- Turtleistic.

- Cute.
- Turtleistic.

How much for this?

- I'll give you 60 bucks.
- Done.

ID.

I don't have a wallet.

I... Can you use yours?

Can she use hers?

40.

Ten.

I mean, better than
tossing it on the trash can.

Oh, for sure,
but they just grind you

on that no-ID thing.

- Did you know that?
- No.

I don't have a phone.
I'm not that stupid.

- Wh-Where are we going?
- We're going here,

where you'll be safe
until the case closes.

Welcome to my home
away from home.

And this is my Ophelia.

It's okay, baby.

I can't stay here.

Are you homeless?

Is this legal or...

You know, I really
appreciate your help.

I'm sorry, I think I'm gonna go.

And where are you going?

I'm gonna go home.

Well, I'm staying in a motel,

so I'll go back
to the motel room,

but I don't have the key
'cause that's in my wallet,

but I'll just... Well, no,
'cause my ID's there also

and my money.

So I don't have my ID
or the money,

but maybe they'll remember me.

Hopefully,
they'll remember me and...

Dude, you're homeless.

The reason why
I'm not going home

is because
I'm recently divorced.

Okay, then just stick around
until things cool off,

and then you can go get
your wallet,

get yourself a house
or a new wife,

whatever it is
that you want to do.

I do have a television.

You can watch the news there
on mute.

- You have electricity?
- Yeah, and water.

See, I'm not homeless,
just off the grid.

I am offering you
a safe place to hide out.

Take it or leave it.

Okay? I'm not gonna be begging.

It's not like I enjoy
your company or anything.

"No foul play"?

Do you see what that says?

- Yeah.
- Huh?

You are officially free.

Yes!

Well, I...

Thank you. Thank you. I will...

I will get out of your hair now.

That's it?

So eager to walk out the door.

No, no, I'm not. I...

Are you cooking something?

Just stir-fry. Nothing.

Well, I like...

Do you have any extra?

To your innocence.

Innocence.

I do feel bad about Bjorn.

Of course you feel bad.

Well, 'cause he was... you know,
he was not a horrible guy.

He could be a... actually,
a pretty nice guy sometimes.

He let us wear shorts
sometimes to work.

You know, in-in the summertime.

No, I understand. I mean...

I understand how you must feel.

You killed a nice guy
that let you wear the shorts.

And you think it's real.

But you know what?

You just have to observe
the feeling and then let it go.

I want to show you something
really cool.

Take this lighter.

And you see those candles
over there?

Wave it at the candles.

Well done.

Oh, it wasn't that hard.

Now try to do it
without the lighter.

You like that?

Are you kidding me?

Beautiful.

Well, bravo.

Now that you've created
such a fantastic atmosphere,

shall we dine?

Do tell me about
this dream home.

It's just this persistent
fantasy that I can't shake

where I'm always drawing this...

little abode
that's on a peninsula,

and I completely get lost in it.

Show it to me.

You have the drawings?

Let's see.

I'm impressed.

It's very precise.

Well, that's the thing.

It's easy for me
to do the detail,

'cause I see it
so clearly in my mind.

Right there's the path

that leads out to just
sort of like a little room

that just has a great view
of these mountains here.

You love the pool.

Yeah, that's part
of an old ruin.

And can you see
the hotel right there?

It has an observatory.

The Hotel Pleiades.

Pleiades.

Yeah, that's a cluster of stars.

In my mind, it feels real.

I can see it.

Greg, where do you think
this is?

Where is it?

Well, it's right in
the brain-powered mind

of Greg Wittle.

What?

And who's this?

Kind of forgot
that one was in there.

That is me.

Look at her face.

You drew me.

Greg, this is not a fantasy.

This is our real life,
outside of here.

No, come on.

How can that be...

But you know that...

- Shh.
- How... Did you...

Let it be bigger
than your comprehension.

You're my guy.

I'm your guy?

You're my guy.

Kiss me.

So, what, your phone
doesn't work anymore?

Well, I knew
you'd try to avoid me.

We need to talk about Dad.

I-I need your help.

I-I want to find him.

I want him to come
to my graduation.

Just let it go, Emmy, okay?

Follow Mom's lead.

No.

I think it'd be good for him.

Think it'd be good
for all of us.

Did he not bring your ass to,
like, every baseball practice?

I hated baseball.

Who taught you
how to skateboard?

He did.

I remember.

I remember how many times

he busted his ass
trying to teach me shit

and trying to impress me.

I mean, I busted my ass, too,

but he ate shit
way more than a few times.

