Brave New World (2020) s01e05 Episode Script
Firefall
[ominous music]
♪
[soft clicking]
[dispenser clicks]
[rain pattering]
♪
[distorted, indistinct voice]
[dramatic choral music]
♪
- Talk to me.
[stirring music]
♪
- [panting]
That again?
- [moans]
[both gasping and moaning]
- The costumes
for the party tonight are
well, what you'd expect.
Helm Watson
does love some sparkle.
Printed yours yet?
Henry.
Have you printed
- That was different.
You were different.
- Oh?
- I'm the Alpha.
I'm supposed to lead.
- Yes, I know.
- So.
- Did you like it?
- I told you, it was strange.
- That's not what I asked.
Did you like it?
- You're not making
any sense today.
- It's all right, you know.
If you did, you could say.
- Lenina.
- Answer the question.
- Give it.
- Sit, and I might.
- You need to act your level.
- I said, sit.
- That's my chair.
This is my office.
- I'm aware.
- So I sit there.
Where you're sitting.
You're seated where I sit.
Oh, you think this is funny.
- It's a simple question.
Did you, Henry, like it?
Do you like not being
in control?
For once?
Just that little moment?
Not knowing what would happen?
What could happen?
I liked it.
Did you like that I liked it?
[contemplative ambient music]
♪
- That's enough.
- No.
- What?
- You're going to wait.
- Lenina
- You're going to wait,
and when I give you this soma,
it'll be the very best soma
you've ever had.
Maybe I won't give it to you.
Maybe you never take this soma.
Maybe we never take another soma
for the rest of our lives.
What would happen?
[gasps]
[breathing heavily]
[dispenser clicks]
- I didn't hurt you, did I?
- No, I'm fine.
There are other ways to be,
Henry.
Other po [gentle piano music]
♪
- We won't do this again.
Do you understand?
Good. It's over now.
[stimulating music]
♪
- Counselor Marx?
- What is this place?
- Come with me, please.
♪
[dispenser clicks]
Do keep up.
- Controller Mond,
thank you so much.
It's an honor to be here, as
- How goes his integration?
- Ah, yes,
it's it's going well, I think.
- It's not.
In fact, it's not going
at all, is it?
- Well, he's learning
the system.
I mean, John's
attending sessions daily.
And, um
Those are every day
- How can the social body
absorb John
if they never meet the man?
- Yes. True. No, ju yeah. No.
I suppose John has shown
some reluctance to engage,
um, but there was that incident
at the feelie theater
a few nights ago.
- I am aware.
- Yes, and-and he's lost
his mother, of course,
and his kind,
they don't process trauma
Very well, at all. Um
And there's also
[sighs] Sorry.
I don't really know how to
say this, but, um
I have reason to believe
that the Director,
former Director, um
May have been John's
- His father?
- Y-yes.
Yes. I mean, that would explain
why the Director
I mean, the shame
must have been unbearable.
And given everything
that we're asking of John
- I think it's best
that he doesn't know.
- No. Of course.
You're right.
I just
There's also the question
of how the social body
will react to John.
- How are your levels?
- Oh. Um, my levels are fine.
Thank you. Um
- Your job is not to protect.
Your job is to assimilate.
Introduce John to New London.
Teach him how to think
and show him how he fits.
Show them.
- And, um
what what if I can't?
- Then Indra will make
a correction.
- Oh. Indra doesn't do that.
- Tell that to the Epsilon.
I believe you have work to do.
There'll be a new Director soon.
- So.
What did you want to talk about?
[calming piano music]
♪
[blocks clatter]
- Hello, John.
I'm told you've been making
lots of progress.
That's excellent.
Do you want to step out
for a bit?
- No, I'm good.
- Come on, children.
♪
- Well, you can't stay
in Conditioning forever, John.
- Why not?
- Well, um
- Food's good.
Kids are pretty cool.
That one's
a sneaky little prick.
Don't give me that look.
You know what you did.
- John, there's
a whole city out there
waiting to meet you.
- We met.
- I understand
why you might be reluctant
after the other night.
- Mm-hmm.
