Utopia Falls (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - 99 Problems - full transcript

Come in.

Aliyah 5 and Bohdi 2
have just been brought in.

They're in interrogation
rooms one and two.

Don't worry.
I'm sure it's nothing.

What if it isn't nothing?

Then I will take care of it
like I always do.

What'd you find out?

The cafeteria crew say
they were taken down to.

Authority headquarters
for questioning

because someone reported them
for subversive activities.

What does that even mean?
What did they do?



I don't know.

Alright!

I know many of you are confused

and have questions about
what happened earlier.

And I may not have all the
answers but I can assure you

that candidates Aliyah
and Bohdi will return

to competition once they
complete their interviews

at Authority Headquarters.

But for the rest of us,
we have a competition

to get back to.

Why? Why were they taken?

Good question.

Why don't you ask them
when they come back.

In the meantimeWe have
a very big day ahead of us.



As I'm sure
all of you are aware,

one of the most exciting aspects
of The Exemplar is The Gallery,

an event in which each of
our candidates is interviewed,

vidcaptured, and profiled

for the feature campaign.

And, of course,
a big part of this campaign

is the public reveal of each
year's Exemplar uniform.

Which I present to you now.

We would like to present
you with your very own,

personal Exemplar Uniform.

Come on up.

Tempo three, progress sector.

What kind of game
are you playing?

I have no idea what
you're talking about‐

You want us to
believe The Authority

just showed up here unannounced?

They came because
you told them to.

So what if I did?

I don't need to remind you,
Mentor Chapter,

that it is our duty as citizens
of New Babyl to be on the alert

for potentially
subversive activities.

Subversive?

All they did was sing and dance.

Is that what that was?

I understand you're upset

and no doubt feeling
partially responsible

given that your failure to
properly oversee rehearsals

may have played a role
in this unfortunate incident.

Right.

Look Watts, they're just kids.

Well then they have
nothing to hide.

Do they?

Hello. I'm Authority Phydra.

Please, take a seat.

I want to start off
by assuring you

that you're not in trouble.

You're simply here to
offer some clarity

on what happened yesterday.

Nothing happened.
We just performed.

Right.

And why don't you tell me
about that performance.

What do you mean?
We didn't do anything wrong.

I never said you did.

It's just that
whomever reported you

felt that your performance
was a little subversive.

Why?

I was told it was...

Atypical of the song
and dance forms

that typify our community.

So what if it was?
Why is that so bad?

As a citizen of New Babyl,
you should already know

the answer to that.

We embrace diversity.
It's our strength.

But personal expression
is something else.

It fosters disharmony.

You know, there's an
ancient saying that goes.

"The nail that sticks out
gets hammered down."

And when you think about it,
it makes sense.

Nails that stick out
are dangerous.

It was just a song.
Just a dance.

You're about to take
the stage in the greatest event.

New Babyl has ever known.

The eyes of the entire
city will be on you.

It won't be just
a dance or a song.

It will be a message
to the people.

And it's on you to ensure
that it's a positive one.

I never doubted it would be.

You can offer them hope
and strength

by reinforcing our
long established ideals

or, you can infect
them with notions

of independence and dissent.

Performance is power.

And it comes with
great responsibility.

Now I am sure there
was no ill intent

and you have rehearsals
to get back to,

so I just have
one last question.

Who influenced your performance?

Nobody.

So inspiration just came
to you out of the blue?

I was influenced by my life
and experience in Reform.

So this Aliyah had
absolutely no influence on you?

What? No.

You're sure that Bohdi

didn't steer you
towards that performance?

I'm positive.
It all came from me.

I don't believe that.

I'm worried for you, Aliyah.

You seem to have some misplaced
loyalty to this Bohdi boy.

How well do you know him?

And are you sure
he shares the same conviction?

Because if he doesn't, you
could find yourself back home,

watching him compete
in The Exemplar.

Excuse me one moment.

Gerald. Where's Aliyah?

