Exam (2009) - full transcript

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

You deserve this...

You do.

You've earned it.

(GROANS)

I can do all things. All things.

Come on...

Come on, come on...

(FOOTSTEPS)

I am the Invigilator.

Listen carefully
to every word I say.



There will be no repetition.

I won't apologise for the hardships
you've endured reaching this room

'cause the pressures
and pains were necessary.

Resilience is a key
attribute in these dark times,

and if you can't survive our selection
process, you won't survive in the job.

Many highly-qualified
candidates tried to get this far and failed.

You have succeeded.

And now the final stage lies before you.

One last hurdle
separates you from your goal -

which is to join our esteemed ranks.

The test is simple
in comparison, yet it will determine

who leaves this room
with a contract of employment

and who leaves
with the bus fare home.

Through these trials,
you've gained some idea of the power



of this organisation,
so believe me when I tell you

that there's no law
in this room but our law.

And the only rules
in here are our rules.

There's one question before you,
and one answer is required.

If you try
to communicate with myself

or the guard,
you will be disqualified.

If you spoil your paper,
intentionally or accidentally,

you will be disqualified.

If you choose
to leave the room for any reason,

you will be disqualified.

Any questions?

Best of luck, ladies and gentlemen.

We're giving the eight of you
80 minutes.

80 minutes to convince us
you have what it takes to join us.

80 minutes to determine
the next 80 years of your lives.

Begin.

I'm not finished.

No, please. You can't!
This isn't a proper test!

Please, I'll start over!
Just give me a chance!

(SHE CRIES)

(SPEAKS lN CANTONESE)

Hey...

Listen, listen, listen, listen.

It's not about what he said,
you know.

It's what he didn't say.

"lf you attempt to communicate..."

..with myself or the guard...

..you will be disqualified.

- He didn't say...
- ..we can't speak to each other.

- Now you're talking.
- Is this the ultimate mind-fuck or what?

- Has anyone figured out the answer?
- No.

It's not about the answer.
It's about the question.

- What's the question?
- We've got 74 minutes left to figure out.

(WOMAN) If the answer
takes one minute to write down.

If it takes 73 minutes to write,

we have one minute
to guess the question.

We're short on writing space.
I'm betting it's the former.

We've gotta help each other.

We're in competition.
Why should I help you to beat me?

We may be in competition
to answer the question,

but to establish the question
we have to cooperate.

They expect us to cooperate, don't they?

What'd you expect,
you're gonna win this job,

with all the rewards that come with it,

by giving them
a little simple written answer?

Facts and opinions?
Compare and contrast (!)

They're not looking for that.

A job like this needs initiative,

observation...

..interplay.

- Teamwork. He's right.
- (WOMAN) We're in a stress scenario.

A confusing, time-critical situation

designed to test our intelligence,
and resilience.

- To bring out the worst in us.
- (MAN) Or the best.

We help each other until
the playing field is open

then it's every man for themselves -
no offence, girls.

- Are we all agreed?
- Yes.

Agreed.

- Let's go, Gandhi.
- My name isn't Gandhi, friend. It's...

No names. Not real ones, anyway.
They're not written on this for a reason.

We'll use nicknames, then.

- All right, let's make this easy.
- We already have numbers.

Yeah, and visual.

You're Black.

I'm White.

You're Brown.

We've got Blonde here,

Brunette there...

..Dark, I suppose.

And last
as well as least we've got Deaf.

- Tough last round.
- Yeah, whatever.

Any objections?

Apart from your grossly insensitive
sexual and racial stereotyping?

If you're the sensitive type,
you shouldn't be here, love.

I'll take Brown over Gandhi,

we're talking about
something that matters.

I'll take that as a yes.

(SlGHS DEEPLY)

So, what else hasn't he forbidden?

He hasn't forbidden
us to stand, has he?

- Well, l guess moving about is OK too.
- What's that gonna achieve?

I don't know, Brown. But sitting
wasn't getting us anywhere exciting.

What if the question is written down
but we just can't see it?

That's what l'm talking about!

- You mean like invisible ink?
- Or a watermark.

- It's possible.
- It's probable. Where else would it be?

(BRUNETTE) We'd need something
to reveal it. Like light.

- Right.
- Those are halogen.

Those aren't.

They won't bite, you know.

They're not gonna make it
that easy, are they?

We're on the clock.
How hard can they afford to make it?