- And
I'm sure that New London
can be
well, a very confusing place
for someone like you.
That's why I'm here.
To help you.
And I really think
- I told you I'm not putting
that shit in my eye.
- It's gonna be very tricky
for you to navigate
without it, John.
I'll bridge the gap
- What's to navigate?
- Well, people's levels,
for example.
Without a signifier,
you can't see anyone's level.
♪
- Alpha. Alpha. Beta. Beta.
Gamma. Delta. Beta.
Alpha. Alpha.
And of course, the poor bastards
cleaning up are Epsilons.
- Excellent.
Although the Epsilons
enjoy their work.
- Right.
- They do!
- You know, I've been watching
you people.
You got the whole thing rigged.
Back home, we had levels too.
- Well, you know, it's good
that you've been observing
our social body
and how it functions.
[people whispering]
You seem to have taken, well,
an awful lot in already.
And I I know it's hard
for you to understand,
coming from a place
where people
Well, where people
are dissatisfied.
But here
- Never seen one
up close before.
[Bernard continues speaking
indistinctly]
[soft ambient music]
[chuckles]
I think he likes you.
- Everyone's happy.
Connected. Everyone fits.
- Bullshit.
- Oh, you don't believe me.
Well, why don't we go out
and ask people?
Hmm? We can go outside
and continue to engage
in conversation?
[tense music]
♪
- [breathing heavily]
[gentle piano music]
- John.
- Mm-kay.
- Sorry?
- Let's go.
- Great. Good.
You're gonna like it here, John.
Everyone has a place.
There's no hunger.
No violence. Pleasures you
couldn't possibly imagine.
- Hey, kid.
Just takes a flick.
♪
- Is everyone on the court?
I'm sorry, I'm late.
- Is it true?
- Yes.
I am truly sorry.
- You know what I mean.
Is it true you know that Savage?
The one who went wild
in the feelie theater?
Why didn't you tell me?
I had to hear it from Vivian,
of all people.
- I have to tell you everything?
- Yes.
- You know, what if
Maybe there's a little part
of me that's
- [sighs] What?
- Mine.
Don't you want that?
Something that's yours?
Something that's
- It's private,
and solipsistic, and
Everyone belongs
to everyone else.
- Don't.
- I
Why are you
You're being very
- What?
- Different.
- Maybe I am a little
- No, you're not.
You're the same as me.
Frannie and Lenina.
We're Beta Pluses.
We like the same things,
we do the same things.
We're the same. Exactly.
The only difference
is that sometimes
interesting things happen to you
for absolutely no reason, and
- Go on.
It's not fair, is it?
I got Henry Foster.
I was monogamous.
I broke the rules.
I got to go to the Savage Lands.
It's not fair.
- No, it isn't.
You're just lucky.
And you're
- Say it.
No, don't take that.
You don't have to.
Listen to me.
It'll pass.
[dispenser clicks]
[tense music]
- Let go.
- It's okay to feel it.
♪
It changes.
It becomes something el ♪
[players yelling]
- [sighs] I'm so sorry.
My levels were
- Don't apologize.
- [laughs]
I love that we can joke around.
I just think you take it too
[slams cabinet]
- [sighs] Let's play.
[all grunting]
- Yes.
- What are you doing?
- Winning.
What are you doing?
- [scoffs] We're trying
to have fun, right?
- Yeah. I'd like that.
- Take an indigo.
You didn't have it
at last break.
Your levels must be
- Vivian.
How about this time,
you try to hit it over the net?
♪
- [grunts]
[chuckles breathlessly]
- Anyone ready to transition
to the post-match festivities?
- Yes, definitely.
- We're not done.
[all grunting]
- [sighs]
- Lenina, are you okay?
- [laughs]
- She's fine.
[panting]
- See you girls inside?
- Mm-hmm.
[dispenser clicks]
♪
- Do you remember when you
could keep up with me?
- Serve.
♪
[both grunting]
- [breathing heavily]
Ha.
[applause]
- Well-played.
- You know, you're right.
We are the same.
Same clothes, same hair,
same everything.
We even have sex
with all the same people.
I suppose the only difference
is the order.