You should know
that one of the mentors

reported potentially
subversive behavior

on the part of your
daughter and her friend.

That's ridiculous.
She's sixteen.

And yet old enough
to know better,

but there you have it.

I'm getting my daughter
and I'm taking her home.

You know why I'm doing this.

You know the histories,
the dangers

in allowing this sort
of behavior to go unchecked.

I'm actually doing you
a favor here, Gerald

educating your daughter in ways
you were clearly incapable of

or unwilling to do.

Phydra, get out of my way.

Can you control
your daughter, Gerald?

Phydra, I'm warning
you for the last time‐

Can. You.

Control her?

Yes.

Interrogation Room One.

Come on. We're going home.

What about my friend?

We're going home now.

Aliyah? Aliyah!

Am I being released?

No, Bohdi.

We still have a lot
to talk about.

Take a seat.

The official 73rd
Exemplar Competition designs

are a return to the gold
and black with silk mail

midnight sleeve from the 38th.

To honor
the incomparable Geneva.

The traditional long silhoutte
represents the formality...

Hey!

For state,
for community, for all.

I'm excited for this
but at the same time,

feel kind of guilty given
what's going on

with Aliyah and Bohdi.

Well you shouldn't.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means...
she should've known better.

Look, when Aliyah gets here,
she's going to need a friend

who'll support her, not someone
who's going to criticize her

for... dancing.

It wasn't just dancing!

It was more than that.

What do you mean?
What's going on?

What aren't you telling me?

I can't say.

There's no such thing
as you "can't say".

There's only "I won't say",

but that's completely different.

We've been friends how long?

I promised her
I wouldn't tell anyone.

Okay, I respect that.

There's this old saying in
Industry Sector that goes:

If the burden's too great,
distribute the weight.

You don't realize
what you're asking.

Sure I do.

I'm offering to help a friend.

In the wise words
of our great founder Gaia.

They had no right.

They treated us like criminals.

We didn't do anything wrong.

Aliyah!

They wouldn't have brought
you in if they didn't

think you might have
done something wrong.

I danced. He sang!

Don't be so naive.

Look, you know the importance
our society places on custom.

You and your friend undermined
years of tradition.

By trying something new?

By celebrating yourselves
instead of the state!

Sweetheart, do me a favor.

Don't cause anymore
trouble, alright?

Stick to the accepted norm.
Promise me.

Get them to release Bohdi.

I can't.

You're a member
of the Tribunal.

Of course you can

No, I can't!

Look, you don't realize the
seriousness of what you did

and how lucky you
are to be free!

Aliyah, wait!

Bohdi, you seem
like a good young citizen,

but your actions have me
questioning your loyalties.

Why?

You have the opportunity
to choose from an endless list

of songs recognizing
our united spirit

or the life of our
glorious founder, Gaia,

but instead, you choose
to sing about yourself.

My experiences.

That was selfish.

No it's not because I was
sharing them with others.

That was the whole point!

And what makes you think
that your personal experience

is more important than
the communal experience

we foster here in New Babyl?

It's not.

But everyone's
story is important.

Our founder, Gaia,
had her own personal story

and it became
a part of our history.

It belongs to all of us because
people shared that experience.

What are you telling me, Bohdi?

That you want to make history?

No.

I just want to tell my story.

Welcome Aliyah.
How can I be of service?

What can I do?

"What Can I Do" is a song

by artist Ice Cube
from the west‐‐

Stop!

Give me some historical
examples of how one person

stood up to their
own government.

Okay. I see where you goin'.

Choose Violent
or Non‐Violent Resistance.

Non‐Violent.

Non‐violent resistance
can take many forms.

Peaceful protests,
civil disobedience‐

Tell me about
peaceful protests.

Protests are
an expression of resistance

against particular events,

situations, or policies

deemed unjust or undesirable.

They can be expressed
by an individual

or many individuals
in solidarity.

Show me forms of protest.

What are these people doing?

Show me lower right.

