Reverie (2018) s01e02 Episode Script
Bond. Jane Bond
1 Reverie, a virtual reality program where the impossible becomes possible.
Anything you desire you can find here.
But sometimes, people get lost, caught between fantasy and reality.
That's where she comes in.
Her name is Mara Kint.
Her job, find the lost ones and bring them home.
And maybe by saving them, she just might find a way to save herself.
[sweeping orchestral music.]
Previously, on "Reverie" Charlie, what are you doing here? What's your personal connection to this woman? She worked miracles for complete strangers.
Unfortunately, she couldn't do it for the people she loved the most.
- [gunshots.]
- Ray! Ray! You never should have suggested using 2.
0.
What was I supposed to do? You were supposed to wait until we figured out the derealization issues.
[gasps.]
[gasping.]
[soft piano music.]
[keyboard clacking.]
- How do I get started? - You get a BCI.
That's the implant, which we provide.
Do some training in virtual environments, design the Reverie you want, and you're good to go.
And I can be anything I want? Absolutely.
What are you thinking of? [sighs.]
I don't know.
I've been in a bad place lately, on my couch 24/7.
I can't talk to anyone.
I wanna change.
I want [sighs.]
I need an adventure.
Apertus.
[beeping, whirring.]
[gasps softly.]
Awesome.
[enchanting, atmospheric music.]
You've got the look Of love It's on Your face Hi.
Um I'll have a Scotch.
Certainly.
time can't erase Be mine Tonight - Agent Kauffmann? - Hmm? I'm Keystone, from the agency.
Your assignment.
Target is a scientist specializing in unconventional weapons.
It says his code name is Vater.
Like Darth Vader? He's developed a new bioweapon that he's offering to the highest bidder.
Your mission is to find him and stop him.
Okay.
Um do you have a picture? No, but I can point him out when the time comes.
What? Those men work for Vater.
- Hope you're good in a fight.
- What? [gunshots.]
[people screaming.]
[audio modulates.]
- [gasps.]
- [people yelling.]
[dramatic music.]
Get behind me! Both hands on the gun, arms straight, thumbs pointed at the target.
Did you see that? That was amazing.
So real! This is insanely cool! Target's nearby, probably outside.
On it.
Over there.
That's him.
Start the car! Move! You? No.
How? - [groans.]
- Wait [tires screech.]
Wait! Come back! Please! Please! Get out of the car! Now! [tires screech.]
[light music.]
[Brynn giggling.]
[gasps.]
Brynn? [dark ambient music.]
[running footsteps, Brynn giggling.]
Brynn? [running footsteps.]
Is that you? [phone ringing.]
[phone clicks.]
- Charlie, what's up? - Good morning.
A case just jumped to the head of the line.
Mind coming in early? Her name is Rachel Kauffmann.
She came in yesterday.
How'd she get into trouble so fast? A tech looked in on her last night, found her sweating and breathing shallowly.
We moved her to the medical unit, and found that her heart rate was skyrocketing.
Whatever Rachel's doing, it's elevating her heart rate dramatically, sending her into ventricular tachycardia, which could indicate an underlying heart defect.
We screen for underlying medical conditions, mental health issues.
She signed the waiver.
She should've said something.
But we can't let this woman go into cardiac arrest.
You need to get her out of there.
Okay.
Um why did we stop walking? Oh, this is your office.
[chuckles.]
Oh.
[chuckles.]
Space to work, and a private area, in case you don't want to spend hours at your desk in a sleep state.
Yeah, that's probably a good idea.
So, what can you tell me about, - uh, Rachel's program? - Nothing useful.
We have access to the imagery the clients provide, but their actual designs are confidential.
They don't have to share them with us.
Generally, people aren't comfortable putting together a fantasy if they think someone is looking over their shoulder.
I guess I'll figure it out.
Don't waste time.
Get in, get her, get out.
[resonant string music.]
Apertus.
[beeping, whirring.]
[laughs.]
[dice rattling.]
All right, final bets.
Hold your bet, hold your bet, please.
[clears throat.]
[solemn music.]
[whispering inaudible.]
I don't know what you're talking about.
- You're after Vater.
- I don't know who that is.
Don't bother lying.
You're not gonna find him.
- [gun clicks.]
- Excuse me? Rachel, hi.
Uh, my name is Mara Kint.
We need to talk.
Who the hell are you? Oh, uh, I wasn't talking to you.
[sighs.]
[gasps, groans.]
Well, too bad, 'cause I'm talking to you.
[coughing.]
[tense music.]
- Thanks.
- Back at ya.
You distracted them.
Okay, Rachel, I'm with Onira-Tech.
Um we really need to talk.
No time.
What? Rachel How can you be from Onira-Tech? I thought only one person could enter the program.
It's a different program.
Rachel, please slow down.
You're stressing your heart.
Not a chance.
I feel fine.
I feel great.
Look, you may feel that way, but you're not.
Why should I believe you? Why would I lie? People have lied to me so many times in so many different and creative ways, I've stopped wondering why they do it.
What's the point? It's what they do.
Damn it.
You're slowing me down.
Hey! Rachel! Rachel! Rachel, slow down! [door beeps.]
No, no.
Are you looking for a clue? I saw you dig through those guys' pockets, and since you knew how to do that, I figured that this must be structured like a game.
Wow.
You're fast.
When I got in the car, there was a flyer for the casino.
If the room key was on the guys downstairs, somewhere in this room, something will tell me where to go next.
Okay Rachel Rachel Rachel, listen to me.
Your heart is damaged.
Out there in the real world, it is beating much faster than it actually should.
The doctors think it's because of an underlying defect.
