Dark Matter (2024) s01e04 Episode Script

- [WAILING]
- [ALARM BLARING]
[DAWN] Help me!
- Time frame?
- [SECURITY] Two minutes, 43 seconds.
Fuck!
Help me.
[GRUNTS]
Jesus.
[SECURITY] It's open! It's open!
[DAWN WAILS]
- Are you out of your mind?
- I'm not letting him get away again.
[DOCTOR] You have no
idea what it's like
Doesn't matter! There's nothing
left for me in this world.
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
- You think Leighton will come after us?
- Yes.
Do you think your world is
behind one of these doors?
[JASON] In theory.
So, how do we find it?
I have no idea.
Now, I've been counting, and
that's the 220th door we've passed.
And they're about 12 feet apart.
So, we've already gone half a mile.
Yeah. Maybe we're in some
some kind of liminal space.
Liminal as in not real?
No, it's real.
[STAMMERS] It's very real.
I think it's a manifestation of the mind
as it attempts to visually explain
something our brains haven't
fully evolved to comprehend.
- Superposition.
- Exactly.
I-I think the corridor's a
cross-section of probable realities.
Let's get out of here.
See what we can learn.
Make ourselves harder to find.
[AMANDA BREATHES HEAVILY]
[JASON] Let me see that.
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[AMANDA BREATHES HEAVILY]
Hey.
[WIND WHISTLING]
What the fuck?
- [BUILDING CREAKING]
- [WIND WHISTLING]
Ash.
[BLOWS]
Oh, my God.
What happened here?
I don't know.
[SIGHS]
Holy shit.
[BUILDING CRACKING]
[STEEL GROANING]
Let's go.
[GRUNTING]
[PANTING]
[PANTING]
- [GROANING]
- [JASON GROANS]
[COUGHING]
[JASON PANTING]
[GRUNTS]
[COUGHING]
[BOTH COUGHING]
- Oh, God.
- [SPITS]
Are you okay?
[PANTING]
[JASON WHEEZES, COUGHING]
What the fuck? Oh, fuck.
[GROANS]
[SIGHS]
This car kind of sucks, huh?
Yeah. I mean, it's
definitely not amazing.
Maybe we'll have to do
something about that.
- Don't slow down. No, accelerate.
- I You sure?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can make it.
- [HONKING]
- [BRAKES SQUEAL]
- Nice. Nice.
- [CHUCKLES]
- What?
- [STAMMERS] Nothing.
You You always tell me to
slow down for the intersection.
Well, there's a lot
of yellow in that red.
[CHUCKLES]
So, how's 16 treating you so far?
I don't know. Same as yesterday.
I think it'll finally feel real
when I get my license, you know.
Yeah. Celebrate.
What are we gonna do tonight, huh?
Probably just do the usual thing.
You know, keep it simple.
Listen, I want you to hear me, right?
Today is still your day.
Thanks.
[COUGHING]
[GROANING, CLEARS THROAT]
[SIGHS]
[BLOWS]
[AMANDA] It's 50.
Well, 48 now.
[SIGHS]
- [DEVICE CHIMES]
- [JASON GASPS] GPS works.
I guess the satellites
are still orbiting.
[COUGHS]
I think we're in the same
location as Velocity in my world.
All right. So, the coordinates
of the box don't change
that makes sense but
just the outside world.
Yeah. Yes. [SIGHS]
Come on.
[AMANDA] What are you looking for?
I'm looking for some means of control.
[AMANDA] There's only a door handle.
It's just a box.
This?
What do you mean it's
just a just a box?
- How does it work?
- I don't know. You tell me.
You built this thing.
[SCOFFS] I'm sorry.
You got the one who
teaches college physics.
- [SIGHS]
- [INJECTOR BEEPS]
Injector's ready.
It won't be as bad as the first time.
Your body gets used to it fast.
[GROANS]
- [INJECTOR CLICKS]
- [GROANS]
[SIGHS, EXHALES SHARPLY]
You okay?
[JASON] Hmm. Hmm.
