Nine Perfect Strangers (2021) s01e04 Episode Script

1
‐ Yao mentioned that you've been
getting threats.
Is that another one?
‐ Get yourself a vibrator
and let off some steam.
‐ Picture your son Zach.
‐ You're Smiley Hogburn, right?
‐ You're right.
That's Smiley Hogburn!
What happened, man?
‐ I won the lottery. $22 million.
Didn't plan on telling you all that.
‐ It's Ari.
They put them into an induced coma.
Do you mind not saying
anything to the others
about my little internet scam‐dom thing?
‐ You did this?
‐ Something's up with Mom, Dad.
‐ She's turning a corner.
‐ Have you been medicating us?
‐ You've got
This strange effect on me ♪
I'm driving out
of the city right now.
I wake up at the beach house.
5:00 am, I want this in my inbox,
so show me that you have a future, Todd.
Hey, baby.
I'll be there. Couple hours.
Pour me a martini,
I'm gonna fuck your lights out.
Have you been medicating us?
Did you not hear my question?
I would appreciate a response.
I‐‐ I've been feeling unlike myself
for the better part of today.
Carmel says she isn't herself.
And my husband is definitely not himself.
So I ask you again.
Are you drugging us?
‐ It's called microdosing,
and it's perfectly safe.
‐ My God!
- Shit!
- Microdosing?
What are you microdosing us with?
‐ Psilocybin.
‐ Magic mushrooms.
‐ Oh, my God.
‐ You're giving us illegal drugs.
This is all part
of a very well‐planned,
well‐executed protocol
that we've been working on here
at Tranquillum for a long time.
That's not the fucking point, okay?
The point is,
you can't give illegal drugs out
to people without consent.
‐ But you arrived here on drugs, Tony.
You're still on drugs,
you're just not on oxycontin,
you're on‐‐ you're on psilocybin.
We've been swapping it out
for two days now.
‐ I was feeling‐‐
I was feeling oxy withdrawals
this morning.
‐ Mm‐hmm. Some, but less.
And how do you feel right now?
Because you're not on oxy.
‐ That doesn't make it right.
You can't just lie to us.
‐ We haven't been dosing you or Ben.
‐ But the rest of us, yes, right?
God, you got some balls
shaming me about some wine
and a couple of Kit Kats.
All the while, you're dosing us
with psychedelics?
I mean, look, I'm no angel, you know,
I had a few "cocaine nights"
in the '90s, but who didn't?
‐ I didn't!
‐ I believe that.
‐ You know, you could go to jail for this.
‐ I could, but I'm not going to,
because you're gonna be thanking me.
We live in unprecedented times.
‐ Wow, you're going with that old
"unprecedented times" defense?
‐ Okay. Um, I gotta say. Girl, you‐‐
you're a real kick in the pants,
I didn't see it coming.
I'm gonna go to my car
and get the bottle of Tito's
that I hid in my trunk.
- Mm‐hmm.
- And the best part,
you're not gonna say anything about it.
Mm‐hmm.
‐ Not a word, right?
What the fuck would she say? Nothin'.
This is not good.
Some of us came here with drug histories
and genetic predispositions‐‐
‐ We did your blood work
when you checked in,
we know your medical history.
‐ I don't care, Yao!
You can't just keep a secret
like that from us!
‐ But we all have secrets, Tony.
None of us are exactly
how we appear, are we?
You wanna come out with yours?
Lars?
Carmel?
For all I know,
somebody here could be a killer.
Has anybody here ever killed anyone?
No?
Good.
This is good.
This is a load off.
Mmm. So you came here as desperate people.
You are free to go.
Or stay.
It's your call.
And if you choose to stay
and not be dosed,
that's your call, too.
‐ Why didn't you let it be
our call to begin with?
‐ Because you would've
declined out of fear,
but there's nothing to fear
because this, this protocol,
cures addiction,
it can treat mental illness,
it can treat PTSD,
schizophrenia, dementia.
It can make you eat better,
sleep better, fuck better.
And it has the capacity
to change the world.
‐ And it can make you
gobs and gobs of money
in the process.
Maybe that can be your story, Lars.
Did anybody know that Lars here
is an investigative journalist?
‐ Yeah, I knew that.
‐ No, you didn't.
‐ Okay.
‐ And yet, you did,
and you didn't say anything.
‐ Of course not, because
I welcome your exposé, Lars.
Write the story, please,
because once this gets out,
once it gets out in the world,
oh, it's gonna change everything.