The civil rights sit ins

became a protest movement
against racial segregation

in the twentieth century.

Students of African descent
occupied food establishments

that refused them service

because of their skin color.

The protests grew
in numbers over time

and disrupted the working orders
of the establishments,

eventually causing them to
change their racist policies.

Show me more.

What's that dance?

This dance is inspired
by a style known as "stepping".

It is one of many forms
that embody resistance

and protest through sharp,
rhythmic, movement.

Other forms include
ToyiToyi, Capoeira,

Hip Hop, Crump‐

What do you think?

You're going to
wear it open like that?

I made a few adjustments.
I think it's kinda flames.

It's nice.

I just think the mentors

are going to ask you
to make a few more.

Hey.

Aliyah!

Are you okay?

I'm fine.
I was worried about you.

What happened?
Where'd you go?

Why did they take you?

This is for you.

I can make some
tweaks if you want.

Where's Bohdi?

He's still being held
at Authority Headquarters.

What?

Why is he still there?

I don't know.

But it's up to us
to get him out.

And how exactly are we
supposed to help free Bohdi?

By putting pressure
on The Authority.

Aliyah, we're a bunch
of sixteen year olds.

No, we're Exemplar candidates.

So?

So they need us if they want
this competition to go ahead.

Okay wait, look, I like Bohdi.

A lot.

But I'm not quitting
this competition for him.

I'm not saying we should quit.

I'm saying we should
refuse to cooperate.

Starting with the Gallery today.

Bohdi and I were held
at Authority Headquarters.

We were questioned,
treated like criminals.

Bohdi is still there,

but we have the power
to get him out.

I don't get it.
Why were you taken?

And why were you
being questioned,

and why were you being
treated like criminals?

Because we didn't sing
the approved songs

or dance the approved dances.

We upset them because we
expressed ourselves differently.

We've always been taught
that harmony is happiness.

And deviation is disorder.

I'm not saying
unity isn't important.

But we're all unique.

We don't all look the same.

We don't have the same dreams.

Why should we all
conform to the same music?

The same songs and dances?

Just because that's
the way it's always been?

Is that really
a good enough reason?

It keeps us from getting
hauled in for questioning.

Exactly.

I saw all of your faces
when Bohdi and I performed.

You all really liked it.

Aliyah's right.

Bohdi doesn't deserve
to be treated like this.

Hey!

If it was any of us locked up,

do you think Bohdi
would hesitate?

Look, we've all had
our own Bohdi moment.

Something he's done for us,
some act of unexpected kindness.

And now, when he needs
you to stand up for him,

you're telling me
that it doesn't matter?

Okay, so say we do this.

We tell them we're not going
to participate in the Gallery.

What's to stop them
from kicking us out?

They can't expel us all.

The histories teach us
that there's strength in unity.

Think about The Exemplar.

When enough people
vote together,

that candidate wins.

The only way this
is going to work

is if we stay strong
and we stick together.

All of us.

So, a bunch of us are
joining Aliyah's protest.

You with us?

Sage?

I want to help.

I really, I really do.

I just...

I don't know if I feel
comfortable doing this.

You think any of us are
comfortable doing this?

Hey, what about Bohdi
sweating it out

in an interrogation
room all day?

They let Aliyah go.

Okay? Maybe we just
have to be patient.

Just being here means
everything to me.

It's all I ever dreamt of‐

You're not alone.

Then how can you take the risk
of throwing it all away?

Like Aliyah said,
it's less of a risk

the more of us join in.

You're asking me to
trust other people and I‐

No. No, I'm asking
you to trust me.

You can trust me, Sage.

I'm not gonna let anything
happen to your dreams.

Especially since
I'm in them every night.

Samu says his med staff is
running low on pain meds

and surgical lights.

Redirect another shipment.
Those clinics are a priority.

Hey, Moore...
I'm in a business meeting.

I told you no interruptions.

Yeah, but there's
someone here to‐

Regget! What did I say?

No interruptions.

Thank you.