- [INJECTOR BEEPS, CLICKS]
- [AMANDA SIGHS]
Where does it lead?
If we just keep walking,
where do we end up?
Well, the multiverse is is infinite.
I'm guessing there is no end.
[LEIGHTON] Jason!
[ECHOES] Amanda! Amanda!
Jason!
[STUDENTS CHATTERING]
Today's lesson's up.
Thank you. We're not gonna need that.
All right, everybody,
get out your notebooks.
[CHATTERING STOPS]
So, today we are gonna do a pop quiz.
Tear out a piece of
paper from your notebooks,
write your name at the top,
and the numbers one
through ten down the margin.
[STAMMERS] Uh, yeah.
No one really uses notebooks
anymore. I just have my laptop.
Oh.
What's on your screen right now?
What's on his screen?
YouTube.
[SUCKS TEETH] You fail.
- [STUDENT] Are you serious?
- Uh-huh.
Uh, I only brought a laptop too.
What are you watching?
- You fail.
- [SIGHS]
Everyone else who only has a
laptop or a device, you fail.
[STUDENTS CLAMORING]
[SIGHS]
[SMACKS LIPS] You know what? Wait.
Good luck.
Wait! Where are you Dr. Dessen?
[DEPARTMENT CHAIR] Jason.
Your TA just texted me you broke
a bottle in class and stormed out.
I didn't storm out. I walked out.
What the hell is going on?
It's like a slow death
in there so I quit.
You can't do that.
Yes, I can.
Actually, I can do whatever I want.
[BIRDS WARBLING, CHIRPING]
[GPS CHIMING]
Same coordinates?
Yeah.
Yeah.
[STRAINS]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
Okay.
So, now we know that the
connection between the doors
and these worlds hold during
a given session of the drug.
[BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY]
[JASON] There was no atmosphere.
[AMANDA] This can't be
real. This can't be real.
Amanda. Amanda. Hey.
- [BREATHING HEAVILY, PANTING]
- Hey!
Amanda! Hey!
Stop!
Amanda!
Amanda!
[AMANDA] It has to have an end.
[JASON] I told you, there's no end!
Why are we seeing
these fucked-up worlds?
Because it's a multiverse,
and anything that can
happen will happen.
I mean, down that corridor somewhere,
there is a version of you and me
that never made it in the
box when you helped me escape.
Infinite possibilities.
Infinite.
Time is running out on
this dose of the drug.
Yes. That's why we need to start
solving one problem at a time.
We need food and water soon.
So, let's just start opening doors,
and just hope that one
of them looks like home.
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[STRAINS]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[JASON] I think we made it.
Hey, can you get us out?
- I don't know. I can try. This way.
- [DOOR OPENS]
- [LEIGHTON] Jason, stop.
- [JASON] Wait Wait, Leighton.
[STAMMERS] She had
nothing to do with it.
[LEIGHTON] Really?
[JASON] I made her. I forced her to.
- [LEIGHTON] He made you?
- [JASON] Yeah.
Because I've known you for a long time,
and I've never known anyone
to make you do anything.
[AMANDA] I won't let you
keep hurting people, Leighton.
Amanda.
[AMANDA] I'm fucking done.
Oh.
[JASON] Leighton.
We have to go.
Well, in that case
[JASON] No!
- [GASPING]
- Let's go.
- [STUN GUN ZAPPING]
- [SCREAMS, GROANING]
Amanda.
[GRUNTS]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Hey. It's okay.
You're safe. It wasn't you.
That was me until about three hours ago.
Amanda, that was a different
Amanda, different Jason.
Must've not escaped
till hours after we did.
Gotta keep trying.
[AMANDA] There's no logic to it.
Must be.
We're just not seeing it.
Your Jason had no theory
on how to control it?
No. If he knew, he didn't tell me.
[GRUNTS]
[SHUDDERS]
[CREATURE GROWLING]
[GRUNTING]
- [GRUNTS]
- [BREATHING HEAVILY]
[GRUNTS]
[BREATHES SHAKILY] Fuck this.
Hey. Amanda.
[GRUNTS]
[WIND HOWLING]
Amanda!