You need to leave and have it checked out.
I don't get it.
No one ever told me there was a problem with my heart.
Well, maybe the doctor missed it, or um, maybe it's new, but it's there.
I don't believe you.
Anyway, what I'm doing is too important.
But it's just a game.
No, it's much more than that.
Why? [pensive music.]
I told you.
Go back to where you came from.
I'm not leaving.
It was a spy Reverie? Those are popular.
They are? Well, some people use the program to recreate personal experiences.
Others just wanna be Jedi Knights or cowboys.
Feed stories you like into the program, it creates a narrative.
You can blast bad guys to your heart's content, like a video game.
Well, except Rachel doesn't think she's in a game.
She's dead serious.
If she keeps going the way she is, I'm worried she's gonna die.
- Okay, what are you gonna do? - I don't know.
I mean, the program is giving her clues to something, so until I figure out what that is, I don't think I can get through to her.
Paul, um something weird happened.
One of the digital characters spoke to me.
Last time, they just froze.
What else did it do? Threatened me, chased me, tried to strangle me.
That's great! - Thanks.
- No [chuckles.]
They ignored you, because the program didn't recognize you then.
Now it does.
The more it knows you, the easier it'll be for you to work.
How does it get to know me? Just like people.
By watching you.
[soft piano music.]
Dylan, there are pictures of Rachel at a school.
Where does she teach? Recent posts mention working for the Sawtelle School District.
You know, she's pretty mild for Jane Bond.
I thought her name was Rachel.
Right, yeah, but in her Reverie, she's like a female James Bond, so J you know what, never mind, it's all good.
You probably never even heard of him.
James Bond was a fictional spy created by a British novelist, Ian Fleming, - portrayed on film - Right, yes.
That one.
[chuckles.]
Okay, I forget sometimes that you're a computer.
- That's okay.
- Okay, so Who is the most frequent poster on her feed? Let me check.
It'll just take a second.
I like spy stories.
Alexis says when we were little, we used to pretend to be spies together.
When who was little? Alexis and me.
The most frequent poster on Rachel Kauffmann's social media stream is named Anton DeRay.
Okay, Dylan, some other time, I'd really like to hear about those spy games, but in the meantime, can you please get me a number for Anton DeRay and send it to my phone? Sure.
Anything else? Uh no.
No, I'm [ominous music.]
Ray! Ray! Ray! [gunshots.]
[panting.]
Excuse me.
Excuse me, sorry.
Excuse me! Wait! Brynn! [solemn music.]
Oh Um You're okay.
- I thought your daughter - It's all right.
Um I'm so sorry.
Anton, what can you tell me about Rachel? Smart, funny, hates it when people say she's nice.
- Oh.
- I watched her go through a bunch of guys who did not treat her very well.
Figured I'd be the one to mend her broken wing.
I'm guessing it didn't happen that way.
Well, we finally got together, then she slept with one of my housemates.
Well, that sounds pretty deliberate to me, like she was pushing you away.
Yeah, she does that, but you gotta understand, a lot of people have let her down in her life.
Her mom died when she was young.
Her dad was never in the picture.
Her aunt raised her.
You know, it's weird.
Her aunt died about four months ago.
Rachel was okay.
Wasn't a surprise.
Her her aunt had been sick for a while.
But then, she went to clean out that aunt's house, and when she came back, she was in this, uh funk.
It's like you couldn't even touch her.
She wouldn't let you.
Listen, I I gotta I gotta get to work.
Call me please, if there's anything else.
I will.
Thank you so much, Anton.
All right.
Charlie sent me.
Um do you mind a talk? Have you noticed anything unusual since the BCI was implanted? Weird stuff, hallucinations? Why? Reverie 2.
0, the version you have, digs pretty deep into the consciousness.
There's a chance of side effects.
Like what? Uh, we call it derealization.
Is that as scary as it sounds? Mm no, no, no.
It's a ghosting effect, like when you, uh, look at something bright and still see it when you close your eyes.
2.
0 is programmed to recognize images you're emotionally connected to.
Sometimes, it'll latch onto one, even when you're not in the program.
Is what you saw something you care about? Someone, yes.
How long did you see them for? [ominous music.]
It was just for a moment, twice.
Okay, good.
It's a temporary effect.
It won't last.
Put away anything associated with the person, pictures, whatever, just until the effect passes.
And if it happens again, take one of these.
They're mild anti-anxiety meds.
Paul, I just emptied my medicine cabinet.
Do I really need these? Just until the effect passes.
Hey.
Charlie, Paul says I'm fine.
You don't have to check up on me.
I'm not.
Rachel Kauffmann's gone into tachycardia again.
You're gonna have to go back in.
Uh, okay, can can you help me change my outfit in her Reverie? [laughs.]
I can help you bring, carry, wear, or be anything you like.
- Sky's the limit.
- Okay, good.
Then I'm gonna need a fancy dress and a gun.
[mysterious music.]
[exhales softly.]
Apertus.
[beeping, whirring.]
[gasps.]
Oh [chuckles.]
Oh, nice, Paul.
[dynamic music.]
Shh.
Four guys with guns.
[indistinct chatter.]
No, he's still show up though.
- You think so? - Mm-hmm.
[gunshots.]
Nice shooting.
I used to work with the police.
- We got training.
- [gun splashes.]
- Why'd you do that? - I hate guns.
Why would someone who hates guns work for the police? Well, I didn't hate them when I got started, but then my sister and niece got killed by one.
Is that supposed to make me feel sorry for you? Look, I'm not here to stop you.
I just wanna talk, okay? Can we do that? Are you looking for another clue? No, I know what to do.
