Empathy, Inc. (2018) - full transcript

To thine own self be true.

At least that's what I used to think.

Now I wonder if it isn't
something more insidious.

Like a curse or a joke.

Of all the different people
we are inside...

Who are we lo be true to?

Maybe they're not home.

Hey, it's gonna be ok.

Temporary, remember.

Temporal.

So how was your flight?



Oh, I feel terrible you had to fly coach.
You should've said something to me.

We would've bought you a better ticket.

Mom, coach is fine.

- When's your stuff getting here?
- What stuff?

Your furniture.

- I told you, mom, we sold it.
- What, why?

Cos they had to get the hell out of dodge.
Am I right, Joel?

I guess I still don't get it.

I don't even know what gti stands...
Or stood for.

Joel, what happened, exactly?

- You know what, mom, let's not discuss this.
- It's all the papers are talking about.

Guys, we just got here,
let's enjoy this amazing meal.

Alright, honey.

But Joel, you wanna give us
your side of the story, right?



Otherwise...

We're gonna think all the bad things
they're saying about you are true.

- How about some wine, mom?
- It's fine.

Um...

Gti...

Genesis technology integrated.

My partner, Craig vine, developed
a process that could catalyze water.

No pollution, just steam.

We were gonna save the world.

Al I had to do was raise the money.

- 30 copies by 11 o'clock, please.
- Sure, I'll gel stalled on that now.

Oh, and your wife's on line two.

Hello, Mrs. Eastman-green,
are you ready for this afternoon?

'Oh, shit. Did
I forget to tell you?' What?

'The realtor moved the closing to 11.
Does that work?'

oh, babe,
that's when we're closing gti.

'Shit, I'm sorry, I forgot.

'You know what, don't worry about it.
I can handle it.

'We'll celebrate tonight, though.'

you know what?
I'm gonna do both.

I'm gonna run Sonny through the agenda,
let him get caught up to speed,

- he can take care of the rest.
- 'Babe, are you sure?'

- I'm gonna be late, but I'm gonna be there.
- 'Oh, that is so great, ok!'

see you in a bit.

- Sonny, I'm gonna need a favor.
- Joel, we need to talk.

Joel, did you hear what I said?

Craig faked his results,
the board's withdrawn support.

I don't understand.

Now, I know how much
you put into gti,

both personally
and all your friends,

but the board's exposed here.
This is a... it's a scandal.

And ventura needs a firewall or a lot
of people are gonna lose a lot more-.

What do you mean, "firewall"?

There's gonna be
a press release.

You'll be named -
culling corners, looking the other way.

And, hey, one bad egg
sounds a lot better than bubble, ok?

There's so much more
at stake here than just gti.

I'll lose all my relationships.
No one's ever gonna trust me again.

You'll bounce back.

Bounce back?
I don't have time to bounce back, Sonny!

I'm buying a house in an hour!
What am I supposed to tell my wife?

I need you out of here by the weekend.

Wait, Craig's still in town,
let me talk to Craig.

Dude, it's over!

No, it's not, gimme a day!

An hour, gimme one hour
to figure something out.

Fine! You save gti by lunch,
I'll take it back to the board.

- Let me in, Craig.
- You don't wanna come in here, man.

How do we save gti?

We don't. It's over, Joel.

No, it's not!
I'm gonna lose everything.

What did you fake?

Did your process ever even work?

Look, early on
I had a partner, ok?

He didn't exactly
do things above board.

As long as he was cutting me checks,
I needed to show results.

The whole thing
just kind of snowballed.

I knew if I got ventura involved,

I could buy enough time to figure out
how to make the process work.

Help me save gti.

- Bro, you're not hearing me. It's dead.
- That's unacceptable.

I don't care if you have to fake
more numbers,

I'm gonna lose my house!
Do you understand?

Ventura is pinning
the whole thing on me!

I worked on this thing for twelve years,
Joel, you've been on it for two.

My old partner, that guy's probably
looking for me right now.

My wife is suing me.

I'm outta here in two hours.
I don't know where I'm sleeping tonight,

so I'm sorry
that you lost your reputation!

Word of advice, Joel.

Don't believe everything you see.

When I told Jessica
I lost our savings, our home,

and was responsible
for a 90 million dollar screw-up,

- she said we ought to come back east.
- It's all gonna blow over.

He's gonna find something else.

The goddamn media
blows everything up.

They said you took people's money.

- That's ridiculous, you lost everything!
- Thank you.

So, what's everybody else
been up to?

- I got an audition already.
- Really, honey? Well, that's great!

Yeah, it is. I think
that I'm gonna do really well here.

The theater scene is big, so,
you know, fingers crossed.

- I love seeing her onstage.
- I can't wail!

But ifs gonna take a lot more than acting
to get you two back on your feet.

She's right, Joel.