And, yes, yes,
it may make me gobs and gobs of money,
but it may win you a Pulitzer.
‐ Exactly how crazy are you?
‐
Just the right amount.
‐ Why isn't she drugging us?
‐ Maybe she realized we're not
as fucked up as the rest of 'em.
‐ Yeah, but we're paying
customers, you know?
‐ Mmm.
‐ Aren't you even curious,
like a little bit?
She said it would open our minds up.
‐ My mind's open enough.
I saw what drugs did to my sister.
‐ She wasn't on psychedelics.
You know, some drugs
are, are good, you know.
Like, in the right environment,
they can really help‐‐ help people.
‐ Just trying to think.
Did I break the law today?
Psilocybin, cocaine,
oxycontin, it's like the‐‐
like the Betty Ford clinic in reverse.
This woman's playing with fire.
I don't wanna seem ungrateful
for the discount,
but no thank you. Right?
Mmm.
Oh, these sheets feel so good.
‐ What?
‐ They're really cool on my skin.
‐ Hey, hey
are you okay?
‐ I'm not sick.
‐ So, uh, how do you feel?
‐ Good.
Actually, really good.
‐ Hmm
So, you wanna stay? Hmm?
‐ I just‐‐ I just‐‐
I just I wanna feel your skin.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- Oh, okay.
- Mmm.
Oh, man.
‐ God
‐ Hey.
‐ Hi.
Yao
That was them.
Whoever is threatening me.
‐ How do you know?
‐ I just do.
And I feel like they're here
at Tranquillum.
Like they're watching us.
- ‐ Who's watching us?
- I don't know.
Maybe I brought this into our life,
this person, this darkness.
Maybe I brought it in for a reason.
‐ Are you saying it's one of the guests?
‐ I can't rule it out.
Maybe it's you.
‐
Never.
But, you know, you telling
that they're being dosed,
I think it's a huge risk and I‐‐
‐ I didn't tell them everything.
You told them enough.
All it takes is for one of them,
one, to go to the police‐‐
Dozens of wellness institutes
are doing this, you know that.
‐ With consent.
‐ Yes, and we have it.
I told them.
They chose to stay.
It's constructive consent.
‐ Where did you go?
‐ Went out for a walk.
‐ You run into Masha?
How is she?
‐ She's actually a bit shaken up
between the goat and
The goat and what?
‐ And the threats.
‐ Huh.
‐ They wouldn't be coming
from you, would they?
‐ Why would I wanna threaten Masha?
She's the fucking greatest.
I don't have to tell you that, do I?
‐ All right. Okay. Um
Just relax.
‐ You can sleep on the couch tonight.
Hey.
‐ Oh, hey.
‐ I didn't hear you get up.
Yeah. Well, you know
I slept without my CPAP
for the first time in six years
last night.
I didn't even know that was possible.
‐ That's wonderful.
‐ Yeah.
Interesting evening.
‐ Sure was.
‐ I came a little outside myself.
‐ Mm‐hmm.
It was nice.
‐ You emerged a little yourself
saying grace.
‐ Hmm
It was the drugs.
‐ Honey.
‐ What?
‐ There was nothing you could've done.
‐ Hey, hi. Um
Are there drugs in here?
Because I want them.
‐ Masha's currently evaluating
your protocol.
So is that a no?
‐ Can I, uh
Can I say something for the record?
I have zero tolerance for drugs.
I'm a high‐school teacher,
I've seen the ravages,
I can tell you. But, uh
I'm open to this.
Uh, last night, I, uh
I'm‐‐ I'm‐‐ I'm‐‐ I'm not at all
happy about slaughtering a goat,
don't get me wrong, but, um,
for the last three years,
I've been feeling
emotionally constipated
in a way, and‐‐ and last night,
I‐‐ I came uncorked a little.
So, whatever this is,
count the Marconi adults in.
Here's to the new Timothy Leary.
All right.
Let's go through today's schedule.
Carmel, you have your day
with Masha, your one‐on‐one.
‐ Okay.
For everyone else,
Glory will be leading
the temazcal for anyone who thinks
- Hi.
- ‐ Oh
- ‐ Wow.
- Yeah.
‐ You‐‐ you okay?
‐ Verdict's still out.
Not exactly sure how I thought
I was gonna teach Masha a lesson
by drinking
most of my trunk Tito's, but
In the heat of the moment,
it seemed like a fine idea.
‐ Hey. So, you're okay with this, right?
This‐‐ this drugging?
‐ I certainly don't agree
with the lack of consent.