You always seem to come second.
Why do you think that is?
♪
- [yells]
[cries]
[dispenser clicks]
[sighs]
- It's time to introduce you
to New London, John.
Properly, this time.
And if you want to make
the right impression,
there's only one person
who has her finger
on the pulse of the social body,
who knows everyone, who
["Fur Elise" playing]
- What?
- Just be your best self.
- Fuck you.
- [scoffs]
♪
How bad?
- You remember Pleasure Bomb 88?
- [groans]
Um, you better wait here.
- I think I should
come with you.
- Um, no, no, it's okay.
Zoe will look after you.
♪
- Mm-kay.
[music flourishes, ends]
Hi.
[dispensers clicking]
- I said, get out.
- It's me.
[soft piano music playing]
- Bernard,
what are you doing here?
No, go away, don't look.
- Uh-oh.
How many did you take?
- I don't know.
Two? Seven?
What's it matter?
All the greens in the world
don't make a yellow.
But you do, Bernie.
- Yellow is reserved
for acute emotional trauma.
[laughs]
- Yellow. Then be brutal.
Pill first.
- Brutal?
- With your critique.
- Oh, 138. Yes. Um Very good.
Very, um wet.
- Not too wet for you?
- No.
- No, I don't know.
For me, personally,
actually, it's kind of,
just the right amount of wet.
- Bernard, did you see
my feelie?
- [scoffs]
♪
- I will never forgive you.
- I wanted to. I really did.
But there were
♪
[dispenser clicks]
- Orange is the color
of forgiveness.
[dispenser clicks]
- And red.
- Not funny.
No, don't take them togeth
- You're my friend.
♪
- So who's up there?
- Helm Watson.
Wilhelmina Watson?
Director of the Pleasure Bomb.
She's a visionary. Alpha Plus.
- Oh, Alpha Plus.
Big time. Like Bernard.
[people snickering]
So what are you, uh
What are you all doing in here?
- We were banished.
- Banished? For what?
[dispensers clicking]
[dispenser clicks]
- [chuckles]
- Did my water haptics
completely revolutionize
the medium and create
an experience
unlike anything
anyone has ever felt?
Yes, obviously.
But that's not the point, is it?
- Isn't it?
- No.
No, Bernard.
No, it's not.
Because they want it all again.
They're clamoring, now,
and I have to give it to them.
But bigger, better, more.
I don't know more.
What if I can't? What
- Well, you will.
You always do this to yourself.
- And no one helps me.
Surrounded by these people.
These Epsilonic cowards.
They talk about me.
They do. I hear them.
They want me to fail.
Zoe, that pneumatic little Beta,
spying for Marco Hoover.
- Oh, stop it.
- Oh, yes,
and I have to announce
Pleasure Bomb 139 tonight.
I barely have a concept.
All I have is
[gasps]
- You all right?
Don't. Don't talk.
Oh, this is very good soma.
- Soma is soma.
- Don't talk.
Sorry, I thought
I was having an
- Oh, no.
- Never mind. I'll do it later.
- Helm.
- Yes?
- I've brought you something.
[soft piano music]
- So let me get this straight.
So she just says some stuff
and waves her hands,
and you do all the work?
- I just calibrate the haptics.
- Right, but the haptics
are the whole thing.
You just told me.
- The haptics
create the sensations.
Like
The way your skin constricts
when you plunge into water.
- You're doing it again.
You're changing
the subject, Zoe.
- I am?
- Yes, you're being very
- Welcoming.
- [laughs]
- Warm. Stimulating.
- [laughs]
You're Beta, right?
- Of course.
- Do you ever want
to be an Alpha?
[dispensers clicking]
- Everyone wants to be
what they are.
- Can we Get you anything?
- Trying to have a conversation
here. Thanks.
- Soma fizz?
- Sure. Bring us
a couple of those.
- Two soma fizzes.
- You know, it seems like
the Alphas
have it pretty good. I mean
- Betas have it better.
Every night's a party.
- Yeah, but don't you
get tired of that?
- Anything else?
- You know what I would love?
Is for you to get it yourself.