The boat's GPS has the last location of where it went.
If I can figure out how to turn it on, it'll take me there.
What happens then? If I'm right, I find Vater.
Vater? Like Darth Vader? [scoffs.]
No.
Well, then who? Who is that? Rachel, why'd you wanna be a spy? Spies are tough.
They kick ass, they work alone.
They know that everybody lies to them.
So you wanted a spy story, and the program made you one, but then it became something more.
This program is magical.
Things happen here that you can't explain.
Amazing things can happen here.
What amazing things are you waiting for? [beeping.]
Something happened when you cleaned your aunt's house.
Oh, my God, who told you that? Something happened.
What was it? Nothing, except that once again, I learned the bitter lesson that you should never, ever - trust anyone - Did your aunt lie to you? Especially the people who tell you you should.
Did she hide something from you? Was it something that had to do with your mother? Is your mother connected to Vater? - Stop it! Just stop it! - Rachel, listen to me, you are in danger of going into cardiac arrest.
You could die.
You have to stop.
You told me you wouldn't ask me to stop.
Get off this boat.
Let me stay.
- [gun clicks.]
- No.
[tense music.]
That's not real.
Then how come I can feel it in my hands? If I shoot you in my Reverie, do you die? Do you wake up? What do you think happens? [elevator dings, doors open.]
Mara This is Monica Shaw, one of our investors.
Monica, Mara Kint.
- Hello.
- A pleasure, Mara.
I very much looked forward to meeting you.
Really? Why? I heard about your success with Tony Linton.
Excellent work.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
Word travels fast.
Oh, don't blame Charlie.
It's my job to keep an eye on operations.
- Should I be nervous? - Of course not.
Can I talk to you a second? Excuse us.
Who is that? My worry, not yours.
- Any more side effects? - No.
Anyway, Paul said that they're temporary.
[panel beeps.]
Temporary if you follow instructions, which in my experience is not something you do.
I'll be fine.
That device in your brain is incredibly powerful, Mara.
Don't mess with it.
The doctors tried a new medication on Rachel.
It calmed her heart down, for now at least.
Go home.
Get some rest.
[solemn music.]
Uh, why are you so concerned about her, Charlie? She's running around in other people's brains, using a technology we barely understand.
You don't think that's concerning? You've never mentioned being concerned about the technology before.
Why are you so worried about her, Charlie? Let's go.
[Brynn giggling, footsteps running.]
[ominous music.]
[kettle whistles.]
Rachel's mother was Miriam Kauffmann.
She died in 1993 of cervical cancer.
She was 31 years old.
- Anything else about her? - Not really.
Okay, how many times is Miriam mentioned in Rachel's social media posts? Three times: eight, five, and four years ago.
Not more recently? Like, maybe, four months ago, when her aunt died? Nope.
Okay, what do you get when you search Miriam with the word Vater? No hits.
But what do you get on Vater alone? According to one dictionary, it can mean a Valentine's Day hater, or the act of drinking a foul liquid.
Okay, well, that's not helpful.
It's a common name in Germany, but it's pronounced differently there.
- How is it pronounced? - Vah-ter.
And what does that mean in English? She mispronounced the name.
She thought it was Vater.
- Like Darth Vader? - Yeah, exactly.
But it's "Vah-ter," German for father.
Well, Kauffmann is a German name.
I can see the program making that leap.
I think that she thinks that the program is leading her to her father.
Is that possible? The program's designed to give you what you want, either what you say you want or what it senses you need.
So if the program sensed that need in her, sure, it might introduce her father to the narrative.
But it would need data about him to work from.
But there's no sign of him anywhere.
On her birth certificate, he's listed as John Doe.
If you're right, and the program put him in the Reverie, then it must have found something.
[pensive music.]
You know, it might be on her laptop.
The design app would be there, and it pulls data from the hard drive.
You want me to hack into a laptop? A lot of people here can do that.
But Paul says you're the best in the office.
He's right, but I have work to do.
Time is kind of an issue, this has to be done fast, and you are the best.
- Flattery won't help you.
- Okay, what will? Do you know that I received a MacArthur Grant? I don't know what that is, but that sounds very impressive.
It's given to geniuses in their field.
I got it when I was 17.
That's the work you're asking me to interrupt.
Like I said, impressive.
Yes.
Do your parents ever come to the office? Why? I would like to meet them.
I was talking to Dylan.
He mentioned things you and he did when you were little.
Is he based on somebody in your family? Was there, like, an inspiration there, or Dylan is an artificial intelligence.
The question is irrelevant.
This is open.
I have real work to do.
[pensive music.]
Rachel found the picture in her aunt's house when she was cleaning it out.
She wrote a whole journal about it.
It's all right there on the laptop.
That's her mother, and she thinks that that man right there is her father.
Mm-hm.
Well, based on appearances, I'd say she could be right.
The aunt never showed her the picture, denied knowing anything about the father, so then, when she found it, she went into a rage.
Can't blame her there.
Did she look for him? Uh, she hired detectives, did DNA registry, even talked to a psychic.
She didn't find anything.
So she's desperate.
Isolated.
Disconnected.
This is the only person that she has left, and she couldn't find him, until he turned up in her Reverie.
That's what the program was picking up on, Charlie.
That's why he's there.
She needs him.
I know you're telling me this for a reason.
- I want you to find him.
- [laughs.]
I am not police anymore, Mara.
And she already did a search.
With rent-by-the-hour private detectives.
They're useless, Charlie.
Nobody's looked for him, not seriously.
You brought me here to help people, right? Yeah.
She needs help.
[sighs.]
What are you gonna do? I'm gonna go back in.
