Dispatches from Elsewhere (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Janice - full transcript
Fredwynn?
Fredwynn?
Fredwynn?
Fredwynn, where are you?!
Fredwy-y-y...
- Go!
- I'm pushing.
- Go!
- Why is Fredwynn in Octavio's trunk again?
Out of the way! I don't know.
He's obsessed all day
long, playing the game.
He never even smiled.
He just kept muttering about the truth.
Oh. I've done so much biking today.
Yeah.
Janice, uh, you know, we
can walk if you're tired.
Peter, I'm fine.
I'm... I'm old. I'm not dead.
- Attagirl, Janice!
- And you, too!
I don't... Don't say
anything. Just pedal.
Yes, ma'am.
Ah, Janice.
So much spirit, so much life force,
so much determination.
And yet I sense a hint of fear,
of desperation behind those glasses.
Perhaps some of you are thinking,
"You have misled me, Octavio.
In our previous two chapters,
you tried in vain to convince me
that Peter and Simone
were my surrogates,
and all the while, I struggled
to make a personal connection".
Well, dear Viewer,
our entertainment has
something for everyone,
I assure you.
So, perhaps the time has come
to consider that Janice is you.
Tonight's entertainment
will be an adventure,
a quest to rescue a
partner held hostage.
A quest to procure a clue
from the clutches of the enemy.
And perhaps the beginning of a quest
to answer the question, "Who am I?"
But first, to frame our story
and create emotional stakes,
you must know a bit about Janice...
her history, her current dilemma.
As you know, my goal, as always,
is to value and respect your time.
And as such, I will now
impart the necessary knowledge
in a concise but
emotionally resonant way.
You like cartoons, don't you?
Everyone likes cartoons.
Oh, stop waving.
Put your hand on the bike.
Lev, you're gonna fall.
We got this. I'm right here.
If we go down, we go down together.
This is so stupid.
Well, it was your idea.
Well, it doesn't make
it any less stupid.
Ohh. Well, we should have practiced.
Ohh, God, I hope this isn't a
reflection of our compatibility
because right now we have
zero percent bike sync.
Let's imagine, friends,
that Janice is you.
Janice is you, if years ago,
you found exactly what
you were looking for,
or as anyone with real time
under their belt would admit,
nothing close to "exactly",
but lovely, nonetheless.
Janice is you, if, despite your fears,
you dedicated yourself to a journey
traveling side by side with another.
Janice is you, if your
partnership was strong enough
to endure anger and betrayal...
I don't ever want to see you again!
Janice, I'm sorry.
... loyalty and commitment
overcoming all that stood in its path.
Janice is you when life
brought the greatest of gifts,
and with it, a new partnership,
one from which there
was no looking back.
- I love you.
- I love you, too.
Janice is you when a role
you thought would last forever changed.
A natural progression of course,
but painful, nonetheless.
Janice is you, if despite
the ups and downs,
twists and turns of life,
one thing remained constant.
For better and for worse,
almost always for better,
you didn't have to do life alone.
Janice is you, if, after
years of building a life,
an identity, a family...
Lev? Lev? Somebody help!
Somebody help me!
... through sickness and in health,
from births to graduations,
life swooped in with its
harshest of reminders.
Lev.
Lev, I'm afraid.
We're gonna fall.
Please, I don't want to do this alone.
Nothing lasts forever.
So, my friends, I think
now you know Janice.
Squint your eyes, and Janice is you.
Janice is you, if suddenly,
you realized that the identity
you had spent a lifetime
to build was suddenly ripped away.
A partner without a partner,
forced to answer the
hardest question of all...
"What am I supposed to do now?"
Don't let them get away!
Don't let them get away!
Don't let them get away!
I mean, what if Fredwynn
was actually onto something?
More like on something.
What if... What if the
game really is evil?
I mean, he could be in danger!
- Ohh.
- Okay, hurry.
- Hurry. Hurry, hurry.
- Janice, hey. You okay?
- Yes. Hurry.
- Uh, I'll take care of this.
Fredwynn! Fredwynn! Fredwynn!
I'm coming! Fredwynn!
Ohh, boy!
- Janice!
- Ohh, boy!
- Oh, boy!
- Janice!
Ohh! Ow! Fredwynn!
Ouch.
- Are you okay?
- Oh, I'm fine.
- Are you alright?
- I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine.
That was a very enthusiastic attempt.
- Yes.
- Yeah, you know, maybe we should just relax
- because we don't want to get ahead of ourselves
- No.
- or overdo it.
- Fredwynn could overheat in there!
Don't... Don't you watch the news?
He could overheat.
Is that what you want?
You want Fredwynn to overheat?
- No, you know what? You know what?
- I don't want him to overheat.
- We're gonna call him.
- I'll call him.
Okay, oh, that's such a good idea.
- We can call him.
- Oh, we should have called him a long time ago.
Here we go. Straight to voicemail.
Straight to voicemail?!
Ohh! What are we gonna do?
This is bad. Okay, let... let...
let... well, hold on, hold on.
Let... Let... Let's... Let's...
Let's do what Fredwynn would do.
I don't want to do that.
Yes, you do. Yes, you do. Come on.
We're gonna...
infiltrate.
Come on. Infiltrate.
Come on! Come on!
We have to get into that garage!
It's hard to know how
to feel about this guy.
That's true of every good villain.
Yeah, he made me cry.
- He did?
- Yes.
He had me fooled, but then
the Elsewhere Society...
- Never mind.
- Th... Th... This...
This is what I think we should do.
I think we should go in
there and find somebody
and tell them we need to get
into the parking structure,
but we lost our... our
clicker-dooly-wad thing.
Sounds good. Do you want
to take the lead on this?
Oh, no, no. I-I-I've done enough.
I-I-I think one of
you two ought to do it.
You're much better at this than I am.
Okay, uh, I think that's smart.
We'll take the lead.
He looks horny and gullible.
Target acquired.
It's that easy, huh?
You have no idea.
Uh, can I help you?
Oh.
Hi.
Uh, I'm Janice.
- Hi.
- How are you?
Oh, I'm fine.
Are you here for the
shareholders presentation?
I am... not.
I am not.
Uh, look, I need to get into the garage.
Oh, I'm sorry, the garage is off
limits unless you have a badge.
Oh. I don't have a badge...
- I see that.
- ... on me.
I don't have a badge on me.
It's in my purse.
My other purse.
And where is your other purse?
In the garage.
So, you see, we have a bit
of a Catch-22 situation here.
- I don't know that expression.
- Ah.
Well, that's when one thing can't happen
without another thing happening,
and that thing can't happen
without the first thing
happening. It's from a book.
Read it. It's wonderful.
If you're here for the presentation,
I can offer you a jacket.
Otherwise, I'm gonna
have to ask you to leave.