[dispensers clicking]
- [laughs] You want me to
But I'm I'm a Gamma.
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah, but that's the Delta,
that's
- It would make me super happy.
[dispenser clicks]
Where I come from,
everybody wants to be on top.
- Where's the fun in that?
Alphas sit around all day,
worrying about the social body.
If I wasn't a Beta,
I honestly don't know
what I'd do.
- Why do you have
to be anything?
- Stop.
[dispenser clicks]
You can't.
I-I mean, we, we don't talk.
Like this.
- Talk like what?
- Well, like you're talking.
[dispensers click]
- You got a problem
with the way I talk?
- Well. We're not Savages.
- Get up.
[tense music]
Get up, you Beta Minus
motherfucker.
Stand up!
♪
Let's go.
- Where are we going?
[clattering]
[glass shatters]
- You. Clear these.
- [laughs]
Relax, I'm just
fucking with you.
[dispenser clicks]
- What did you do?
- Me?
- Is that what I think it is?
- Helm, this
- I know you.
- You do?
- You upstaged my feelie.
I loved it.
Something unexpected at last.
I've never seen anything
pull focus like that.
- Thanks.
- I rescued him.
- Yeah, you and I,
we're going to
What's that word?
The Savage one?
- Fuck.
- We're going to fuck.
Oh, I love that.
- What?
- Right now.
Best idea I've had today.
- Uh, Helm, a word?
- What?
- John is still adjusting.
And you have to understand
that sex, for Savages,
it's, um
It's an exertion.
Yeah, no, it takes
an emotional toll.
They need preparation time,
recovery, it's
Well, it's a deficiency.
But John, I'm sure,
would like to come
to your party this evening?
- Yes. You will bring him.
A sensation for my sensation.
- Your what?
- Oh, it's just a party.
- You're adorable.
Go away.
I have to work.
- Ah. John.
["Fur Elise" playing]
♪
- Why are you all
just sitting there?
- You banished us. Remember.
- No.
Now get to work. All of you.
Except you.
♪
You get the fuck out.
[music flourishes, ends]
- Is she serious?
- Everyone here just does
what feels good, John.
What was that commotion
back there?
Everyone seemed kind of
out of sorts.
- They just fell.
It was funny.
Shit just falls down sometimes.
- No, it doesn't, John.
This is your home now.
It's really important
that you learn our ways.
Make connections.
- I'm not like you people.
- Linda wanted
this place for you.
She wanted you to become part
of our social body.
[dispenser clicks]
[softly]
John.
You just need
to embrace this place
and let it be wonderful.
[soothing music]
♪
- [breathing heavily]
[tense music]
♪
[grunts]
[sobs]
[grunts]
[dispenser clicks]
♪
[soothing music]
[dispenser clicks]
♪
[dispenser clicks]
[dispenser clicks]
[footsteps approaching]
- John.
John.
What's that?
What are you wearing?
- These are clothes.
- Didn't you print the outfit?
It came with the invitation.
This. Yeah.
You you need to put this on.
- This is more my look.
Gary made it.
He likes me better in this.
- Who's Gary?
- This is Gary.
- John,
Gammas don't have opinions
about this sort of thing.
- Sure they do.
You just never think to ask.
Gary, tell him what you said.
- No, don't put Gary
in this position.
- Gary has a great eye.
Tell him what you said, Gary,
go on.
- John is too long-waisted
for that jacket.
[John claps]
- Gary, could you just give
a moment, please?
- [stammers]
- It's okay. It's okay, Gary.
Just Thanks.
You need to put this on.
I understand that
you're intimidated and unsure,
but there's a way of doing it
- You're intimidated and unsure.
And you look stupid
in that thing.
Mm-hmm.
Look, you told me
to embrace it, right?
- Mm-hmm.
- I'm embracing it.
- Hmm.
- Let's go.
You look great. Come on.
[upbeat electronic music]
[indistinct chatter]
- I imagine you wished you'd
changed your clothes now, huh?
- Nope.
- You know,
if you had your optic in,
you'd be seeing shooting stars.
[imitates explosion]
♪
Two greens, please.
