The Lottery (2014): Season 1, Episode 2 - Rules of the Game - full transcript

Previously on "The Lottery"...

Man: First viable human
embryo in six years.

One hundred human eggs have
been successfully fertilized.

I will need your access key to
the lab and computer passwords.

You can't do this. You can't fire me.

The decision has been made.

Darius: The next step, Mr. president,

is to officially engage the
army to oversee the operation.

Vanessa, what do you suggest?

A lottery.

Send me one single file. One donor.



Man: Brooke Ashton.

You fertilized human eggs?

Yours was one of them.

Oh, my God.

You want me to steal her fertilized egg,

which happens to be one
of the most valuable things

on the planet? No.

- Man: Brooke Ashton?
- Yes.

I'm with the fertility commission.

James: They sent everybody home
early to watch the president's speech.

Man: We took care of the
Brooke Ashton situation.

- Suicide?
- Yes.

This is the guy who
fertilized Brooke's egg.

Kyle: Where is Elvis?



He's fine. He's being evaluated.

Tell me where my son is!

Man: You're not allowed to be up here.

Let me just get my pass.

Word of a kidnapping.

Elvis Walker, one of the
so-called "Last Six"...

- Where is the embryo?
- I'm not giving it back.

For God's sake, Al, what the hell
are you getting yourself into?

No.

[Grunts] Let go of me!

No!

[Tires squeal]

_

Where are you taking me?

What the hell is going on here?

[Door opens]

[Breathing shakily]

You're under arrest, Dr. Lennon.

Arrest?

You stole a human embryo.

That's a class-a felony.

It was created by my team... In my lab.

It belongs to the United States government.

- Where is it?
- I want a lawyer.

Doesn't work that way.

- You can't deny my request for...
- This is a fertility crime.

There's no due process, no
constitutional safeguards... just us.

So, where is it?

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

_

Elvis: Why did we run out of the hospital?

If you run, you get out of
there faster than if you walk.

Was I sick?

No.

No, I-I think one of the
doctors made a mistake.

See, he thought you were
sick, but you weren't.

That's why we left. Make sense, Elvis?

There's too much at stake.

These embryos are the most
valuable assets on the planet.

Did you sell it?

You working with someone else...

A foreign power?

Biotech firm?

I'm a scientist.

And you're also a criminal and,
according to the fertility penal code,

a terrorist.

Man: Great speech tonight, Mr. president.

[Indistinct conversations]

Deputy secretary, I hardly recognized
you without your sweatpants and hoodie.

In the last 10 minutes, I've received 300
phone calls from China, Romania, Lithuania.

They all want to know
what's in it for them.

Your point?

The lottery has unleashed
an international shit storm.

Good.

So you'll actually earn
your paycheck this week.

Go to hell.

Coming over tonight?

Good.

[Alarm beeping]

Abduction alert. Abduction alert.

Authorities are looking for Kyle Walker.

Authorities are looking for Kyle...

[Beeping stops]

[Pants zip]

Kyle: You finished?

Yeah.

Yeah? Let's get going.

What's the matter?

My arm itches.

Your arm? Let me see.

Because of the thing the
man put inside my arm.

A man put a thing in your arm?

You might want to grab
one of your superhero masks

'cause you are gonna need
all the strength you can find.

[Sighs]

This is gonna hurt.

So... I just want you to
pretend that you're a superhero,

and this is what you got
to do to save the world.

Okay?

Okay.

Now look away from me, buddy.

'Cause superheroes... They need to be free.

Can't have tiny, little
things in their arms

to let the bad guys know where they are.

One... two... three.

[Sirens wailing in distance]

You bastards.

We're gonna find it.

It's not a matter of "if," but "when,"

which means right now is
your best opportunity...

to help yourself.

Help myself?

If I tell you where it is, you won't
need me anymore, and you'll kill me...

Or help me commit suicide...

Like Brooke.

What... wait.

What... stop it!

Aah! Aah!

Wait!

[Grunts]

No. Stop!

[Grunting]

No!

[Panting]

[Sighs]

This is your last chance.

Like I said...

The stakes are too high.

Aah! [Gasps]

[Screaming]

Really? 4:48?

I'm going for a run.

[Sighs]

It's too early for a
drive, let alone a run.

I still can't believe it.

One hundred viable human embryos.

[Cellphone beeps]

This could be the end
of the fertility crisis.

Unfortunately, our international
partners have a different perspective.

Screw them.

Is that the president's official position?

[Chuckles] Pretty much, yeah.

When do you leave for your
Asian-appeasement tour?

This afternoon.

[Sighs] 12 countries, 3 days.

Ugh.