But, I mean, most of us came here
searching for desperate measures.
And I mean, look at you.
‐ What me? Me what? What about me?
‐ Oh, boy.
When you arrived, you were
kind of a complete jackass.
No offense.
‐ Oh.
And I have
witnessed you becoming
less complete in that area.
- ‐ Hmm.
- So my vote is,
give this thing a shot, you know? And
open up a new door.
‐ Some doors are meant to stay closed.
You know what I mean?
‐ Yeah, it could be a real shitshow.
What the hell do I know, right?
- Carmel.
- Hello.
Please, sit.
How's everybody doing today?
Mmm.
Kind of a brave new world, I guess.
You know, what, with all
the mushrooms and smoothies.
Indeed.
‐ Yeah.
‐ And you personally?
‐ Oh, good, good.
‐ Good.
‐ Yeah.
‐ I hear you wanna punch
Jessica in the face.
Hmm?
‐ Ah, well, figuratively I do.
Not for real, I would
I would never really do that.
‐ You get violent?
‐ Although I can get violent,
I'm not violent. There's a
big difference.
You know, it's not my being.
It's more like, um
like an offshoot
outlier version of‐‐ of
of myself, I guess.
My husband, he left me.
Left me for
a younger, prettier thing.
My kids love her.
You know, they call her by her first name.
Lillian.
And she's a sweet woman with a sweet name.
They're in Italy right now,
vacationing together.
She's sweet, but
I get urges, you know.
‐ "Pow, right in the face."
‐ Yup. You know.
Yeah.
You know, he
He had other affairs before her.
Sometimes,
even in the best marriages,
people pretend.
It takes a little denial on both sides.
In the end, he
He couldn't pretend.
Can I show you something?
Yes.
- ‐ Can you see that?
- Oh.
‐ It's a little scar.
He bit me.
But it was an act of passion,
back when he just‐‐
he couldn't get enough of me.
And I fondle this scar
almost every night
because it reminds me of
what we used to have.
‐ Will you write down
some of the bad things?
That he said to you? Can you do that?
‐ There are a lot of them.
Tradition says we should chant
to distract ourselves from the heat.
But I think a good old‐fashioned
scream works better.
There you go.
Okay.
Thanks, Glory.
‐ I did know, by the way.
Maybe not the reporter part,
but definitely
that you weren't a real guest.
‐ I am a real guest.
I'm just a reporter also.
And Masha did select me, remember? So
it must mean I'm as messed up
as the rest of you.
At least in her mind.
‐ What about your mind?
‐ Oh. Well
I'm going through this break‐up
with Ray, you know.
Who doesn't get messed up over that?
And I'm gay, so according
to my Catholic upbringing
‐ Yeah!
Wait, did you know she was doing all this?
Is that why you're here?
‐
I'd heard the rumors.
You know, this could be
really good for you.
I mean, anxiety, depression.
I mean, that's where psychedelics
show phenomenal promise.
‐ I'm not depressed.
Of course you're depressed,
your brother killed himself.
If you weren't depressed, you'd be
having some kind of psychosis,
and I'm sure
she'd be dosing you for that.
And, uh, you're smiling.
Depressed people smile, FYI.
‐ I'm smiling 'cause you're funny.
Tomorrow's your 21st birthday.
It's his 21st birthday.
‐ We weren't close.
Oh, I don't believe that.
‐ A lot of siblings aren't close.
‐ Well, I believe that.
I just‐‐ I just don't believe you
when you say that you and Zach weren't.
‐ What, do you have some sort
of crystal ball or something?
‐ I just can't imagine.
It's a good place to cry, you know.
We can mistake the tears for sweat.
‐ So what's your spin gonna be?
You plan to take this place down?
Honestly?
I don't know yet.
Meet Mr. Kendo.
Ordinarily, we would have
you project your self‐doubts,
your insecurities,
your demons onto the dummy
and then attack away.
‐ So much self‐loathing, so little time.
‐ It seems that many of us
have actually been damaged
by other people.
So
we're gonna try something different.
Now, who would like to begin?
Frances.
Frances, great.
You can come get the sword.
‐ That's okay. I don't need the sword.
‐ Come on.
- Be brave.
- Oh, come on.
Someone's gotta be first. Come on.
- Thank you.
- Mm‐hmm.
So, Mr. Kendo is gonna take on
a few different forms today,
but let's start with the universal he.
Him by whom we are judged.
Dismissed. Used. Abused. Abandoned.
Wow.
I have to admit that's
a terrible Tinder profile.
‐ Anyone specific come to mind?
