Maniac (2018): Season 1, Episode 1 - The Chosen One! - full transcript

[narrator] It begins like this.

Two billion years ago, an amoeba.

Wait, let's... let's back up.
I've skipped too many connections.

Out of nothing,
in an instant... everything.

An infinite cosmic orgy
of matter and energy,

rubbing, bumping, and grinding together.

There would be no galaxies,
no suns, no planets,

no life without collisions
of heavenly bodies.

Back to our amoeba.

It engulfs a bacterium with unique powers,
and... voilà.

Earth's first
photosynthesis-enabled organism.



Maybe it was chance.

Maybe it was inevitable.

This one changed amoeba

becomes the ancestor
of every living plant on Earth,

which in turn floods the planet with oxygen... paving
the way for every other form of life we know...

leading to more souls, more connections,

and therefore more new worlds
branching outward from the first.

These forces of nature,
when they converge,

be they astronomical collisions,
biological unions,

demonstrate the infinite potential
of our connections.

This truth also extends
to the human heart.

Pack of Stuttons.

[clears throat]

No offense,
but how are you gonna pay for these?



I'm gonna use an adBuddy
to cover this purchase.

Those assholes
record client conversations.

AD BUDDY NOT ACCEPTED

National Database of Desires.

The businessmen, ever hear of it?

They know you better than you know you.

- Okay.
- It's not a conspiracy,

just a conspiracy theory.

[narrator] Hypothesis...

all souls are on a quest to connect.

Corollary...

our minds have no awareness of this quest.

Oh.

[sighs]

Did you know that most quarters have been
swallowed and defecated by a human?

[narrator] Hypothesis...
all the worlds that almost were

matter just as much as the world we're in.

Corollary...

these hidden worlds cause us great pain.

...no wallet, no shoes.

No idea how I even really got to Poland
in the first place.

Bro, I'm telling you,

this was seriously such a crazy situation.

Th... From Poland... I was in...

I had no idea...
I had no idea how I got there.

[narrator] Camaraderie, communion,

family, friendship, love, what have you.

[chuckles and sighs]

We're lost without connection.

EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER
WHEN YOU'RE TOGETHER

[woman] ...relationships are tough.

Thank you, Friend Proxy.

[narrator] It's quite terrible...
to be alone.

NOT ALL HUGS ARE CREATED EQUAL

Put simply, my goal is to eradicate all...

unnecessary and inefficient forms
of human pain.

Forever.

We must evolve past our suffering.

It's trash, not a handout. Let's move it.

What are you, a cop?

Not much of a difference authority-wise.
Let's go.

MILGRIM INDUSTRIES

[narrator]
My research into this matter is...

of course, ongoing.

[man] The witness
has already been sworn in.

Mr. Milgrim, can you state for the court

your relationship with the defendant,
Mr. Jed Milgrim?

He's, um...

- He's my brother.
- [man] Thank you.

Have you ever been arrested? -No.
-[man] Are you married?

- No.
- [man] Children?

No.

[man] And can you tell us
about the psychotic break

that you experienced
roughly ten years ago?

- Really?
- [man] I'm just asking.

That's how they're gonna start?
Dad, come on.

It doesn't necessarily mean that
it'll be like that in the trial, Owen,

but, uh, sometimes prosecutors, they...

they try atypical inroads...

to crack you.

That's why we...
we have to prep for the unexpected.

Can you resume, please?

Have you ever been hospitalized
for mental illness?

Yes, ten years ago.

Please explain what happened.

[Owen] I was hospitalized...

and medicated...

and...

that was the last episode I had.

Wasn't the nature
of this psychosis delusional?

That you sometimes thought you saw
your brother when he wasn't there?

[Owen] Not exactly.

Just say no.

Then what was the nature
of this psychosis?

[sighs] Owen, don't you think
that your mental illness

should disqualify you from testifying
as a witness on your brother's behalf?

Look, there's only one question here
that really matters.

Owen, do you know what is real?

One hundred percent.

I'm compos mentis.

[woman] Welcome to New York.

And this is Statue of Extra Liberty. Da.

Statue of Extra Liberty. Okay.