So, can you just, like...

hold on to that?

Help me find him.

I can't.

Sorry.

I just can't trust him anymore.

"Hey, Dad, how's your back?"

"It's okay. It's actually
my knee that's bothering me."

"Really? 'Cause I thought
you fixed that already."

- "Oh, no. You must be thinking about my shoulder."
- Stop that.

"Okay, your shoulder. Is it the
left one or the right one, Dad?

- "What about next week? Is your ankle gonna go?"
- Stop it.

- "Well, it's always something with you, Dad."
- Stop it!

Douchebag!

- Hey! Creep.
- Nice.

Down!

Judgmental bitch. Take her down.

What?

Do it.

- No.
- She's not real.

Get her.

Go!

Yeah!

Whoa. Whoa! Whoa, whoa!

Oh, whoa! Watch out!

I don't have to feel guilty
about Bjorn!

Cut through those illusions!

Oh. Stop!

There you go.

Isabel. Hey.

Ask me if I gave them my name.

Ask me.

- Did you give them your name?
- No!

- No way! Come on!
- No!

I didn't give them
your name, either.

They can't fuck with you

- if you have no name, right?
- They don't need it.

You okay?

I'm good.

How do I seem?

Good, right?

Yeah.

I'm a little disoriented,
but in a good way.

Don't worry about that.

Hey, are you hungry?
Let's go eat!

- Hi.
- Hi.

Have you seen my dad?

That's what he looks like.

Haven't seen him.

I think he might have been
staying here a few weeks ago.

No. Sorry.

It's your turn. Come on.

Wait up. Yo.

- Hey, yo, D.
- Yo.

Thank you.

No, I don't think so.

Well, if you do see him,

- will you please call me?
- Yeah.

- Thank you so much.
- Yeah.

We're organizing a march.

Situation's gotten out of hand.
Come if you can.

Yeah, I'll be there.

Get me a chicken sandwich
and some fries, okay?

I'll see you in there.
You go ahead.

- And a soda?
- Yeah, and a soda.

You got it.

Yo, what can I get for you?

Can I get two

artisanal chicken sandwiches,

two large fries
and two sodas, please?

That'll be 12.76.

Uh, okay,
my friend's got my money.

Let me just...

I think I'm just gonna
go ahead and order later.

Uh, all right.

'Cause I want to get
everything together.

Yeah, no problem.

- It's just easier.
- Yeah. No problem.

I'll just get it later.

You want to go out, honey?

I need money.

- Come here, cutie.
- Hey, come here.

Did you hear what I said?

It's expired,
but that don't mean much.

We have to toss food after
two hours on the shelf, so...

- Okay, thanks.
- Yeah.

It's a little cold,
but it's good.

I don't mind cold food.

Let's go find Kendo
and get the amulet refilled.

Well, that's
the funny thing about accents is

sometimes they can sound strong,

depending on the region
that you're in.

But if you're not from
that region, then it just...

This is where you wait.

I'll be back.

- Here?
- Yeah.

Don't move.

Hi, honey.

Who's the new guy?

Don't want to talk about it.

He's cute.

I'm here for some yellows.

Fill it up.

You really broke my heart.
You know that.

Get to work.

I have real feelings.

Hey, you want some mud? Junk?

Skag?

- Oh, no. No, no, I'm good.
- Black pearl?

- Gato? Caballo?
- I'm all right.

Hey, man, whatever. Your loss.

...instead of waiting around

to collect
government handouts...

You sure he went
west on San Fernando?

I-I... No, I'm not sure.
I never said I was sure.

I see him. Sir, can you just
pull over right here?

And can you just wait
for one minute?

Dad?

Dad.

Emily?

- Hi.
- Oh, my gosh.

How are you?
What are you doing here?

- I, um...
- Is everything okay?

Um...

I'm sorry, it has been...
it's been a crazy few days.

I need you to come
with me right now.

- Okay?
- Yes, of course.

- Okay.
- Gosh, yes. Yeah, sure.

- Okay, come on.
- No, but...

Can we wait just a moment?

I just...
I'm just waiting for...

I'm waiting for someone,
for a friend.

And then we're gonna go.

Dad.

Please.

Hurry the fuck up, Kendo.

I have to do this correctly.

And I have places to be.

Graduation.

Oh, my God.

I did not forget,

and I'm definitely
gonna be there.

And I want to take you
and Arthur to Cliff's Edge

with your mother,
if she'll allow it.

I already graduated, Dad.

What?