Okay, fine. I'll leave.
Okay, fantastic.
Why aren't you leaving?
My car's in the garage.
With my purse.
Garage, yeah.
Oh, it's this way.
Good. Thank you.
It... It's this way.
Come on.
I found him! I found
him! I fou... Fredwynn!
Fredwynn, I'm here!
I'm here, Fredwynn!
Fredwynn? Fredwynn?
- I got this, ladies.
- Talk to me.
Nope. Okay.
- Oh!
- Yes!
He's not dead. He's not there.
Holy moly, Janice.
You can't just go straight to "dead".
Oh, I know. I'm sorry.
I-I was afraid, but he's not dead.
- Thank God.
- Well, not to be too technical,
but we don't know if he's dead or not.
We just know he's not
dead in this trunk.
Hey. It's been 20 minutes.
No, I know he's probably not
dead, but he could be dead.
- He's either dead or not dead...
- Why?
... one of those two things.
Shh. Shh. Chht.
- Here he comes.
- Uh-oh.
What do you mean, "Uh-oh"?
He's... He sees us.
Oh! Oh, it's my phone.
- It's Fredwynn!
- Yes.
It's Fr... Hello!
- He's fine.
- Hello?
Janice, don't talk. Just listen.
I'm safe now, but I was right.
This goes deeper than we ever imagined.
Octavio, he has the answers.
There's an envelope in his pocket.
You've got to get that envelope.
What? Fredwynn?
Fredwynn? Fredwynn? Hello?
Peter. Simone. Janice.
Please see to my snack, good people.
You can leave me for
a moment. I'll be fine.
Janice.
I suppose you must be
conflicted to be standing
with the evil Octavio.
It's hard to know what to believe.
I, for one, am not a fan of
the democratization of voice.
People shouting anything
they like into the ether,
all hiding behind the
cloak of anonymity.
Right. You mean Commander 14.
- Indeed.
- Yeah.
Commander of what, I ask?
The Elsewhere Society?
A naive band of idealists who
have no real experience of life.
Incidentally, I'm curious
to know what happened
to the previous 13 commanders?
I'm sorry. That was clever.
It's a new world, indeed.
One whose rules seem to
change from moment to moment.
For an old man like
myself, there are moments
I feel overwhelmed
at the prospect of learning life anew.
Wouldn't you agree, Janice?
I'm not sure.
Okay, um, look, maybe you can clarify
exactly what is going on here.
Because honestly,
this whole thing floats
in and out of levels of bizarritude,
most of which I dig, but
there's an undercurrent of creepy
that I can't quite put my finger on.
I appreciate your candor.
Thank you.
- What you're really asking is...
- Is this real?
Is this real?!
That question has plagued man
since the birth of abstract thought.
Here we are, you and I, Peter.
I would argue that
this moment between us
is more real than anything else.
Would you agree?
I don't know.
Your egg, sir.
Oh, thank you.
Excuse me.
Is that a hard-boiled egg
with a packet of sugar?
- Two minutes, sir.
- Ah, thank you.
Um, excuse me.
I have to go and prepare.
We can speak more
after the presentation.
Uh, uh, Mr. Coleman.
Ohh!
It's freezing in here!
Am I crazy, or is it freezing in here?
It is freezing in here,
and I am frozen solid.
Oh, here, um, you can
take my jacket, Janice.
Oh, no, no, no, Peter.
Then you'd be cold.
No, uh, oh, Mr. Coleman,
uh, you look like
a good, old-fashioned gentleman.
Could I borrow your jacket
while you... you eat your snack?
My husband always gives
me his, but he's not here,
and I am frozen solid. Whoo!
You're right, Janice. It is cold.
- Yes.
- Uh, you see,
I requested backstage be
kept at a crisp 64 degrees
to counteract the heat
of the stage lights.
Your teammates can stay,
but I think that you'd prefer
the climate from the house seats,
and they provide jackets
for all participants.
Oh, no. I'm fine now.
I'm fine.
I think you'd prefer
a seat and a jacket.
I'm quite certain.
Uh, no, I-I really
don't want to be alone.
I understand.
Sir, um, we'll go out there with her.
Well, I don't know. It's
kind of cool back here.
- Simone.
- You two, stay.
- Janice.
- Yes?
I have total faith in you.
- Oh!
- Good people.
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, oh, my goodness.
Ohh.
Thank you.
Here? Okay, I can't...
You'll need this for
the presentation, ma'am.
Okay. Okay. I need to move in.
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Hello, um, my seat's in there.
I'm moving in. Excuse me.
Excuse me. Pardon me. Pardon me.
Oh, I'm so sorry! That was your foot.
I'm so sorry. For goodness sakes.
Okay, hold on.
Just about there.
Okay. Hi. How are you?
Gee, isn't this fun?
Okay. I'm just gonna sit down here.
Didn't get a program. That's okay.
Okay.
Why is there a fire
extinguisher under my chair?
Oh, maybe there's some
pyrotechnics in store.
Is anyone else really high?
Good afternoon, and welcome
to all our Jejune shareholders,
both new and old.
Across the globe,
our Jejune family is
gathering at many such events,
but the origins of the Jejune
Institute are right here.
It all began in 1962,
when a small group of
academics came together
around a common interest
in the advancement of
socio-reengineering.
During the 1960s, the Society
was a closely knit forum
for experimental research techniques
utilized to expand interpersonal trust
among fellow human subjects.
Under the leadership of luminary
metaphysicist Octavio Coleman, Esq.,
the institute gained a
wide influence and prestige
for which it is now renowned.
Early on, Coleman recognized
the great transformative power
of The Jejune Method.
Through his unique
intelligence and charisma,
the Organization was transformed
into an international juggernaut,
a field of human potential.
While Coleman helped spearhead
the still-nascent movement
of personal growth and
self-help in the 1970s,
what the Jejune Institute
is most celebrated for today
are the many advanced
technological products
and services that they have brought
to the international marketplace,
all of which have been designed
to actualize the latent,
untapped abilities of the human species.
These developments include
the Memory to Media Center,
where moving images can be rendered
and recorded from your active memory.
The Time Camera.
Using a heavy quartz lens,
this radionic camera
allows the photographer
to produce trans-time images
of the near-distant past.
The Aqua Thought Foundation.
Our research center
dedicated to the exploration
of human-dolphin interaction.
These miraculous products are
all part of the global vision
to which Octavio Coleman
has dedicated his life.
And now, to present this
year's technological marvel,
our founder, Octavio Coleman, Esq.
Hello, my friends. And welcome.
How are you all doing?
- Great!
- Great!
Welcome to the Shareholders Meeting.
Now, we had a big
opening planned for you.
You know, pyrotechnics
and dancing camels.
Then I thought, "Instead,
I'm gonna give you back
20 minutes of your life".
