Halt and Catch Fire (2014–2017): Season 4, Episode 6 - A Connection Is Made - full transcript

- Hi. - Good morning.
I got it: "Catch the Comet."
Oh.
- No. - Why not?
Because it sounds like the flu.
Or the clap.
How 'bout: "Let's Comet"?
How 'bout, let's not.
It's like Q-tip, Kleenex, Band-Aid...
We could be the first Internet brand.
Yes, and I would love to be your focus group.
Just after 10:00 a.m.
But Rover's vulnerable, one manager down...
Joe.
Come on. That's a little evil.
It's a joke.
Relax.
Hey, I-I want us to visit him soon, okay?
Mm-hmm.
He knows I told you, and he feels bad...
I think he wants to apologize.
There's no need.
We still have a better approach.
And as it turns out,
the "genius" behind their new search algorithm
is unavailable to them...
Mm.
Cheese egg?
Wow.
"Search it, find it... com-it."
It's perfect.
Thanks for coming in.
I thought it was important that we speak face to face...
and in private.
I wrote ninety percent of the code Rover's built on.
Yes, back when it was a medical indexing company.
But Rover's evolved,
and you haven't evolved with it.
I've done everything you've asked me to do.
Why am I the one that has to go?
Bos has already stepped away.
And frankly, your deal is much more...
I made this company with my friends.
Do you think I give a shit about an exit package?!
We were fine until you came in
and started demanding the impossible.
If I've been hard on you, I'm sorry.
But this isn't about what's fair.
This is about survival.
I don't think you care about the money.
But I do think you care about your friends.
The fact is, by passing someone else's work off as your own,
you've put them in a precarious position.
The only way to protect them
is to take the search algorithm apart
and build Rover's own proprietary version of it.
And for that to work, you can't be involved.
I do know what it's like, to feel like a failure.
To feel like you don't measure up.
But if you don't step aside
and let me bring in someone else,
you and your friends could end up with nothing.
So what do I tell them?
The truth.
I'm burned out.
I've been struggling for awhile now.
Rover's in a good place.
I feel it's time for me to move on...
Try it.
I'm burned out.
It's been hard for awhile now,
and I think it's time to move on...
Now...?
Take all the time you need.
Haley!
Get over here!
What is it, Dad?
Well, we have something really important
that we need to discuss.
Okay.
I think you know what I'm talking about.
No. Uh...
Rockets!
No. Way!
- Happy birthday, Bug. - Let's go this afternoon!
Well, slow down. We can't.
We still have to re-categorize the site, and everyone's...
But the weather's perfect, visibility's awesome!
- Haley, come on. - And today's my actual birthday.
Yeah, but if we go Saturday, we can invite your friends.
I'll ask them right now.
No, your school friends, okay?
They have to work. Besides, it's your birthday.
It's not a national holiday.
Okay, well, what about inviting Katie?
Really?
Yeah, c'mon, let's do it. Just us.
Let me see if I can reach Cam.
I'll check to see if she can move up the day.
You're the best!
It's not 100%!
This is just so unlike Cecil.
Look, shake-ups like this happen.
As far as I'm concerned, it's no refection on you
or on the long-term viability of Rover.
But this will raise eyebrows, won't it?
I-I mean, for a co-founder
to leave when the company's doing so well...
Trust me, the only thing anyone cares about
is how much traffic we're getting.
And in that respect, Tanya's right.
We're doing really well.
And with the Series A, we have the opportunity
to attract some formidable talent.
I want you guys to focus on optimizing the site.
And I'll take lead on hiring
and make sure we land the best CTO in the Valley.
Is anyone good even available?
Yeah, Bobby Aron is.
Bobby Aron?
- Mm-hmm. - Are you kidding?
That guy's a... a legend.
Microsoft's making a huge play for him.
I really don't think...
Listen to me.
We're the big ones.
Any CTO would be lucky to be with us.
That's how we operate from now on. Got it?
- All right. - Yep.
Got it.
Okay.
Hey. How's it look?
Nice. El Gordo!
Yeah.
You know what it means, right?
Yeah. "Handsome."
Exactly.
Hey, you see that?
Uh-huh.
Haley drew it.
Sailors get one tattooed for every 5,000 miles.
But you know what she said?
Since the rocket's 1/100th in scale,
it only needs to cover fifty.
Well, you haven't launched yours yet, so...
What, do you honestly think I'm not gonna launch
that thing 50 miles?
Fair enough.
No, don't worry, hon.
Do you think it's weird that she didn't want
to invite any of her school friends?