[pounding electronic music]
♪
- There you are.
[mellow electronic music]
Down there, it all
seems random, just a party.
You have to come up here
to see the design.
They think I just chose
their costumes.
But when I did,
I chose more than that.
Who they'd meet.
Who they'd touch.
♪
It's fun to play Indra
sometimes.
- What's Indra?
- Indra's everything.
The system. The connection.
Indra made all this.
Except that.
I made that.
If you'd have worn what I sent,
you'd have blended in perfectly
with that pattern just there.
- Well, I hope I didn't ruin it.
- Oh, I like that you keep me
on my toes.
♪
- So you made 139
of these things?
Must be hard to keep coming up
with ideas.
What's this one about?
- Firefall. It's about freedom
from gravity.
You know, the moon,
space, floating.
And there's fire.
- Hmm.
But what happens?
What's what's the story?
- You're on the moon, you float,
you fall into a crater,
and there's fire.
♪
What?
Oh. And there's an orgy
at the end.
- That's That's not a story.
♪
- I'd need three blues
to go it alone with a Savage.
- There's something
unrestrained about him.
Don't you think?
Like he could snap
at any second.
- Yeah, well,
maybe he'll snap you.
♪
His name is John.
And he's here as my guest.
Not as your entertainment.
- He's your Savage?
- Yes. I rescued him
from the Savage Lands.
- Does he eat a lot?
♪
- He does, actually.
[laughter]
He does.
Always eating. Loves it.
Can't get enough of it.
In fact, for someone who eats
as much as he does,
you'd expect him to be
well, larger than he is.
[laughs]
♪
- And the people
who had hurt the boy,
they suffered
for how they'd treated him.
But still he wasn't free,
because the demon had
to be paid.
So she came for his mother.
- What did the boy do?
- Well, they ran.
The demon close on their heels,
they ran until they reached
the very edge of the kingdom.
- They escaped. Good.
What?
What? Speak?
- They were trapped.
'Cause just beyond
that frontier,
there was a river of fire.
That's where she caught them.
She grabbed the boy,
lifted him over her head
♪
And threw him in the fire.
- [gasps] What?
No.
- Yeah.
- He burned? Dead?
- That's what they thought.
But what the demon didn't know,
what none of them could know,
is that the boy
was born in that fire.
He couldn't be hurt by it.
- Not dead.
- Not dead.
Transformed.
♪
- He's a demon too.
- That's actually really good,
I didn't
[panting]
[stirring music]
♪
[distorted overlapping vocals]
♪
- What are we doing?
- Why do they do it?
Why don't we?
- We clean up.
Now.
♪
[both panting]
[both breathing heavily]
♪
[soothing music]
♪
- Jealousy. Bigotry.
Family. Modesty.
Equality. All the destabilizing
ills of their kind.
Some of these are even
celebrated in the Savage Lands.
So as an Alpha Plus,
I have to consider his
Conditioning. Hi, Henry.
- I came to see
what all the fuss was.
Imagine my surprise.
It's you, Marx.
- Bernard.
- John.
- Whew. Good party.
- I you should meet
- Hello, John.
Nice to meet you.
My name's Henry.
I'm the Director
of the Bureau of Stability.
- Okay.
- Everyone wanted it.
Bernard wanted it,
didn't you, Bernard?
And I never said anything
about wanting it,
but perhaps that's why I got it.
Don't you think?
♪
- So he's, like, your boss?
- Apparently.
- What a dick.
[pounding electronic music]
♪
Where are you going?
- Home.
- Fuck it.
- Hey, wait, what are you doing?
- You think I'm gonna
let that guy
talk to my friend like that?
It's humiliating.
- Well, he was just
stating facts.
- The fact is, he just
squashed you
like a bug in front
of all those people.
You're just gonna take that?
- What am I supposed to do?
- You're supposed to punch him
in the face.
- [laughs]
We don't do that here.
- You said this place
is all about
doing what feels good, right?
- It is.
- Okay. Well, I'll tell you
something, Bernard.
You pop that smug little twat
in his grill,
you're gonna feel fucking great.
♪
- Yeah?
Well, what what would I do?