[whirring, whooshes.]
[waves crashing.]
I'm not here to get in your way.
Then what are you here to do? I get it.
You tell people to leave, you push them away, but you don't mean it, not really.
[gentle music.]
I didn't.
When I was drunk and grieving and I was staying in my room and ignoring my calls, telling my friends to leave, what I really wanted what I really hoped Was that one, just one, would ignore me and stay.
And that's what I'm gonna do for you, whether you like it or not.
- Dylan? - Yes, Charlie? Can you run a facial recognition program - on this man here? - Sure.
How old is the picture? 25 years.
I'll have to compensate for the aging.
- It'll take a minute.
- Do your best.
Charlie why do you work with me in the public areas? If you let me access your office, we could do this at your desk.
I like you, Dylan, but I'm not letting you in my office.
Why not? - Man needs his privacy.
- Okay.
Facial recognition returns approximately 310,000 hits.
The age difference makes it hard.
Hmm You see the hand on the lower right? [gentle music.]
The one that's almost out of frame? Enlarge that three times.
Okay.
Now the ring on the middle finger, just that.
That's a school ring.
Can you read the writing on it? It says "Sun Central High 1986.
" [chuckles.]
You know, I had a case about 15 years ago, decomposed body, no head, but there was a ring, and that was all we needed.
You know what I'm on, Dylan? What, Charlie? The march to victory.
[suspenseful music.]
[door creaks.]
Hey.
You can put the gun down.
Nobody else is here.
Come on down.
[atmospheric music.]
You found me.
Congratulations, kiddo.
Make yourself comfortable.
Have a seat.
I know you have questions, so go ahead, hit me, shoot.
Are you are you my father? I mean, I know I'm not crazy.
You're not my father.
You're a digital thing.
But in the real world are you my father? What do you think? Yes.
You look so much I mean, that's my nose.
Ever since I saw that picture, I felt I feel like I've known that you're my dad.
Then I am, kiddo.
You're right.
You've been right all along.
[soft string music.]
Are you saying that because it's true, or because it's what I wanna hear? Is there a difference? Yes.
I mean, there are things that I need to know.
Are you alive? Where do you live? Do you think about me? Do you have a family? Will you be mad if I try to get in touch with you? Do you like reggae music or corn on the cob or jokes? Can you tell me any of that? You see, I I have a have have a damaged heart, and I'm so angry and sad, and I push people away.
I'm horrible to them, I don't trust them, and I never think that they're telling me the truth, and I don't wanna be that way anymore.
I don't.
I don't.
I need to feel connected to something real, something I can feel and rely on.
Can you help me with that, please? [whimpers.]
[whispers.]
Rachel he can't do that for you.
I know.
I know that now.
You're gonna be okay.
I don't think so.
I don't feel very well.
It's time to go.
I'll be with you on the other side.
Okay.
Exitus.
[soft rumbling.]
[monitor beeping.]
Welcome back.
- Nice work.
- [chuckles.]
How is Rachel doing? Uh, she's fragile but better, I think.
She saw a cardiologist who says he can treat her condition with the medication.
He's sending her home today.
Hey, I got someone I want you to meet.
Hi.
This is Elliott Harrison.
That's his hand in the picture.
Charlie, what have you done? So you were there, Mr.
Harrison? Yeah, with my friend Alan.
That's Alan.
He was invited to see the baby, but he was nervous, so I went with him.
Nervous because he's the father and wasn't sticking around? Well [chuckles.]
well, you have to understand, uh, Alan and Miriam had a deal.
Uh, Miriam was single and wanted a child, and Alan was a friend and agreed to be the father.
After that, poof, they go their separate ways.
Miriam was very clear.
That baby was hers.
She didn't want him hanging around.
They didn't stay in touch.
Uh, Alan never saw her after that.
Um, I feel terrible now that I know what happened.
Terrible about what? Um, Mr.
Harrison, this is Rachel Kauffmann.
Elliott knew your mom.
Oh, uh they, uh, tell me you're looking for your father.
I just talked to him.
Uh, that's, uh, his number.
[bright music.]
[chuckles.]
Oh, oh, oh.
Rachel Kauffmann is on her way home.
I heard.
And I you know, I just wanted to say thank you for getting into her laptop.
It really helped.
Good.
And I also wanted to say Uh, you're right to be proud of the program, Alexis.
Rachel told me that she thought it was miraculous, and now I'm starting to see why.
That's why they give me the genius grants.
Alexis, it's 6:30.
- Ready for backgammon? - Sure.
[Rationale's "Somewhere to Belong".]
Black or red? Black.
He was her brother.
They were twins.
Twins? Must've been about 10 or 11 when he died.
She's never told me what happened to him.
I don't think she's told anybody.
I should be stronger Deep down I'm a child Still trying to find a way I can hide away Somewhere to belong All I really need is somewhere Somewhere to belong Hi.
Somewhere to belong - Thanks.
- Yeah.
Listen, I I don't want you to think that you owe me anything.
I understand the deal that you had with my mother.
If we could talk every now and then, that would be great, but I understand if you don't want to.
Do you mind waiting here a second? - Yeah, sure.
- Okay.
[sighs.]
The last time I saw your mom, she gave me that, and I kept it, well, probably because I liked your mom, but mostly because I hoped this day would come, and I could show it to you and tell you that I never forgot about you.
My, um my family is away, because they wanted to give us some time alone.
But they're gonna be back in a little while.
Will you stay? I'd like you to meet them.
Somewhere to belong - Yeah.
- Yeah? Somewhere to belong Sure.
I could do that.
Somewhere to belong [running footsteps, soft exhale.]