Like two weeks ago.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Here, I-I'm gonna...

I have so many...

...thoughts
I wish you could see.

I'm gonna leave you with...

Um, I'm gonna leave you
with this.

It's my phone number, okay?

- Okay.
- Just call me when you're ready.

Is he real?

Wouldn't you like to know.

Who was that?

Hey. Who was that?

That's my daughter.

Ignore her. She's not real.

- Why would you say that?
- Because it's the truth.

What do you want me to say?
I'm not making this shit up.

Let's just get off the street
and have some of this.

Actually,
I don't think I want any.

I don't think I want to have
any special powers right now.

Fine, don't.

It's not like anybody's
twisting your arm or anything.

No, I'm not saying
that you are...

You think you can just walk

through my neighborhood
tax-free?

Don't worry about me, huh?

I'm fine.

I don't know about you, though.

Don't walk away from me.

Isabel, come on.

- Here, give me one of those.
- I thought you didn't want any.

Yeah, people make mistakes.
I made a mistake.

Don't make me beg.

Isabel, please, come on.

Hey, hey, that's...

That's all we have.

Give me that.

Oh, dude!

Look at you.

You're like
the telekinetic warrior!

Okay, Greg.
Okay, it's okay, it's okay.

Isabel!

Isabel.

Isabel!

Think fast, Greggo.

Oh, yeah.

Good on you, bud.

Hello. You've reached Emily.

Leave me a message.

Hey, it's Dad, and, um,

I am, um, just trying
to reach you.

Um, you might not
recognize this number.

I'm calling from a pay phone.

But I will try you back.

I don't have my cell phone,
so I'll try you back.

All right, thank you.

- Where the fuck were you?
- Hey!

I thought you left me! I...

No, you weren't here
when I woke up!

I didn't know where you were!
I-I left you a note!

No, I didn't see any note.

- What is this?
- No, I didn't...

- I didn't see that.
- What is this?

I-I did not see it.

- "Be right back."
- Yes, I didn't see it.

"Kisses, hug, kisses, hug,
Isabel. Love."

I'm sorry.

I went to...

I went to get fertilizer
for Ophelia.

Okay. I...

Yeah, when I woke up,
I was yelling, "Isabel..."

Where are the yellows?

Uh, they...

Somebody's been
in our place, Greg.

The-the-the yellows are missing.

And-and they... they took
the-the drawings of our house.

No, no, I took those.

I got 'em. They're right here.

Look, I got 'em.
They're right here.

Why?

Why did you...

Why did you take them away?

No, I...

It's our memory of our house.

- I just wanted to look at them.
- Are you trying to forget?

No, I'm not trying to forget.
I just wanted to look at them.

Did you take them
because you're leaving?

No!

I didn't. I-I felt...

I felt self-conscious
having them there,

'cause it's like a...

Did you see her?

No.

Tell me the truth.

- I didn't see her.
- Why you have that in there?

- I-I did not...
- Did you call her?

No. I-I thought about it,
but I didn't.

I didn't... I...
I didn't see her.

I tried, but-but I-I...

Why is it such a terrible thing?

It's not supposed
to be happening.

Isabel...

- I didn't see her.
- I don't understand.

I didn't see her.

I'm really worried
about you, Greg.

- I'm really worried about you.
- Okay.

- You're...
- I'm okay.

You're getting sucked
into the illusion,

and you're dragging me
in with you.

I know this is not real,
and I can barely breathe,

and...

And-and my stomach is turning,
and my skin hurts,

- and I feel like I'm drowning.
- Isabel, it's okay, just...

And I know this is not real.

You are getting seduced
by the simulation,

and I'm losing you.

I-I think maybe we should
just stop hanging out.

You're my soul mate.

You can't just walk away

and think that
you can disconnect from me.

If you could see the difference
between what's real

and what's illusion,
you'd know that.

And you're supposed
to know that by now.

How am I supposed to know?

Y-You're the one telling me
he's real and she's not real,

and then I have to take
your word for it, right?

That's really your trick,
is it forces me

- to depend on you.
- No.

No, no, no. It makes me...

It's very clever.
It makes me believe in you.

But guess what,
I don't believe in you.

I've never believed in you.

How could someone believe you?

Tell me something
that makes me believe in you.

- Show me something.
- Okay.

Okay, I get it.

You... you have to see it
for yourself.

See what?

We have to take
a special kind of crystal,

different from the yellows.

They are very rare.
I got them from Kendo.

They're blue crystals.

It's an exit mechanism.

They will eject us
from this simulation.