No.
School friends are overrated.
Hmm.
She seems really happy.
And Katie is great.
I feel like it's missing something...
Oh, you're planning on going orbital?
Definitely exosphere on this one.
Mm.
You guys do this a lot?
Yeah, we used to go all the time
until my mom blew her hand off.
It's just... we didn't even see it coming.
- You know? - You are hilarious.
...so then, after I practically promised her a kidney,
your neighbor makes her poor son run ten miles...
- One. One mile. - ...just to come and knock on your door
- and give you a message? - So?
It's not like I didn't give him a ride home afterwards.
Phones were invented in the 19th century, you know,
- when America was still mostly agrarian. - Mm-hmm.
I mean, you could build your own.
In fact, you should.
You're a lot of trouble
when you've got too much time on your hands.
I told you, I did that to help Bos.
He asked me for help, too,
but I didn't go out and write him an algorithm.
Okay, well, don't worry,
I'm done.
I'm sick of tech. The whole thing.
What are you, washed up at 32?
Come on. You got one lousy review.
And do you have any idea what people said bout the Symphonic?
Come on, I know you.
You dream in code.
Yeah.
Not anymore.
- Hey, guys! - Hey
- Guys, guys. - We're ready!
Come on.
- All right, get your keys in. - Key's in.
Hey, hey.
Would you... Would you film me?
Happy birthday, Bug.
And T-minus five...
Four...
three, two, one...
Blast off!
Boom.
Where'd it go?
Where is it?!
I'm supposed to stop it!
What is this, music to kill yourself by?
Hey, would you mind bringing me a beer?
You can have one too, if you want.
Don't tell your dad.
So how's Bos?
Good, I think.
And how's your first sip of beer?
It's awful.
But he's good, right? They released him yesterday?
How do you know?
I saw him Friday, after school.
I thought visiting hours at the hospital
were in the morning.
I told them I was his granddaughter.
I love that about you.
You know that, right?
You're absolutely fearless.
It's a hospital.
They're not gonna arrest me.
Well, I don't know where you get it.
You never got in any trouble?
Do anything crazy?
I was pretty cautious...
C'mon.
C'mon.
Well...
your dad and I used to go camping all the time,
and we went to this one campsite.
And the locals always talked about this quarry they'd go to.
It was a swimming hole.
So your dad and I drove out there, and we found it.
It was incredible.
It was this cliff
overlooking the glassiest, clearest blue water
you've ever seen.
And your dad wouldn't jump in.
He wouldn't. It was too high.
So I laughed at him,
and he said, "I bet you won't, either."
So before I could think twice, I ran right up to the edge,
did a cartwheel right off.
Holy shit, Mom,
it's a miracle that I was even born.
I guess I just didn't believe
that I could really get hurt, you know?
It just felt... free.
You have that,
and I don't ever want you to lose it.
Don't ever stop yourself 'cause you're scared...
Okay.
Well, next time I get in trouble, remember:
It's 'cause I'm being "brave."
All right.
I got to do my homework, so...
All right.
G'night.
G'night.
It's amazing, isn't it?
One minute, Haley's four
and building a fort out of the sofa cushions.
- The next minute, she's... - I'm crushing your head.
...telling "Kids in the Hall" jokes.
It's just... so cool.
Oh, yeah, kids are great...
if you can give birth to a fourteen-year-old.
I will see you tonight.
Bye.
What the hell...?
All right, just relax.
Clear your mind.
Is anyone else having problems with the monitor?
Coward.
Okay, uh, the first thing that I think of
when I hear "Internet" is...
A computer?
A computer.
- And porn. - Porn.
- Porn? - Lots of porn.
I put in a request to be on the team that catalogues porn.
Beep, beep, beep...
Gordon Clark.
Hey, it's me.
I'm sorry this is so last second,
but can we reschedule dinner?
Yeah, no problem.
N-Nothing to report anyway.
Well, actually, there is.
Uh, I got a phone call
from Haley's guidance counselor.
She's flunking history and bio.
Our Haley?
Yeah, she hasn't turned in some assignments,
and apparently she bombed the last couple tests...
I don't get it, she was doing so great...
Well, maybe she's just trying to do too much.
Come on, Donna. She loves Comet.
I know she loves it, but I think she needs a break.
I'm afraid she's putting work above everything else.
Hmm. Well, I wonder where she gets that from.
Excuse me. I always put the girls before work.
And if you need me to talk to Haley
because you can't handle it, then...
I-I... I'm sorry, all right?
I just...
I don't want to be the bad guy here.