Yeah, truly.
Um, can we do something
about the lights?
I want to be able to see your faces.
Oh, great, Jenny. Thank you very much.
Now, what is our greatest fear?
Truly.
Deep down in our core.
I'll tell you what it is for me.
To forget who I am.
My darkest fear is to find
myself gazing in a mirror
and not recognizing the
man looking back at me,
to know that the person
behind those eyes is no longer
the "me" that I once knew.
Science has determined that
we only remember an event once.
Did you know that?
Now, the next time we recall
that event, we are, in fact,
recalling the memory of that event.
And the time after that,
we are remembering the
memory of the memory,
and on and on and on until...
until the end of our lives,
like some sick game of telephone,
so that the most important
memories of our lives
become mere shadows,
watered down and distorted
by the warped lens of time,
until we find ourselves
standing, alone, wondering...
... "Where did I go?"
"What have I become?"
"Who am I?!
Who am I?!"
"Who am I?! Who am I?!"
Can I even remember anymore?
Well...
no more, my friends.
No more.
Clara has an answer.
Thanks to the extraordinary mind
of this amazing young woman,
we will never forget
who we are ever again.
Now, I need a volunteer
for the demonstration.
Oh, great show of hands!
Who am I gonna choose?
Uh, let me see, let me see, let me see.
- And...
- Pick me.
Janice, I was hoping it would be you!
Ladies and gentlemen,
a big round of applause!
Whoo!
Go, Janice!
Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the intrepid Janice!
Hello.
Do... Do you think she'll be okay?
No idea.
Oh, my God.
This must be what, like,
parents feel like all the time,
'cause all I'm thinking
is, "Don't embarrass me.
Don't embarrass me, please".
I'm gonna ask you straightaway, Janice.
Tell me, what was it that made
you pull the tab on that flier
which has led you to this moment now?
What were you in search of?
Well, I... I don't know.
I guess I've been trying
to explore new things,
and I-I saw the flier about
a Gravity-Free Dance Salon.
I d... I didn't know what it
was. So I thought I'd try it.
I apologize for the subterfuge.
Perhaps today I may be
able to lift your feet
off the ground, after all.
Well, I hope you buy me a drink first.
That was funny.
Janice, have you ever
experienced virtual reality?
Virtual...
Well, Lev and I... That's my husband...
we accidentally took Quaaludes once
in the '80s at one of his work parties.
That was interesting.
- Well, that was a happy accident.
- Well...
But what I am about to show you,
and by proxy, our shareholders,
is an iteration of
an invention by Clara,
shortly before she disappeared,
which she called "The Idea"
and believed would change the world.
And I'm very proud that
the Jejune Institute
is the chief funder of
this precise prototype,
which we hope to bring to the market
in the foreseeable future.
Now, instead of me telling you about it,
let actions speak louder than words.
Oh!
Oh! Okay!
Alright, well, just wait a second.
- Oh, dear.
- Now, just stay calm.
Okay. Oh.
- And if you feel bad...
- Oh.
... just raise your hand.
Oh.
Oh.
Now, Janice, I can't help noticing
that your online presence is
filled with photos and events,
and none has more content
than one particular day.
Would you please share with the audience
what that day is, please?
My online pr... You mean my...
my Facebook page my son made for me?
- Mm-hmm.
- What... Are you...
Are you talking about my wedding day?
- Uh-huh.
- Oh.
He even made me a-a DVD of our album
so I could watch the photos on TV.
A day that you hope never to forget,
a day that changed your life forever.
- Mm-hmm.
- Well, what if I told you
that you could throw that DVD aside,
and instead of watching
it, you could live it?
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
- This is...
- Remarkable.
So real.
Explore. Be brave, Janice.
Oh, Rebecca, I'm telling you right now,
walk away from Martin.
He's a pig.
Hi!
Your dress is gorgeous.
Wow, this is much weirder
than the Quaaludes party was.
So many friends.
We had so many friends.
Oh, and they... they all brought gifts.
I don't even remember the gifts.
I hardly remember the people.
Ohh.
My dad!
Hey, Pop.
You get to relive your past.
That's, like, my worst
frickin' nightmare.
Yeah. I mean, me, too,
but maybe for people
with happy memories.
What day would you choose?
I think they need pictures,
and I don't have any.
There he is.
There's my guy.
Ohh.
You were so damned handsome.
You still are, my friend.
You still are.
Octavio?
I'm here, Janice. I'm here.
Where am I?
You... You're here.
No, I don't mean me.
I-I mean... I mean, the wedding me.
I don't understand.
I know, but you will.
I'm gonna give you some privacy.
When I leave you,
I want you to take three steps back
and then look to your right.
Shh! Shh! Shh!
The screen is off.
Your experiences are now your own.
Get to know yourself again, Janice.
We'll be here when you're finished.
One, two, three.
- It's me.
- It's me.
What would you say to your younger self
if you had the chance?
What would your younger self say to you?
Be brave, Janice.
Let your mind be free.
Hi.
Hi.
Oh, this is strange.
Do you remember me?
I-I don't think about you,
who I used to be.
Today is a good day.
Today's a very good day.
Oh. No. Where's the engagement ring?
Oh, it... it kept
snagging on everything,
so I-I put it in my underwear drawer.
It... It's in a box.
Don't worry. It's safe.
Lev is a good man.
Ohh.
Lev is a wonderful man.
He's my best friend.
Well, I've got good news.
He stays that way.
Uh, don't get me wrong.
There are some years when
he's your worst enemy.
He breaks your heart once.
But he helps you put
it back together again.
And then you get to lord it
over him whenever you want,
which is a great thing to
have in your back pocket.
Can I ask you a question?
Mm-hmm.
Are you happy?
Well, um, I guess what I mean is
when I'm older, am I happy?
Yes.
- You're happy, yeah.
- Oh, good.
Um, and do I do any of the
things I'm thinking about?
Do I become an English teacher
or a child psychologist?
Do I even finish college?
Well, no.
Nothing?
What do I do?
Do I at least keep my promise?
What promise?
You... You said that no matter
how much love we had, Lev and I,
that you would never forget
how much you liked to be alone,
right, to take long drives
into the desert for no reason,
to take ourselves on dates,
and to tell Lev everything important,
but to keep a few secrets for ourselves.
Yes.
To flirt without fear.
Ah, well, uh, I did a few
of those things for a while.
Then I started doing
most of them with Lev,
and, oh, we had a wonderful time.
Oh.
Oh, I become...
Never mind.
- What? What?
- No, it's nothing.
I'm... I'm sure you
did the best you could.
What does that mean?
Well...
I guess...
I cave.
I become a coward.
What?!
No!
No, you... you become a
wife and... and a mother!
You... You... You do everything
you're supposed to do!
Like what?