Tomorrow you and I
should hit the links.

I might know a couple of guys
that could use a financial advisor.

We could talk about it.

Thanks, ward,
but I'm pretty tired-.

Come on,
fresh air'll do you good!

- That's ok.
- Yeah, we're still on west coast time, dad.

So, push through it,
that's how you beat jet lag.

Trust me, Joel, we'll warm up
on the driving range,

we'll go for $20 bucks a hole.
You might even make some money!

Maybe this weekend, huh? I'm pretty
tired, probably just gonna sleep in.

Am I missing something here?

You lose everything, you run out of town
and you wanna sleep in?

- Dad!
- I'm serious.

I know what it is to be depressed,
I was a cop.

And you gotta be proactive.
You gotta get out of your head.

- I'm not depressed, ward.
- You don't know what you are.

I'm gonna call and set up a tee time
for 7:30 tomorrow,

and you will thank me
when we're out there.

How do you even afford club dues
on a cop's pension'?

Pension, nothing.

We got a million
and change in mutual funds.

- Don't worry how I pay my dues.
- Ok, could everybody just please relax?

We just don't want you two
to run out of time to have kids.

Kids?
Mom, that's our business.

But you gotta lay the groundwork
and you gotta be aggressive.

And you can't sleep in.

- Right.
- Tell them about the house.

There's a very nice house for sale
across the street, very modestly priced.

And we could help you guys out
with a down payment.

It'd be even easier with grandchildren
somewhere on the horizon.

- That's all we're saying.
- That's all we're saying!

Just think about it.

So, what do you think?

Thank you both very much,

but we really don't need
all this extra pressure right now-.

You're right, Joel.
This is too much pressure.

We need to relax.

Thank you.

Tomorrow morning, bright and early,
we can get up and we...

I'm not golfing tomorrow, ward!

- Calm down.
- Me, calm down?

Just... why don't you just golf?
It's fine.

You know what,
maybe I am a little wound up.

Uh...

I'm gonna go for a walk.

Thanks for dinner.

Joel?

- It is you-
- veazy.

How you been, Joel?
I didn't know you were in town.

Sleazy veazy.
You still slingin' apps?

No one calls me that anymore.

Sorry.
How you been, man?

Amazing.

Gti, huh?

You ok, buddy?

Well, everyone I know hates me,
and I live with my in-laws.

Other than that,
yeah, pretty good.

You moved here?

You know what? Good for you!
Fuck silicon valley!

Perfect's not good enough out there.
You know, back here people understand-.

You go up, you go down,
but in the long run we're all dead.

So, who gives a fuck, right?

Thanks.
Let me buy you a drink.

Joel, let me ask you a question.

If you had the inside track
on the next big thing,

how much do you think you could
scrape together, hypothetically?

Nothing.

Everybody I know
got burned on gti.

Why?

Me and a friend of mine,
an engineer,

we started something
that we think is pretty unique.

Right now we're just trying to close the
gap on product testing before we go live.

What do you make?

It's a service, actually,
we sell virtual experiences.

That's great, Nick,
I'm glad you're doing well,

but, uh, right now
I have no access to capital.

None?

Until I can rebuild a stable of investors.
I need a day job.

- Damn.
- Yeah.

All we're looking for
is a million and change.

We're not just offering this
to just anybody.

I want lo work with someone I know.

Why just a million?
Isn't vr supposed to be big boys only?

Yeah, well, we're small,
but our tech is revolutionary.

It's called xvr,

and ifs realer than anything
anybody's ever seen.

- That's what everybody says.
- You don't understand.

Xvr feels and looks as real

as this conversation we're having
right here, right now.

Taste, too.

Smell, touch.

See, Lester, the engineer, he's a genius,
and that's just the tech part.

Most people are more intrigued
by our applications.

What's that?

We allow high-end clientele to experience
what it's like lo be underprivileged.

Empathy.

Why would anyone want
to feel underprivileged?

- Don't people want to feel rich?
- No, people want to be rich.

What they want to feel like
is different.

Think of the most successful people
you know. Are they happy?

I don't know anyone that's happy,
rich or poor.

Fine, fair enough.

The point is, people are miserable
because they forget what they have.

Me and Lester
help them remember.

How?

Perspective.

You know when you're having a bad day
and you think your life sucks?

And then you just found out
your neighbor's son just killed himself-.

And then you think, damn,
my day wasn't that bad after all.

"In fact, I had a great day."

That's the service we provide.

- You ever read the Bible?
- No.

Yeah, me neither,
but there's a verse I memorized.

"There is one who pretends
to be rich and has nothing,

"another pretends to be poor
and has great wealth." Proverbs.

- It's a good slogan.
- It's the truth.

Walk a mile in the shoes
of the less fortunate,

and when you wake up, no matter
what problems you have in your real life

feel that much better.