And I do?
Okay, I'll talk to her.
Thank you, Gordon.
Whassup?
Uh, it's a nice place.
It's... charming.
Yeah, thanks for stopping. I was staved.
So... favorite site?
Um...
God, I can't pick just one... That's too hard!
Uh, what did everyone else say?
Well, one person's favorite site
was a purple screen.
Just that... a purple screen.
- Melissa, right? - Mm-hmm.
She's obsessed.
And someone else recommended
"Strawberry Pop Tart Blowtorches."
Oh, yeah, Arnie found that one!
We spent an entire day setting Pop-Tarts on fire.
I think we destroyed like three toasters.
That's impressive.
But I'm not sure how any of these
are gonna get the average person online.
Why not? They got me online.
How so?
Well, when I first looked at the Internet...
remember your Post-its?...
I thought it was pretty boring.
It was nothing but databases and archives...
But then I found all this other stuff...
like this kid, Justin, who's writing about his life.
And this other girl
who was obsessed with "I Love Lucy"...
And what about that was so appealing?
I don't know.
Um, school was not good.
I mean, no one was torturing me or anything like that,
but it's just, like, everyone's always pretending,
- you know? - Mm.
That's why the Web's so great, 'cause no one pretends.
You just put it out there, who you really are.
And if people respond to it, that's great.
But if not, who cares?
At least they saw you
and not just some projection, you know?
Yeah.
Hey.
Hey.
You guys working?
Uh, yeah. Hi, Vanessa.
Um, this is my boss, Joe MacMillan.
Actually, co-founder.
Cool.
I'm totally addicted to IUMA, by the way.
Their indie rock section's, like, incredible...
I know. It's like who needs Sub Pop?
Did you find that Julep compilation?
The one with the Bratmobile song?
Yes!
"Let's talk about...
- dogs." - Dogs.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
The Heavens to Betsy song's, like, hella cool, too.
Yeah.
I better get back to work, but I'll see you later.
Yeah. For sure.
Cool.
Order 35, this is your two deluxe combos ready.
She seems cool.
Uh, what were we talking about again?
So on the Internet...
you think you can be who you really are?
With Rover we cannot only count the number of users,
we can track what they click on, how long they look at it...
I mean, it's an advertiser's dream.
So, it is about selling.
No, it's
It's about change.
At Rover, you could be part
of a universal, decentralized platform
that's already changing the world.
Look. You could join Microsoft
and let them tell you what the future will be.
Or you could join us and tell them.
I accepted the Microsoft offer this morning.
I only kept this meeting because, well, growing up,
I was a huge fan of Mutiny...
really Community.
I-I made friends,
and I traded bootlegs
and bought and sold computer parts.
It was a lifesaver, really.
And I, uh...
Well, I guess I just wanted to thank you.
That's really nice to hear, but I
I was really hoping this would work out.
Can I ask you a question?
Community was so far ahead of its time.
Why haven't you tried to re-create it?
Mutiny was the most fun I ever had.
We didn't know what we were doing.
It was one crisis after another.
- Hm. - But it worked.
The failure of that was...
Well, what's that saying...
You grow stronger at the broken places...?
- Hm. - Anyway.
Yeah, the truth is,
I am trying to build another version of Community.
Except, this time, it's the entire Internet.
It's everyone.
That's what's so exciting about Rover.
It's flying without a net into the great unknown.
- Huh. - It's terrifying,
and it's exhilarating.
Well...
I have been known to change my mind, though.
Yeah.
Microsoft's safe.
But, um, well, what's that saying?
No risk, no reward, right?
I'm in.
If you still want me, that is.
I-I... Y... Absolutely!
Okay, okay.
I might need your shark side to help me out, though.
- The Beast of Redmond ain't gonna like this one bit. - Oh.
They don't scare me.
Yeah, I can't imagine who would.
To risk.
Ahh!
Hey. You up for one more?
Ah.
Hey.
Hello.
Feeling okay...?
Yeah.
Uh, there's coffee...
I should, uh... I should get going.
Yeah, we should, um...
We should talk about the job...
You know...
it's fine.
Yeah.
O-Okay.
John?
It's from Sam.
Oh.
Aww.
That's me with all the hair.
What a kid.
John, this whole experience...
it's been making me think.
At the hospital, it was so hard.
I had no say in your care
and if something had gone wrong...
Yeah, but it didn't.
I'm fine...
Well, it's not just that.
At the restaurant, there was a moment...
the way you looked.
I thought I was losing you.
Oh.
I love you.
And I don't know how much time together we have left.