What if the pencil
isn't just for writing the answer?

What if it reveals the question too?
By shading the page, like tracing paper?

- Try it, Blonde.
- No. Remember what he said.

If you spoil your paper,
intentionally or accidentally...

..you'll be disqualified.

Is anyone certain they know
what his definition of spoiling is?

Look, let's crack this.
Throw out some ideas.

What if the questions are hidden
in the paper,

but each of us has to write
a different answer? He said...

There's one question before you,
and one answer is required.

That doesn't mean it's
the same question for each of us.

There could be eight different
questions and answers.

If we find one question,
we can find them all.

Not necessarily.
Not if our eight individual questions

can only be revealed
using eight different methods.

Perhaps we're not
meant to cooperate at all.

I like that idea.

Or there's only one question,
printed on only one of our sheets.

- Then we'd need to cooperate...
- Time-out for some testing.

- Everyone up to the light.
- I said it won't be that easy.

Unless you want to make a list
of our brainwaves, White,

I say we cross a few off as we go.

Fine.

(WHITE) Allow me.

Thank you.

Yeah, join in any time, Deaf (!)

Not one for small talk, are you?

Come.

Relax, you'll get it back (!)

Like l said, l think we can
strike light off the list.

Light is a spectrum.

There's light we can see,

but there's light we can't see.

Like ultraviolet, infra-red, X-rays.

If we can't see it,
how are we supposed to find it?

The source must be visible,
even if the light isn't. Right?

(SlGHS DEEPLY)

Find the light switches.

There aren't any,
not in here anyway. And...

If you choose to leave
the room for any reason...

..we'll be disqualified.

There must be some way
to trigger these.

This is emergency lighting.

So let's create an emergency.

That would be very risky.

- It's less risky than doing nothing.
- He's right.

If we try this and fail,
we can't go back. Blackout.

We vote.

Those too.

Nice! Very nice!

Touch of blue, what you wanted?

This is black light.

The kind credit card firms
use to reveal their security symbols.

(WHITE) Shame we didn't apply
to work for Visa (!)

- Our gamble might have paid off.
- (BROWN) lt did pay off.

Just not in the way you wanted.

You acted, and the room reacted.

We've entered a dialogue now,
we should keep going.

Yeah, maybe... Maybe not.

Sorry, it was invisible
light you said you wanted.

This looks pretty
fucking visible to me.

Scientific term for it
is "near-ultraviolet".

It didn't work,
but it was worth trying.

If nothing else we'll
come out of this with great tans.

We've got to knock these out too.

The top halves
of these strips aren't lit.

Look.

Infrared. The other option.

- That exposes something too?
- It's less common than UV, but yes.

Art historians use it
to make reflectograms

of the sketch outlines
beneath paintings.

If there's a hidden
layer in our papers...

Carefully.

Let me guess, "near-infrared"?

All right, everyone, try again.

- Anyone? Anything?
- (DARK) No.

- (BRUNETTE) Shit!
- (GRUNTS)

- Now can we get off the lighting?
- If you can provide a better alternative.

Any alternative. We've burned
a quarter of our time already.

Perhaps they company's Japanese-owned
and this is an origami exam.

Be our guest.
That sheet is yours to spoil.

Yes, it is, but only your sheet.

- It's a piece of paper.
- No, it's more than that now.

This is experimental material.

- If you spoil...
- ..your paper.

- Your paper!
- ..you will be disqualified.

This isn't mine. This is hers.

(lN HIGH-PlTCHED VOlCE)
"It's not fair" (!)

And she's gone. So...

Tracing...

Well, congratulations, Blonde.
Your idea sucks too.

This could all be
a distraction, you know.

We could be missing
something obvious.

Yeah, yeah, yeah! All right!

Light does not work,
lead does not work...

Liquid!

Oh, yeah...

Right.

Lick it, spit on it, get it wet.

If the question's watermarked
we need some liquid to bring it out.

- (BLACK) What are you doing with yours?
- You don't wanna know.

- Actually, we do.
- Well, you can come and watch.

You can hold it for me
too if you like.

- Though I'd prefer it if Blonde did.
- (BLACK) That's disgusting.

"By any means necessary",
right, brother?

- If we can do it, we should.
- (URlNATES)

That's not gonna burn the question out.
Urine's sterile. You can drink it...