Like fulfilling promises
to everyone but myself?
What is that?
No, that's not it. That's not it, no.
When was the last
time you did something,
anything, because you wanted to?
- I'm doing this now!
- Before that.
When was the last time you
stepped out of your safe place?
Marriage is not a safe place.
It's a constant adventure.
Bullshit.
Don't you dare speak to me like that!
Don't you dare speak to me like that!
You're not my mother!
No, I'm you, with some
real life behind me,
with scars from walking side by side
with someone for all these years,
which is a hell of a lot harder
than driving off into
the desert for no reason.
Driving away is easy.
Staying is hard.
Staying when skin wrinkles
and money gets tight,
when children grow up and move away,
when people get sick.
Don't tell me I broke my promise.
I didn't forget.
I changed. I grew up.
And thank God... thank God I did!
Thank God!
You don't even know how
to play a DVD by yourself.
What?
What are you talk...
How do you even know that?
You have to push the "source" button.
I know what button to push!
I can never find the "source" button.
It's the picture of the
square with the tiny arrow!
Ohh! I don't understand any of this.
I don't understand.
Yeah, I know you don't, and
I'm embarrassed to be you!
Sorry.
That wasn't nice.
If you would have just listened to me,
we wouldn't be in this mess.
I'm not in a mess!
You put it all on someone
else your whole life,
and now what?
I'm figuring it out.
By running around with
a bunch of hipsters
who roll their eyes at you
when you're not looking?
No! No, they... they... they
think I'm doing a good job!
They're just trying to be nice.
They think you're a fool.
- No! No!
- And so do I.
No! No!
No! No!
I really don't like this.
She's fine. It's... It's a trick.
It's like the clip movie
in the clubhouse, remember?
Right, yeah. I remember.
- Aah! No! No! No!
- Sorry.
That's not true!
I'm not listening to you!
You're not real! You're not real!
I'm not listening to you!
Ladies and gentlemen, Janice.
A round of applause!
Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.
Do you see?
Do you see what Clara is capable of?
It is only with the help
of the Jejune Institute
and our vast resources
that Clara's full potential
can be truly realized.
Therefore, my friends...
Jejune, change your tune!
Jejune, change your tune!
Jejune, change your tune!
Fear not.
This is the Elsewhere Society.
I'm Commander 14!
Holy shit.
We are here to wake you from his spell.
Everybody, remain calm.
Do not be blind
to the evil that stands before you!
Clara must be free to spread her beauty
without the corruption
of the Jejune Institute's
nefarious intentions.
Fear not, my friends.
I provided everything you
need to protect yourselves.
Check underneath your seats.
Long live Octavio!
And long live the Jejune Institute!
I need some air! I need some air!
Come on. Come on.
Simone!
I just need to catch my breath.
- Just need to catch my breath.
- Are you alright?
What did... What did... What
did they show you up there?
Nothing. I saw nothing.
Can I help... Can I help
you? Can I do anything?
- Peter, I'm fine! I'm fine.
- Okay, alright. I'm sorry.
I don't need your help. I
don't need anyone's help.
- Sorry.
- Shit! It's locked!
What about Fredwynn?
It's all inside. He's still in the game.
Did we... Did we just lose?
Nope.
I told you, there's no
winning, there's no losing.
This whole game... It's a distraction.
Fredwynn! Oh, I'm so glad to see you!
Fredwynn, what happened?
Where have you been?
- Ohh.
- Are you okay?
It's been right under
us this whole time.
- What?
- The Jejune Institute, the Elsewhere Society.
They're not rivals. They're the same.
They're just trying to befuddle
us with fun and games.
The game makes you feel
like you have freedom,
but you're on rails. Even now.
Even now, we are on rails.
What does that mean, "We're on rails"?
- We're in an alley, Fredwynn.
- Open your eyes, Peter!
All of you!
Look, even this brick.
It comes right up.
And under it, there's a dog whistle.
Look. He's got the whistle.
- Look.
- Cool. Uh, what is he supposed to do with it?
It's for the blue bus.
What blue bus?
And there's a saffron bus,
too, if you chose Jejune,
but they both end up
at the same place...
eventually.
This is crazy.
No, that's nothing.
Look up.
But try not to get a paper cut.
Because a thousand fliers
are falling from the sky
announcing Jejune's next event.
How are you doing this?
Because I got tonight's script.
The key is here, and I know it.
I suggest we adjourn to
the diner immediately...
Fredwynn, I'm sorry.
I-I've got to go home.
I-It's late. I-I just need to go.
- Yeah, she's...
- It's been a long day.
- She's right. We should call it quits.
- You know what?
How about we meet at the diner
- tomorrow night at 7:00?
- Yeah.
- How does that sound?
- Are y'all hearing me?
This is important!
Tomorrow is a whole day away!
Some of us have had
a really rough night.
Some of us? Like me?
Would you like to know what
I've been going through?
- Listen to me, Fredwynn.
- Fredwynn, can we just not do this
right now, please?
Okay.
Okay.
Fine.
This gives me time to
process this, anyway.
I'll come back with a
coherent plan of attack.
If Janice needs rest,
then Janice needs rest.
Oh, well, thank you very much.
Yes, yes, the elderly
do need their rest.
So I'll see you all tomorrow.
Oh, and, by the way, I
think you asked for this.
- Ah!
- From Octavio's jacket.
You're welcome.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Now, if it's okay with all of you,
the little old woman is just
gonna wobble her way home.
Janice.
Bye.
Lev?
I'm back.
Oh, my goodness, what a day.
Ha.
First we rode on this big
round bicycle contraption,
and then they... they...
they hooked me up onto
this virtual reality thing.
I'm not kidding you.
You were there.
Well, you weren't there,
but... but I saw you.
Ohh.
It's so good to be home.
Hi, Meredith.
Hi.
Thank you so much for staying late.
- Oh.
- How's he doing?
Oh, he had a good day, Mrs. Foster.
I'm just glad you could get
out of the house for a while.
You need to do that more often.
I didn't know I'd be out
of the house for so long.
This game, it's crazy.
But you're liking it.
It's an adventure, that's for sure.
Mr. Foster would be happy for you.
Good night.
See you tomorrow.
Ohh.
Oh, my feet.
My feet.
I missed you.
I couldn't wait to get home
and tell you about everything
that happened today.
Oh, I wish you'd been with me.
What am I talking about?
You would have hated every minute of it.
The whole thing is completely bizarre.
And my teammates are all
very...
unique people.
I mean, they're nice to me,
but they treat me like
I'm totally incompetent.
Like, what, I haven't
been alive on this planet
for the last 70 years?
They don't understand about time.
But they will.
Pay attention.
Clues are all around you.
Must go deeper.
Now, what did you miss?
- What is going on?
- It's you.
It's been right under
us this whole time.