‐ Not really, you know.
It's hard to narrow it down.
So many schmucks to choose from.
‐ No jokes, Frances.
Come on. Stay in the pain.
Come on, Frances.
Pick somebody.
How about me? I'm here.
Ari has been in a car accident.
How I can I help? What can I do?
I'm sorry, but I‐‐
I would never do this,
but I could really use
a little help, financially.
‐ I don't wanna see you.
I don't wanna‐‐ I don't want him here.
‐ Why not?
‐ 'Cause he hurt‐‐
he really hurt me.
How?
Hmm?
Be specific.
‐ Did you know I went
and checked out schools for Ari?
Did you know all that?
I went to PTA meetings
and I‐I sat with all those parents.
I
I talked about my family.
I wanted it all set up when you arrived,
but you never
never arrived,
and you're never gonna arrive.
You‐‐ you said we'd raise Ari together.
You kept saying to me
over and over I was gonna‐‐
I was gonna‐‐ gonna be a mom.
And you took that from me
and I can't get it back.
You took my money.
You took my confidence.
Fuck you for lying.
And fuck you for being garbage.
Fuck you for not loving me.
‐ Come on.
Okay. Who's next, huh?
Carmel?
‐ No, I‐‐ I can't top that.
‐ Yes, I think you're ready.
Come on, take the sword.
Go ahead.
Come on. No, no.
You can do better than that.
‐ "Really? Is that what you're gonna wear?
"Do any of your clothes fit?
"Maybe I'd be more attracted to you
"if you made more of an effort.
We met at work. You don't know her."
‐ "I'm not in love with you.
"I'm not, I'm in love with her.
"You should be happy for me.
Why can't you be happy for me?
"And the kids love her.
They wanna live with us.
"She's a better mother than you.
You've let yourself go."
Yeah!
Go.
Yes.
Kill him.
Hit him! Hurt him!
Well done.
‐ This place is fucked.
‐ Hey, I think we should go, check out.
- ‐ What? Why?
- I, uh‐‐
I don't deny there's something
therapeutic about it all,
but it's feeling a little,
uh, volatile now, dangerous.
I mean,
that frightened me in there.
Didn't it scare you?
‐ A little.
‐ A little?
Heather. She's drugging us.
Getting people to act out in violence now.
‐ I know. But
‐ But? But what? Seriously?
‐ Leo, for three years,
we've been so disconnected.
Something's changing.
We both feel it, you said so yourself.
‐ You said we came here for an escape.
And tomorrow is Zoe's birthday,
for God's sake.
It should be a happy time.
‐ It's not gonna be a happy time.
‐ What?
‐ Their 21st birthday.
‐ Well‐‐
- Hey.
- Hi.
Hey, kiddo!
‐ What's going on?
‐ We're just discussing,
you know, what
It's getting a little crazy here
and, uh, tomorrow is your birthday.
We thought maybe we'd be better‐‐
‐ No, I wanna be here.
Yeah.
You, uh‐‐ you wanna be here?
‐ She wants to be here.
- ‐ Are you sure?
- Yeah.
Sorry.
Hi.
Sorry.
Are you okay?
‐ Uh, yes, I
I love the trees out here.
If you listen,
you can hear them breathing.
‐ That's cool.
Hey, uh, did you get a chance
to connect with Masha
about the smoothie sitch?
‐ Yes. Uh, she wants to give
you a different formula.
‐ Okay.
‐ The research shows
that for couples, relationship healing,
MDMA is profoundly beneficial.
‐ Molly.
What
So, is that something that could happen?
Like
Like, when
‐ Uh, now‐‐
‐ Right now?
‐ Maybe. Now.
‐ Great.
‐ Could be now.
‐ Yeah, let's do it now.
‐ Okay, sure.
‐ That's awesome.
‐ Yeah. Um, I'll get Glory
to meet you in the refectory.
Ah. I'm sorry.
I don't
It's just fucking
relationships, am I right?
They're so
‐ Crazy. Insane.
Brutal.
‐ Yeah.
‐ Yeah.
Hey, Smiley.
Hey, Smiley.
Hey.
Why don't you come over
and let us buy you a beer?
‐ Hey, look, I get that all the time, pal.
I'm not the guy.
‐ Come on.
You can't be bothered to talk to me,
that what you trying to say?
‐ I'm having a drink, okay?
I'm having a rough few days.
That's why I'm at the bar by myself.
‐ You know, you should be grateful.
The only reason I remember you at all
is because your story is so pathetic.