We have to take ten each.

Two, three, four, five,

six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

One, two, three,
four, five, six.

Shit.

Is-is that enough?

Fuck it. We'll take the chance.

Where-where did you get
the measurement from?

It's theoretical.

I think we'll be fine.

It has to be taken
through the nose.

Come.

Come on, baby.

We have to exit
this stupid simulation.

Is it safe?

Kind of.

Dr. Clemens, you okay?

Yes, we're okay, Liang.

Don't panic.

We ejected the brainbox
on purpose.

Dr. Wittle formed an unhealthy
attachment to an FGP again,

and he was dragging me with him.

Oh. And your exit mechanism?

Blue algorithm, as expected.

But this time, it was
no easy task to get crystals.

Thank God that Kendo
has developed

such a talent for finding them.

Well, if you don't
mind me asking,

what did this one feel like?

It wasn't war
or extreme poverty,

but, hell, it was icky.

I'm so glad to...

Be able to breathe
this fresh air.

- Please disconnect Dr. Wittle.
- Okay.

Hello, Dr. Wittle.

You feeling okay?

I feel okay.

Well... this...

should get your electrolytes up.

Thank you.

What is it?

Lime Gatorade.

Yeah.

Easy does it. There we go.

There's my guy.

Welcome home.

What's a FGP?

Note the memory gap.

You said "FGP." You were...

Yes, it's short for
"fake generated person."

Only these volunteers are real.

Did you save our incarnations?

Mm, they're automatically
in the cloud.

Uh, shall I get it going now?

Give us a couple of hours.

I'm taking Dr. Wittle to lunch.

Sounds good. I'll be here.

Some FGPs are
more convincing than others.

What do you think?

I think this place
is overwhelming.

Good overwhelming
or bad overwhelming?

Great overwhelming.

What's with all the...

What is with the-the hologram
or the-the ghost people?

Oh. Telepresence.
It's all the rage these days.

Hello, Dr. Clemens.

Dr. Wittle.

How's the research coming?

It's getting there.

Any problems
we should be aware of?

No.

Lovely to see you.

That was quite a look she was giving you.

Any problems I should be aware of?

Are you okay?

Yeah, yeah, I'm good, I'm good.

Would you like to take
the scenic route?

Yes.

Now, why am I not
remembering any of this?

Don't worry about it.

Sometimes it happens
to the volunteers.

To some of them, anyway.

It'll wear off.

- Think fast, Greggo.
- Hi. Oh.

Good on you, bud. Mm!

Oh, put that brain boner away.

We got to get some olive oil.

- Oh, no, Greg.
- Yes.

- No, we have gallons of it at home.
- Yes.

Home?

I can't believe it.

I told you.

Hotel Pleiades.

Yeah.

What a fantastic name
for a hotel

that has its own observatory.

"Play at ease."

How did this whole world
come to be?

Your memory's not back.

No.

Is that bad?

I was so scared to lose you.

I made an irresponsible
and stupid decision.

We shouldn't have exited
like that,

without the appropriate
dosage and...

Maybe it might...
it might not come back.

Who cares?

I love not remembering
this place,

because I get to
discover it all again.

I'm walking around
just like a newborn,

experiencing all of this beauty
for the first time.

I just want to know, is it...
where did it come from?

Has it always been like this?

No.

This place was actually
much worse

than the one we just exited.

It got so bad.

I mean,
pollution was to a degree

that people would just
drop dead on the street,

and the level of poverty
was insufferable. It...

I can't...

Looking at this,
I can't picture that.

I mean, what happened?

Three things.

Just three things?

- Mm. Yeah.
- Okay.

- Can you guess?
- No.

- Oh, come on.
- I don't know.

Automation,

synthetic biology

and asteroid mining.

I wasn't gonna guess that.

Oh, I have... Oh, wait.

I'm gonna get your memory back.

I'm gonna get your mem...

I'm gonna trigger that memory.

You're coming back. Watch this.

I'm scared.

Yes!

Ta-da!

The Thought Visualizer.

You don't remember your baby?

This is your invention.

I invented that?

Oh, it's, like, super popular

in very small circles.

Give it a try.

What is it?

A Thought... Visualizer.

Okay, but I don't know
what that is.

Okay, introduce yourself.

Hello.

I'm Greg Wittle.

Strawberries.

A dinosaur...

swimming in the ocean.

A cheetah chasing a gazelle.

A volcano.

Oh, my favorite one.

Do my favorite one. Say...

"We're in a pickle."

We're in a pickle.