[GRUNTS]
Hey!
Amanda!
Where you going?
Stop!
Stop!
[AMANDA] I can't be in that
corridor for another second!
[JASON] We're gonna freeze!
We gotta go back!
[AMANDA] I can't see anything.
[JASON SHUDDERS, GROANS]
[GRUNTS]
Come on. We need to
find shelter. Come on!
[BOTH PANTING]
[JASON] Come on.
[AMANDA GRUNTS]
[JASON BREATHING HEAVILY]
[AMANDA GASPING]
[JASON STRAINS, PANTING]
Hang on.
Stay awake.
[STRAINS]
[GROANING]
[SHUDDERS]
We've gotta get you warm.
All right.
[PANTS] Okay.
[GRUNTS]
- All right.
- [BREATHES HEAVILY]
[SHUDDERING, PANTING]
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
Be right back.
[SHUDDERING, PANTING]
Hello?
[SHUDDERING, PANTING]
Anybody? [SHUDDERING, PANTING]
[GROANING]
Oh, fuck.
[GRUNTING, STRAINING]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[BREATHES SHAKILY]
[ECHOES] Jason!
Fuck!
Please.
I don't know where to fucking
[GRUNTS]
[ELEVATOR DINGS, OPENS]
Oh! Oh, oh, oh!
That you, Jay?
How are you, man?
Ignore the mess. I'm
still a little hungover
from last night's festivities.
- Hey. Look at you, huh?
- Hey.
Yeah.
You know, I was surprised
to get your text.
Would you believe I
missed my old college pal?
[SCOFFS] No.
Splash?
- [JASON] Why not?
- Yeah. [CHUCKLES]
You ever get used to this?
On most days, I don't even see it.
Cheers, king.
- Cheers.
- Yeah.
Hey, I was really sorry to
hear about your grandfather.
Thanks.
[INHALES SHARPLY]
So, how is the family business?
[LEIGHTON] Well, you're gonna
have to ask my dad that one.
Velocity was always his thing.
[JASON] So, you two
still on the outs, huh?
Yeah. Haven't spoken to
the bastard in five years.
Well, still, you're doing
pretty well for yourself.
[LEIGHTON SIGHS] Well, my
trust fund certainly has.
[NAKED PERSON SIGHS]
[SIGHS]
[SCOFFS]
[LIQUID POURING]
- Yeah.
- Oh, Leighton
[CHUCKLES]
it's good to see you.
- Yeah?
- Hmm.
It's good to see you too, bud.
So, uh, fuck are you doing here?
- [CHUCKLES] Huh?
- [JASON CHUCKLES]
I quit teaching.
I wanted to get back to what I started.
Don't we all?
So, what does that mean for you, hmm?
More time with the family, for a start.
Yeah. That's good.
That's good.
[INHALES SHARPLY]
Good, good, good. You seen
much of Ryan Holder lately?
- A bit.
- Yeah?
You know, he's having quite the year.
Yeah, turned up here three months ago.
Looking for some money
for his new venture.
So, I'm just gonna be
real with you, okay?
I'm sure whatever you're
working on is amazing.
[SIGHS] You wanna hang
out, catch up, I'm your guy.
But right now I'm just not
investing in anything anymore.
Especially with friends.
No offense. Gets messy.
All right?
I mean, that's why you're here, right?
Finally decided to start your own thing.
Tell me, what you got going on today?
Nothing. I got no plans
for the rest of my life.
I wanna show you something.
[STRAINING, BREATHING HEAVILY]
[STRAINS, BREATHES HEAVILY]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
Oh, fuck.
Don't worry.
This is not an elaborate
plot to kill you
or is it?
[CHUCKLES] Funny.
Yeah, I already told you. Whatever
this is, I'm not investing, so
Whoa. Whoa. Hello. Hello. What's this?
It is a very special psychoactive drug.
Let me see that.
Psychoactive.
Yeah. What's it do?
One way to find out.
[CHUCKLES]
All right, salud.
[SWALLOWS, GROANS]
All right. Let's go. Not a lot of time.