‐ Uh‐hmm. Yeah.
‐ Yeah, you overrated gimp.
‐ Motherfucker.
Hey, there you are.
Are you okay?
Are you‐‐ Tony, are you okay?
‐ She's crazy, Frances.
She's drugging us.
She's giving us swords and shit.
‐ What is going on?
‐ Nothing.
‐ You know, I hate to point out
the obvious,
but, you know, you did try
to kill me with a grape
and almost drowned me with a cannonball.
We have shared history here.
Okay, what‐‐ hey. Hey.
I'm just saying you can talk to me.
‐ It's nothing.
It's just the violence here, okay?
It I'm not comfortable with it.
She's fucking with me.
Asking if any of us are
capable of killing somebody.
She knows.
‐ Knows what That you're a killer?
‐ I was just sitting in a bar.
A year after I left the game.
This drunk guy just
just comes up and starts fucking with me,
you know, that's the thing.
Drunk guys fucking with athletes in bars.
They only wanna impress
their drunk buddies.
We fought.
He went down and he never got up.
They took him to the hospital.
Bleeding in the brain
from hitting his head on the ground.
Yeah, he died six days later.
I don't know what to say. Um
Did‐‐ did you get in trouble or did you‐‐
I mean, do you get charged for that?
‐ No, the witnesses there, they saw
that I didn't start it, you know.
I didn't mean to.
‐ I don't follow‐‐ I don't know what‐‐
I don't follow sports or‐‐
I just‐‐ I didn't know.
No, they buried it
in the paper the day after.
And then when he died
a week later, they
they barely mentioned it.
Dribs and drabs, you know, but
I mean, before social media,
so thank God, huh?
It doesn't matter at all.
I killed him.
He had a mother, Frances.
He had a father, you know.
A wife.
He had a little sister.
I killed him.
I made him dead.
Fuck.
‐ Is that why you're here?
‐ I don't know
why the fuck I'm here, Frances.
I'm an
I'm a drug addict.
I got two kids that don't talk to me.
I got a career that ended in a blink.
Why am I here?
I got nowhere else to go.
Ah!
‐ Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
‐ This is not good.
‐ Hey.
‐ Hey.
Hi, you.
Happy almost birthday.
‐ Yeah.
If all goes well, I'll be celebrating
by doing drugs with my parents.
What'd you do for yours?
‐ Uh, not that. I can assure you.
‐ Yeah.
‐ Yeah.
They're blossoming.
‐ I know, but level two?
‐ Mm‐hmm. They're ready.
‐
On the new protocol, Masha,
I don't think so, this is too fast.
‐ Yes, they are.
Listen to me.
‐ I just saw Glory in the kitchen.
She's increasing the dosage.
‐ Mm‐hmm. Per my instructions.
‐ Why am I finding out
about this in this way?
‐ It's minuscule.
‐ Jesus Christ, Masha.
‐ Can we have a moment, please, Yao?
‐ Of course.
Delilah, you need to calm down.
- ‐ Oh, do I?
- Yes.
‐ Well, you're increasing
the dosage too quickly.
‐ That's what you think.
But I wanna talk about yours.
Yao's told me that you're not
drinking your smoothies.
‐ This is not about me.
‐ I'm making it about you.
I put my guests in your care.
It is important that your bipolarity
is under control.
‐ I'm fine.
‐ The protocol.
It's a condition of your employment,
you know that.
‐ Got it. Anything else?
‐ Yes. I think you should
lighten up on Yao.
So he came to my room, big deal.
It's been known to happen, hasn't it?
‐ If you cut me out of important decisions
involving our guests again,
I promise you it will not end well.
‐ Take your medicine.
Please.
Come on, have some fun.
Everybody.
We have another delicious meal
awaiting you.
And I think you all had a splendid day.
Jessica.
‐ It was really, really good. Thank you.
‐ Oh, yes, Lars, very polite
of you to raise your hand.
I'm just wondering.
Might there be something
in my smoothie this evening?
‐ You'll have to wait and see.
‐ Might there be something in mine?
‐ Zoe, tomorrow is your 21st birthday.
‐ Gotcha.
‐ And a party shall be had.
The Marconis,
we come from a very long,
uh, line of, uh
You can do it.
- ‐ Celebrators.
- Yeah,
celebrators, exactly.
‐ Yes, let's have
a toast to Tranquillum
to healing and beyond.
‐ I‐‐ I'll drink to that.
‐ To all of you.
‐ To us.
‐ To us.
To us.
‐ I used to be a lunatic ♪