- (TO HIMSELF) Wish you would.
- Great. A pissing contest.

(BLACK) Anything?

- I can't tell yet. lt's all yellow.
- (BLACK) Hold it up and let us see.

If you'll lend me a glove, l'll oblige.

Well, l'm running out of ideas.

Giving up so easily, Black,
with 57 minutes on the clock?

You know what...

Will you two shut up?
Some of us are trying to think!

(GASPlNG)

At last, he speaks.

(DARK) He's French.

- (DEAF) Vous voyez la?
- Does anyone here speak French?

Vous voyez la?

Can you see?

Vous voyez...?

Regardez bien.

- Can you see it in there?
- See what in there?

See what? Pretty colours?

- Vous-meme.
- Yourself.

Vous vous voyez.

It shows you yourself.

- And then there was six.
- Leave him alone. He's done nothing.

He's done nothing for me either
or any of us. Nutter!

Toujours y voir clairement est primordial.

To see clearly is all.

All right, that's enough
out of you, Sartre!

Fucking philosophers.

Thank God this world
belongs to the doers, not the thinkers.

Since we're proposing grand theories,
let me advance one of my own.

This is not an exam.

Not in the conventional sense anyway.

Look around.

You couldn't ask for a more
representative group

to qualify for the final stage.

Four men and four women
entered this room,

all from differing cultures
and ethnic backgrounds,

possessing a healthy mixture
of skill-sets.

How convenient that is. How staged.

What are you saying? They rigged
the tests to bring us together?

Some kind of experiment
in group dynamics.

- What are you on about?
- I'm saying this is a game.

- And they're betting on us.
- Right and who is "they"?

The board.

I guess they're watching us right now.

They'll be ex-VCs mostly.

Probably left
the incubator when they realised

their little start-up
had struck the motherlode.

It wouldn't get any sweeter
than this, l'm sure.

So they joined the board,

secured some big fat stock options

and bought themselves
the right to have a little fun...

With us.

Don't they have better things to do
with their time?

Like what?

At their level, money ceases
to be the prime motivator.

It's risk they live for.

They're type A's, like us,

and just as they were trained
by their investment companies,

they're still betting on ideas today.

Ours.

Who'll decipher the question,
who'll come up empty and fold

and who'll crack under pressure?

You could be wrong.

It could just be
the Invigilator behind there.

Wanna bet?

(DARK) l wouldn't, if l were you.

Brown talks like a gambler
because he is one.

A professional. Aren't you?

And you, Dark, are a shrink.

Psychologist or psychiatrist?
I forget the difference.

Psychiatrists dispense drugs
to control mood.

I'm a qualified student
of human behaviour.

Then you should know
what I'm talking about.

The point of having power
is to exercise it in all its forms.

- We're pawns of the Gods in here.
- So? This changes nothing!

(BLACK) Yeah...

Games are played to be won...
as a team.

Yeah, or as individuals.

Not if the only way for them
to win is for us to lose.

All of us.
Have you thought about that?

You're wrong.

There is no 'them' watching us.

The CEO is hands-on.

He micro-manages anything
of importance to his company.

And this is no ordinary
selection process.

We're special.

If anyone's back there
besides the lnvigilator, it's him.

Everyone else is a secretary
in his structure - even board members.

That's how he likes it.

How do you know all this?

We're wasting time.

There's 50 minutes left,
we're no closer to finding the question.

Somehow l suspect
my question relates to the question.

So answer me.

- How did you learn that information?
- Same way you learned about the board.

I don't know anything about the board.
I made an educated guess.

But you...you know who the CEO is
and what he's like. How come?

- How come you don't?
- How could we? We were headhunted.

- Why? Weren't you?
- Of course not!

I heard there was a vacancy and applied.
I thought we all did!

Are you saying you wanna work
for this company,

jumped through every hoop to get here
but you don't know who they are?

They listed salary and benefits.
The job description detailed,

"A high level of responsibility
in a Fortune 500 company

manufacturing state-of-the-art technology
in a core service industry". All right?

- You didn't wanna know anymore?
- The deal was no questions asked.

Anyone would've done
the same in our position...

Anyone with...balls.

- You all applied?
- Yeah.

If this job is so prestigious,
why they need to advertise?

- They didn't.
- We have our sources.

- Looks like we're outnumbered.
- I wouldn't cry about it.

- You've the edge over us now.
- How's that?