You'll make a mistake.
And I'll find it.
Fredwynn?
Fredwynn?
Fredwynn, where are you?!
Fredwy-y-y...
- Go!
- I'm pushing.
- Go!
- Why is Fredwynn in Octavio's trunk again?
Out of the way! I don't know.
He's obsessed all day
long, playing the game.
He never even smiled.
He just kept muttering about the truth.
Oh. I've done so much biking today.
Yeah.
Janice, uh, you know, we
can walk if you're tired.
Peter, I'm fine.
I'm... I'm old. I'm not dead.
- Attagirl, Janice!
- And you, too!
I don't... Don't say
anything. Just pedal.
Yes, ma'am.
Ah, Janice.
So much spirit, so much life force,
so much determination.
And yet I sense a hint of fear,
of desperation behind those glasses.
Perhaps some of you are thinking,
"You have misled me, Octavio.
In our previous two chapters,
you tried in vain to convince me
that Peter and Simone
were my surrogates,
and all the while, I struggled
to make a personal connection".
Well, dear Viewer,
our entertainment has
something for everyone,
I assure you.
So, perhaps the time has come
to consider that Janice is you.
Tonight's entertainment
will be an adventure,
a quest to rescue a
partner held hostage.
A quest to procure a clue
from the clutches of the enemy.
And perhaps the beginning of a quest
to answer the question, "Who am I?"
But first, to frame our story
and create emotional stakes,
you must know a bit about Janice...
her history, her current dilemma.
As you know, my goal, as always,
is to value and respect your time.
And as such, I will now
impart the necessary knowledge
in a concise but
emotionally resonant way.
You like cartoons, don't you?
Everyone likes cartoons.
Oh, stop waving.
Put your hand on the bike.
Lev, you're gonna fall.
We got this. I'm right here.
If we go down, we go down together.
This is so stupid.
Well, it was your idea.
Well, it doesn't make
it any less stupid.
Ohh. Well, we should have practiced.
Ohh, God, I hope this isn't a
reflection of our compatibility
because right now we have
zero percent bike sync.
Let's imagine, friends,
that Janice is you.
Janice is you, if years ago,
you found exactly what
you were looking for,
or as anyone with real time
under their belt would admit,
nothing close to "exactly",
but lovely, nonetheless.
Janice is you, if, despite your fears,
you dedicated yourself to a journey
traveling side by side with another.
Janice is you, if your
partnership was strong enough
to endure anger and betrayal...
I don't ever want to see you again!
Janice, I'm sorry.
... loyalty and commitment
overcoming all that stood in its path.
Janice is you when life
brought the greatest of gifts,
and with it, a new partnership,
one from which there
was no looking back.
- I love you.
- I love you, too.
Janice is you when a role
you thought would last forever changed.
A natural progression of course,
but painful, nonetheless.
Janice is you, if despite
the ups and downs,
twists and turns of life,
one thing remained constant.
For better and for worse,
almost always for better,
you didn't have to do life alone.
Janice is you, if, after
years of building a life,
an identity, a family...
Lev? Lev? Somebody help!
Somebody help me!
... through sickness and in health,
from births to graduations,
life swooped in with its
harshest of reminders.
Lev.
Lev, I'm afraid.
We're gonna fall.
Please, I don't want to do this alone.
Nothing lasts forever.
So, my friends, I think
now you know Janice.
Squint your eyes, and Janice is you.
Janice is you, if suddenly,
you realized that the identity
you had spent a lifetime
to build was suddenly ripped away.
A partner without a partner,
forced to answer the
hardest question of all...
"What am I supposed to do now?"
Don't let them get away!
Don't let them get away!
Don't let them get away!
I mean, what if Fredwynn
was actually onto something?
More like on something.
What if... What if the
game really is evil?
I mean, he could be in danger!
- Ohh.
- Okay, hurry.
- Hurry. Hurry, hurry.
- Janice, hey. You okay?
- Yes. Hurry.
- Uh, I'll take care of this.
Fredwynn! Fredwynn! Fredwynn!
I'm coming! Fredwynn!
Ohh, boy!
- Janice!
- Ohh, boy!
- Oh, boy!
- Janice!
Ohh! Ow! Fredwynn!
Ouch.
- Are you okay?
- Oh, I'm fine.
- Are you alright?
- I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine.
That was a very enthusiastic attempt.
- Yes.
- Yeah, you know, maybe we should just relax
- because we don't want to get ahead of ourselves
- No.
- or overdo it.
- Fredwynn could overheat in there!
Don't... Don't you watch the news?
He could overheat.
Is that what you want?
You want Fredwynn to overheat?
- No, you know what? You know what?
- I don't want him to overheat.
- We're gonna call him.
- I'll call him.
Okay, oh, that's such a good idea.
- We can call him.
- Oh, we should have called him a long time ago.
Here we go. Straight to voicemail.
Straight to voicemail?!
Ohh! What are we gonna do?
This is bad. Okay, let... let...
let... well, hold on, hold on.
Let... Let... Let's... Let's...
Let's do what Fredwynn would do.
I don't want to do that.
Yes, you do. Yes, you do. Come on.
We're gonna...
infiltrate.
Come on. Infiltrate.
Come on! Come on!
We have to get into that garage!
It's hard to know how
to feel about this guy.
That's true of every good villain.
Yeah, he made me cry.
- He did?
- Yes.
He had me fooled, but then
the Elsewhere Society...
- Never mind.
- Th... Th... This...
This is what I think we should do.
I think we should go in
there and find somebody
and tell them we need to get
into the parking structure,
but we lost our... our
clicker-dooly-wad thing.
Sounds good. Do you want
to take the lead on this?
Oh, no, no. I-I-I've done enough.
I-I-I think one of
you two ought to do it.
You're much better at this than I am.
Okay, uh, I think that's smart.
We'll take the lead.
He looks horny and gullible.
Target acquired.
It's that easy, huh?
You have no idea.
Uh, can I help you?
Oh.
Hi.
Uh, I'm Janice.
- Hi.
- How are you?
Oh, I'm fine.
Are you here for the
shareholders presentation?
I am... not.
I am not.
Uh, look, I need to get into the garage.
Oh, I'm sorry, the garage is off
limits unless you have a badge.
Oh. I don't have a badge...
- I see that.
- ... on me.
I don't have a badge on me.
It's in my purse.
My other purse.
And where is your other purse?
In the garage.
So, you see, we have a bit
of a Catch-22 situation here.
- I don't know that expression.
- Ah.
Well, that's when one thing can't happen
without another thing happening,
and that thing can't happen
without the first thing
happening. It's from a book.
Read it. It's wonderful.
If you're here for the presentation,
I can offer you a jacket.
Otherwise, I'm gonna
have to ask you to leave.
Okay, fine. I'll leave.