When I get back, who knows?

Maybe we could actually
go out on a proper date.

[Chuckles] I wouldn't count on it.

Oh, no, I just... I like
things the way they are...

Private, no obligations.

What's the real reason?

Excuse me?

Am I bad for your brand?

What does that mean?

I was just kidding.

About what... My integrity?

Relax. It was a joke.

- Not to me.
- I don't understand...

No, you wouldn't, would you?

You never had to work a day in your life.

Rich parents, diversity.

Whoa, whoa. Slow down.

It was all handed to you on
a polished Tiffany platter.

Unlike you, I have earned my success...

Every damn bit of it.

And this job means everything to me,

so please do not judge me
on how I build my brand.

Are you kidding?

The lottery's creating a bit
of an international headache.

12 countries have credible, legal
claims to one or more embryos.

So far, 10 have made informal inquiries.

Two have filed legal documents with
the international court of justice.

To be expected.

International white noise.

Valid or not, the legal claims are
unenforceable... And irrelevant.

President Westwood: Promise
them military assistance, aid,

debt relief, whatever else you want.

No one gets an embryo. They belong to us.

I understand, Mr. president,
but I should also point out...

These countries also have legal recourse
under the G25 fertility alliance.

Since you were the lead sponsor of that...

Nathan, no one gets an embryo!

Elvis: Where's Canada?

Kyle: About two hundred
miles straight ahead.

My dad used to take me
there in the summers.

There's a big lake, mountains.

Teach you how to ride a horse.

You're gonna love it.

Will my mom be there?

No, your mom will not be there.

Man: President Westwood's
decision to hold a national lottery

has certainly stirred up a lot of emotion.

What do you think? Is
the lottery a good idea?

I'm joined by Emile Fritz,
32, and Sara Bell, 27.

Emile's a former 3rd-grade
teacher who, 10 minutes ago,

entered her name in the national lottery.

Sara's 27, a freelance writer,
and a conscientious objector

to what she calls the baby raffle.

Emile, talk to us. Why'd you enter?

Simple... my husband and
I want to be parents, badly,

and the lottery might be our
only chance to fulfill this dream.

I mean, how could I not enter?

So, motherhood's very important to you?

Oh, it's everything.

I know this might sound old-fashioned,
but right now, I feel incomplete.

Having a baby will change that.

- Best of luck to you.
- Thank you.

Sara Bell, however, has
a different point of view.

Sara, tell me...

Why did you decide not
to enter the lottery?

Uh, well, for starters, I don't think

that the government has the
right to raffle off embryos.

You believe the donors deserve them?

I think they should be first
in line, that's for sure.

Do you want to have children?

Sure. Someday.

But not like this.

So, what about this... This
whole embryo controversy?

You believe president Westwood,
or are the embryos fake?

It wouldn't shock me.

I mean, president Westwood... He's a phony.

I mean, maybe the embryos are phony, too.

President Westwood: You hear
what they're saying about us?

This isn't what we talked about, Vanessa.

A two-point bump?

You said my approval ratings would soar.

This was supposed to be our Moon Landing.

Sir, the opposition got out in front of us.

They distorted the message,
claimed the embryos were fake,

that we're making the whole thing
up to thwart a potential recall vote.

I was under the impression that
it's your job to distort the message,

to get out in front of things.

I have a press conference tomorrow.

You need to figure this out now.

Let me be perfectly candid...
The lottery was your idea.

You wanted to inspire hope, unify a
fractured nation, stave off civil unrest.

Well, you got your wish.

You're my chief of staff.

Now find a way to make this
lottery look like a good idea.

Where is she? Where's Dr. Lennon?

- Darius...
- What are you doing here?

What the hell's going on?

That's not your concern.
She stole an embryo.

She refused to cooperate.

What are you doing to her?

For God's sake, get her out of there.

I'm acting on behalf of the president.

Get her the hell out of there now.

I called your lab.
I heard you like lemon soda.

First of all...

Let me just apologize for the confusion.

The good news is, I can make this
go away, but I'll need your help.

The president wants you to be the
scientific face of the lottery...

Help us market the
concept, the credibility.

In exchange, we'll drop the
charges and restore your job...

Once you return the embryo.

After what you've just been
through, please just return it.

If you don't, there's nothing
I can do to protect you.

The embryo is the only
thing keeping me alive.

Dr. Lennon, I am trying to help
you, but you have to trust me.

I promise you, you will walk out of here.

I promise you, you will have your job back.

We can put it all in writing.

We need you, Dr. Lennon.

The country needs you.

Just so you know, Dr. Lennon,

I didn't agree with this decision,

but having said that, I
believe in second chances,

so please make the most
of this opportunity.