Sorry, Mags.
You're gonna have to come back.

Mags? Regget,
what are you doing?

Tell Mags to come in here.

There he is!

Our local celebrity!

What brings you by?

I need to talk to you.

Alone.

You heard him, fellas. Out.
Private discussion.

So.

What do you want to talk about?

It's Bohdi.

He's being held
at Authority Headquarters.

They took him in for
questioning earlier today.

What'd he do?

He sang.

What? Like he did at my party?

Yeah.

That little fool has
more guts than brains.

Who'd he criticize?

He sang about
growing up in Reform Sector

and the challenges we face‐

The state?
He criticized the state!

Boy is crazy!

Is he trying to get
himself ghosted?

It wasn't
a public performance.

It was just at The Academy‐

What do I always say?

Authority's got eyes
and ears everywhere.

I need your help
to get him released.

Oh yeah...

You said it yourself.
We're family, right?

Just 'cause I say it,
doesn't mean he believes it.

Bohdi felt bad
about what he did.

He disrespected me in front
of the whole Sector, Mags.

Now suddenly, I'm family?

He's not asking. I am.

What do you expect me to do?

You have an understanding
with The Authority.

They give you the freedom
to operate here

in exchange for a piece
and information.

Listen to me.

That kind of talk will
land you a seat

next to Bohdi
at Authority Headquarters.

So what's it going to be?

I got a lot of work to do.

So good luck.

Alright.

It's time to get
this Gallery underway.

When I call your name,
step up to be interviewed

and holo‐captured.

Nada Four. Come on up.

Looks like we have
some stragglers.

Brooklyn Two, come up.

Brooklyn Two.

Sierra Five.

What is this?

Get up.

Aliyah Five.

I don't know what you
are trying to prove

with this nonsense,
but it is your loss.

Tempo Three.

What is the point of
this act of defiance?

No one is rehearsing
or taking part in The Gallery.

Not until Bohdi's released.

Three of you were
already sent home

and I'm perfectly willing to
make examples of any of you

I will.

You cannot hold
The Exemplar hostage.

Get up!

Get up. Get up!

Don't believe for a second
this behavior will be forgotten.

When we return,
you had better be prepared

for The Gallery.

What's that?

That, is your record, Bohdi.

The entire history of you.

Relocated to Reform Sector
at the age three

with your single father who
was undergoing rehabilitation

at the time of his
unexpected passing.

Raised in the communal
creche from the age eleven.

Now just two years away
from your eighteenth year.

With a clean record,
you can request a transfer

to any other sector
and start a new life.

You have so much
to look forward to.

And yet...

The file also details
your apparent ties

to known criminal elements.

It's Reform Sector.

Almost everyone's what you'd
call "a criminal element".

I'm not referring
to individuals

undergoing
the redemptive process.

I'm talking about
one man in particular.

You know him as Moore Times.

He runs Reform Sector's
black market operations.

He's also, apparently,
a father figure to you.

Like you said,
my father's long dead right?

New Babyl took a chance on you
admitting you to The Exemplar

and I, now have to wonder
whether their trust in you

was misplaced.

I didn't do anything wrong.

Maybe not,
but your recent actions

and your past relationships

cast doubt on your character

and, if that was to
come to public light

I'm afraid The Academy
just wouldn't stand for it.

What do you want from me?

A name.

You are a good kid
who was led astray.

Moore Times used you.

And now, you're going to
take the fall for him?

But, it's not too late.

All you have to do
is say his name‐

and this all goes away.

Just say his name
and you can leave.

I'd rather tell you a story.

About a little girl who
grew up in Reform Sector

but defied the odds and really
made something of herself.

Go on.

See, this little girl's
parents were happy

to be living in New Babyl,
but still thought things

could be better.

They had suggestions,
but The Tribunal

didn't want to hear them,
didn't like being criticized.

Her parents called
themselves activists

and The Tribunal
called them agitators

and sent them to Reform Sector
for rehabilitation.