I love it.

But you know what?
This is not just a toy.

It's amazing
for illustrating things.

Sit up straight
and pay attention, Dr. Wittle.

Science saved the world.

Synthetic biology fixed
all the environmental problems.

And asteroid mining

brought mountains of new money.

And the guy that had the company
for the asteroid mining...

- That guy.
- Yeah.

He just started giving
all this free money away.

I mean, every single person here

gets a base of 500,000K a year.

And, of course, then the robots,
they started doing

all the boring
and tedious tasks.

We had the freedom and the time
to explore our passions:

science, art, whatever,
whatever you wanted.

We went from a broken world

to a beautiful, sustainable,

safe, peaceful Earth.

You have to admit,

this is spectacular.

Yes.

- But you know what?
- What?

The thing is that...

it's amazing how easy

humans can get used to
even something spectacular.

Most people say,
"Ignorance is bliss,"

but I say...

you have to experience the good
to appreciate the bad.

No, the other way around.

Exactly.

So that's where
the brainbox comes from.

It works.

You really mean that?

- Yes.
- You really think it works?

Look at me.

I'm sitting here.
I couldn't be more...

I couldn't be more grateful.

Greg.

Let's go for a swim.

- Oh, we can't.
- Yes, we can.

- No, we have to go back.
- No.

No, we have to go
back to the lab.

We will, in a little bit.

Come on.

No, I have to take this
very seriously.

I know.
I'm taking it seriously, too.

But you can't just give me
a bite of an apple

- and then show it and then take it away.
- I already messed up.

Give me another...
give me another couple bites.

- I already exited before it was over because of you.
- I know.

Listen, listen, listen,
listen, listen, listen, listen.

We are gonna go back.

We're just gonna
just crunch into this apple

for a few more days, and then we're going back.

But first, we're gonna swim.
Come on.

I'm scared.

Shut up.

Just shut the fuck up.

Just one day.

One more day.

That's it.

Whoo!

Careful.

Is there a little bit
of a shindig going on?

- A what?
- Soiree.

A fiesta.

Oh, yes!

The mixer!

Artists and scientists
get together twice a month,

and I forgot it was today.

Oh, who's having
the memory problem now, honey?

Now, don't worry, it happens
to some of the volunteers.

- It should come back, hopefully.
- Cállate.

So, is this how you imagined it?

Hmm? The Hotel Pleiades?

Thanks.

It's so nice, huh?

Hi.

Dr. Clemens.

- Oh, Dr. Nye.
- It's so good to see you.

- Thanks for taking the time.
- Yes.

Hope you're having a good time.

We're having a great time.
You remember Greg?

Dr. Wittle?

- Yes, Greg.
- Yes, we ordered one of

your Thought Visualizers.

It's a lot of fun.

- Have you ever said to it, "I'm in a pickle"?
- Yeah.

- Have you ever done that?
- We...

It's so good.

No, listen, "I'm in a pickle."

- Next time, you try it.
- Okay.

It's amazing.

- Well, you two look so good.
- Thank you.

- So do you.
- Uh, thank you for taking the time.

- Oh, this?
- Yes.

I throw it on
when I don't care how I look.

Now, carry on, you crazy kids.

- Okay.
- Thank you.

- Enjoy.
- Thanks.

He got your Thought Visualizer.

Wow. Oh, wow.

Now I'm impressed.

Maybe, just maybe, hell...

is not such a horrible place.

Whenever I hear about,

"Oh, my God,
boiling oil in hell,"

my first expectation is
wild partying, barbecue,

sexual orgies, alcohol, and so on and so on.

What if this is
the real life in hell?

And what if, in hell,

from time to time,
some devil's representative

comes to the people having a
good time there and tells them,

"Listen, guys, now we will be
for a quarter of an hour

observed by heaven, so please
pretend that you suffer."

- Hey, I'm glad I caught you alone.
- Yeah.

There's something
I want to tell you.

Word on the street is
there've been problems

with Isabel's research.

You heard anything?
You know anything about that?

No, I...

I've gotten a good feeling.

Okay.
We all want her to succeed,

but this is her reputation
on the line.

What did he say?

What did he want?

What did he say to you?

He said that everybody
really wants you to succeed.

- Really?
- I don't think that's a bad thing

that everybody wants you
to succeed.

Ah, then why didn't you
tell me what he was saying?

This is bullshit.
You think I believe that?

- You think I'm stupid?
- Isabel, he came up to me...

You think I don't know that
these people are laughing at me?

What the fuck
are you looking at?