There probably is a pretty big market
for something like that.

Oh, sorry.

Now, this is gonna lake a minute.

I'll see you around, ok?

- Yeah, I'm in a bar, hold up.
- Hey, nicolaus, wait up.

Yeah?

I, uh... I actually might know
a couple people who could help.

A retired couple with a nest egg.
I could lest the waters.

Call me anytime, Joel.

- Hey.
- Hey.

- They asleep?
- Yeah, where'd you go?

- Some bar.
- I would've gone with you.

I know, sorry.
I shouldn't have left like that.

There were out of line, too.

But they're not wrong,
we need some sort of plan,

otherwise they're gonna
drive us crazy.

Actually,
I might have an idea.

Yeah?

I ran into an old friend tonight.
He has this virtual reality start-up.

It actually kind of sounds interesting.

I haven't seen the tech yet,

but if it checks out,
I might help out with financing.

- I thought gti mined all that?
- I thought it did, too.

But, all I'd have to do is raise a million,
which is nothing,

and there's still a couple people
I could ask.

Who?

- Mom and dad?
- Why not?

- Joel, no.
- Why'?

They don't have the money.

Your dad was just bragging about
his million and change in mutual funds.

Yeah, in retirement,
they need that.

I'd check it out first.
I'd only ask if it was rock solid.

It's a start-up, Joel.

Anything could go wrong.
You know that from gti.

And if it went bad, they would blame you, and
I can't even imagine what that'd do to us-.

But what if it went really well?

They're family, it's too risky.

Promise me you won't ask.

Ok.

We'll figure something out.

You were right.
Feels good to be out here.

I told you.

You got screwed, kid.

You just need to blow off
some steam.

So you said you got some friends
that might need a financial advisor?

Nicolaus, thanks for meeting me.

Are you kidding?
You got news for me, right?

My client is ready to pull the trigger,
but first I need to see xvr work.

Lester's very secretive

- about his process, Joel.
- I need to meet him, too.

You ever regret it?

Regret what?

Playing it safe,
back in the day.

Why, you got something
we should be looking at?

Look, he's also busy.

Xvr isn't exactly finished.

Once we have the capital,
he'll work out the bugs,

- then it'll be ready to demo.
- Do I look like an idiot?

I'm not investing my client's
resources sight unseen.

Well, to be honest,
something did come across my radar.

And it could be a good opportunity
for the right investor.

I understand your need
to be thorough,

but you're not the only guy
we're talking to, Joel.

The offers not
on the table indefinitely.

We need a commitment now,

or we're gonna go
with somebody else.

Then good luck, Nick.

Joel, wait a second.

It's a work in progress.

Lester Cooper, founder.

Joel eastman-green, our backer.

Nice to meet you, Lester.

Yeah.

Yeah, yep,
you too, you too.

Ok, let's get this going.

Over here on this side,
we have your alternate reality.

Over on that side,
it's you, the user.

So, what does xvr stand for?

Extreme virtual reality.

He made it up.

Let's go.

Ok, listen up,
cos there's rules.

Number one, the code is unstable,

so stay in the environment you wake up in.
Don't go opening any doors, alright?

This is for your own safety.

Number two,
don't underestimate xvr.

It's gonna feel
like your real body.

It's not your real body,
it can be kind of disorienting.

Number three,
avoid mirrors at all costs.

Seeing yourself
in somebody else's body

can kind of fry your brain.

I should mention,
I did just have a big meal before this.

I'm serious.

It can cause anything
from delusions to flashbacks.

You don't want it.

Alright, I'm gonna be monitoring
your experience.

You break my rules...

I will unplug you.

I'm not gonna risk everything I worked for

just because he gets curious or stupid.

One more thing.

Everything in this room
and everything in here,

it's proprietary.

If you betray that,
there will be consequences.

I got it.

No, no, no, whoa, whoa!
What is that for?

It's what makes it work.

Argh!

Jesus!

Count back from a hundred.

One hundred.

Ninety-nine.

Ninety-eight.

Ninety-seven.

Ninety-six.

Ninety-five.

Well?

It felt real.

And the cat?
You like the Cal?

It was moving.

Well, you feel sick,
dizzy, lightheaded?

I, uh, I cut my toe
and I threw up, but...

I feel fine.

You're not confused
about who you are'?

Actually...

I feel more like myself
than I have in a really long time.

See,
I told you it was ready.

$0, you in?

Thank you, sir, thank you.

Have a nice day.

Hey, how's the play going?

I'm not a bad actor, am I?

What?
Of course not, why?

That audition that I got,
I didn't get the part.

I asked the director why,
and he said that I wasn't committing.

I wasn't believable.

"Believable",
what does that even mean?

It means he's an idiot.
You're great at what you do.

Maybe his play sucks.

It's Shakespeare.

Oh.