[woman continues speaking in Russian]

[foghorn blares]

[man] How'd the trial prep go
for a naughty brother?

Did you tell them about me?

You're not supposed to be here.

[man] Good.
You're still using the code words,

even though I am technically invisible.

Owen, this week must be
a doozy for you, huh?

You thought you were rid of me,
but I have new information.

This time I know.

You've been chosen to save the world.

You're gonna be a hero.

[foghorn blares]

I don't want this. I don't want it.

I don't want this.

The details of the mission will be
delivered to you by an agent, a woman.

You'll know her
when you see her, trust me.

Just make contact with her.

The pattern is the pattern.

She'll reach you for further instructions!

[yells] Don't fuck this up!

[foghorn blares]

[rumbling]

[cooing]

[popcorn popping]

[automated voice] Welcome.
Please make a selection to begin.

You selected single ride.

How will you pay?

You selected credit.

Please swipe now.

Declined. Insufficient funds.

Would you like to use an adBuddy
to add funds?

Yes or no?

TIRED OF HERE?
ONE WAY FLIGHTS STARTING AT $1799

Welcome.

AD BUDDY

[man over PA] ...train now arriving...

Please step away from the platform edge.

[Ad Buddy] Okay, Mr. Milgrim,
I'm gonna need your attention.

"When tragedy strikes others,

it's sometimes hard to know
what to do until now..."

Owen.

"Daddy's Home. Consider becoming
a temporary volunteer mail-order husband

and changing the lives
of a heartbroken family in your region."

YOU ARE HERE

Okay, well, up next,

we got something called
Neberdine Pharmaceuticals.

[clears throat]

"Good afternoon, Owen.

Did you know that your rent comprises
87.2 percent of your annual income?"

Is that actually true?

- I just moved into my own place.
- [Ad Buddy] Manhattan these days...

I'm over in an underground warehouse unit.

Hoboken.

- I actually live in Roosevelt Island.
- Okay, well...

Uh, let's see. Oh-ho-ho.

"A catastrophic interruption
in your professional life,

like a furlough, could ruin you.

Ever thought about supplementing
your income with pharmaceutical testing?"

Friend Proxy.

"Tired of spending your time and energy
making friends?"

[operator] And that is why Daddy's Home
is happy to welcome you, Mr. Milgrim.

[Owen] And I'd have to cover
relocation costs?

[operator] And inherit any potential debt
of the deceased.

That doesn't make sense.

So, that's a yes?

To what?

[operator] It makes perfect sense.

- We are offering you heroism.
- [man] So this is your office area.

Again, it's a question of commitment.

[Owen] Your ad is misleading,

'cause you refer to it
as a volunteer opportunity,

but in the end I'd have to pay.

[operator] But think about
what you'd be getting.

- A wife, lonely, in need.
- [Owen] Yeah.

- [operator] Owen. It's a done deal.
- I have to go.

Rozo did the anonymous
hammerhead from the top down

and came back
with a 12-bullet short-termer.

- When?
- Well, they randomized the pattern.

We've sent out 30 memos on it
since this morning.

Um, so this furlough,
how long does it last?

- It's temporary.
- Right.

So... when am I back?

Oh, I don't know. I was kidding.
It's probably permanent.

I was using your kind of humor,

when you say something you don't mean
and nobody laughs.

It's... Yeah, it's okay. I'll just...

I'll just dip into my savings.

Bye.

[exhales]

[rumbling]

[retching]

[coughing]

[spits]

[coughing]

THE PATTERN IS THE PATTERN

[man] Okay, Owen.

- Do you know what I want to do?
- [Owen] Yes.

[man] Are you sure you know
what I want to do?

[Owen] Yes.

[man] The way this deprogramming works,
it's not an overnight fix.

You have to listen to it like a mantra.

If you start feeling paranoid,
you play this tape right away, okay?

[Owen] Okay.

[man] Now, stop me when I say something
that's not true.

The world sends you messages.

[Owen] Yes.

[man] Words are often code words,

or pass phrases for important secrets.

[Owen] Yes.

[man] You're visited by a brother
no one else in your family is aware of.

A facsimile of your brother Jed.

- [Owen] Yes.
- [man] He sends you messages.

Instructions for important missions
you must accomplish.