[ominous music.]
Hi there.
[music intensifies.]
Anything you desire you can find here.
But sometimes, people get lost, caught between fantasy and reality.
That's where she comes in.
Her name is Mara Kint.
Her job, find the lost ones and bring them home.
And maybe by saving them, she just might find a way to save herself.
[sweeping orchestral music.]
Previously, on "Reverie" Charlie, what are you doing here? What's your personal connection to this woman? She worked miracles for complete strangers.
Unfortunately, she couldn't do it for the people she loved the most.
- [gunshots.]
- Ray! Ray! You never should have suggested using 2.
0.
What was I supposed to do? You were supposed to wait until we figured out the derealization issues.
[gasps.]
[gasping.]
[soft piano music.]
[keyboard clacking.]
- How do I get started? - You get a BCI.
That's the implant, which we provide.
Do some training in virtual environments, design the Reverie you want, and you're good to go.
And I can be anything I want? Absolutely.
What are you thinking of? [sighs.]
I don't know.
I've been in a bad place lately, on my couch 24/7.
I can't talk to anyone.
I wanna change.
I want [sighs.]
I need an adventure.
Apertus.
[beeping, whirring.]
[gasps softly.]
Awesome.
[enchanting, atmospheric music.]
You've got the look Of love It's on Your face Hi.
Um I'll have a Scotch.
Certainly.
time can't erase Be mine Tonight - Agent Kauffmann? - Hmm? I'm Keystone, from the agency.
Your assignment.
Target is a scientist specializing in unconventional weapons.
It says his code name is Vater.
Like Darth Vader? He's developed a new bioweapon that he's offering to the highest bidder.
Your mission is to find him and stop him.
Okay.
Um do you have a picture? No, but I can point him out when the time comes.
What? Those men work for Vater.
- Hope you're good in a fight.
- What? [gunshots.]
[people screaming.]
[audio modulates.]
- [gasps.]
- [people yelling.]
[dramatic music.]
Get behind me! Both hands on the gun, arms straight, thumbs pointed at the target.
Did you see that? That was amazing.
So real! This is insanely cool! Target's nearby, probably outside.
On it.
Over there.
That's him.
Start the car! Move! You? No.
How? - [groans.]
- Wait [tires screech.]
Wait! Come back! Please! Please! Get out of the car! Now! [tires screech.]
[light music.]
[Brynn giggling.]
[gasps.]
Brynn? [dark ambient music.]
[running footsteps, Brynn giggling.]
Brynn? [running footsteps.]
Is that you? [phone ringing.]
[phone clicks.]
- Charlie, what's up? - Good morning.
A case just jumped to the head of the line.
Mind coming in early? Her name is Rachel Kauffmann.
She came in yesterday.
How'd she get into trouble so fast? A tech looked in on her last night, found her sweating and breathing shallowly.
We moved her to the medical unit, and found that her heart rate was skyrocketing.
Whatever Rachel's doing, it's elevating her heart rate dramatically, sending her into ventricular tachycardia, which could indicate an underlying heart defect.
We screen for underlying medical conditions, mental health issues.
She signed the waiver.
She should've said something.
But we can't let this woman go into cardiac arrest.
You need to get her out of there.
Okay.
Um why did we stop walking? Oh, this is your office.
[chuckles.]
Oh.
[chuckles.]
Space to work, and a private area, in case you don't want to spend hours at your desk in a sleep state.
Yeah, that's probably a good idea.
So, what can you tell me about, - uh, Rachel's program? - Nothing useful.
We have access to the imagery the clients provide, but their actual designs are confidential.
They don't have to share them with us.
Generally, people aren't comfortable putting together a fantasy if they think someone is looking over their shoulder.
I guess I'll figure it out.
Don't waste time.
Get in, get her, get out.
[resonant string music.]
Apertus.
[beeping, whirring.]
[laughs.]
[dice rattling.]
All right, final bets.
Hold your bet, hold your bet, please.
[clears throat.]
[solemn music.]
[whispering inaudible.]
I don't know what you're talking about.
- You're after Vater.
- I don't know who that is.
Don't bother lying.
You're not gonna find him.
- [gun clicks.]
- Excuse me? Rachel, hi.
Uh, my name is Mara Kint.
We need to talk.
Who the hell are you? Oh, uh, I wasn't talking to you.
[sighs.]
[gasps, groans.]
Well, too bad, 'cause I'm talking to you.
[coughing.]
[tense music.]
- Thanks.
- Back at ya.
You distracted them.
Okay, Rachel, I'm with Onira-Tech.
Um we really need to talk.
No time.
What? Rachel How can you be from Onira-Tech? I thought only one person could enter the program.
It's a different program.
Rachel, please slow down.
You're stressing your heart.
Not a chance.
I feel fine.
I feel great.
Look, you may feel that way, but you're not.
Why should I believe you? Why would I lie? People have lied to me so many times in so many different and creative ways, I've stopped wondering why they do it.
What's the point? It's what they do.
Damn it.
You're slowing me down.
Hey! Rachel! Rachel! Rachel, slow down! [door beeps.]
No, no.
Are you looking for a clue? I saw you dig through those guys' pockets, and since you knew how to do that, I figured that this must be structured like a game.
Wow.
You're fast.
When I got in the car, there was a flyer for the casino.
If the room key was on the guys downstairs, somewhere in this room, something will tell me where to go next.
Okay Rachel Rachel Rachel, listen to me.
Your heart is damaged.
Out there in the real world, it is beating much faster than it actually should.
The doctors think it's because of an underlying defect.
You need to leave and have it checked out.
I don't get it.