- Make a fist.
- Make a what?
- Make a fist. I'll show you.
Do it.
Thumb on the outside. Kay.
Yeah. Bend your knees. Okay.
- Well, don't I just
- No. You do not.
No. Pay attention.
You're gonna turn your hips
And thrust off your back foot.
Boom! Like that. That's where
the power comes from.
- Whew!
- Whoa!
- Yeah. Whew!
- Whoa!
- Boo!
- Okay.
You don't need to do the sound.
Just whew!
- Shoo!
- Whew!
- [grunts]
- Whew!
- Yes. Okay.
- Kind of. It's close.
- [stammers]
Wait, will I be okay?
- What?
Might hurt your hand a little.
What the fuck, Bernard?
- Well, how much is a little?
- He just shat all over you.
- All right. Sorry. I know.
- Listen to me.
I know guys like that, okay?
If you let him treat you
like you don't matter,
then you just never will.
♪
That's not like that.
- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
[person hollering]
[pounding electronic music]
♪
- Marx,
what are you doing there?
[grunts]
[crowd gasps]
- [quietly] Ow.
♪
- [groans]
- Ah. Ow.
[crowd clamoring]
♪
[ethereal music]
♪
- Some view.
[chuckles]
- Why'd you do that?
Was it John?
Did he
- No, it was me.
I think.
It's not quite as good
as the real thing, is it?
- No.
- Do you
Do you want to go back in
- [sighs] No.
[both laugh]
- Me, neither.
♪
- If we could just
stay right here
- I know.
- We can't.
- I know.
Maybe just a little longer.
[upbeat electronic music]
♪
- It's ready.
- What are you waiting for?
Do it.
[lively electronic music]
Firefall.
♪
[music fades]
- The stone
that seemed inconsequential
meant everything.
And you missed it.
- You always were a sore loser.
- Sometimes there's nothing
to be done.
The truth is entropy.
Matter changes states.
Systems decay.
Societies fall.
People die.
- Your move.
- What do you think it means?
That you can't beat me anymore.
[contemplative music]
♪
I think it means
there's less of you today.
Ending is better
than [pieces clatter]
[tense music]
- [breathing heavily]
♪
♪
[soft clicking]
[dispenser clicks]
[rain pattering]
♪
[distorted, indistinct voice]
[dramatic choral music]
♪
- Talk to me.
[stirring music]
♪
- [panting]
That again?
- [moans]
[both gasping and moaning]
- The costumes
for the party tonight are
well, what you'd expect.
Helm Watson
does love some sparkle.
Printed yours yet?
Henry.
Have you printed
- That was different.
You were different.
- Oh?
- I'm the Alpha.
I'm supposed to lead.
- Yes, I know.
- So.
- Did you like it?
- I told you, it was strange.
- That's not what I asked.
Did you like it?
- You're not making
any sense today.
- It's all right, you know.
If you did, you could say.
- Lenina.
- Answer the question.
- Give it.
- Sit, and I might.
- You need to act your level.
- I said, sit.
- That's my chair.
This is my office.
- I'm aware.
- So I sit there.
Where you're sitting.
You're seated where I sit.
Oh, you think this is funny.
- It's a simple question.
Did you, Henry, like it?
Do you like not being
in control?
For once?
Just that little moment?
Not knowing what would happen?
What could happen?
I liked it.
Did you like that I liked it?
[contemplative ambient music]
♪
- That's enough.
- No.
- What?
- You're going to wait.
- Lenina
- You're going to wait,
and when I give you this soma,
it'll be the very best soma
you've ever had.
Maybe I won't give it to you.
Maybe you never take this soma.
Maybe we never take another soma
for the rest of our lives.
What would happen?
[gasps]
[breathing heavily]
[dispenser clicks]
- I didn't hurt you, did I?
- No, I'm fine.
There are other ways to be,
Henry.
Other po [gentle piano music]
♪
- We won't do this again.
Do you understand?
Good. It's over now.
[stimulating music]
♪
- Counselor Marx?
- What is this place?
- Come with me, please.
♪
[dispenser clicks]
Do keep up.