Well, you know, why don't we
just take a break tonight?

Have a little fun, a little wine,
a little more fun.

No.

I'm gonna practice.
I'm gonna crack this thing.

And then I'm gonna go down there tomorrow
and ask for a re-audition.

Well, if he thinks you don't have
commitment, that will certainly show him.

Will you help me?

I would love to.

- You're in a good mood.
- Am I?

Hadn't noticed-.

Yeah, somethings different.
What did you do today?

Nothing.
I was looking for work.

Come on, let's do the scene.
Who am I?

- Milk, three splendas.
- Oh, Joel, thank you so much!

- Have a nice day!
- Bye-bye.

Thank you.

- Joel?
- Hey, I brought us some coffee.

And I thought I might take another spin
in the, uh...

Is the chair open?

No, ifs not, Joel.

- Did anyone follow you here?
- Why?

Xvr is for clients only.

You're not a client, Joel.
You need to leave.

Nicolaus, I'm protecting
my client's investment.

Lester and I appreciate you
coming through for us, Joel, we do.

And when we start making money,
so will everyone else.

- But the financing phase is over.
- Come on.

- I think I'm entitled to see our progress.
- You know how it works.

You need to leave.

How about we let Lester decide, huh?

- If he wants me out of your hair, I'll scram.
- Lester's busy.

And I'm not bothering him with this, Joel.
And frankly, I got a lot of work to do, too.

Ok, ok, ok, alright,
you know what?

I apologize.
I... I did kind of barge in here.

It's fine.

I know you're anxious,
but you gotta let us do our thing,

and I promise you won't regret it.

You're right,
it's just that, you know,

doing that the other day,
it really affected me.

And I wanna hear
more about that.

- Why don't we grab a drink sometime?
- Yes, drinks, let's get drinks.

Next week.

- I'll call you.
- Ok!

Enjoy the coffee. And keep up the...
You know.

Alright.

Hello?

Oh, fuck.

Hey, hey,
kid, hey.

You pay for that?

- No.
- No?

Fuck.

Hey, hey kid,
I'm talking to you!

- Fuck off!
- Fuck off?

Gimme your hand.

You little...!

Fuck!

You're dead!
Screw you, little punk!

God!

Oh, god!

- Holy shit!
- You're dead!

You're fucking dead!

No!

And the director
didn't want to see me either,

but I would not take no
for an answer.

I was so nervous I was shaking.
I didn't get any sleep the night before.

And I just...
Babe, are you ok?

Huh, what? Yeah.

Then what happened?

So I got up on the stage,
and I looked the director right in the eyes

like it was just me and him.

I don't remember what happened next.
All I know is that I got the part!

- Hey!
- That's wonderful, honey.

You know, Joel, I was reading an article
the other day about a tech bubble,

and they said that the kind of thing
that happened at gti was like an epidemic.

That's what they called it.

You don't think there's
anything to worry about, do you?

Even if there is a bubble,
there's good ideas, too.

People that are leveraged in those

will watch their investment grow,
you'll see.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Technology,
it's so complicated.

It moves so fast.
How can anybody keep a bead on it?

That's why our money's in an ira,
right honey?

- Exactly.
- It's people we have to worry about.

Did you know the richardsons
had their house broken into?

This is supposed to be
one of the nice neighborhoods.

I don't know
what's happening to this city.

Mom, some people
don't have what we have.

I know, because we work for it.

We have that opportunity,
others don't.

And what, that's our fault?

It is if we ignore the circumstances
that they come up in.

Please.

At least your husband
has a head on his shoulders.

- Joel, tell her about that hobo you got rid of.
- What?

That old homeless lady
harassing people on the street.

Oh, she is an eyesore!

The one by the café?
She's nice.

Joel, I saw you and her
in a shouting match.

- You don't have to be ashamed.
- When was this?

The other day.

I was having lunch with some people
who wouldn't have approved.

Otherwise, I would have gone over
and congratulated you.

That's ridiculous, I like her.

I don't make a point
of harassing people I like.

We ought to do more
for people like that, a lot more.

Joel, I don't know why you're denying it.
I know what I saw.

Morn, it wasn't him.
And you're being ignorant-.

Ignorant?
This from the actress?

What's that supposed to mean?

It means other people foot the bill
so you can play dress up.

Mom, you guys got me into acting.

You took me to lessons,
paid for my training.

Well, I didn't think
you'd take it this seriously-.

Wow, mom, maybe you should
take some acting lessons.

It might do you some good
to walk in someone else's shoes.

- I hope I didn't keep you waiting.
- Hey.

We just got a new client.
He loves xvr, but he's a handful.

Who is he?

Client privacy's the cornerstone
of our business, Joel.

That's what they need to feel
in order to work with us.

You know what?
I never gave you a finder's fee.

Is everything ok?