Isabel. Isabel.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Nobody here believes in me.

- They want you to succeed.
- Yeah, right.

Don't say "nobody here."
I'm here.

- You're taking their side!
- Listen.

I'm here, and I believe in you.

Right?

I believe in everything
that you're doing.

Your patience with me
is a thing of beauty.

Let's get out of here.

My grandmother used to say,

"The universe is sitting
on the back of a tortoise."

And I would ask Granny,

"What is that tortoise
standing on?"

She replied
with quite confidence,

"Another tortoise.

"And that one stands
on another tortoise.

And that one, another tortoise."

It turns out
it's turtles all the way down.

I wouldn't go near him, ma'am.

He could be unpredictable.

It's a little cold.

Was not expecting that.

Complaining already.

I'm fine. It's just chilly.

I get one shot at this.

One shot.

I'm gonna show these arrogant,

patronizing son of a bitches

that access to the brainbox...
It's a human right.

Publish now. Stop being afraid.

Just get it out there
and let people decide then.

We have to go back
into the brainbox, Greg.

I need complete data.

We need to finish the cycle.

You have enough data, Isabel.

Not to mention the fact
that I'm not going back in.

Just stop doubting yourself.

Why do you care so much
what they think?

Put it out there.

They're gonna think it's great.

And if they don't...

And if they don't?

Then here we are,
right here, together.

Weren't you telling me
that we were soul mates?

Would you let me
interview you onstage?

It would be my honor.

Our presenter,
Dr. Isabel Clemens,

pioneered brainbox simulations,

ugly, simulated worlds
that users can jack into

in order to generate
appreciation for the real world.

Dr. Clemens.

Thank you very much.

What is bliss?

Bliss is not a feeling.

It's not a place.

Bliss is a state of mind
that can only be achieved

by understanding the contrast

with the opposite state of mind.

But the proof is in the pudding.

Please meet my pudding,

Dr. Wittle.

Please take a seat, Dr. Wittle.

Before we have a volunteer
connected to the brainbox,

we always ask
a series of questions.

And now I will ask Dr. Wittle
the same questions

so we can compare his responses
to the previous ones.

Dr. Wittle,
how do you feel right now?

I feel great.
I'm happy to be here.

And thank you
for the nice reception.

- Dr. Wittle...
- Yes.

...how do you feel right now?

Fine. Great.

Yeah, sure.

I mean, is that really
the first question,

or are we just bullshitting
till you start?

Any complaints, Dr. Wittle?

No. None at all.

I feel like I've died
and gone to heaven.

Without the dying part.

Dr. Wittle...

- Yes.
- ...do you have any complaints?

Other than being your lab rat?

Just the usual
ups and downs of life.

Um...

I mean, can I... should I
be petty for a second?

I'm a little frustrated.

I can't get
the pool temperature,

you know, to work.

I mean, how fucking difficult
is it to get a pool heated

to, uh, something where you
don't feel like you're joining

the Polar Bear Club
when you jump in?

Dr. Wittle,

do you feel like
you are lacking anything

or anyone
in your life right now?

Dr. Wittle?

Greg.

I don't feel like
I'm lacking anything.

- Dr. Wittle.
- Yes, Dr. Clemens.

Do you feel like
you are lacking anything

or anyone
in your life right now?

That's a...
that's a dumb question.

I'm kidding. I'm just joking.

Please answer and be honest.

- That's how this works.
- Okay.

That's how this works.

Um... yes.

Yeah, there is
something missing,

but I don't want
to talk about it.

Well, as you can see,

this once frustrated
and grumpy man...

...is now a man
full of wonder and...

...and appreciation

and a hunger for tasting
every breath of life.

Thank you. Thank you.

Congratulations, Isabel.
You proved everybody wrong.

Thank you so much.

Listen, I read your thesis,

and I'm gonna submit it
to nature and science magazines

and hope they put it
on the cover.

- It's fantastic.
- Oh...

- I don't know what to say.
- Hang on.

There may be a chaired position
in your future.

Oh, I have to tell Greg.

Has anybody seen Dr. Wittle?

- Thank you.
- Sure.

- Hey.
- And for you, sir?

Cabernet Sauvignon.

Champagne.

Wait. What...

Excuse me.

Wait, let me just say hello.

- Dr. Clemens.
- Hey.

Where did the initial idea
come from?

What was the germ?

- Yeah...
- Yes, congratulations, Doctor.

- Thank you. Thank you very much.
- Lovely work.

Um, I got to go
find someone right now.