[JASON GRUNTING]
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
[SIGHS]
- [LEIGHTON] Whoa. Whoa, whoa. Whoa, whoa.
- Easy. Easy there.
[GRUNTS]
The hell is this?
It's the drug.
First time hits hard.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- [SIGHS]
- Hey.
That it?
Yeah, that's part of it.
- Yeah.
- All right. Come on.
Whoa. Whoa.
[SNIFFING, CLEARS THROAT]
[SIGHS, SNIFFS]
What the fuck is that?
It's my box.
You built this here?
[JASON] It's a little
more complicated than that.
[LEIGHTON] So, uh, what does it do?
[JASON] It's easier if I just show you.
You're fucking with me, right?
No.
Come in.
[CHUCKLES]
Ooh, uh [SIGHS]
[SIGHS] Here.
Thank you.
Box is gone.
Buried in the storm.
[AMANDA CHUCKLES]
I trained the box pilots to not
freak out. To stay in control.
I've done neither of those things.
Sorry.
You know when I was little, every
winter, we'd go skiing in Argentina.
My dad loved that.
They had this crazy whiteouts.
He'd be driving and the snow
would start blowing so hard
[CHUCKLES, SIGHS]
you'd have to pull over.
Sit in the cold car.
It was like the world was gone.
Is there any chance that you
had that thought yesterday?
In the corridor?
What thought?
Of being stranded in a whiteout.
Yeah. Yeah.
I was feeling trapped and
helpless, like in those snowstorms.
When exactly?
Just before we walked through
the door into this world.
Why?
We know that the doors in the corridor
are connections to infinite
parallel universes that seem random.
Totally unconnected and uncontrollable.
But what if our minds are
defining those connections?
That they're not random at all?
They're
That somehow we are
choosing these worlds?
I definitely didn't choose this world.
No. Not intentionally, but
what if the worlds are a
reflection of our emotional state
the moment we open the door?
Jason
yesterday you were talking
about the multiverse.
That everything that
can happen will happen.
That somewhere there was
a version of you and me
that never made it into the box.
- Then you opened the door at Velocity
- Then the door
We see that exact
same scenario play out.
[CHUCKLES]
The whole time I've been thinking,
"How do we control the box?"
We are the controls.
Maybe. And if that is the case,
then we can go anywhere we want.
[CHUCKLES]
We could go home.
Okay. An empty box?
Your bright idea is
storage space. [CHUCKLES]
Are you happy in your life?
[CHUCKLES] Yeah, this is
officially too weird for me
Stop. Stop and listen to me.
I'm gonna show you something
that not even the billionaires
of the world have access to.
Yeah? What's that?
The road not taken.
Hey. Open the door or I'm
gonna beat your fucking ass.
[JASON] Yeah.
[CHUCKLES]
Hey. Hey.
Uh, am I tripping?
Not exactly, no.
Leighton, I need you to listen to me.
- Where do these doors go?
- Hey, Leighton. Hey, Leighton.
- Hey. Wait, wait, wait.
- Easy, easy.
- Stop. Stop. Stop.
- Easy.
[EXHALES SHARPLY] Listen, if you
think the wrong thing in here,
then we can both die.
I don't wanna scare you, but
it's super important, okay?
Okay.
Now, I'm gonna open one of the doors,
and I have some control over
what's on the other side.
But what you think can affect it too.
- What the fuck are you talking about?
- All right, listen.
I'm confusing you, okay. Just
Do you practice meditation?
Once. I was terrible at it.
Couldn't stop thinking.
Okay. That's okay.
Clearing your mind for long periods
of time can take years of practice.
The good news is, I just need you
to clear your mind for five seconds.
Okay. So, how do I do that?
Just focus on taking
a long deep breath in
and slowly letting it go.
[BOTH BREATHING DEEPLY]
Now close your eyes.
Keep breathing.
[EXHALES DEEPLY]
- In. Two. Three.
- [BREATHES DEEPLY]
Out. Two, three. Just
focus on your breath.
In.