You're wanted, aren't you?
They invited you to apply.

I'd say we're disadvantaged because
you showed the initiative to apply.

We're behind the curve now.

So tell us what you know,
starting with a complete job description.

- We don't have that information.
- Should we believe that?

(BLACK)
We don't know any more about the job.

We just know about the company
and, believe me,

the worst job with them
beats the best anyone else can offer.

He's right. Who they are,
who the CEO is and what he's achieved,

that's all you need to know.

All right, so tell us about it.

I'll give you a clue.

1 0 years ago a lot of healthy
young people around the world

got sick and started dying.

You may have read about that.

Then a medical researcher
patented a virus suppressant.

The mortality rate
halved in six months,

and now his company
is the biggest player

in the global health industry
with a turnover of $20 billion

and a market
capitalisation of $60 billion.

If it was a nation state,

it would rank as
the world's eighth largest economy.

Next year that rises to sixth.

You may have read about that too.

Biorg!

(DARK) 80 minutes...

..to determine the next
80 years of your lives.

Remember?

Longevity is what they do.

Antisense drugs, gene therapy,
microsurgical applications.

They announced a hiring freeze
last year! Everyone knows that.

Publicly that's true.
Privately...they're expanding again.

Gearing up for a big push of some kind.

They've found a cure.

They must have!

Manufacturing and marketing

would triple in size for the roll-out.

There'd be jobs for all of us!

- We don't know that.
- But it's possible, isn't it?

How long would
FDA approval take, if it's true?

- That's not my field.
- Hold on.

Why are you so interested?
Something you want to tell us?

If you're asking "Am I infected?",
White, the answer is "No".

- I'm clean.
- But someone you know isn't.

We all know someone with the virus,
that's why they call it a pandemic.

Nice evasive manoeuvre, but we're talking
about the real reason you're here.

Yeah...
So, what relative is it?

Is it your mum? Your dad?
Little sister...

It's my partner, OK?
He can't afford suppressants,

but they're discounted to employees -
are you happy now?

So who else is a charity case here?

Yeah, you wouldn't speak up, if you were.

Don't want to commit career suicide
on camera like she just has.

(BLACK) With a little help from you.

I didn't create her situation,
I just exposed it.

(BLACK) Doesn't matter. lf she gets
the answer right, she's still hired.

Really? Says who?
What...them?

- If memory serves me correct...
- The only rules in here are our rules.

They can disqualify everyone!

They can do whatever they like
and we can't do a thing about it.

So...congratulations!

You've just disqualified yourself
without breaking any rules.

He won't kick you out,
but you're dead in the water, honey.

Dead in the water.

Don't listen to him.
We'll get through this together.

Thanks, but I don't need your help,

because my situation
isn't a weakness, it's a strength.

I'm sure they're
smart enough to realise that.

And if l could talk to the CEO

I'd assure him the treatment my partner
needs will only deepen my commitment

to his organisation for years to come.

You really think he's behind there?

He's lived behind walls for years.

No one outside his inner circle
has even seen him since the lPO.

If he wanted to hire an assistant,

this is the way he'd do it.

What are you doing?

Proving my worth. You may have
run out of ideas, but I haven't.

- Don't even try talking to him.
- I'm not gonna talk to him.

Is there anything in there,
or is he happy to see you?

What have we here?

Is that all?

Heat may have an effect

if the papers have been
chemically treated.

- If we warmed them from beneath...
- It's not heat and chemicals, Black.

It's just chemicals.

What are you talking about? H2O?

We already tried H2O!
It's in all our bodily fluids!

What are these pipes connected to?
You could pump any liquid through them!

Come on, Einstein

Good Lord, you're right.

These aren't infrared at all.

They're safelights!
Common standard-issue safelights!

We're in a darkroom!
This room is a great big darkroom!

- And this must be photographic paper.
- Meaning we can develop it?

(BROWN) You hope... Developing photos
isn't a one-stage process.

- It takes chemical baths, fixing agents...
- For colour photography.

To pull black letters
from a white background

all you need is developing fluid.

Let's do this.

I'm in.

(BROWN) Even if she's right,
isn't a chemical shower a bad idea?

It'll be diluted.
They wouldn't hire damaged goods.

But covering your eyes,
nose and mouth may be wise.

(BROWN) They're not the
only things worth covering.

That's it: join in at last.