[Owen] To see the deeper truth.

[man] He tells you you're meant
to do something big,

something that matters to the world,
and that you're not meant to do it alone.

All you need is a partner.

[Owen] Yes.

[woman] You made a promise to me,
and you made a promise to yourself.

You promised we'd golf together
in Hilton Head.

[man] You sense danger all around you,
but you stay disciplined.

A fight's coming.

Something even bigger than this world.

Possibly extending to multiple galaxies.

- [elevator] Fourth floor. Thank you.
- [Owen] Yes.

Hello, Mrs. Finkelstein.

Fuck off, Donovan.

It's, uh... Owen.

- Owen Milgrim...
- Fuck off, Donovan.

Never mind. [man] Good.

Does it feel good to be heard?

[Owen] Yes.

[man] Does it feel good to know that
you're not alone with this information?

[Owen] Yeah.

[man] Will you complete your mission?

[Owen] Maybe.

[man] Am I a trusted messenger?

[Owen] Yes.

[man] Good.
Then here are your real instructions.

Repeat after me. There is no pattern.

[Owen] There is no pattern.

[man] I am vulnerable,
but I am not stupid.

[Owen] I'm vulnerable, but I'm not stupid.

[man] But I will seek out the people
in my life that care about me.

[Owen] I will seek out the people
in my life who care about me.

[man] I am not the chosen one.

[Owen] I am not the chosen one.

- [man] The voices aren't real.
- [clattering]

- [Owen] The voices aren't real.
- The voices aren't real.

[man] The voices are just noise.

- [Owen] The voices are just noise.
- The voices are just noise.

[man] I am just a guy
with a vivid imagination.

[Owen] I'm just a guy
with a vivid imagination.

[doorbell rings]

[man] I will most likely
not be the savior of our galaxy.

Hello?

[man, distorted] I've got a package
from Neberdine Pharmaceutical Biotech

for an Owen Milgrim.

What?

[man] I've... a package... your name.

[buzzing]

[running footsteps]

- [knock at door]
- [footsteps hurry away]

[door slams downstairs]

[telephone rings]

Hello?

[woman] Hi, Owen.
Did you get what I sent you?

[Owen] How did you...

[woman] I've just been informed
that you qualify as a hero candidate.

- What does that mean?
- [woman] It's a term we use

for those who've been specifically
selected for one of our studies.

You're a very desirable individual
to us, Owen.

I've never seen B.N. over-ratios
like this before.

What does a hero candidate do?

[woman] Exactly the things
they were born to.

In your case, helping us treat maladies
ranging from sluggishness and depression

to I.B.S, to popcorn problems
and irrational fears.

"Popcorn problems"?

[woman] Prostate problems, yes.

Oh, I thought you...

[woman] We'll give you all the details
when you come in.

So, we'll see you on Monday?

♪ Someday you're gonna feel lonely ♪

[doorbell rings]

♪ Someday you're gonna feel blue ♪

♪ Someday you'll long for me only ♪

Good evening, Mr. Milgrim.

Everyone is on the patio for the recital.

Thank you.

♪ Someday you're gonna feel weary ♪

♪ You'll grieve when I'm far away ♪

♪ Then you'll be missin'
My huggin' and my kissin' ♪

♪ You'll remember what I say ♪

♪ You'll never know
The good fellow I've been ♪

- ♪Until I've gone away ♪
- ♪Till I've gone away ♪

♪ Gone away ♪

♪ You're bound to miss
The little things that I did ♪

- ♪ I did ♪
- ♪ For you each day ♪

- ♪ You're gonna yearn ♪
- ♪ You will be yearning ♪

- ♪ For my returning ♪
- ♪ For my returning ♪

- ♪ You're bound to miss me ♪
- ♪ You're bound to miss me ♪

- ♪ You'll long to kiss me ♪
- ♪ You'll long to kiss me ♪

♪ You'll never know
The good fellow I've been ♪

- ♪ Until I've gone away ♪
- ♪ Until I've gone away ♪

♪ Till I've gone away ♪

[cheering and applause]

Thank you.

Where does she sleep when she stays over?

This one?

Yeah, she's your sister, right?

Or is she a secret agent?