[LEIGHTON INHALES DEEPLY]
- [AMANDA BREATHING DEEPLY]
- [GPS CHIMING]
The box should be over there.
[BREATHING DEEPLY]
[JASON] Are you ready?
Thank you.
[JASON] All right. Let's go find it.
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[GRUNTS]
Let me get a better reading.
[GPS BEEPING]
Fuck.
The GPS is not working.
Maybe it's frozen?
We can't find it without this.
[JASON] We have to. This
world is gonna kill us.
[AMANDA SIGHS]
[AMANDA] Come on.
[BREATHING DEEPLY]
Turn around.
[GRUNTING]
[JASON] What is it?
In all these worlds,
the box stands in the same
geographical location, right?
No matter how much the
world around it changes,
the GPS coordinates are always the same.
Can you see the Sears Tower?
That's south.
Now look at the compass.
It should be pointing that way.
It should be pointing north.
Magnetic north, but it's
aiming in that direction.
The box's magnetic field
is pushing the needle away.
[SIGHS] We're close. We're close.
[JASON GRUNTS]
[BREATHES DEEPLY] This way.
- [AMANDA] Can you see it?
- Yeah.
[AMANDA GRUNTS]
[BOTH GRUNTING]
- [GRUNTS]
- [THUDS]
- [AMANDA CHUCKLES]
- Yeah!
[LAUGHING] Goddamn!
You ready?
Where's Dad?
I don't know.
I've been calling and texting.
Should we wait?
No. No, it's fine. It's
getting dark. Let's go.
[JASON GROANS]
[GROANS]
- [AMANDA SIGHS]
- [SIGHS]
[SIGHS] Thank you for not letting
me freeze to death out there.
[GRUNTS]
So, then we're even?
Hell, no.
Let's not forget this
is still all your fault.
Oh, yeah. Let's not forget that.
[GRUNTS]
[SIGHS]
I just realized
today is my son's birthday.
How old?
Sixteen.
I'm sorry you're missing it.
[LIGHTER FLICKS]
- Tell me the story.
- [CHUCKLES]
Yeah.
At our first ultrasound
we heard two heartbeats.
We went from pure joy
to sheer terror.
[CHUCKLES, STAMMERS]
And ultimately, pure joy.
[STAMMERS] We weren't
really ready to be parents.
I mean, who is?
It's just something
that you're thrown into.
Like the ultimate deep end.
At our next visit, the doctor
told us one heartbeat was normal.
[JASON] Abnormalities.
Now, there's a word.
[DANIELA] Oh, he was a fighter.
He was the first to be born.
So brave.
So full of light.
It was the surgeries that he
couldn't he couldn't take.
He didn't make it through the third one.
I'm so sorry.
Hmm.
From the very beginning,
you were inseparable.
[CHUCKLES]
When I think of him
he's always with you.
[JASON] Those final months in hospitals,
Charlie just would not leave his side.
Is it still hard on him?
Oh, yeah. But he doesn't
really talk about it.
You know, we planted a tree
and we mixed some of
his ashes in the soil.
And every year on his birthday,
we just sit there with him at dusk.
[SNIFFLES]
But now I'm not there.
[SNIFFS]
[LEIGHTON SIGHS]
He was alive.
Living. Breathing. [STAMMERS]
[JASON] Yeah. I know.
It's a lot to take in.
It was the most beautiful
thing I've ever seen.
Jason, the most beautiful
thing I've ever seen.
[CHUCKLES]
It
You could've shown this to anyone.
Walked away with whatever
you wanted. Why me?
'Cause I can't trust anyone.
And I know I can trust you.
You don't even know me, bro!
Not really!
In the world where I come from,
your parents died.
Your grandfather raised you,
and he handed you Velocity
Labs fresh out of college.
And in that world, after I won
the Pavia Prize, you came to me
and you asked me did I have any
ideas that you could invest in.
And I did.
And you and I, we worked
together for about ten years.
We built the original
version of this box.
Right here in this exact spot.
Only there it was a hangar.
They tested jet engines.
Yeah.
So, you and I were close?
Yeah.