Don't worry about him.

Stay focused. Do your job.

Fertilize more eggs.

- Wait here.
- Elvis: Okay.

[Gun cocks]

Don't shoot. I'm unarmed.

Kyle?

[Sighs]

You scared the hell out of me.

I scared you. Right.

[Chuckles]

[Sighs]

I'm sorry I didn't call.

I-I get it. I get it.

You're all over the Internet.

Stay as long as you want.

I know what it's like.

Trust me.

[Door opens]

Hey. Look at you.

She's getting so big and beautiful.

Thank you.

Elvis. Come on.

She's never seen a boy her own age before.

Neither has he.

I don't know. I feel like I'm going crazy.

There's something going
on here... something bad.

Like what?

Like Darius Hayes.

I think he killed Brooke.

Brooke... The... the egg donor?

The woman who committed suicide?

[Scoffs] That's what the police say.

You don't believe it?

I talked to her right before she died.

She was excited. She'd hired a lawyer.

She wasn't on the verge of killing herself.

Look, I realize that
you've been through a lot.

You have no idea what I've been through.

- Well, then tell me.
- I can't.

Al, look at me. It's me, okay?

Come on. You can tell me.

They said if I talk about it...

Where I was, what happened...

They'd pull the deal and file charges.

Who?

The Department of Humanity...

Darius.

President Westwood: So, let's figure out
how the lottery will work. Dr. Campbell?

From a medical perspective,

all I care about is having one
hundred healthy, active surrogates

willing to adhere to a proper
diet and exercise regimen.

As for the motherhood part of this,
it really isn't a medical debate.

Being a good mother is a subjective thing.

I don't know how you could
possibly prescreen for that.

You can't, but that doesn't mean
we shouldn't try and find a way

to prescreen the surrogates
for motherhood, too.

There are clearly objective data points
that are predictive of stable parenting.

I get that, but how do we do it
without looking like assholes?

We decide what a great mother is...

Her values, her lifestyle,

where she went to school,
who they're married to.

He said without looking like assholes.

Who are we to decide
what makes a good mother?

Is she gay, straight, rich, poor, single?

I agree, but we also can't give
one hundred embryos to just anyone.

Which raises another question.

What will the government's role be
in the children's lives going forward?

Role?

What I am suggesting, sir, is, given
the state of the world right now,

shouldn't we, in effect, be the mother?

For God's sake, Darius.

We can't just relinquish
control of the embryos...

Our embryos.

We need to maintain a
certain ownership interest.

Ownership?

We're talking about children here.

With all due respect, Mr. president,
our previous folksy, preconceived notions

of motherhood and
childhood no longer apply.

That ship has sailed.

Look, we're talking about
two different issues here...

Surrogacy and parenting.

What makes someone a good surrogate

doesn't necessarily make them
a good parent, and vice versa.

So, what we really need to do
is address this in two parts.

Part one... we choose two hundred
biologically viable surrogates

from the thousands of women who meet
the agreed-upon medical criteria.

Part two... we invite those
two hundred women to D.C.

We interview them, and we
choose the one hundred women

we think will make the best mothers.

Supervised democracy.

Start writing the speech.

_

Damn it. It's not working.

I can't fertilize any more eggs.

If it isn't the chemical
protocol, then what is it?

I mean, the eggs? The sperm?

[Sighs]

I think we got to explore
some of these donors.

Maybe there's some sort
of... I don't know...

Like a common chemical
connection among them...

Something we haven't discovered.

What the hell's going on here?

What?

All the donor information's been deleted.

For everyone... all one hundred.

Who did this?

And why would they delete the files?

So, the only names we
have are Brooke and Kyle.

One's dead, and one's a fugitive.

Awesome.

Elvis and I need to get out of the country.

I got a friend in Quebec.

Hmm. So that's why you chose me...

Geographic reasons.

You're a friend, Camille.

You know what I'm going through.

I got an army buddy who
lives nearby in Buffalo.

He's gonna hook us up with new passports.

Stay as long as you want.

And you don't have to worry
about the government, either.

Department of Humanity just
finished their monthly evaluation,

so they won't be back for another 30 days.

Bastards.

How dare they evaluate
my motherhood skills?

[Children laughing]

Like a song you don't hear anymore.

[Glass shatters]

What is it?

It's his Insulin.

Blood sugar's a little high.

Did you eat something?

A cupcake. You said I could have one.

Right. One. How many did you have?

- Two.
- Two?

Where are you going?

To get Insulin.

[Door opens, closes]

Thanks for meeting with me.

Of course.