Yeah, great.

I, uh, just put something
in your account.

Already?

Yeah. And, uh, there's gonna be
a lot more coming soon, too.

Wow. Enough for a down payment
on a house?

Sure. You getting
into real estate after all?

Just the house
across the street.

For you and Jessica.

Ward, this is your retirement.
You need to hold on to it.

Well, didn't you say
that there'd be more coming soon?

Yeah, but you shouldn't be giving it away,
not even to me.

Well, ifs not a gift, Joel.
It's an investment.

We want our daughter
and any of our grandchildren close by.

And the way I see it,

this is our best shot
at making that happen.

It's yours if you're willing to stay.

They're not bad.

In small doses.

They're just a different generation.

And they do, they love us.

What's not to love?

And I, um...

I feel like I could make
something of myself here.

There's more options.

- I could have a career.
- Me, too.

- Really?
- Yeah.

I don't miss the west coast at all.

I don't either.

Ok, then it's settled.

I, uh...
Have a little surprise for you.

A surprise for me, what is it?

I want to show you.

Hang on.

Where are we going?

- Ok.
- You pinched me.

I'm sorry!

Where are you taking me?

- Walk straight.
- Ok.

Straight ahead.

- Eyes closed.
- They're closed.

And your hand is over my...

- Alright, alright, shh, shh.
- Ok, ok.

Go for it.

Oh, my god.

What?

It's beautiful.

What is it?

It's ours.

Ours, what, how?

Ok, so, uh... you remember
that little opportunity I told you about?

Well, I moved on it,
and it's going really well.

Where did you gel the money?

From your dad.

He saw an opportunity,
and he wanted lo help us out.

- But I asked you not to do that.
- I know, but I had to jump on this.

For us.

I mean, look at this place.
It's beautiful!

Wait till you see the kitchen.

Jess, I'm sorry, but...

It all worked out.

You know?
We got the house,

and your dad is in line
to make some serious money.

Just take the call.

'Joel, hey,
it's not too late to call, is it?'

Sonny, I don't know
why you're calling me at all.

'Look, I'm sorry, it's just, uh...
I'm in the city I wanted to meet.'

- Sonny, I'm not interested.
- 'Joel, please, I'll come to you, man.

'Let me buy you lunch?'

Hey, what happened to the nice old lady
that used to hang out out front there?

Oh, miss Miriam?
She's dead.

The cops found her
in the park, beaten.

It was brutal.

Whoever did it deserves to die-.

$3.85.

Wait a minute. Weren't you
yelling at her the other day?

- What? Of course not.
- No, yeah, it was you.

What's your deal, man?
You fucking yell at homeless people?

Hey, hey, hey.
It wasn't me, ok?

You're confused.

Keep the change.

I'm just saying I, uh...
I should have had your back on gti.

Thanks, Sonny.
What can I do for you?

I came to ask your forgiveness.

"Forgiveness"?

Yeah, it's just something
I needed to do.

You know, after gti,
ventura got skittish.

They're talking about
investigating everything.

We've all got a black spot
on our records now. I can't find a job.

Tragic.

Yeah.

You heard about Craig?

Shot himself.

- What?
- Yeah.

Blew his brains out
in his wife's car.

Jesus.

That's what made me
wanna talk, you know?

It made me think about
how I left things.

Really?

So what have you been up to, man?
I gotta tell you, you look good.

Yeah, I found some work
pretty quick, actually.

See? I...
Man, I knew it.

You're already downtown,
aren't you'? Killin' it!

- What, are you working at a hedge fund?
- No, start up.

- Oh.
- One that actually makes money.

Really?

- It's pretty exciting, actually.
- What do you guys do?

Wait, wait, let me guess.
Biotech?

No, uh, health care?

No.

- Cloud storage?
- Jesus, stop.

It's vr.

I have always wanted to get into that.
It's so cool!

- Who you working with'?
- It's a small shop, just two guys.

One of them's the neuro engineer,
Lester Cooper.

And the other's just the money guy.

Guy I went to school with, actually,
nicolaus veazy.

What?

Veazy?

Yeah, I did a deal
with nicolaus veazy.

So?

You remember secure email?

So like, six years ago,
veazy's out in la pitching this app

that's supposed to make
your phone unhackable.

He had all these a-list clients-
I was in for half a million.

Then we come to find
he's using the app lo spy

on the very people
he's supposed to be working for.

- He was blackmailing them.
- Bulishit.

Dude, I got the emaiis to prove it.

And when I threatened
to go to the cops, that...

Son of a bitch blackmailed me.

He put the app on my phone
without my knowing it.

I got skeletons in my closet, Joel,
so I let him take the money.

Sonny, you're fucking with me, right?

I got no reason
to lie lo you, Joel.

Nicolaus veazy
is a straight-up con artist

who will do anything
to make a quick buck.