You're deaf but not dumb, eh?

No worries, love. Let me.

Let's go.

- Well?
- It'll take a few moments.

Where's my paper?

(SHOUTS) Has anyone seen my paper?

No!

(SHOUTS) You bastard! Bastard!

How could you?
How could you? Bastard!

What did you just do?

What l had to.

I should punch your lights out!

- (BLONDE) Black, what did you do?
- (BROWN) lt's not what he did.

- (BROWN) lt's what he said.
- (DARK) What?

(BROWN) "Lights out".
So...lights up!

- That's better.
- Lights out.

(BROWN) Lights up. Voice-activated.

- They're playing with us.
- Great, isn't it?

- Everybody watch what you say.
- And do.

(SOBBlNG)

Up one minute, down the next.

Can't write on this
anymore, can you? Go on, try.

Don't then.

Are you hungry, mate?
Oi, are you hungry?

I am. l'm really hungry.

There's no snack machines
in here, though, are there?

Go on, rip it up...
Oi! Rip it up!

- Hey! What did l tell you before?
- She said leave him alone, White.

- (WHlTE) Tear it up!
- White, will you stop!

Tear it up! Tear it!

(BLACK) I won't tell you again, White!

That's it, good boy. Go on.

Go on. More, more.

Put it in your mouth.

(APPROACHlNG FOOTSTEPS)

S'il vous plait!

And then there were five.

- "Bastard" doesn't do you justice.
- (WHlTE GlGGLES)

You said we should cooperate
until we discovered the question!

So l lied!

I lied. So what?

Lying is not against the rules, is it?

Anyway, you don't have to listen to me,
let alone agree or obey.

You should thank me.
All of you should thank me.

I've just narrowed down the field,
so your odds improve.

Odds mean nothing without
the question in front of us!

You can forget about
any more help from us in finding it.

I don't need your help.
You'll find it's you who needs my help.

You know why?
'Cause I figured it out.

Oh, really? The question?
What is it, then?

Why should I?

Because if you don't,
I'll beat it out of you.

You're full of shit, White.
You have been from the start.

You don't know anything.

He wouldn't tell us if he did,
'cause he's a narcissist.

He despises us.

Sticks and stones, love.

I bet you say that to all the boys.

Only the ones with
Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

There are nine character traits
to look for:

arrogance, grandiosity,
a belief in one's uniqueness,

a preoccupation
with power and success,

an excessive need to be admired,
a sense of entitlement,

lack of empathy and the twin tendencies
to envy and exploit others.

For clinical diagnosis,
a patient must exhibit five of these.

- You tick enough boxes.
- You can add a tenth to that list.

"A tendency to see through all the bullshit
surrounding you, and rise above it."

- I'll tick that box myself.
- Let me tick it for you.

- That was smart.
- That was necessary.

We may need him. He's a resource.

You don't like someone? Outwit them.

He's an enemy of the group,
and a distraction!

(GRUNTING)

Are you gonna give me a hand?

- One, two...
- (GRUNTlNG)

What are you doing?

Ensuring that he can't cause
any more trouble when he wakes up.

- And taking him out of the game.
- That hardly seems fair.

He's sacrificed his right to fair treatment.
Forward a bit.

See? I put him down
and suddenly we're cooperating again.

He's a talker.

We could go further than this.

She's right.

We could carry him
to the door and slide him out.

He ejected two of us:
why shouldn't we eject him?

- Call it justice, or karma if you prefer.
- You don't believe in forgiveness?

- I'll forgive him afterwards.
- And your gospel of cooperation?

I'll tolerate anyone, except the intolerant.

Those in favour...

Fifty-fifty.

To each his own.

If you won't think selflessly
about this, think selfishly.

The Invigilator said...

If you choose to leave this room
for any reason,

you'll be disqualified.

He's not choosing to leave, is he?
You're choosing for him.

Which puts you at risk too.

Go on, White, spoil yourself.
It's your turn.

(BLACK) Make your mark.

Look, we have less than half an hour left
and we still don't know the question.

He claims to know the question.

(MUMBLES)

- Shut up!
- (WHlTE MOANS)

(MUMBLING)

(PANTS)

I need medication, it's in my pocket.

- What kind of medication?
- What does it matter?

A pill, all right? l need to take
it every hour, on the hour.

- That's right now.
- (BLACK) Every hour, on the hour?