Hey, please, just stop.

I just want... I just want
to hear your voice.

Are...

Are you really here
in this place?

Yes.

I'm here with you.

So you're real.

Yes, I'm real.

You're in Isabel's study?

You're in Dr. Clemens' study?

You're one of the volunteers?

- My name is Emily.
- No, I know.

I'm Emily.

I know who you are,

but how are you out here
in the real world?

I'm your daughter.

I-I know...

I don't think I have
a real daughter

out here in the real world.

Your name is Greg Wittle.

You have a son and a daughter.

Arthur and Emily.

You're not thinking clearly

because your head's
not on straight.

I've been to your tent, Daddy.

It's okay.

Yeah, it's just hard
to figure out what's what.

'Cause it starts to feel
like there's, like...

it's almost like
a trick being played.

Um...

When I was six,

you, uh... you were
tucking me into bed, and...

I said, "Careful. Careful.

I don't want you
to mess up my braids."

And you said, "My love,
I can't mess up your brains.

They're inside your head,
protected by your skeleton."

And I said, "No, my braids, Dad.

My braids, not my brains."

Braids. Braids.

Braids, not brains.

You remember.

Yes, I remember.

Dr. Clemens,
tell us about the germ.

What do you know about it?

Dr. Clemens posits that

these memory echoes
from the brainbox world

will fade away.

They're just a side effect from
not having enough blue crystals.

One of these days,

you're going to have to choose
between these worlds,

and maybe, somehow,

to you,

they're both real.

So just... just...

...just do what's best
for you, okay?

- Greg!
- Dr. Clemens!

Isabel!

Get off me!

Isabel!

Greg!

Greg! Greg!

Shit.

Did you see that?
I used the powers.

But that's impossible.

This shouldn't work here.

Greg, this is really bad.

Poverty's killing us!

We have to get to the lab!

We need more blue crystals.

But why would we go back in?

That's a terrible idea.

We took eight instead of ten.

But you said
that was theoretical.

It was just an estimate.

Well, I guess I got that

little fucking detail wrong,
didn't I?

No, you've got to explain
anything to me!

This is what I know.

The brainbox cells
must have worked

their way into our head.

It's as if we are bringing

some of the simulation
here with us

even when we're disconnected.

Okay, so how do we fix it?

By taking ten blue
crystals each. Liang, let's go.

But don't they have crystals
here in the lab?

They don't exist out here.

We need to go back.

They're only manufactured
inside of there.

Dr. Clemens, there's a problem.

The main brain gamma is low.

Liang, we're leaving now!

Well, I can only make it
ride up for a couple seconds.

Are you ready?

Dr. Clemens,
what about the study?

Your mission?

Shut the fuck up
and press the button already!

We'll deal with it later.

Baby!

Baby, we're back in.

Come on.

Let's go find Kendo.

Kendo here?

- You're not allowed in here.
- Zip it.

All right, you fake fucks.

Where's Kendo? We need 20 blues.

- No one's got blues.
- Kendo will.

Where is he? Hmm?

- Where is he?
- Hey, hey. Whoa, whoa.

Let's start again.

Where is Kendo? Hmm?

Where is he?

Hey.

What are you doing alive?
Hey, Bjorn!

- Someone call security.
- Okay.

I'm gonna get it. Guys!

I saw you fall out the window.

He jumped out the window!
You saw it, too!

He fell right over there,

- right out that window!
- Should I, should I call...

- Bjorn, look at me.
- I'm out of here.

Look at me.
No, no, I'm calm. I'm calm.

- Do you want me to call her?
- You saw him.

- Greg, get some food.
- What are you doing?

Don't do that to me!

- Come on, come on, come on...
- No, no. Just tell me why!

- Here...
- Now! Now! Move!

Let's go! Come on!

I found Kendo.

Bjorn's alive.

My boss is alive.

- Did you see that?
- Oh, my God.

That's an FGP.

They rebooted him! Come on.

Kendo's at Doc Henry's?

No, but our car is.

Fake, fake, fake!

Hello, beauties.

Has anybody got some Tabasco?

Tabasco? Bitch, what the fuck
you talking about?

Mace.

For the bad boys.

Get out of here
with your fucked-up teeth.

Give this bitch a toothbrush.

Yeah, I got fucked-up teeth,
but I also got a 20.

Give it to me. Who has it?

Fake, fake, fake, fake!

Real!

Hey, blondie, two for one.

Hey.

You in the mood?

It's the only reason
I come to this shithole.

So, what is it gonna be?