We used to call him sleazy veazy.

Hey, what's going on'?

Thanks for calling first.

Sorry. There's something
I need to talk to you about.

You know what?
Perfect timing.

I need to show you something.
Why don't you come inside?

Do you know Sonny seagraves?

Seagraves?

Yeah, I fucking know seagraves.
Why? What did he do, slander me?

He's got an ax to grind
because I bested him in a deal.

He says you blackmailed him.

Yeah, and he threw you
under the bus at ventura.

You gonna listen to him?

- Come on, let's go inside.
- How did you meet Lester?

How'd we meet?

It's a pretty simple question.

Look, Joel...

Getting any business off the ground
is a delicate operation.

And, in my experience,
it's right when things start to heat up

that partners start second-guessing
each other.

That tends to put
everyone's investment at risk-.

But I completely understand
your inquisitiveness, though.

It's what makes you a shrewd guy.

But when the dice finally do roll your way,
you've gotta learn to enjoy it-.

Bring both of them.

What about that steak place
on Broadway your dad likes?

- 'Isn't that place expensive?'
- It's fine, I'm buying.

'Ok, I'll talk to them.
What time do you think we should meet?

'Joel?

'Joel, are you there?'

'Joel? Hello?

'Joel?

Hey, Jess, I'm gonna
have lo call you back.

Hello?

Joel, are you here?

Hey.

What a frustrating rehearsal!

This director keeps giving me
the same note, and I'm like,

"what do you want from me?"

He said, "I need you
to be more like Tom."

Tom's the other actor.

He's a drunk
and miserable to work with.

But it's true, he walks onstage
and he completely transforms.

Last night I had a dream.

It's opening night
and I walk offstage,

and I can't get out of viola,
like I'm trapped in her.

And it was really scary at first,

because I couldn't
stop thinking like her,

talking like her.

But then the next night,
I steal the show.

Are you ok?

What is this?

It's a real guy.

Did you know him?

Joel, talk to me.
What's going on?

Was hm.

What do you mean,
you were him'?

It's not a simulation, xvr.

They're, uh...
They're using real people.

- The company you work for?
- Jess, this is gonna sound crazy,

but they are somehow
allowing their clients

to inhabit other people's bodies.

Joel, what are you talking about?

They do whatever they want.
They jump out whenever they need to.

I bet none of those crimes
were even his.

Joel, do you hear yourself right now?
This is insane. You sound like a lunatic.

I did it.

Twice.

You sit in a chair,
you put on a helmet,

you get knocked out, you wake up,
you're somebody else.

You think it's fake, but it's real.
I know because I went there.

Ok, even if you could do this,
why would anyone want to?

If you could be someone else
without consequences,

imagine what you could do.

- Joel, you need to call the police.
- They have your parents' money.

If they find out that I know,
that money is gone.

I asked you not to get involved with this.
You didn't listen.

I didn't know
it was gonna turn out this way.

Call the police.

- Where are you going?
- To get the money.

- How, Joel?
- They don't know I know.

Privacy is their weakness.

If I can gel my hands on the client list,
nicolaus will deal.

I fucking told you
what I'm doing!

Oh, goddammit!

I'm fine!
I'm fine, no.

Yeah, I'm walking
into the lab now.

I told you!

Yes nicolaus, you fucker!
Did you listen to what I said?

Did you listen to what I said?
I'm just fucking walking into the lab!

Yeah, yeah.

Well, is the weather nice?

Don't, no, no, no, don't interrupt me,
ok? I'm thinking.

No, not with you out
seducing the rich and depraved.

Yeah, yeah, bridgewater.

No, no.

It is not secure, that is what
I've been fucking saying!

We need guards with guns,
like yesterday.

Yeah.

No. No, no,
I could not find him.

What the fuck did I just say,
nicolaus?

I just fucking said
I couldn't find him!

I don't know where he is! Fuck!

And you, you've gotta stop
fucking taking any new clients

before we get this shit on lockdown,
I swear to fuck!

Anyone we do take on,

we've got to screen them more thoroughly
than that nosy fucker Joel.

I gotta go.

Well...

Speak of the devil.

What the fuck are you doing back there?

- Lester, I'm sorry, I, I...
- Huh?

- I had to check on the...
- Oh, did you'?

Shut up, get the fuck out here,
come on.

I'll wreck it!

You'll wreck my chair, Joel?

That's ok.

- We got other chairs.
- Look, I'm sorry, I...

- I shouldn't be here.
- Shut the fuck up. Come on.

- I'm sorry, I...
- Come on.

Shit!

Fucking dammit!

I'm gonna fucking kill you!
Fuck!

Fuck you!

911, what's your emergency?

Hello?
I need a car.

- Uh, someone's after me.
- 'Who do you think is after you, sir?'

I just want my family to be safe.