Okay, fantastic.
Why aren't you leaving?
My car's in the garage.
With my purse.
Garage, yeah.
Oh, it's this way.
Good. Thank you.
It... It's this way.
Come on.
I found him! I found
him! I fou... Fredwynn!
Fredwynn, I'm here!
I'm here, Fredwynn!
Fredwynn? Fredwynn?
- I got this, ladies.
- Talk to me.
Nope. Okay.
- Oh!
- Yes!
He's not dead. He's not there.
Holy moly, Janice.
You can't just go straight to "dead".
Oh, I know. I'm sorry.
I-I was afraid, but he's not dead.
- Thank God.
- Well, not to be too technical,
but we don't know if he's dead or not.
We just know he's not
dead in this trunk.
Hey. It's been 20 minutes.
No, I know he's probably not
dead, but he could be dead.
- He's either dead or not dead...
- Why?
... one of those two things.
Shh. Shh. Chht.
- Here he comes.
- Uh-oh.
What do you mean, "Uh-oh"?
He's... He sees us.
Oh! Oh, it's my phone.
- It's Fredwynn!
- Yes.
It's Fr... Hello!
- He's fine.
- Hello?
Janice, don't talk. Just listen.
I'm safe now, but I was right.
This goes deeper than we ever imagined.
Octavio, he has the answers.
There's an envelope in his pocket.
You've got to get that envelope.
What? Fredwynn?
Fredwynn? Fredwynn? Hello?
Peter. Simone. Janice.
Please see to my snack, good people.
You can leave me for
a moment. I'll be fine.
Janice.
I suppose you must be
conflicted to be standing
with the evil Octavio.
It's hard to know what to believe.
I, for one, am not a fan of
the democratization of voice.
People shouting anything
they like into the ether,
all hiding behind the
cloak of anonymity.
Right. You mean Commander 14.
- Indeed.
- Yeah.
Commander of what, I ask?
The Elsewhere Society?
A naive band of idealists who
have no real experience of life.
Incidentally, I'm curious
to know what happened
to the previous 13 commanders?
I'm sorry. That was clever.
It's a new world, indeed.
One whose rules seem to
change from moment to moment.
For an old man like
myself, there are moments
I feel overwhelmed
at the prospect of learning life anew.
Wouldn't you agree, Janice?
I'm not sure.
Okay, um, look, maybe you can clarify
exactly what is going on here.
Because honestly,
this whole thing floats
in and out of levels of bizarritude,
most of which I dig, but
there's an undercurrent of creepy
that I can't quite put my finger on.
I appreciate your candor.
Thank you.
- What you're really asking is...
- Is this real?
Is this real?!
That question has plagued man
since the birth of abstract thought.
Here we are, you and I, Peter.
I would argue that
this moment between us
is more real than anything else.
Would you agree?
I don't know.
Your egg, sir.
Oh, thank you.
Excuse me.
Is that a hard-boiled egg
with a packet of sugar?
- Two minutes, sir.
- Ah, thank you.
Um, excuse me.
I have to go and prepare.
We can speak more
after the presentation.
Uh, uh, Mr. Coleman.
Ohh!
It's freezing in here!
Am I crazy, or is it freezing in here?
It is freezing in here,
and I am frozen solid.
Oh, here, um, you can
take my jacket, Janice.
Oh, no, no, no, Peter.
Then you'd be cold.
No, uh, oh, Mr. Coleman,
uh, you look like
a good, old-fashioned gentleman.
Could I borrow your jacket
while you... you eat your snack?
My husband always gives
me his, but he's not here,
and I am frozen solid. Whoo!
You're right, Janice. It is cold.
- Yes.
- Uh, you see,
I requested backstage be
kept at a crisp 64 degrees
to counteract the heat
of the stage lights.
Your teammates can stay,
but I think that you'd prefer
the climate from the house seats,
and they provide jackets
for all participants.
Oh, no. I'm fine now.
I'm fine.
I think you'd prefer
a seat and a jacket.
I'm quite certain.
Uh, no, I-I really
don't want to be alone.
I understand.
Sir, um, we'll go out there with her.
Well, I don't know. It's
kind of cool back here.
- Simone.
- You two, stay.
- Janice.
- Yes?
I have total faith in you.
- Oh!
- Good people.
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, oh, my goodness.
Ohh.
Thank you.
Here? Okay, I can't...
You'll need this for
the presentation, ma'am.
Okay. Okay. I need to move in.
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Hello, um, my seat's in there.
I'm moving in. Excuse me.
Excuse me. Pardon me. Pardon me.
Oh, I'm so sorry! That was your foot.
I'm so sorry. For goodness sakes.
Okay, hold on.
Just about there.
Okay. Hi. How are you?
Gee, isn't this fun?
Okay. I'm just gonna sit down here.
Didn't get a program. That's okay.
Okay.
Why is there a fire
extinguisher under my chair?
Oh, maybe there's some
pyrotechnics in store.
Is anyone else really high?
Good afternoon, and welcome
to all our Jejune shareholders,
both new and old.
Across the globe,
our Jejune family is
gathering at many such events,
but the origins of the Jejune
Institute are right here.
It all began in 1962,
when a small group of
academics came together
around a common interest
in the advancement of
socio-reengineering.
During the 1960s, the Society
was a closely knit forum
for experimental research techniques
utilized to expand interpersonal trust
among fellow human subjects.
Under the leadership of luminary
metaphysicist Octavio Coleman, Esq.,
the institute gained a
wide influence and prestige
for which it is now renowned.
Early on, Coleman recognized
the great transformative power
of The Jejune Method.
Through his unique
intelligence and charisma,
the Organization was transformed
into an international juggernaut,
a field of human potential.
While Coleman helped spearhead
the still-nascent movement
of personal growth and
self-help in the 1970s,
what the Jejune Institute
is most celebrated for today
are the many advanced
technological products
and services that they have brought
to the international marketplace,
all of which have been designed
to actualize the latent,
untapped abilities of the human species.
These developments include
the Memory to Media Center,
where moving images can be rendered
and recorded from your active memory.
The Time Camera.
Using a heavy quartz lens,
this radionic camera
allows the photographer
to produce trans-time images
of the near-distant past.
The Aqua Thought Foundation.
Our research center
dedicated to the exploration
of human-dolphin interaction.
These miraculous products are
all part of the global vision
to which Octavio Coleman
has dedicated his life.
And now, to present this
year's technological marvel,
our founder, Octavio Coleman, Esq.
Hello, my friends. And welcome.
How are you all doing?
- Great!
- Great!
Welcome to the Shareholders Meeting.
Now, we had a big
opening planned for you.
You know, pyrotechnics
and dancing camels.
Then I thought, "Instead,
I'm gonna give you back
20 minutes of your life".
Yeah, truly.