- Controller Mond,
thank you so much.
It's an honor to be here, as
- How goes his integration?
- Ah, yes,
it's it's going well, I think.
- It's not.
In fact, it's not going
at all, is it?
- Well, he's learning
the system.
I mean, John's
attending sessions daily.
And, um
Those are every day
- How can the social body
absorb John
if they never meet the man?
- Yes. True. No, ju yeah. No.
I suppose John has shown
some reluctance to engage,
um, but there was that incident
at the feelie theater
a few nights ago.
- I am aware.
- Yes, and-and he's lost
his mother, of course,
and his kind,
they don't process trauma
Very well, at all. Um
And there's also
[sighs] Sorry.
I don't really know how to
say this, but, um
I have reason to believe
that the Director,
former Director, um
May have been John's
- His father?
- Y-yes.
Yes. I mean, that would explain
why the Director
I mean, the shame
must have been unbearable.
And given everything
that we're asking of John
- I think it's best
that he doesn't know.
- No. Of course.
You're right.
I just
There's also the question
of how the social body
will react to John.
- How are your levels?
- Oh. Um, my levels are fine.
Thank you. Um
- Your job is not to protect.
Your job is to assimilate.
Introduce John to New London.
Teach him how to think
and show him how he fits.
Show them.
- And, um
what what if I can't?
- Then Indra will make
a correction.
- Oh. Indra doesn't do that.
- Tell that to the Epsilon.
I believe you have work to do.
There'll be a new Director soon.
- So.
What did you want to talk about?
[calming piano music]
♪
[blocks clatter]
- Hello, John.
I'm told you've been making
lots of progress.
That's excellent.
Do you want to step out
for a bit?
- No, I'm good.
- Come on, children.
♪
- Well, you can't stay
in Conditioning forever, John.
- Why not?
- Well, um
- Food's good.
Kids are pretty cool.
That one's
a sneaky little prick.
Don't give me that look.
You know what you did.
- John, there's
a whole city out there
waiting to meet you.
- We met.
- I understand
why you might be reluctant
after the other night.
- Mm-hmm.
- And
I'm sure that New London
can be
well, a very confusing place
for someone like you.
That's why I'm here.
To help you.
And I really think
- I told you I'm not putting
that shit in my eye.
- It's gonna be very tricky
for you to navigate
without it, John.
I'll bridge the gap
- What's to navigate?
- Well, people's levels,
for example.
Without a signifier,
you can't see anyone's level.
♪
- Alpha. Alpha. Beta. Beta.
Gamma. Delta. Beta.
Alpha. Alpha.
And of course, the poor bastards
cleaning up are Epsilons.
- Excellent.
Although the Epsilons
enjoy their work.
- Right.
- They do!
- You know, I've been watching
you people.
You got the whole thing rigged.
Back home, we had levels too.
- Well, you know, it's good
that you've been observing
our social body
and how it functions.
[people whispering]
You seem to have taken, well,
an awful lot in already.
And I I know it's hard
for you to understand,
coming from a place
where people
Well, where people
are dissatisfied.
But here
- Never seen one
up close before.
[Bernard continues speaking
indistinctly]
[soft ambient music]
[chuckles]
I think he likes you.
- Everyone's happy.
Connected. Everyone fits.
- Bullshit.
- Oh, you don't believe me.
Well, why don't we go out
and ask people?
Hmm? We can go outside
and continue to engage
in conversation?
[tense music]
♪
- [breathing heavily]
[gentle piano music]
- John.
- Mm-kay.
- Sorry?
- Let's go.
- Great. Good.
You're gonna like it here, John.
Everyone has a place.
There's no hunger.
No violence. Pleasures you
couldn't possibly imagine.
- Hey, kid.
Just takes a flick.
♪
- Is everyone on the court?
I'm sorry, I'm late.
- Is it true?
- Yes.
I am truly sorry.
- You know what I mean.
Is it true you know that Savage?
The one who went wild
in the feelie theater?
Why didn't you tell me?
I had to hear it from Vivian,
of all people.
- I have to tell you everything?
- Yes.