'Sir, you gotta explain to me
what's going on first.'

- fuck!
- 'Are you still there?'

Oh, fuck.

Look, all I need
is my in-law's money back,

and you'll never
hear from me again.

We still need it.

And I have no guarantee
you'd keep your word.

I'm not asking.

Those names will go public.
People are gonna be after you.

Do we have a deal or not?

'Ok, what's wrong,
what's wrong?

'What are you doing?

'I see that.

'Joel, come here!

'Talk to me!

'Joel, Joel, don't, no,
don't do that!

'What are you doing?

- 'No, don't!'
- 'I'm sorry, lady!'

That's not me.

It looks like you, Joel.

Sounds like you, too.

- I didn't do that.
- I know that.

He knows that,
but nobody else ever will.

Who the fuck is that?

When you become someone else,
they become you.

You didn't know that?

I'm sorry, I didn't know what you
figured out with all your snooping around.

I said, clients only!

And as far as the Greens' money goes,
it's gone.

And if I or Lester
ever hear from you again,

including whatever leverage
you think you have with that list,

this will go public.

I already told them.

There's, um,
more you don't know.

More than everything we own
lied up with criminals'?

It's... I can't get it back.

It's gone.

What do you mean,
it's gone?

It's gone.

There's nothing I can do.

Get out.

- Jess, I'm so so...
- Get out!

No, no, no, no, no...

Yeah, white rice.

Uh-huh.

Cancel that.

Where'd you move 'em?

Oh, shit.

Where's the equipment?

That's all you need.

You know, a little more time
and I wouldn't even need the chairs.

Have a seat.

- No, no, no fucking way, man.
- Have a fucking seat.

Where's nicolaus?

I don't know.

Tell me where he is,
or I strap in the cat.

It doesn't work like that.

Let's find out.

Ok, wait, wait, wait...!
Wait, just...

He went out west, ok?

Don't switch me with that fucking cat!

- Where?
- Menlo park.

- Now would you let me go?
- Why's he out there?

I don't know, some conference
or fundraising or some shit.

Look, you don't need me.

What are you even
gonna do with me?

I told you what you wanted,
just let me go!

Whoa, whoa, you don't know
what you're doing with that.

Put that down, come on.

This was just to knock us out,
wasn't it'?

Then you could move us around,
do whatever you want.

Fuck you!

What the fuck
are you doing, man?

Fucking chair.

You fucking cuffed me
to the fucking chair, man?

What the fuck?

Lemme the fuck out of here, man!
Where's the fucking key'?

Where's the fucking key, man?

What the fuck?

Ok.

What's up?
I'm busy.

We need to talk.

'Ok, what's up?'

in person.

'I'm in California.
What's going on?'

it's Joel.

He, uh...
He's out of the picture.

Whatever deal you made,
it didn't stick.

'Dead'?

He was snooping around
our bridgewater location.

- I didn't have any choice-
- 'Jesus, les!

'So what's the problem?'

is there... ls there any way
you could come back sooner?

'Financing takes time, les.

'Not everybody's as greedy
and desperate as Joel.'

ok, then I'm coming out there.

'I can hear you just fine right now, les.
What's on your mind?'

ever since I had to, uh...
Handle Joel, I just...

I don't know, I'm a little shook up.
I just... I don't feel right anymore.

'Since when do you care
about feelings?'

I told you we needed
to have guards!

I told you we needed
to hit pause on this thing!

Fuck, nicolaus!

You didn't listen to me!

You left me to do
all the dirty work!

'Ok, ok, calm down.'

don't tell me to calm down.

I can't do this shit alone!

'Get a flight.'

$200,000.

Look, I have to call you back.

Jesus, Lester,
you look like shit.

Fuck!

So, tell me, Lester,

how many people
did you fuck in that thing?

Or kill?

What, suddenly
you got a conscience now?

It was different with Joel.

Yeah, but you hated him.

I know it sounds crazy...

But when he was
begging me for mercy,

I looked into his eyes
and I saw something... familiar.

I can't explain it, but I...

I felt bad for him.

Well, I don't feel a bit of guilt
about Joel.

I told him to stay away,
and he broke the rules.

What about the others?

What do you want me to do,
justify everything?

I think I need to hear it.

Ok, fine.

For one thing, if society
actually cared about these people,

we'd never be able
to do what we do.

So whose fault is that?

And two, if they end up in prison,
at least there they get three square meals.

Hell, half the time they're better off.

Jimmy Dale's mugshot
didn't look too happy-.

I never said happy.

- I said better off.
- And when we kill them?

It's a mercy.

You know what it feels like
to have nothing?

I mean, to really have nothing?

I know I'd rather be dead.

- Feel better?
- A little.

Hey, what the fuck, les?

You know,
before coming here...

I didn't know.

I didn't know if I was
gonna kill you or what.