How did you know?

[whispering]
Because I have super-secret sources

at a super-secret agency.

Don't tell anyone.

[whispers] Okay.

Supper's ready.

Okay, Mom.

I was completely baffled.

You know, I left for school.

Ernie was fine, and then, you know,
the food was in the bowl.

The water was there,
cage was locked up,

and I get back from basketball practice,

- and he's just gone, absolutely...
- The great gerbil escape artist.

[laughs]

- But he wasn't exactly fucking gone.
- Language, Phil.

No, that's correct.
He wasn't exactly fucking gone like that.

- [hostess] Language, Jed.
- Where'd he go, O?

Maybe you shouldn't curse so much
in front of the children.

- Ah, come on. Tell the rest.
- [hostess] This is not a farmyard, boys.

So, um, I ask everyone, right?

Everyone's looking around the whole house,
everyone frantic,

and finally Owen, you know,
eventually comes up

and brings me to his room...

How old were you then, Owen?
Like, eight or somethin'?

- Nine.
- [Jed] Eight or nine, whatever.

And he says... he says,

"Uh, I have to tell you somethin'.
My... my hawk ate Ernie."

"What?" And he points over there,

and there's
this big fuckin' red-tailed hawk

sitting on his desk staring at me.

What eight-year-old has a fuckin' hawk?

Uh, how did you have a hawk?

Um, I rescued it from the park.

I found it with a broken wing
and brought it to my room and fed it.

- Yeah, I forgot.
- You'd feed him.

That was the craziest part. He would
feed it, like a mother bird, you know...

Oh, masticate... No, no, no. Premasticate.

- Yeah, premastication!
- Jed was a chronic masticater.

- How'd you know?
- He'd go blind doing that.

How long did you
take care of the bird for, Owen?

Two or three months,
until it was strong enough

to go into Jed's room
and eat his gerbil, I guess.

[laughter]

But what happened to the hawk?

We set it free.

Oh. Okay.

[Owen's father] That reminds me.

Remember when Colby
fell in the Gowanus Canal?

- Remember that day?
- [hostess] Oh, poor Colby.

- I threw the stick, he didn't go for it...
- So traumatizing.

[jazz music playing]

[woman] I told Jed I wouldn't marry him
until they painted you in.

Maybe that's why
we haven't set a date yet.

They're gonna paint me in.

The artist just took
a six-month sabbatical to Nepal,

to study the light.

I lost my job.

I'm sorry, Owen.

It's okay, I'll find a new one.

I'm actually thinking about becoming

a temporary volunteer husband.

You're not serious.

Get rid of my lease,
bounce from widow to widow.

Mm-mm.

Do you ever notice that your plans
always involve starting over...

often with an entirely new identity?

It's a good fantasy.

[hostess] Pudding's upstairs
by the fireplace, everyone.

Just to get through
the post-dinner conversation.

Think about it.

Seriously...

as a hypothetical.

Say you and I left, right? Tonight.

I got us passports, new identities.

You steal all the money
from Jed's bank account.

We just... do that.

We get a house in the middle of nowhere.

Start again.

Different people.

Are we a married couple?

We don't...

We can be, you know...

We don't have to be. We could be
brother, or sister, or... friends.

So...

tonight, then,

after dessert?

Yeah.

I'm serious. Let's do it.

You're fucking with me.

I got you.

[laughs]

You believed me.

This week's gonna be a living hell for me.

[Owen sighs]

He'll totally win.

He's not guilty.
No chance of a conviction.

It's all just so humiliating.

I mean, it's been going on
for fucking ages,

all just for one day in court.

Because he didn't do it, so...

You're positive?

Right? You were actually with him?

Yes.

- [man] You would make that move.
- [Jed] What does that even mean?

- "Make that move"?
- That's the move...

Hey, Owen, you're not trying
to sneak off, are you?

No, Dad.

I need a second of your time
before you leave.

Come on, boys, it's time.

- [all] Balderdash!
- Oh!

- [hostess] Owen, you're staying to play.
- No, I-I have to go.

- I have something...
- You love Balderdash.

No, I don't.

Come on, stay, it will be fun.

I have a fundamental problem
with Balderdash.