No one ever told me there was a problem with my heart.
Well, maybe the doctor missed it, or um, maybe it's new, but it's there.
I don't believe you.
Anyway, what I'm doing is too important.
But it's just a game.
No, it's much more than that.
Why? [pensive music.]
I told you.
Go back to where you came from.
I'm not leaving.
It was a spy Reverie? Those are popular.
They are? Well, some people use the program to recreate personal experiences.
Others just wanna be Jedi Knights or cowboys.
Feed stories you like into the program, it creates a narrative.
You can blast bad guys to your heart's content, like a video game.
Well, except Rachel doesn't think she's in a game.
She's dead serious.
If she keeps going the way she is, I'm worried she's gonna die.
- Okay, what are you gonna do? - I don't know.
I mean, the program is giving her clues to something, so until I figure out what that is, I don't think I can get through to her.
Paul, um something weird happened.
One of the digital characters spoke to me.
Last time, they just froze.
What else did it do? Threatened me, chased me, tried to strangle me.
That's great! - Thanks.
- No [chuckles.]
They ignored you, because the program didn't recognize you then.
Now it does.
The more it knows you, the easier it'll be for you to work.
How does it get to know me? Just like people.
By watching you.
[soft piano music.]
Dylan, there are pictures of Rachel at a school.
Where does she teach? Recent posts mention working for the Sawtelle School District.
You know, she's pretty mild for Jane Bond.
I thought her name was Rachel.
Right, yeah, but in her Reverie, she's like a female James Bond, so J you know what, never mind, it's all good.
You probably never even heard of him.
James Bond was a fictional spy created by a British novelist, Ian Fleming, - portrayed on film - Right, yes.
That one.
[chuckles.]
Okay, I forget sometimes that you're a computer.
- That's okay.
- Okay, so Who is the most frequent poster on her feed? Let me check.
It'll just take a second.
I like spy stories.
Alexis says when we were little, we used to pretend to be spies together.
When who was little? Alexis and me.
The most frequent poster on Rachel Kauffmann's social media stream is named Anton DeRay.
Okay, Dylan, some other time, I'd really like to hear about those spy games, but in the meantime, can you please get me a number for Anton DeRay and send it to my phone? Sure.
Anything else? Uh no.
No, I'm [ominous music.]
Ray! Ray! Ray! [gunshots.]
[panting.]
Excuse me.
Excuse me, sorry.
Excuse me! Wait! Brynn! [solemn music.]
Oh Um You're okay.
- I thought your daughter - It's all right.
Um I'm so sorry.
Anton, what can you tell me about Rachel? Smart, funny, hates it when people say she's nice.
- Oh.
- I watched her go through a bunch of guys who did not treat her very well.
Figured I'd be the one to mend her broken wing.
I'm guessing it didn't happen that way.
Well, we finally got together, then she slept with one of my housemates.
Well, that sounds pretty deliberate to me, like she was pushing you away.
Yeah, she does that, but you gotta understand, a lot of people have let her down in her life.
Her mom died when she was young.
Her dad was never in the picture.
Her aunt raised her.
You know, it's weird.
Her aunt died about four months ago.
Rachel was okay.
Wasn't a surprise.
Her her aunt had been sick for a while.
But then, she went to clean out that aunt's house, and when she came back, she was in this, uh funk.
It's like you couldn't even touch her.
She wouldn't let you.
Listen, I I gotta I gotta get to work.
Call me please, if there's anything else.
I will.
Thank you so much, Anton.
All right.
Charlie sent me.
Um do you mind a talk? Have you noticed anything unusual since the BCI was implanted? Weird stuff, hallucinations? Why? Reverie 2.
0, the version you have, digs pretty deep into the consciousness.
There's a chance of side effects.
Like what? Uh, we call it derealization.
Is that as scary as it sounds? Mm no, no, no.
It's a ghosting effect, like when you, uh, look at something bright and still see it when you close your eyes.
2.
0 is programmed to recognize images you're emotionally connected to.
Sometimes, it'll latch onto one, even when you're not in the program.
Is what you saw something you care about? Someone, yes.
How long did you see them for? [ominous music.]
It was just for a moment, twice.
Okay, good.
It's a temporary effect.
It won't last.
Put away anything associated with the person, pictures, whatever, just until the effect passes.
And if it happens again, take one of these.
They're mild anti-anxiety meds.
Paul, I just emptied my medicine cabinet.
Do I really need these? Just until the effect passes.
Hey.
Charlie, Paul says I'm fine.
You don't have to check up on me.
I'm not.
Rachel Kauffmann's gone into tachycardia again.
You're gonna have to go back in.
Uh, okay, can can you help me change my outfit in her Reverie? [laughs.]
I can help you bring, carry, wear, or be anything you like.
- Sky's the limit.
- Okay, good.
Then I'm gonna need a fancy dress and a gun.
[mysterious music.]
[exhales softly.]
Apertus.
[beeping, whirring.]
[gasps.]
Oh [chuckles.]
Oh, nice, Paul.
[dynamic music.]
Shh.
Four guys with guns.
[indistinct chatter.]
No, he's still show up though.
- You think so? - Mm-hmm.
[gunshots.]
Nice shooting.
I used to work with the police.
- We got training.
- [gun splashes.]
- Why'd you do that? - I hate guns.
Why would someone who hates guns work for the police? Well, I didn't hate them when I got started, but then my sister and niece got killed by one.
Is that supposed to make me feel sorry for you? Look, I'm not here to stop you.
I just wanna talk, okay? Can we do that? Are you looking for another clue? No, I know what to do.
The boat's GPS has the last location of where it went.