And, of course, their
little girl went with them.

I'm familiar with this story.

So is everyone in Reform.

It's legendary.

Anyway, this little girl
got moved away

from the life she knew
in Progress Sector.

And turns out
she hated Reform.

And hated her own parents
for landing them there.

And over the years,
that hatred grew.

To The Authority, her parents
became model citizens

a real feel‐good Reform story.

But what The Authority didn't
know was that these two

still thought New Babyl
could be better

and they were secretly sharing
their feelings with others.

The Authority didn't know,
but their little girl did,

so she told on them.

Her parents were ghosted.

One day they were there
and the next they were gone.

No one's heard from them since.

But that little girl?

Well, she wasn't
so little anymore.

She finally got her wish
to leave Reform Sector.

And the Authority rewarded
her with a junior position

in their organization.

And she did right by them,
eventually rising up

and getting her own seat
on The Tribunal.

Well, it sounds like
the parents got exactly

what they wanted all along

the ability to
effect real change

through their own
flesh and blood.

Probably helped
that their daughter

didn't have a conscience.

But I do‐

so you won't be
getting that name.

That's a long road
for a short answer,

but who doesn't
like a good yarn.

You know I'm disappointed
in you, Bohdi.

You had a shot
at doing something

really special with your life.

What is going on?

This is our way of showing
our support for Bohdi.

What about The Gallery?

There is no Gallery
Not until they release Bohdi.

How'd you even get
everybody to join in?

Honestly?
They didn't do it for me.

They did it for Bohdi.

C'mon...

Moore Times.

I'm sorry, but Bohdi
isn't permitted visitors.

I'm not here
to visit with Bohdi.

I'm here to see you.

So what is this about?

That thing we discussed
the other day?

Could you be more specific?

You were asking
if anyone had come to me,

looking to acquire those
black market parts.

Black market parts for what?

To build a sonic disruptor
to allow someone

to pass through The Shield.

Go on.

I want to make a deal.

If I cooperate on this,
you let Bohdi go.

You've already implicated
yourself in the sale

of technologies
dangerous to the state.

I don't have to let anyone go.

All I have to do
is make you talk.

Yeah, well,
good luck with that.

Okay, save me the time.

What have you got?

Do we have a deal?

My information for
Bohdi's freedom?

You have my word.

This better be worth it.

Oh, it is.

The other day when you came in,

you asked if I'd supplied
those specific parts

to anyone in the past year.

Well, I didn't lie
when I said I hadn't.

But it was almost
thirteen years ago.

Thirteen years ago?

Do you remember the buyer?

I'll never forget‐

considering they were
connected to The Tribunal.

Let's go.

Where are you taking me?

I don't even get to
know where I'm going?

Have a good day.

Wait are you serious?

If I were you, son, I'd go now

before they change their mind.

He's been released.

Happy?

That you kept up
your end of our deal?

Ecstatic.

I'm a woman of my word.

Well,

I'd love to say it was nice
doing business with you,

but I respect you
too much to lie.

See you around.

What is this?

I thought we had a deal.

We did.

You told me what I wanted
to know and I let Bohdi go.

As we agreed.

Good. So we're done.

Almost.

I'm placing you under arrest
for trafficking in stolen goods.

Are you kidding me?

After years of taking payoffs
to look the other way,

you suddenly have
a problem with it?

I do, when your illegal
actions threaten to undermine

the stability of New Babyl.

Well I'll be happy to explain
how our little arrangement works

to the Chancellor, Phydra.

Take him away.
Phydra, don't do this.

We can work something out.

Phydra! Phydra!

Free Bohdi!

Free Bohdi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Free Bodhi!

Bodhi!

I wasn't sure they were
going to let you go.

Neither was I.

So what happened?

I don't know.

It looked like I was going to
get kicked out of The Exemplar

and then they just
they just let me go.

What did they say?

Have a good day.

Been holding on
to this for you, sib.

Come on, get dressed.

We've got a Gallery to shoot.