Um, can we do something
about the lights?
I want to be able to see your faces.
Oh, great, Jenny. Thank you very much.
Now, what is our greatest fear?
Truly.
Deep down in our core.
I'll tell you what it is for me.
To forget who I am.
My darkest fear is to find
myself gazing in a mirror
and not recognizing the
man looking back at me,
to know that the person
behind those eyes is no longer
the "me" that I once knew.
Science has determined that
we only remember an event once.
Did you know that?
Now, the next time we recall
that event, we are, in fact,
recalling the memory of that event.
And the time after that,
we are remembering the
memory of the memory,
and on and on and on until...
until the end of our lives,
like some sick game of telephone,
so that the most important
memories of our lives
become mere shadows,
watered down and distorted
by the warped lens of time,
until we find ourselves
standing, alone, wondering...
... "Where did I go?"
"What have I become?"
"Who am I?!
Who am I?!"
"Who am I?! Who am I?!"
Can I even remember anymore?
Well...
no more, my friends.
No more.
Clara has an answer.
Thanks to the extraordinary mind
of this amazing young woman,
we will never forget
who we are ever again.
Now, I need a volunteer
for the demonstration.
Oh, great show of hands!
Who am I gonna choose?
Uh, let me see, let me see, let me see.
- And...
- Pick me.
Janice, I was hoping it would be you!
Ladies and gentlemen,
a big round of applause!
Whoo!
Go, Janice!
Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the intrepid Janice!
Hello.
Do... Do you think she'll be okay?
No idea.
Oh, my God.
This must be what, like,
parents feel like all the time,
'cause all I'm thinking
is, "Don't embarrass me.
Don't embarrass me, please".
I'm gonna ask you straightaway, Janice.
Tell me, what was it that made
you pull the tab on that flier
which has led you to this moment now?
What were you in search of?
Well, I... I don't know.
I guess I've been trying
to explore new things,
and I-I saw the flier about
a Gravity-Free Dance Salon.
I d... I didn't know what it
was. So I thought I'd try it.
I apologize for the subterfuge.
Perhaps today I may be
able to lift your feet
off the ground, after all.
Well, I hope you buy me a drink first.
That was funny.
Janice, have you ever
experienced virtual reality?
Virtual...
Well, Lev and I... That's my husband...
we accidentally took Quaaludes once
in the '80s at one of his work parties.
That was interesting.
- Well, that was a happy accident.
- Well...
But what I am about to show you,
and by proxy, our shareholders,
is an iteration of
an invention by Clara,
shortly before she disappeared,
which she called "The Idea"
and believed would change the world.
And I'm very proud that
the Jejune Institute
is the chief funder of
this precise prototype,
which we hope to bring to the market
in the foreseeable future.
Now, instead of me telling you about it,
let actions speak louder than words.
Oh!
Oh! Okay!
Alright, well, just wait a second.
- Oh, dear.
- Now, just stay calm.
Okay. Oh.
- And if you feel bad...
- Oh.
... just raise your hand.
Oh.
Oh.
Now, Janice, I can't help noticing
that your online presence is
filled with photos and events,
and none has more content
than one particular day.
Would you please share with the audience
what that day is, please?
My online pr... You mean my...
my Facebook page my son made for me?
- Mm-hmm.
- What... Are you...
Are you talking about my wedding day?
- Uh-huh.
- Oh.
He even made me a-a DVD of our album
so I could watch the photos on TV.
A day that you hope never to forget,
a day that changed your life forever.
- Mm-hmm.
- Well, what if I told you
that you could throw that DVD aside,
and instead of watching
it, you could live it?
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
- This is...
- Remarkable.
So real.
Explore. Be brave, Janice.
Oh, Rebecca, I'm telling you right now,
walk away from Martin.
He's a pig.
Hi!
Your dress is gorgeous.
Wow, this is much weirder
than the Quaaludes party was.
So many friends.
We had so many friends.
Oh, and they... they all brought gifts.
I don't even remember the gifts.
I hardly remember the people.
Ohh.
My dad!
Hey, Pop.
You get to relive your past.
That's, like, my worst
frickin' nightmare.
Yeah. I mean, me, too,
but maybe for people
with happy memories.
What day would you choose?
I think they need pictures,
and I don't have any.
There he is.
There's my guy.
Ohh.
You were so damned handsome.
You still are, my friend.
You still are.
Octavio?
I'm here, Janice. I'm here.
Where am I?
You... You're here.
No, I don't mean me.
I-I mean... I mean, the wedding me.
I don't understand.
I know, but you will.
I'm gonna give you some privacy.
When I leave you,
I want you to take three steps back
and then look to your right.
Shh! Shh! Shh!
The screen is off.
Your experiences are now your own.
Get to know yourself again, Janice.
We'll be here when you're finished.
One, two, three.
- It's me.
- It's me.
What would you say to your younger self
if you had the chance?
What would your younger self say to you?
Be brave, Janice.
Let your mind be free.
Hi.
Hi.
Oh, this is strange.
Do you remember me?
I-I don't think about you,
who I used to be.
Today is a good day.
Today's a very good day.
Oh. No. Where's the engagement ring?
Oh, it... it kept
snagging on everything,
so I-I put it in my underwear drawer.
It... It's in a box.
Don't worry. It's safe.
Lev is a good man.
Ohh.
Lev is a wonderful man.
He's my best friend.
Well, I've got good news.
He stays that way.
Uh, don't get me wrong.
There are some years when
he's your worst enemy.
He breaks your heart once.
But he helps you put
it back together again.
And then you get to lord it
over him whenever you want,
which is a great thing to
have in your back pocket.
Can I ask you a question?
Mm-hmm.
Are you happy?
Well, um, I guess what I mean is
when I'm older, am I happy?
Yes.
- You're happy, yeah.
- Oh, good.
Um, and do I do any of the
things I'm thinking about?
Do I become an English teacher
or a child psychologist?
Do I even finish college?
Well, no.
Nothing?
What do I do?
Do I at least keep my promise?
What promise?
You... You said that no matter
how much love we had, Lev and I,
that you would never forget
how much you liked to be alone,
right, to take long drives
into the desert for no reason,
to take ourselves on dates,
and to tell Lev everything important,
but to keep a few secrets for ourselves.
Yes.
To flirt without fear.
Ah, well, uh, I did a few
of those things for a while.
Then I started doing
most of them with Lev,
and, oh, we had a wonderful time.
Oh.
Oh, I become...
Never mind.
- What? What?
- No, it's nothing.
I'm... I'm sure you
did the best you could.
What does that mean?
Well...
I guess...
I cave.
I become a coward.
What?!
No!
No, you... you become a
wife and... and a mother!
You... You... You do everything
you're supposed to do!
Like what?
Like fulfilling promises
to everyone but myself?
What is that?