So what're we waiting for?
Now, I don't have a ring...
And I know you're expecting a big rock...
Goddamn, woman, what're you doing to my heart?
So...?
Do you remember the Patterson housing development?
You passed on it.
I thought it was worth a second look.
How much?
300k.
I wanted to take care of it myself.
I didn't want you to know what a fool I was...
I thought workin' at Rover would be a win-win,
and then we started hitting a wall, and I panicked.
You saw the site. It wasn't good enough.
We couldn't get over that hump.
So I-I got Cam to help build the search engine.
And Donna found out,
and then at restaurant, she knew that she...
I'm sorry.
Diane.
Diane!
Haley? C'mere.
What is it? Pete's waiting to take me back to school.
We need to talk about your grades.
Okay...
The school called.
They said that you're failing two classes.
Failing?
I... Maybe I missed a few tests, but I can just retake them.
- Well... - I'll talk to my teacher. I can...
We agreed that you could work here
if you kept up your grades.
That was the deal.
S-So what're you saying? I have to stop working?
Just temporarily until you can bring your grades back up,
and then we can talk...
But, Dad... It's Haley's Comet!
You wouldn't even have a company if weren't for me!
Hey, listen. Calm down, Bug.
- That's not entirely accurate. - Stop calling me "Bug"!
And why do I even need school?
I already have a job.
Because you need school to learn
- and to make friends... - My friends are here...
And you can't fire me, they need me!
Okay, well, I think we'd be able to manage...
Hey!
Haley, clean it up.
No.
Haley, if you ever want to work here again,
you will clean. It. Up.
Haley!
Ha... Hey!
Get back here!
Haley!
What?!
Yes, it's a red leather wallet.
I was siting at the bar...
You do?
I-I will come by tonight. Thank you.
Do you have a moment?
What's going on...?
I had a talk with John.
And apparently he's made some bad decisions
regarding Rover.
But I think you already know that.
Well, I
I had my suspicions,
but I didn't know for sure until I saw Cam...
It's done.
Now, the important thing
is to clean up the mess and move on.
I couldn't agree more. Cecil is gone.
We plan to find someone
who can reverse engineer Rover's code...
Reverse engineer? Why?
Oh, to protect the site from any liabilities...
But if Cameron built this code,
the next step... the only step...
is to get her to sign a release.
That's how we protect the site.
Yes, yes.
But in this one case,
I really think that is the wrong move.
I mean, why let Cameron know
how valuable what she gave us was?
I mean, better to just create our own version
of the algorithm, and no one will be any wiser.
That doesn't make any sense.
Look, there is one simple solution,
and it should've happened immediately:
pay Cameron whatever she wants and be done with it.
No! I can't. I can't.
I-I just...
I-I can't.
Well, this is what's gonna happen.
You're going to go to Cameron
and get her to sign a release.
And then you will step away.
And Trip will take over.
Th... I...
That's not fair.
He'll just... He'll... You know him.
He'll use it! To become managing partner?
Perhaps.
Maybe that's best.
Frankly, you have bigger issues to deal with.
Get yourself together, Donna.
I'm tired of holding your hand.
None of this would've happened
if Bos felt like he could just come and talk to you.
I was surprised to get your e-mail.
I was about to give up on you.
Yeah. Um...
So what is this about, exactly?
You, um...
- Did Atari send you or... - Oh, no.
Although they were kind enough
to give me a copy of "Pilgrim."
They did?
You can get anything if you know how to ask.
I thought the game was interesting...
flawed, but interesting.
I mean, I've never played a game
that actively blocks your way so much.
Yeah.
Well, I, uh... I was trying to respect the gamer.
Engage them,
not treat them like a passive
- receptacle, but... - Respect, sure,
but you clearly didn't want anyone to solve the game.
Why, I have no idea. That's your thing.
But the world that you created to contain the puzzles,
that was interesting.
And the graphics were incredible.
I'm sure they still don't even come close
to what you saw in your head.
Well, the computer for that doesn't exist yet.
You sure?
Processor speed is growing at an exponential rate.
I've seen what's happening, and it's mind-blowing.
'Cause here's the thing:
- I don't think you're a game designer. - Oh.
I think you're a world builder.
And I'd like to work with you.
I want to see what you do next.
Okay.
And why should I want to work with you?
Because here's what I'm offering:
no VCs. No interference.
What you said at MISC was spot on:
The model is broken.
Parasitic.
So I plan to stay out of your way.
While I do what, exactly?
Whatever you want.
You okay?
Yup.