Only one condition is treated that way.

You're infected too, aren't you?

That's more than justice.
That's poetic justice.

If you don't believe me,
untie my arms, so I can take the pill!

- Go on!
- (DARK) Nice try.

(BLACK) It's pathetic, actually.

Take it yourself. Get it for me yourself.
It's in my left pocket!

- I'll do what you want. Just do it.
- Really?

Tell us what the question is then.

All right, get the pill and l'll tell you.

Come on! Fucking do it!

Go on, it's my left pocket.

Go on, try again, it's in there. Go on.

Where the fuck is it?

One of you has taken it!
One of you has fucking taken it!

This isn't funny! You know what happens
when you don't take suppressants!

Unconsciousness. Convulsions.
Shock. Coma. Then death.

We know exactly what happens

and the process takes hours,
not minutes.

(WHITE GASPING)

Listen, mate,
I'll be out of this for good!

A taste of your own medicine.

- Don't do it, don't do it.
- Look on the bright side, brother (!)

If you start to convulse,
we'll know you're telling the truth.

Then we'll gladly help you.

Looks like you've got your wish.

For now.

He had to be dealt with
one way or another.

I wouldn't be surprised
if he was a plant all along.

It's the kind of thing they'd do
to stir up our internal dynamics.

To set us against one another.

If so, we've seized back the initiative.

Or you have.

He isn't smart enough to be a plant.

But you on the other hand.

You think she's one of them?

Don't be absurd!
I told you l'm a psychologist!

You claimed to be a qualified
student of psychology, not a practitioner.

I've studied psychology too,
and reverse psychology.

What better way to hide
your true role in this farce

than to accuse another
candidate of playing your part?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Amateur psychology
is a useful tool for gamblers,

but a degree in the subject

sounds like the perfect foundation
for a career in, say human resources.

You're on the wrong side
of the glass.

- He's the one who manipulated...
- Maybe you work as a team.

He's got the mouth, but you...

..know an awful lot
about Biorg Pharmaceuticals.

- I told you l applied!
- So did we.

- And l do my research!
- So did we!

Any of us could be plants,
but not all of us.

At least one candidate has
to be genuine for the test to be viable.

- That would be me.
- And me.

My point is we can't prove
anyone's guilt or innocence,

so it's a waste of time to try.

If we can't maintain trust
and cooperation, we're through.

Trust has to be earned, sister.

We never had cause to trust
each other in the first place.

Trust is a choice. We can choose
to keep cooperating, if necessary.

- I think it's necessary.
- We have no other option.

Trust makes me nervous.

- I prefer proof.
- What are you doing?

- (SHOUTS) Get off me!
- Are you insane?

- Brown, why are you doing this?
- Because I like winning!

Now tell us the truth, Dark.

Please...
You said we've to trust each other!

Now you're gonna stand there
while he interrogates me?

Looks like it. They wanna know too.

Further denials will only waste time.

Confess and l'll release you. I promise.

OK, I work for them,
but they didn't put me in here!

I heard about the job internally
and applied like everyone else!

Not everyone.

Tell us what we want to know.

I can't tell you anything because
I don't know anything!

HR doesn't cover the CEO's office,
he hires his staff personally!

I'm not lying!
I wanna step up as badly as you do!

Like l said,
trust is a devalued currency in here.

What proof can I possibly give you?

You know, it's funny...

how something so simple
and inoffensive

as a piece of paper,

when placed in the wrong hands

can become a deadly weapon.

All from one slice of a tree.

- What are you doing?
- What has to be done.

You're gonna torture me?

- Do something! Please!
- Brown, what are you doing?

- I know what l'm doing.
- You've done this before?

- In the services.
- I thought you were a gambler.

All soldiers are gamblers.

See, l find the flesh
of the inner thigh especially sensitive.

- Fuck you! Get off me!
- Stop this! This can't be our only option!

No, it isn't, it's mine.

(SlGHS)

What have we here?

Seems you got there before me.

What, undervalued at work and at home?

Daddy didn't love you, hm?

You studied psychology to find out why?
Tell me I'm wrong.

On second thoughts, don't answer that.
Answer this...

- What is the question?
- I don't know!

- You're lying!
- I don't know, I swear!

What is the question?

What is the purpose of this exam?

Would I volunteer if the only way for you
to solve this was to beat it out of me?

How fucked up are you?