I gotta say,
what a delicious meal that was.

- Sure was.
- So good, Mom. So good.

- You used to love Balderdash.
- Oh, no, I didn't.

- [Jed] Who wants ice cream?
- [children yelling]

- Who wants ice cream? Oh, you do?
- I do!

Of course. But whoever's the quietest
gets ice cream, I promise. Mom.

Oh, are we playing Balderdash, or what?

So, um... [clears throat]
I've been considering...

Considering leaving Roosevelt Island?

- No...
- Oh, thank God.

So, have Hal help you find
something closer.

- Oh, you moving closer?
- I'm not moving closer.

Crazy to think that every word
did get invented.

I-I have to go. Goodbye.

- Wait, you're not playing Balderdash?
- No, I can't. Bye.

Oh, Owen, come on, you love Balderdash.

No, I don't fucking love Balderdash!
Balderdash is bullshit. [clears throat]

- Jesus, Owen.
- Is he off his meds?

- [child cries]
- I'll walk you to the station.

- Don't worry about Uncle Owen.
- Aggressive.

He's a spaz.
We're gonna get ice cream now.

- [Owen's father] Is it a money crisis?
- [Owen] No.

I know it's an expensive apartment
to rent, but...

Have you... have you thought about a...
a roommate?

No.

I don't know why you won't let us
just buy you a place.

That way you'd have more security.

Or you... you could come and work
for the company.

All your brothers do.

I already agreed, okay?

You don't need to buy me off.

Uh... I don't... I don't follow you.
What...

I will lie for Jed...

next week in court.

I get the expectation.

It's not an expectation, Owen,
it's a gift.

You are giving your brother
the gift of an alibi.

This woman is an opportunist.
She sees an in.

[loud music blares from car]

[sighs] You're protecting him.

You're protecting the family.

I know, I know, it sounds muddled,
but that is the way reality works, Owen.

- How's that, Dad?
- [robot chatters]

With... with adjustments.

Just so you know, I got a new job.

Oh? What... what job?

Business... marketing.

It involves travel, so I'll be gone
a couple days next week,

but I'll be back in time for the trial.

And...

don't worry if you can't reach me.

Someone invented a new kind of ham.

Oh.

That's... that's wonderful, Owen.

That's... that's... that's great.

Milgrim men, we always come out on top.

Anyway...

- All right.
- [robot chatters]

- [dog whimpers]
- Hey, Colby, it's a Tristan 500.

- Cleaning in progress.
- No kicking and licking.

SANITATION

NEBERDINE PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECH

[woman speaking in Japanese over PA]

[woman over PA]
Find the end of your rainbow

at Neberdine Pharmaceutical and Biotech.

Psst, buddy. Which one are you here for?

It should be on the form right there.

It says, uh, U.L.P.

Me too.

That's a good one.

It's the big time.

Get ready to make a lot of fuckin' money.

[woman over PA] Carol Cuddy. Carol Cuddy,
please report to D.M. test room three

for A.E.B Phase I.

What do the bombs mean?

High-risk.
That's where the dollars come from.

Apparently, they're havin' some kind
of problem with this new drug.

- I think you should let me do it again.
- Strong stuff. Very trippy shit.

- [woman] Who's in charge of the red light?
- That doesn't bother you?

- No.
- I don't fucking understand.

- No risk, no reward.
- I'm supposed to be part of the trial.

- [woman] I'm sorry.
- This is fucking bullshit.

[woman over PA] John Mallory,
please report to D.M. test room one.

John Mallory, please report to D.M.
test room one for Rumi Phase III.

[woman] Patricia. Patricia.

- [Patricia] I got bosses around.
- [men speaking Japanese]

- [woman] I have to get into that study.
- [second woman] Ma'am?

You have a daughter. Her name is Usnavy,
and she goes to Hunter College.

[woman over PA] Owen Milgrim,
please report to D.M. test room five.

Owen Milgrim, please report to D.M.
test room five for U.L.P. screening.

Steven McDougal,
please report to test room eight.

Steven McDougal, please report
to test room eight for M.S. One Phase II.

[Owen] Unnecessary.

[woman] Try to answer with an emotion,
rather than a description.