If I can figure out how to turn it on, it'll take me there.
What happens then? If I'm right, I find Vater.
Vater? Like Darth Vader? [scoffs.]
No.
Well, then who? Who is that? Rachel, why'd you wanna be a spy? Spies are tough.
They kick ass, they work alone.
They know that everybody lies to them.
So you wanted a spy story, and the program made you one, but then it became something more.
This program is magical.
Things happen here that you can't explain.
Amazing things can happen here.
What amazing things are you waiting for? [beeping.]
Something happened when you cleaned your aunt's house.
Oh, my God, who told you that? Something happened.
What was it? Nothing, except that once again, I learned the bitter lesson that you should never, ever - trust anyone - Did your aunt lie to you? Especially the people who tell you you should.
Did she hide something from you? Was it something that had to do with your mother? Is your mother connected to Vater? - Stop it! Just stop it! - Rachel, listen to me, you are in danger of going into cardiac arrest.
You could die.
You have to stop.
You told me you wouldn't ask me to stop.
Get off this boat.
Let me stay.
- [gun clicks.]
- No.
[tense music.]
That's not real.
Then how come I can feel it in my hands? If I shoot you in my Reverie, do you die? Do you wake up? What do you think happens? [elevator dings, doors open.]
Mara This is Monica Shaw, one of our investors.
Monica, Mara Kint.
- Hello.
- A pleasure, Mara.
I very much looked forward to meeting you.
Really? Why? I heard about your success with Tony Linton.
Excellent work.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
Word travels fast.
Oh, don't blame Charlie.
It's my job to keep an eye on operations.
- Should I be nervous? - Of course not.
Can I talk to you a second? Excuse us.
Who is that? My worry, not yours.
- Any more side effects? - No.
Anyway, Paul said that they're temporary.
[panel beeps.]
Temporary if you follow instructions, which in my experience is not something you do.
I'll be fine.
That device in your brain is incredibly powerful, Mara.
Don't mess with it.
The doctors tried a new medication on Rachel.
It calmed her heart down, for now at least.
Go home.
Get some rest.
[solemn music.]
Uh, why are you so concerned about her, Charlie? She's running around in other people's brains, using a technology we barely understand.
You don't think that's concerning? You've never mentioned being concerned about the technology before.
Why are you so worried about her, Charlie? Let's go.
[Brynn giggling, footsteps running.]
[ominous music.]
[kettle whistles.]
Rachel's mother was Miriam Kauffmann.
She died in 1993 of cervical cancer.
She was 31 years old.
- Anything else about her? - Not really.
Okay, how many times is Miriam mentioned in Rachel's social media posts? Three times: eight, five, and four years ago.
Not more recently? Like, maybe, four months ago, when her aunt died? Nope.
Okay, what do you get when you search Miriam with the word Vater? No hits.
But what do you get on Vater alone? According to one dictionary, it can mean a Valentine's Day hater, or the act of drinking a foul liquid.
Okay, well, that's not helpful.
It's a common name in Germany, but it's pronounced differently there.
- How is it pronounced? - Vah-ter.
And what does that mean in English? She mispronounced the name.
She thought it was Vater.
- Like Darth Vader? - Yeah, exactly.
But it's "Vah-ter," German for father.
Well, Kauffmann is a German name.
I can see the program making that leap.
I think that she thinks that the program is leading her to her father.
Is that possible? The program's designed to give you what you want, either what you say you want or what it senses you need.
So if the program sensed that need in her, sure, it might introduce her father to the narrative.
But it would need data about him to work from.
But there's no sign of him anywhere.
On her birth certificate, he's listed as John Doe.
If you're right, and the program put him in the Reverie, then it must have found something.
[pensive music.]
You know, it might be on her laptop.
The design app would be there, and it pulls data from the hard drive.
You want me to hack into a laptop? A lot of people here can do that.
But Paul says you're the best in the office.
He's right, but I have work to do.
Time is kind of an issue, this has to be done fast, and you are the best.
- Flattery won't help you.
- Okay, what will? Do you know that I received a MacArthur Grant? I don't know what that is, but that sounds very impressive.
It's given to geniuses in their field.
I got it when I was 17.
That's the work you're asking me to interrupt.
Like I said, impressive.
Yes.
Do your parents ever come to the office? Why? I would like to meet them.
I was talking to Dylan.
He mentioned things you and he did when you were little.
Is he based on somebody in your family? Was there, like, an inspiration there, or Dylan is an artificial intelligence.
The question is irrelevant.
This is open.
I have real work to do.
[pensive music.]
Rachel found the picture in her aunt's house when she was cleaning it out.
She wrote a whole journal about it.
It's all right there on the laptop.
That's her mother, and she thinks that that man right there is her father.
Mm-hm.
Well, based on appearances, I'd say she could be right.
The aunt never showed her the picture, denied knowing anything about the father, so then, when she found it, she went into a rage.
Can't blame her there.
Did she look for him? Uh, she hired detectives, did DNA registry, even talked to a psychic.
She didn't find anything.
So she's desperate.
Isolated.
Disconnected.
This is the only person that she has left, and she couldn't find him, until he turned up in her Reverie.
That's what the program was picking up on, Charlie.
That's why he's there.
She needs him.
I know you're telling me this for a reason.
- I want you to find him.
- [laughs.]
I am not police anymore, Mara.
And she already did a search.
With rent-by-the-hour private detectives.
They're useless, Charlie.
Nobody's looked for him, not seriously.
You brought me here to help people, right? Yeah.
She needs help.
[sighs.]
What are you gonna do? I'm gonna go back in.
[whirring, whooshes.]
[waves crashing.]