With 20 minutes left, this fucked up.

- (DARK SCREAMS)
- OK, enough!

(BLACK GROANS)

Don't interfere.

(GROANlNG)

(BLACK)
For God's sake. This is a woman.

Equal opportunities, Black.

HR wouldn't expect anything less,
would they?

Oh, by all means, ask him for help.

Look, it's nothing personal.

We just need to know what you know.

Brown, don't do this!
There must be another way!

We need certainty.

The kind only unbearable pain can give...

I've told you everything I know!

Please stop!

..or the threat of it.

(DARK SOBS)

She's telling the truth.

Sorry.

Here.

Thank you.

(RATTLlNG)

You wanted convulsions -
now you've got them.

You think he's faking it.

It's genuine.

- How do you know?
- My wife, she died from it.

I'm a carrier. He's not faking.

Even liars tell the truth occasionally.

- He really needs that pill, doesn't he?
- Fast.

If anyone took it, own up now.

All right, if we can't trust each other,
we'll have to search each other.

Nothing.

- Got any gum?
- Sorry. l'm all out.

Really?

All soldiers are gamblers

and all gamblers are cheats, l've found.

Given the opportunity.

- I took a calculated risk.
- You're as bad as he is.

No, he's worse. There was
never any pretence about White.

- Let's think about it selfishly again.
- While he's dying?

That's not selfishness, that's murder!

Coma comes before death, right?
People recover from comas.

Not this kind. Sink too deep
and it's irreversible.

But that pill mimics
an adrenaline shot to the heart.

- If you're gonna do it, do it now.
- Forgotten what you said about him?

We're not releasing him
We're saving his life!

I'm afraid I can't do that!

(GRUNTING)

I can see it, but l can't reach!

Let me try!

Obviously the Gods
agree with my risk assessment.

Is he unconscious?

(BLACK) He's lapsing!

We have to carry him out for treatment.

Biorg will understand. Trust me.

Are you gonna help me?

Fine, you can live with his death
on your consciences. I can't.

He's bleeding! What does that mean?

I don't know: l haven't seen
this before. But it can't be good.

- Do something, Black!
- Like what? I'm not a doctor!

Help him, please!

Can't you see he's dying?

No! I work for you! I work here!

(GASPS)

You weren't wrong about that pill.

Hey...

- If you can hear me, nod your...
- Fuckers.

I have it too, brother.

Yeah, well, don't expect me to thank you.

You have her to thank...

..not me.

Well, l would've preferred the kiss of life.

I bet you're good at that.

Wow.

Four down and four to go.

And only 1 0 minutes on the clock.

Exciting (!)

I felt you take it, you know.

Room not big enough for both of us?

That's the spirit, Brown.

If you remember me taking it,

you'll remember
the promise you made us.

Blonde gave you the pill as requested.

Now give us what we asked for in return.

- The question?
- What is it?

Where is it?

You still don't get it, do you?

Let me spell this out for you.

(SlGHS)

There is no question!

All right?

There never was one!

Not the kind you're looking for anyway.

That's what you've been holding back?

- That's your big secret?
- Uh-huh.

You heard the lnvigilator.

There's one question before you,
and one answer is required.

There is one question!
You're calling him a liar?

When you've eliminated the impossible,
whatever's left has to be the truth.

No matter how crazy it seems.

This test is the question!

And the answer is us.

- We're the answers.
- Answers, plural?

- If l recall...
- One answer is required.

- Singular.
- That's right.

Just one of us.

You wouldn't dare.

Whoa! Whoa!

- Whoa! Everybody calm down.
- Seconded.

(GIGGLES) All right, all right, all right.

- You're not gonna shoot me.
- I didn't take it to shoot you!

I took it to stop you
from using it on us!

Let me tell you what I think.

I think we're the answers too.
All of us together, as a team!

I think we'd
all passed when we walked in.

All each of us can do
is lose what we've already won

through selfishness,
stupidity and impatience!

(BLACK) Deaf was right.

We see what we want to see in here.

You're a fighter
so you all can think about

is being the last man standing,

but they never said
there was only one position available.

Yeah, l see what l want to see, Black.

(GASPS)

And you hear what you want to hear.

But answer me this, brother (!)

What corporation doesn't know
how many positions it's got available?

What CEO can't decide whether he wants
one assistant or eight?

There's only one job going
in his office, you know that?