Uh... calm.

[typing]

[Owen] Justice.

[typing]

- Is this personalized somehow?
- [woman] No.

Focus on your answers.

- Suffocated.
- [woman] Good.

[typing]

Now, Mr. Milgrim...

please turn your attention to me

as I ask you this final question.

Are you gonna ask it?

- Does that disqualify me?
- [machine beeps]

Your defense mechanisms are fungible.

You've been accepted.

[woman speaking in Japanese over PA]

[woman over PA]
Find the end of your rainbow

at Neberdine Pharmaceutical and Biotech.

Stop looking at me.

Did... did you...

Did you lose your husband recently?

Huh?

Did you lose your husband recently?

No.

- But I just saw...
- Leave me alone.

Do you play golf in Hilton Head?

I'll kill you.

I have a gun.

[woman over PA]
Attention, please, all participants

in the U.L.P. Phase III trial,

please look at your lanyards.

If you are an odd number,
please line up at the intake corridor.

All even numbers will be next.

[man clears throat]

[sucks teeth]

It's Jed.

No, it's Grimsson.

Mustache. No, don't say anything.
Just be cool.

The pattern is the pattern.

The pattern got you here.

Keep trusting the pattern.

She's your handler now.

She has a certain je ne sais quoi.

She's no Olivia, though.

Make contact with her.
Use the code phrase.

[woman over PA] If you are an odd number,
please line up at the intake corridor.

The pattern is the pattern.
I know it doesn't make sense.

It doesn't make sense to me either
right now, but it will.

Keep going forward.

Just reach out...

and make contact.

[woman over PA] All odd numbers,
line up by the intake corridor.

What the fuck is wrong with you?

Sorry.

[bleeping]

[bleeping continues]

Robert.

[mumbling indistinctly]

Robert. Robert, wake up.

[grunts]

The odds are here.

Okay.

Let us complete this trial
with none of the old problems, sir.

Yes, Dr. Fujita.

None of the old problems.

[orderly] As you enter the common room,

you will notice
there are numbers on the pods.

The pod numbers correspond
with the numbers on your lanyards.

Please go to your pod.

That will be your home for the duration
of your stay here with us.

Leaving your pod
at any unauthorized moment

will result in the termination
of your stay here at this trial,

as well as bringing shame
and humiliation upon you.

Once you reach your pod,
an orderly will approach

and begin to inspect your bag.

Once the orderly has inspected your bag,
you will put your bag in your locker.

Once you have done that,
make your way to this gentleman.

He will give you your uniform,

as well as your patented Neberdine shoes,

which you cannot take with you
at the end of the trial.

Once you have your uniforms
and your shoes,

you will make your way back to your pods,

then you will get in your pods
and change clothes in your pods.

There will be no changing in the commons.

Oh, my God!

[orderly] Condoms are contraband.

- Safety first.
- [orderly] That's a red flag right there.

Intimacy in this facility is off-limits.

There will be no cohabitation
inside the pods.

Once the curfew starts, lights go out.

You're not supposed to be here.

Please.

What are my instructions?

The pattern is the pattern.

You're my contact.
What are my instructions?

[whispering] Please turn off the pattern.
Please turn off...

- Owen.
- [orderly] ..tight schedule.

We will tell you when there is mealtime.

Your instructions are to go back
to your pod and await my signal.

[orderly] ...two Etch A Sketches and one
Lite-Brite. Please don't fight over them.

I'm going to save the world.

We will tell you
when there's recreation time.

- Yes.
- We will also tell you when...

- You're gonna save the world.
- And we will tell you when to sleep.

- But not if you blow our cover.
- [orderly] ...expecting. Thank you.

Is that working for you?

Okay, I understand.

If you're having trouble
getting into your pod,

there is also a little ladder underneath
that will help you get into your pod.

Also note, from here on in,

you will be referred to
as the number on your lanyard.

You are the Odds.

Attention.

Please give your attention
to Dr. Muramoto and Dr. Fujita.

They will be supervising your trials.

[speaking in Japanese]

Welcome, subjects.

You made the right choice.

It's time to start your lives again.

You don't fuck this up...

I won't fuck this up.

Just kidding.

[sighs]