I'm not here to get in your way.
Then what are you here to do? I get it.
You tell people to leave, you push them away, but you don't mean it, not really.
[gentle music.]
I didn't.
When I was drunk and grieving and I was staying in my room and ignoring my calls, telling my friends to leave, what I really wanted what I really hoped Was that one, just one, would ignore me and stay.
And that's what I'm gonna do for you, whether you like it or not.
- Dylan? - Yes, Charlie? Can you run a facial recognition program - on this man here? - Sure.
How old is the picture? 25 years.
I'll have to compensate for the aging.
- It'll take a minute.
- Do your best.
Charlie why do you work with me in the public areas? If you let me access your office, we could do this at your desk.
I like you, Dylan, but I'm not letting you in my office.
Why not? - Man needs his privacy.
- Okay.
Facial recognition returns approximately 310,000 hits.
The age difference makes it hard.
Hmm You see the hand on the lower right? [gentle music.]
The one that's almost out of frame? Enlarge that three times.
Okay.
Now the ring on the middle finger, just that.
That's a school ring.
Can you read the writing on it? It says "Sun Central High 1986.
" [chuckles.]
You know, I had a case about 15 years ago, decomposed body, no head, but there was a ring, and that was all we needed.
You know what I'm on, Dylan? What, Charlie? The march to victory.
[suspenseful music.]
[door creaks.]
Hey.
You can put the gun down.
Nobody else is here.
Come on down.
[atmospheric music.]
You found me.
Congratulations, kiddo.
Make yourself comfortable.
Have a seat.
I know you have questions, so go ahead, hit me, shoot.
Are you are you my father? I mean, I know I'm not crazy.
You're not my father.
You're a digital thing.
But in the real world are you my father? What do you think? Yes.
You look so much I mean, that's my nose.
Ever since I saw that picture, I felt I feel like I've known that you're my dad.
Then I am, kiddo.
You're right.
You've been right all along.
[soft string music.]
Are you saying that because it's true, or because it's what I wanna hear? Is there a difference? Yes.
I mean, there are things that I need to know.
Are you alive? Where do you live? Do you think about me? Do you have a family? Will you be mad if I try to get in touch with you? Do you like reggae music or corn on the cob or jokes? Can you tell me any of that? You see, I I have a have have a damaged heart, and I'm so angry and sad, and I push people away.
I'm horrible to them, I don't trust them, and I never think that they're telling me the truth, and I don't wanna be that way anymore.
I don't.
I don't.
I need to feel connected to something real, something I can feel and rely on.
Can you help me with that, please? [whimpers.]
[whispers.]
Rachel he can't do that for you.
I know.
I know that now.
You're gonna be okay.
I don't think so.
I don't feel very well.
It's time to go.
I'll be with you on the other side.
Okay.
Exitus.
[soft rumbling.]
[monitor beeping.]
Welcome back.
- Nice work.
- [chuckles.]
How is Rachel doing? Uh, she's fragile but better, I think.
She saw a cardiologist who says he can treat her condition with the medication.
He's sending her home today.
Hey, I got someone I want you to meet.
Hi.
This is Elliott Harrison.
That's his hand in the picture.
Charlie, what have you done? So you were there, Mr.
Harrison? Yeah, with my friend Alan.
That's Alan.
He was invited to see the baby, but he was nervous, so I went with him.
Nervous because he's the father and wasn't sticking around? Well [chuckles.]
well, you have to understand, uh, Alan and Miriam had a deal.
Uh, Miriam was single and wanted a child, and Alan was a friend and agreed to be the father.
After that, poof, they go their separate ways.
Miriam was very clear.
That baby was hers.
She didn't want him hanging around.
They didn't stay in touch.
Uh, Alan never saw her after that.
Um, I feel terrible now that I know what happened.
Terrible about what? Um, Mr.
Harrison, this is Rachel Kauffmann.
Elliott knew your mom.
Oh, uh they, uh, tell me you're looking for your father.
I just talked to him.
Uh, that's, uh, his number.
[bright music.]
[chuckles.]
Oh, oh, oh.
Rachel Kauffmann is on her way home.
I heard.
And I you know, I just wanted to say thank you for getting into her laptop.
It really helped.
Good.
And I also wanted to say Uh, you're right to be proud of the program, Alexis.
Rachel told me that she thought it was miraculous, and now I'm starting to see why.
That's why they give me the genius grants.
Alexis, it's 6:30.
- Ready for backgammon? - Sure.
[Rationale's "Somewhere to Belong".]
Black or red? Black.
He was her brother.
They were twins.
Twins? Must've been about 10 or 11 when he died.
She's never told me what happened to him.
I don't think she's told anybody.
I should be stronger Deep down I'm a child Still trying to find a way I can hide away Somewhere to belong All I really need is somewhere Somewhere to belong Hi.
Somewhere to belong - Thanks.
- Yeah.
Listen, I I don't want you to think that you owe me anything.
I understand the deal that you had with my mother.
If we could talk every now and then, that would be great, but I understand if you don't want to.
Do you mind waiting here a second? - Yeah, sure.
- Okay.
[sighs.]
The last time I saw your mom, she gave me that, and I kept it, well, probably because I liked your mom, but mostly because I hoped this day would come, and I could show it to you and tell you that I never forgot about you.
My, um my family is away, because they wanted to give us some time alone.
But they're gonna be back in a little while.
Will you stay? I'd like you to meet them.
Somewhere to belong - Yeah.
- Yeah? Somewhere to belong Sure.
I could do that.
Somewhere to belong [running footsteps, soft exhale.]
[ominous music.]
Hi there.
[music intensifies.]