What? Why? Come on, man,
I did everything you asked.

Not every/body's as greedy
and stupid as Joel.

Where's Lester?

You are gonna wire that money
back into my wife's account, all of it.

- Joel, now wait a minute.
- Now!

- And the video of me and miss Miriam.
- Who?

The woman you killed.
Erase the video.

Ok, listen,
Joel, I wasn't...

What I said, look... I was just saying
what I thought you wanted to hear.

I mean,
I thought you were Lester!

I don't believe in any of that stuff.
I'm a good guy!

Shut up and get on with it.

There, see? It's done.
It's in her account.

- And the video?
- I deleted it.

I swear.

How do I know
there's not another copy?

There's no more copies.

You gotta believe me!

I do.

I do believe you.

Thank you.

What are you doing?

Ok, now wait a minute, Joel.

Ok.

I admit it, ok?

I'm greedy, ok?
I'm a greedy motherfucker.

But Lester,
he's a psychopath!

It's gonna take both of us
to stop him.

After that I'll turn myself in,
I'll come clean,

I'll make it right,
I promise!

But for the good of everyone now,
let's work together.

I'm done making deals.

Jessie.

'Joel.

'How've you been?

'Are you there?'

yeah.

'You sound different.'

I know.

I'm not feeling like myself.

'Where are you?'

don't worry about me, Jessie.

Listen, I really need to go.

'Joel, I, um...

'I saw the money, and I just...
I wanted to say... thank you.'

I just wanted to make it right.

'How did you get it back?'

it's complicated.

'Jesus, Joel,
now I'm worried about you.

'Look, I'd like to see you
if you want to see me, I mean...'

I can't, Jessie.

Too much has changed.

'Changed?
Joel, what's changed?

'Listen, if you're in trouble,
I wanna help you.'

it's too late.

'No, it's not, whatever it is.

'I need you to know...

'I still love you.'

I don't deserve you.

'Joel, I wanna see you.'

- Can I help you?
- It's me, ifs Joel.

- What?
- I know, it's crazy, it's a long story.

But ifs me.

I believe it's you,
I think, I don't...

I'm sorry.

It's ok.

It's you, Joel.

I'm sorry for...

Hurting your family.

For hurting you...

And...

For losing us and...

Becoming this.

Can't we get you back?
I mean, the old you.

He's gone,
he took the chairs.

There's nothing we can do.

I'm stuck.

It's ok.

It's gonna be ok.

We'll figure it out. I don't know how,
but we'll figure it out together.

What?

- Nothing.
- Am I doing something wrong?

- No, no, it's just...
- Joel.

I've missed you.

Oh, I've missed you.

Jessie.

I've missed you too, but...

But what?

It's not...

I'm not me.

Yes, you are.

- Hold on!
- Joel.

Wait.

Careful.

I want you.

Uh...

Jessie, it's too soon.

I know it feels that way.

You just have to get into character,
this'll help.

Just get into it, come on.

- Jessie.
- Why aren't you getting into it?

- Ok, come on.
- No, Joel!

What is wrong
with you, Jessica?

What's wrong with me?
What's wrong with you, Joel?

I've accepted you.

I've forgiven you.

But I am not me!

Is it because I'm not
beautiful enough for you?

No!
I mean, yes!

Good.

Because I want you.

I want you.
I want you!

I was very happy when you had nicolaus
put the money back in our account.

I never had more fun at the bank.

Lester.

Lester!

Where is Jessica?

You don't recognize
your own wife?

Well, I'm right here, sweetie.

Where is she?

Guess I'm a better actress, huh?

Look, I'll do anything you want.

Just please don't hurt her.

- You mean, don't do this?
- No.

- Or this?
- Stop it!

Shut up!

You know,
I'm mad at you, Joel.

I wanted to have some fun,
but you ruined all that.

Do you know how good it feels
to fuck yourself?

Ooh, there's nothing like it.

But if you don't wanna play along,
we can move on to the final act.

Now get lip-

I want my body back.

Keep moving, Joel!

Jessie!

Hey, gel away from her!

First, I'm gonna reboot us all
back to our original bodies.

Then I'm gonna kill ya.

Shut the fuck up!

Wait!

Why'd you do this?

You know,
when I was a kid,

they told us we could be
whoever we wanted to be.

I actually believed it.

Shit!

Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck!

Joel!

No!

No! No!

Oh, my!

Fuck!

Shh, Jessie.

You're ok.
Jessie, just wait.

- Jessie, just wait.
- It's too late to stop it.

No, no, no,
it's gonna be fine.

- Joel, please.
- I'll just call an ambulance, ok?

Babe, please!

Jessie, Jessie, Jessie.

Jessie.

Forgive me.

Joel.

Who am I now?

Who was I before?

And when I leave this stage...

Who will I be?