Like I told you, I'm here to help.

I'm worried that...

I just tried to access our
database, but all the information

relating to the one hundred egg
and sperm donors has been deleted.

What? Why?

I'm not sure.

But I need all the information I can get.

Those donors could be the
key to us finding a cure.

You wanted me to help you.

Now you need to help me.

I understand. I'll look into it.

I promise.

Dr. Lennon?

I take it you haven't been
able to fertilize any more eggs?

No. Not yet.

I thought you were hopeful.

I was.

Unfortunately, science is not about hope.

It's about reality.

I'm sorry.

Darius: The problem is the
president still believes a lottery

should feel Democratic... Fun.

I think he's getting drunk on
the chief of staff's kool-aid.

So he won't sign off on military
control of the surrogates?

Not yet.

I think he needs to hear a new
perspective from a leader he trusts,

like the Chairman of the joint chiefs.

I'm certainly willing to
discuss the issue with him.

Good. He needs a reality check.

Right now, he's more concerned
with politics than security.

From what I hear, he should be.

So, I can count on you?

You and I have always
seen eye to eye, Darius.

President Westwood: What
do you mean "unsuccessful"?

I just spoke to Dr. Lennon.

She hasn't been able to
fertilize any more eggs.

She was hopeful, but she
thought the magical solution

was the new chemical protocol,
and, apparently, it was not.

So we're nowhere?

What am I supposed to say tomorrow?

These embryos need to feel
like the beginning, not the end.

What the hell good are one hundred embryos

if you don't have another
500 or 5,000 behind them?

The whole point of this is hope.

We need to ring that
bell every chance we get.

Forgive me, father, for I am about to sin.

I'm gonna run a quick errand, okay?

[Truck horn blares]

[Telephone rings]

Hello?

Kyle: Yeah, I just drove by your pharmacy.

There's smoke coming from the back alley.

What the hell?

I spoke with commissioner Hayes.

He's doing his best to find out what
happened to the donor information.

I want you to know we both
understand how important this is.

Thank you.

Did you have a chance to look
over the speech I sent you?

Yes, I did. It's full of lies.

We're... We're trying to paint
a positive picture of the future.

To accomplish that, we need
you to express optimism.

This isn't optimism. It's horseshit.

I have no idea why I was able
to fertilize those eggs...

Or if I'll be able to do it again... ever.

So I certainly can't say we're
on the verge of finding a cure.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

I respect your desire
to do the right thing,

but, unfortunately,
you signed an agreement.

If you don't cooperate,
that deal goes away,

and charges will be filed.

So you're gonna charge me
with a crime for not lying?

This isn't about lying or not lying.

This isn't about you or your
moral constitution, either.

This is about us... This country...

Inspiring hope, preventing a civil war.

I understand our predicament,

but I'm not gonna whore
out my scientific integrity

and defraud the nation.

The speech is tomorrow morning at 8:00.

Oh, great.

Goddamn roadblock.

- Elvis: I feel funny.
- Camille: Let's check, okay?

Everything's gonna be all right.

Hey.

[Cellphone ringing]

Okay.

Drink up, sweetie. It's very important.
Your dad said you need lots of water.

You need to drink the whole glass.

Okay? Every drop.

[Ringing continues]

Kyle: Hello?

Hey. Elvis isn't doing too well.

How are his eyes? Are they open?

Yes, but he... he's
having a hard time seeing.

Some things are blurry.

He needs water... As
much as you can give him.

He's not responding.
I need to call an ambulance.

- No, you won't.
- I'm not a doctor, Kyle.

- I can't just let him die.
- He won't.

- I'm almost there.
- I can't risk it.

They will take him, Camille... for good.

Just hang in there, all right?

I'll get there. I promise.

Just keep giving him water.

All right, please hurry.

[Dialing]

[Telephone ringing]

Man: Police department.

Hi. Uh, yeah, you know that
guy that's all over the news?

- Kyle Walker?
- Yes, sir.

Yeah, I-I think I just saw him
heading south on Cedar Drive.

Thank you very much, sir.

Sure thing.

Come on.

[Sirens wailing]

There we go. There we go.

[Tires squeal]

Langdon: Sir, we've studied the logistics.

Given the medical and security issues,

I recommend the military
oversee the surrogates.

They can be housed in existing facilities,

and we can provide some form of
supervised access for family members.

President Westwood: We've
already talked about this.

The lottery has to feel Democratic, open.

We can't make it look like we're
throwing these women in jail.

But, sir, the country would feel
a deeper sense of security

if it saw the government
take complete control.

I'm already getting
hammered on this crap...

Big government, big military,
loss of personal freedom, privacy.