Uh, let's have a BJ
and a finger in the butt.

- Sure.
- All right.

- Let me get my lipstick.
- All right.

No, no, the wallet! The wallet!

Yes! Blues!

Here we go!

Look what I found.

Yes!

Okay, philosophical question:

Kendo's real,
so if Kendo... if he...

Yeah, Kendo is real,

but if he dies here,
he doesn't die out there.

I'm not gonna do
anything to him.

Stop looking at me that way.

Dr. Clemens.

Kendo, we need blue crystals.

I don't have time
to explain it to you,

but shit's falling apart
one level up.

- Give them to me. Go get them!
- Okay.

Okay, sure, you got it.

Go get them!

- Now!
- Okay.

I have them on me, right here...

Ah, fuck!

Dr. Clemens, what are you doing?

- Hey. Hey!
- I thought he went for a gun,

but he actually did have them.

- Sorry, Kendo.
- Sorry?

I mean, it starts to feel like

you're making this up
as you go along, that...

He's fine.

Maybe just a mild stomachache,
but he's fine.

Police!

- Go!
- Hold it!

- Stay where you are!
- Go this way!

Stop!

This is fake.

This is fake. This is fake.

Come on, can't you run faster?

This is way too much running.

Can't we just take
the blues here?

No, we need to get the device

to take it through the nose.

We need to get to the tarp home.

Why didn't we get it

before we started
shooting people?

Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry.

Okay, okay.

I got a call.

He was panhandling
outside of his old office.

Will you come with me, please?

I need you.

We need to take ten each.

There's not enough!

What do you mean?

- There's not enough!
- Count 'em again.

There's not enough!

- Come out with your hands up.
- What?

We're so fucked!

Oh, my God.

Okay, what does it mean?

- We're fucked.
- Yeah, what does it mean?

We're so fucked.

It means that one of us
gets to go home

- and the other one gets stuck in this place.
- Why? No, no.

- I'm not staying here.
- We go to...

- to jail and-and...
- No. No, no, no, no.

- ...for good.
- Listen to me.

I have to go.

Okay? I can't stay here.

Don't worry. It's okay.

It's okay.

We see you behind the tree.

- You-you take it.
- Okay.

And you're gonna be okay, right?

Okay.

I'm gonna...

- Maybe we can split it.
- Go, go.

No, no, it won't work.

Go, go. Come on.

I have an idea.

What if you kill me?

Yeah. Look.

Take this.

Just crush my skull,
and then I meet you back there.

- I'm not staying here.
- That's bullshit.

I'm not gonna do that.

- Why?
- What if it doesn't work?

What about Kendo?

Maybe I killed him.
I don't know.

I-I don't... I don't know
what to believe.

Oh, shit.

Fuck.

We're fucking surrounded?

Down there!
Get your men down there!

Let's go!

We're in a pickle.

We're in a pickle, baby.

Yeah, we're in a pickle.

Okay. Let's go.

You're not coming?

I'm-a be right here.

I'm here for you.

Thank you.

Fuck!

Shit.

This is horrible.

This is... this is
a fucking nightmare.

It's my fault.

I created this.

I created this shit.

Just me.

But it's also kind of beautiful.

It is.

Look, I mean,
even with the cops coming

and with us running and just...

You know, everyone's playing
their part, and we're all...

like, we never know
how it's gonna end.

One minute, we're
roller-skating and laughing.

Remember?

Yeah, and then the next minute,
can't even afford a sandwich,

and then the next minute,
you never know.

That's what I love about here
and what you created.

You don't know
what's gonna happen.

It's fucked-up.

And it's great.

And I'm not leaving.

I'm not leaving.

Dad!

Dad!

Dad!

Keep an eye out!
Stay back! Stay back!

- No! No, no, no! Please wait! No, wait!
- Come on, go.

- Get in the car.
- Wait! Wait!

Dad!

I'm sorry.

She's beautiful.

Go.

Hey!

Come on, motherfuckers!

Let's go!

Drop what's in your hand.
Ma'am, show what's in your hand.

Hands in the air.
Let me see your hands.

This is, uh, Greg's first time.

Welcome, Greg.

In this house, there's no stigma
for what you're going through.

Every person on this planet
can relate

to wanting to chase bliss.

It's an open forum, so you can
say anything you want.

We're here to listen.

This woman says
she's my daughter.

And I believe her.

Hi, Dad.

Sorry I'm late. I...

I saw these flowers
on the side of the road.

I thought they looked nice,
I guess.

You're not late, Dad.

You're here.