No, that's not it. That's not it, no.
When was the last
time you did something,
anything, because you wanted to?
- I'm doing this now!
- Before that.
When was the last time you
stepped out of your safe place?
Marriage is not a safe place.
It's a constant adventure.
Bullshit.
Don't you dare speak to me like that!
Don't you dare speak to me like that!
You're not my mother!
No, I'm you, with some
real life behind me,
with scars from walking side by side
with someone for all these years,
which is a hell of a lot harder
than driving off into
the desert for no reason.
Driving away is easy.
Staying is hard.
Staying when skin wrinkles
and money gets tight,
when children grow up and move away,
when people get sick.
Don't tell me I broke my promise.
I didn't forget.
I changed. I grew up.
And thank God... thank God I did!
Thank God!
You don't even know how
to play a DVD by yourself.
What?
What are you talk...
How do you even know that?
You have to push the "source" button.
I know what button to push!
I can never find the "source" button.
It's the picture of the
square with the tiny arrow!
Ohh! I don't understand any of this.
I don't understand.
Yeah, I know you don't, and
I'm embarrassed to be you!
Sorry.
That wasn't nice.
If you would have just listened to me,
we wouldn't be in this mess.
I'm not in a mess!
You put it all on someone
else your whole life,
and now what?
I'm figuring it out.
By running around with
a bunch of hipsters
who roll their eyes at you
when you're not looking?
No! No, they... they... they
think I'm doing a good job!
They're just trying to be nice.
They think you're a fool.
- No! No!
- And so do I.
No! No!
No! No!
I really don't like this.
She's fine. It's... It's a trick.
It's like the clip movie
in the clubhouse, remember?
Right, yeah. I remember.
- Aah! No! No! No!
- Sorry.
That's not true!
I'm not listening to you!
You're not real! You're not real!
I'm not listening to you!
Ladies and gentlemen, Janice.
A round of applause!
Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.
Do you see?
Do you see what Clara is capable of?
It is only with the help
of the Jejune Institute
and our vast resources
that Clara's full potential
can be truly realized.
Therefore, my friends...
Jejune, change your tune!
Jejune, change your tune!
Jejune, change your tune!
Fear not.
This is the Elsewhere Society.
I'm Commander 14!
Holy shit.
We are here to wake you from his spell.
Everybody, remain calm.
Do not be blind
to the evil that stands before you!
Clara must be free to spread her beauty
without the corruption
of the Jejune Institute's
nefarious intentions.
Fear not, my friends.
I provided everything you
need to protect yourselves.
Check underneath your seats.
Long live Octavio!
And long live the Jejune Institute!
I need some air! I need some air!
Come on. Come on.
Simone!
I just need to catch my breath.
- Just need to catch my breath.
- Are you alright?
What did... What did... What
did they show you up there?
Nothing. I saw nothing.
Can I help... Can I help
you? Can I do anything?
- Peter, I'm fine! I'm fine.
- Okay, alright. I'm sorry.
I don't need your help. I
don't need anyone's help.
- Sorry.
- Shit! It's locked!
What about Fredwynn?
It's all inside. He's still in the game.
Did we... Did we just lose?
Nope.
I told you, there's no
winning, there's no losing.
This whole game... It's a distraction.
Fredwynn! Oh, I'm so glad to see you!
Fredwynn, what happened?
Where have you been?
- Ohh.
- Are you okay?
It's been right under
us this whole time.
- What?
- The Jejune Institute, the Elsewhere Society.
They're not rivals. They're the same.
They're just trying to befuddle
us with fun and games.
The game makes you feel
like you have freedom,
but you're on rails. Even now.
Even now, we are on rails.
What does that mean, "We're on rails"?
- We're in an alley, Fredwynn.
- Open your eyes, Peter!
All of you!
Look, even this brick.
It comes right up.
And under it, there's a dog whistle.
Look. He's got the whistle.
- Look.
- Cool. Uh, what is he supposed to do with it?
It's for the blue bus.
What blue bus?
And there's a saffron bus,
too, if you chose Jejune,
but they both end up
at the same place...
eventually.
This is crazy.
No, that's nothing.
Look up.
But try not to get a paper cut.
Because a thousand fliers
are falling from the sky
announcing Jejune's next event.
How are you doing this?
Because I got tonight's script.
The key is here, and I know it.
I suggest we adjourn to
the diner immediately...
Fredwynn, I'm sorry.
I-I've got to go home.
I-It's late. I-I just need to go.
- Yeah, she's...
- It's been a long day.
- She's right. We should call it quits.
- You know what?
How about we meet at the diner
- tomorrow night at 7:00?
- Yeah.
- How does that sound?
- Are y'all hearing me?
This is important!
Tomorrow is a whole day away!
Some of us have had
a really rough night.
Some of us? Like me?
Would you like to know what
I've been going through?
- Listen to me, Fredwynn.
- Fredwynn, can we just not do this
right now, please?
Okay.
Okay.
Fine.
This gives me time to
process this, anyway.
I'll come back with a
coherent plan of attack.
If Janice needs rest,
then Janice needs rest.
Oh, well, thank you very much.
Yes, yes, the elderly
do need their rest.
So I'll see you all tomorrow.
Oh, and, by the way, I
think you asked for this.
- Ah!
- From Octavio's jacket.
You're welcome.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Now, if it's okay with all of you,
the little old woman is just
gonna wobble her way home.
Janice.
Bye.
Lev?
I'm back.
Oh, my goodness, what a day.
Ha.
First we rode on this big
round bicycle contraption,
and then they... they...
they hooked me up onto
this virtual reality thing.
I'm not kidding you.
You were there.
Well, you weren't there,
but... but I saw you.
Ohh.
It's so good to be home.
Hi, Meredith.
Hi.
Thank you so much for staying late.
- Oh.
- How's he doing?
Oh, he had a good day, Mrs. Foster.
I'm just glad you could get
out of the house for a while.
You need to do that more often.
I didn't know I'd be out
of the house for so long.
This game, it's crazy.
But you're liking it.
It's an adventure, that's for sure.
Mr. Foster would be happy for you.
Good night.
See you tomorrow.
Ohh.
Oh, my feet.
My feet.
I missed you.
I couldn't wait to get home
and tell you about everything
that happened today.
Oh, I wish you'd been with me.
What am I talking about?
You would have hated every minute of it.
The whole thing is completely bizarre.
And my teammates are all
very...
unique people.
I mean, they're nice to me,
but they treat me like
I'm totally incompetent.
Like, what, I haven't
been alive on this planet
for the last 70 years?
They don't understand about time.
But they will.
Pay attention.
Clues are all around you.
Must go deeper.
Now, what did you miss?
- What is going on?
- It's you.
It's been right under
us this whole time.
You'll make a mistake.
And I'll find it.