If the military takes this over,
they're gonna riot in the streets.

Kind of defeats the purpose.

The lottery winners have to feel
like they're living normal lives.

The country has to feel like
they've finally turned the page.

Am I clear?

Yes, sir.

- I'm coming, buddy.
- Thank God you're back.

No, no. Not today my friend.

Hang in there, Elvis.
Come on. Hang in there.

Hang in there. Hang in there.

What are you doing?

He's not responding. He needs another dose.

Come on!

Come on!

Hey.

Attaboy. Hey.

Hey.

[Sighs]

Ohh. Baby boy.

Alison: I've never exaggerated
a result in my life ever.

James: There's nothing in this
contract that requires you to lie.

"The undersigned agrees
to assist the government

in connection with the
marketing of the national lottery

and agrees to speak, in
her capacity as a scientist,

at any and all events,
speeches, and conferences

the government requests".

So I need to give a speech?

Uh, yeah. Yeah, but they
can't force you to lie.

Right.

Good. [Sighs]

Then again, I don't think Darius really
cares what the damn contract says.

[Exhales deeply]

Just say what you believe.

[Scoffs] Easy for you to say.

You don't have to live
with the consequences.

But you know what?

You've got a lot more
leverage than you think.

The second you get up there
and you start speaking,

the world is gonna know who
you are and what you've done,

and you'll be too famous
for them to screw with you.

Like you said, we're scientists,
and we seek the truth.

Dr. Lennon.

Please, come in. Sit down.

You look beautiful.

I just wanted to make sure you didn't
have any questions about the speech.

No. I know exactly what I'm going to say.

The agreement I signed
does not require me to lie.

Yep. You're absolutely right.

So, please, feel free to say
whatever your conscience dictates.

You have a signed agreement.

But you know who doesn't have
a signed agreement? James.

Excuse me?

James Lynch, your co-worker.

Or should I say co-conspirator?

He gave you his key card that night.

Helped you steal the embryo.

That makes him an accessory.

He had nothing to do with it.

That doesn't matter.

This is about something
much bigger than any of us.

Stay on script, Dr. Lennon,
and all will be grand.

[Applause, camera shutters clicking]

These one hundred viable human embryos

don't only represent the
future of our country...

They represent the past, when
having children was normal.

But there's more.

My team of dedicated scientists
are actively working on a cure.

And we now believe we
are close to finding one.

[Applause]

This is just the beginning.

Before long, women around the world

will again experience
the miracle of childbirth

and the joy of motherhood.

Before long, these
playgrounds and schools...

Will again be filled with
children laughing and playing.

[Applause, camera shutters clicking]

President Westwood: Thank you, Dr. Lennon.

A true American hero.

The national lottery will select
two hundred women at random

from the pool of eligible candidates.

These two hundred women will
be invited to Washington, D.C.,

where we will conduct
further tests and interviews.

We will then select the one
hundred women best suited

to be the mothers of the next generation.

The most precious thing
in this world is children.

They are the lifeblood of our
nation and our very existence.

Without them, there is no future.

[Children laughing]

I appreciate what you did.

I'm just glad it all worked out.

I was terrified.

I really thought he was gonna die.

Man: To be eligible to enter the lottery,

women must be between
the ages of 18 and 32.

Prior to submitting your
name for consideration,

entrants must be examined
by a government physician

and pass a variety of
genetic and prenatal tests.

Darius: We've identified a secure site...

A former military compound
near the Mexican border.

We'll repurpose the building...

Turn it into a medical facility.

It's totally off the radar.

We can control access and maintain
the highest level of security.

Darius, I was in that meeting.

The president is not on board with this.

He'll come around. It's
only a matter of time.

And if he doesn't?

Presidents come and go.

Men like us...

We serve a higher
purpose, a bigger picture.

We don't have the luxury of
bending with the political wind.

Hey. It's Nathan.

I'm sorry about the argument the other day.

I really was just kidding.

Anyway, I'm having a hell of a
time on the Asian-appeasement tour.

Only problem is my hand is tired

from all the diplomatic
hand jobs I'm giving.

I'll call you later.

[Cellphone beeps]

You've reached Nathan. Leave a message.

Hi. Um, I'm sorry, too.

Actually, it was my fault.

Call me when you get to Shanghai...

If your hand isn't too tired.

Man: Look up! Look up!

Look up! Look up!

Look up!

[Cellphone rings]

- President Westwood: Vanessa.
- Sir. How are you?

I thought the speech went well.

I have some bad news.

Nathan Mitchell and four other diplomats
were just taken hostage in Shanghai.

What? What do they want?

They want five embryos.