And the rest is fantasy.

White, stay back!

This ain't worth killing for.

You seem to think it is.
Is it...

- ..worth dying for?
- Put the gun down, Black.

You started this, now it's in play!

- We can't put it back.
- (BLONDE) Throw it out the door.

That won't break any rules.

Go on, then, shoot me.

Go on, shoot me in the head, go on.

- See? You can't fight who you are.
- Don't!

(BLACK SCREAMS)

Fingerprint ID.

No!

(WHITE) OK.

(BROWN) OK, OK.

Just tell us what you want.

I want to be alone!

You want us to spoil our papers?

Disqualify ourselves?

OK.

We'll take those odds
over the alternative.

You win.

I can't let my partner escort you out,
we just became friends.

How about you walk out instead?

Each of you. One by one.

Starting with you.

Come on, we ain't got all day! Let's go.

They deserve you.

Now you.

Come on.

- Don't be stupid, Black.
- You won't shoot.

I'll be missed.

You're sick like me.

Your death will be explained away, OK?

No one outside this room even cares.

They've got problems of their own,
like avoiding the infection themselves.

Your conscience will haunt you.

You're assuming l've got one.

I'll go. I'm through with this.

(Ready?)

Don't cry, darlin'.

You were a passenger in here, anyway.

- You fucked your way to the top.
- Then l saved your life.

Well, anyone can make a mistake.

Lights out!

Lights on!

(GROANS)

(BEEPING)

(SlGHS)

Toujours y voir clairement
est primordial.

(DARK) To see clearly is all.

Well?

You said there's one answer
and you're looking at him!

I've done everything!
I made everything happen in here,

and she's done nothing!

It's me! l'm the one you want!

I'M THE ONE YOU WANT!

(FOOTSTEPS)

If you try to communicate
with myself or the guard...

..you will be disqualified.

(WHlTE) That's it, join in at last.

You're deaf but not dumb, eh?

(BEEPING)

There is one question before you,
and one answer is required.

(Ready?)

- Answers?
- That's what you've been holding back?

- That's your big secret?
- You still don't get it, do you?

What is it? Where is it?

- The question?
- What's the purpose of this exam?

- The question? What is it? Tell us!
- What does it matter?

(BLONDE) You really think
he's behind there?

(DARK) He's lived behind walls for years.

(BROWN) How do you know all this?

Are you saying that they rigged
the test to bring us all together?

Is there something you want to tell us?

- (BRUNETTE) lt's a piece of paper.
- (WHITE) It's more than that.

lf we can't see it,
how are we supposed to find it?

(BRUNETTE) What if the question
is written down? We just can't see it?

(BLONDE) What if it reveals
the question too?

(WHlTE) They're not gonna
make it that easy.

(BRUNETTE) How hard
can they afford to make it?

(WHlTE) So has anyone
figured out the answer yet?

(BROWN) lt's not about the answer,
it's about the question.

What is the question?

(TICKlNG)

What is the question?

(TICKlNG)

Any questions?

No.

That's the answer you wanted
to the first question asked of us.

The only question asked of you.

- I almost missed it too.
- Almost.

As it is, we're happy
to be hiring someone today.

I haven't accepted yet.

You wouldn't have participated
if you didn't want the job.

That was before. Before all this.

Now it's over, I have questions.

- Questions?
- More than one.

Ask.

You don't look like him.

Any suit can play the CEO
for shareholders and the media.

Our founder isn't a businessman.

- He has no interest in fame.
- Too bad.

- That was some performance.
- Who said it was a performance?

Our founder is a scientist, an innovator.

He's very particular about those
he invites to work with him,

especially when it comes to the most
important hiring decision he's ever made.

Important enough to kill for?

What makes you think he's dead?

(SOFT BREATHING)

(lNVlGlLATOR)
While searching for the cure,

we stumbled upon
something far more powerful.

Rapid cell regeneration...

..in a pill.

It eradicates the virus
and other stubborn mutations.

- The magic bullet.
- The gift of life for millions.

Such a breakthrough
creates unanticipated dilemmas.

Too great for any one man to bear.

People are gonna need this product,

and we can only make so much at a time.

Tough decisions are gonna have to be
made by a wise administrator,

someone who combines
a listening disposition

with attention to detail

and compassion for her fellow man.

If you are still interested...

Il est revenu.

He is...

..risen.