You, uh Well, he was
one of my closest friends.
I trusted that Leighton.
I knew exactly what he was capable of.
That's why I trust you.
So, you're not from this world?
Why you here?
I'm here to fix something
that I fucked up.
So, the question is would you
leave this world if you could?
Start over somewhere else?
[SIGHS]
In a heartbeat.
What would you give for that chance?
What would I give?
Yeah.
Everything.
Well
that's the ticket.
Wow.
What?
[CHUCKLES] That look that you just did.
Right there.
The squinty, staring off into space.
You used to do it all the time.
It's crazy.
I remind you of him?
Yeah.
In so many ways.
Was he happy?
Come on.
Come on. You can tell me. I mean,
we're pretty much the same person.
Was he?
No.
I wouldn't say he was happy.
All he did was work.
He had this hard edge.
The most driven human
being I've ever known.
You know that he did this to me, right?
What do you mean?
Used the box to find my world.
He abducted me.
Brought me to his world.
It was him.
Why would he do that?
I don't know. You've lived
with him. You tell me.
Regret.
If he wanted my life
- could've just He could've killed me.
- No.
Why would he go to all that trouble
just to bring me to his world?
He's not a monster. He wouldn't do that.
- If he did this to you
- I know he did.
he would have rationalized it.
In your world, you're a teacher, right?
Yeah.
Are you wealthy?
[SIGHS]
No.
My Jason probably told himself
he was giving you a
chance of a lifetime.
A shot at the path not taken.
For you and him.
But why my life?
Of all the billions of
Jasons, why why me?
What's the one thing
you had that he didn't?
Daniela and Charlie.
No.
[SIGHS]
- [DANIELA] Don't give me shit.
- [CHARLIE] You're doing it wrong.
- [DANIELA] They're gonna be great.
- [CHARLIE] Let me see.
- Fake it till you make it. Hmm?
- Okay. Something like that.
[SCOFFS, CHUCKLES]
Do you think, uh, Dad's been
going through some stuff?
What do you mean?
Well, I don't know. He
just seems off recently.
You know?
Hey, fam.
Oh, smells amazing.
Yeah. We're making
spaghetti and meatballs.
You know, Max's favorite.
You missed our time at his tree.
Yeah, I know. I know.
I'm Look, I'm so sorry.
But I was embroiled
in a top-secret errand.
[KISSES]
A birthday-boy-related errand actually.
Oh. Well, maybe we could
go back out to the tree.
If you want?
Yeah. Of course. Yeah. In a minute.
What's this back here?
Oh.
[CHUCKLES] Thank you.
For you.
And for us.
Because today
is a very big day for this family.
You're not gonna open the box?
What?
[CORK POPS]
Happy birthday, pal.
From your Mom and me.
[CHUCKLES] Are you serious?
It's parked outside.
[CHUCKLES]
[CHUCKLES] Holy shit!
Jason, what the fuck?
Listen, I quit my job today.
- What?
- [STUTTERS]
I was standing up there,
looking out at the class,
and this one thought kept
repeating in my head, it was just
that I was meant for more than this.
Without talking to me?
Yeah. I know. I'm sorry.
- But I just couldn't do it anymore.
- Okay.
But my job isn't enough to
float us, let alone buy a car.
I think you should quit your
job and get back to painting.
Oh, yeah? How am I gonna do that?
Before Charlie was born,
I was working on a thing.
Remember the little box.
Yeah?
It was very important to me,
but I quit because I wanted to
be fully present for you both.
I got an investor.
- [CHARLIE CHUCKLES]
- Hey!
- Thank you, Dad. [CHUCKLES]
- [CHUCKLES]
[CHARLIE] Thank you.
Can we, uh, go for a ride?
- Yeah. Come on.
- Yeah?
[DANIELA] Sure.
You don't have to worry
about money anymore.
You wanna ride shotgun?
[CHARLIE] Mom, you coming?
Coming.
[LEIGHTON GROANING, STRAINING]
[GRUNTING, PANTING]
[STRAINING]
[GROANS]
[STRAINING]
[PANTING]