- You wanna talk? - Nope.
Hound Dogz.
We were just there yesterday.
Yep. She loves that place.
No idea why, the food sucks.
Maybe it's not about the food.
When's she coming back?
No idea. She no longer works here.
What did you do, fire her?
I gave her a choice, and she walked.
So get her back.
Joe, she's flunking her classes
and copping some major attitude.
You don't understand, Haley needs this place.
She's not like other kids.
She's got different, um...
interests.
Well, good for her.
She's a little like me.
When I was a kid,
I would've given anything for a place like this,
someplace I could feel like I belonged.
Yeah? Well, this is what parenting is.
Setting limits, being consistent, and discipline.
You sound like my dad.
Don't even start to compare me to your father
because the two of us are not even in the same universe.
All I'm saying is he never really saw me.
He just wanted me to be like him.
All I'm saying is that I see Haley just fine.
Okay, I may not sit around sipping milkshakes with her,
but I know exactly who my daughter is.
Are you sure about that?
All right, what the hell is that supposed to mean?
Nothing.
I just want what's best for Haley.
Oh, come on, Joe.
You don't give a shit about her
beyond what she can do for this company.
You just want what's best for you.
That's why you're not a parent and you never will be.
You're right.
Whoa, what level is that?
Hey, guys. How was school?
She had a fight with Dad.
What're you doing home so early?
Uh, I wasn't feeling well.
Oh.
Cutting work. Nice.
We had a cool sub today.
- Oh, yeah? - She's American,
but she went to college in France.
Apparently, you can do, like, some, like,
international-student thing,
and she said it's, like, it was amazing
and that she saw these films at the Cinémathèque,
and that, um, they have all these, like,
really cool programs for, like, film and photography, and...
Do you know what I love about you, Joanie?
You are so... fearless.
You know?
Mm-hmm.
I hope you never lose that.
Just don't ever say no to something because you're scared.
You want to come play with me?
Come on. I'll show you all my secrets.
It's okay.
I'm gonna, um...
I'm gonna go check with Haley and see what she's up to.
- Uh, okay. - Yeah.
Where do you want to go?
Hello?
Oh, Joe. Hey.
Hey, it's Bos.
Is Cameron there?
Uh, no.
Sorry. You want to leave a message?
No, no. I'll just...
I'll just call back later.
Hey.
How're you holding up?
Well...
What a mess.
Well, I told myself it was pride...
just stupid pride.
But the truth is...
I wanted to know I still mattered,
wanted to know I could shake things up.
Mission accomplished.
They is shook.
Yeah.
Well, I wouldn't know anything about that.
You know, the things that I've done...
I don't even know why I did them.
I just wanted everything,
and I didn't care what
or who I had to go through to get it.
Yeah.
That guy.
He was a real asshole.
I think I hired him once.
Maybe I'm still that guy,
and everybody can see it but me.
No. Recognizing you're an asshole is half the battle.
But I've seen how honest you've been with Cam.
That's a different man than the one I first met, Joe.
I could've used some of that myself.
Oh, we've got our no-go zones.
Well, sure, you lie and say you love the ballet or whatever.
Or maybe one of you wants kids,
the other one doesn't
so you just keep it to yourself.
Cam wants kids?
Mnh-mnh.
Well, maybe she'll surprise you.
She might surprise you, too.
Good luck.
Wait.
If you need a place to stay, you're always welcome.
So... what happened?
I had two glasses of wine.
That cop obviously needed to fill his quota...
our tax dollars at work.
But, I mean, um,
you've never even gotten a ticket before.
Yeah, well, now I have.
What?
Ah.
I was just picturing my 22-year-old self
walking into AGGEK,
lugging the Symphonic.
Sit sits down, she pitches...
and I crush her.
The young me doesn't stand a chance.
Oh, please.
That 22-year-old was hardly sweet and innocent.
And the present you isn't so ruthless.
And they're all you, all the versions.
You're the same person that you always were.
And...
I love that person.
Hi.
Thanks for letting me come by.
Sure.
Sit down?
Obviously, we will compensate you.
I thought we could start...
No need.
No payment necessary.
Okay.
Well, thank you.
Don't worry. I won't tell Joe.
He already knows.
Hey.
You okay?
Thank you for this.
I won't bother you again.
Hey, Pete, slow down.
I want to make a quick stop.
Welcome to Hound Dogz, can I help you?
Yeah, let me get a, uh...
a breakfast burrito and a small coffee.
Yeah, that'll be $2.80.
Could I get a burrito and a small coffee?
Coming right up.