My family has always
been super supportive

so, I'm doing this for them.

I'm in it to win.

Anything less would be
a huge disappointment.

Mags here, bringing the title
back to Reform Sector

their first ever!

Yeah, we'll see.

Never took you
for the shy type.

I'm not. I just...

After everything
that happened today,

this doesn't feel right.

It's suddenly got me
questioning everything:

The Exemplar, New Babyl,
and my place in both.

I don't know what
you went through today

so I can't even guess what's
going through your head

but if there's
one thing I'm sure of,

you belong here, with us.

Ok let's go. Group capture!

For those candidates

who require additional vocal
or instrumental training

please report to studio B.

What a day.

I don't think I'll be
able to sleep tonight.

I can't believe
we pulled that off.

Pulled off what exactly?

How do we know we
had anything to do

with Bohdi getting released?

Well I guess it
doesn't really matter.

But what's important is
we all stood up for something.

I know it wasn't easy,

but I'm grateful
you stuck up for Bohdi.

I didn't do it for Bohdi.

Come in.

I was just about
to go look for you.

Well you're in luck.

And I brought us dinner.

Yam hash, bean casserole,
tofu fritters.

A romantic dinner for two?

Could be.

But that's up to you.

You took a big risk trusting me
and joining the protest.

I know that wasn't easy for you,

but I want you to know that it
meant a lot to everyone.

It meant a lot to me.

You mean a lot to me too.

I mean, it meant a lot that you‐

Sage.

I know, that's why I'm here.

Okay, I was gonna wait
til after we ate

for the kiss but...

Come in.

Just came by to see
how you were doing.

I'm okay.

It's over.

It's easy for you to say.

You weren't locked up
in there all day,

wondering if she was going
to let you go or not.

I'm sorry.

I know it was worse for you,
but I was scared too.

Of what?

You're a Tribunal's daughter.

Are we really
going there again?

Look, I'm not saying
this to hurt your feelings,

but, you got out
because of your father.

You had that
advantage; I didn't.

You may not like to hear it,
but it's the truth.

You had someone to rely on.

I was alone.

I know that,
for most of my life,

I've had things easier
because of who I am,

and I've always
been ashamed of it.

I wish I could change things.

I wouldn't if I were you.

You don't have to feel
guilty for what you have

but just be aware
of those who got less.

Y'know, before today I believed

in what I'd always been told.

I thought that we were
all equal in New Babyl.

But now, I know that's not true.

In their eyes, I'm less than
because I grew up in Reform.

They say they don't want to
repeat the mistakes of the past,

but they already are.

What do you mean?

One of the first songs we
heard in The Archive by Mos Def.

I must've listened to it
ten times but never really heard

what he was saying until now.

Stiffer stipulations
attached to each sentence.

Budget cutbacks but
increased police presence...

And even if you get out
of prison still living

Join the other five million
under state supervision.

He was talking about society
four hundred years ago,

but he might as well have
been talking about today.

I felt like he was
speaking directly to me.

And I want to know more.

After everything that's
happened, you want to go back?

Yeah. I'm curious.

And angry.

And excited
at what else I'll find

because now I know
what I'm looking for.

Come in.

I pulled the files.

Did anybody see
you access them?

No.

Oh, and Ryden.

This stays between
the two of us.

Of course.

Oh Gerald,

what secrets have
you been hiding?

So you're just taking us
back to the party spot?

Ok, for the last time,
we're not going

back to the party spot.

Ok, so where are we going?

We're here.

What's so special about here?

Watch this.

What is that?

Come on.

Welcome Bohdi, Aliyah.

Sup archive?

After everything
we've been through today,

Aliyah and I decided that we
didn't want to be alone

with this anymore.

It's too important
not to share with you guys.

Um, what is this place?
How did you find it?

And how long have you
been keeping it from us?

I am the Archive.

Hold on, Archive.

Before we start
answer any questions,

I want you guys to
hear something first.

Bohdi playlist number two.