- You know, what if
Maybe there's a little part
of me that's
- [sighs] What?
- Mine.
Don't you want that?
Something that's yours?
Something that's
- It's private,
and solipsistic, and
Everyone belongs
to everyone else.
- Don't.
- I
Why are you
You're being very
- What?
- Different.
- Maybe I am a little
- No, you're not.
You're the same as me.
Frannie and Lenina.
We're Beta Pluses.
We like the same things,
we do the same things.
We're the same. Exactly.
The only difference
is that sometimes
interesting things happen to you
for absolutely no reason, and
- Go on.
It's not fair, is it?
I got Henry Foster.
I was monogamous.
I broke the rules.
I got to go to the Savage Lands.
It's not fair.
- No, it isn't.
You're just lucky.
And you're
- Say it.
No, don't take that.
You don't have to.
Listen to me.
It'll pass.
[dispenser clicks]
[tense music]
- Let go.
- It's okay to feel it.
♪
It changes.
It becomes something el ♪
[players yelling]
- [sighs] I'm so sorry.
My levels were
- Don't apologize.
- [laughs]
I love that we can joke around.
I just think you take it too
[slams cabinet]
- [sighs] Let's play.
[all grunting]
- Yes.
- What are you doing?
- Winning.
What are you doing?
- [scoffs] We're trying
to have fun, right?
- Yeah. I'd like that.
- Take an indigo.
You didn't have it
at last break.
Your levels must be
- Vivian.
How about this time,
you try to hit it over the net?
♪
- [grunts]
[chuckles breathlessly]
- Anyone ready to transition
to the post-match festivities?
- Yes, definitely.
- We're not done.
[all grunting]
- [sighs]
- Lenina, are you okay?
- [laughs]
- She's fine.
[panting]
- See you girls inside?
- Mm-hmm.
[dispenser clicks]
♪
- Do you remember when you
could keep up with me?
- Serve.
♪
[both grunting]
- [breathing heavily]
Ha.
[applause]
- Well-played.
- You know, you're right.
We are the same.
Same clothes, same hair,
same everything.
We even have sex
with all the same people.
I suppose the only difference
is the order.
You always seem to come second.
Why do you think that is?
♪
- [yells]
[cries]
[dispenser clicks]
[sighs]
- It's time to introduce you
to New London, John.
Properly, this time.
And if you want to make
the right impression,
there's only one person
who has her finger
on the pulse of the social body,
who knows everyone, who
["Fur Elise" playing]
- What?
- Just be your best self.
- Fuck you.
- [scoffs]
♪
How bad?
- You remember Pleasure Bomb 88?
- [groans]
Um, you better wait here.
- I think I should
come with you.
- Um, no, no, it's okay.
Zoe will look after you.
♪
- Mm-kay.
[music flourishes, ends]
Hi.
[dispensers clicking]
- I said, get out.
- It's me.
[soft piano music playing]
- Bernard,
what are you doing here?
No, go away, don't look.
- Uh-oh.
How many did you take?
- I don't know.
Two? Seven?
What's it matter?
All the greens in the world
don't make a yellow.
But you do, Bernie.
- Yellow is reserved
for acute emotional trauma.
[laughs]
- Yellow. Then be brutal.
Pill first.
- Brutal?
- With your critique.
- Oh, 138. Yes. Um Very good.
Very, um wet.
- Not too wet for you?
- No.
- No, I don't know.
For me, personally,
actually, it's kind of,
just the right amount of wet.
- Bernard, did you see
my feelie?
- [scoffs]
♪
- I will never forgive you.
- I wanted to. I really did.
But there were
♪
[dispenser clicks]
- Orange is the color
of forgiveness.
[dispenser clicks]
- And red.
- Not funny.
No, don't take them togeth
- You're my friend.
♪
- So who's up there?
- Helm Watson.
Wilhelmina Watson?
Director of the Pleasure Bomb.
She's a visionary. Alpha Plus.
- Oh, Alpha Plus.
Big time. Like Bernard.
[people snickering]
So what are you, uh
What are you all doing in here?
- We were banished.
- Banished? For what?
[dispensers clicking]
[dispenser clicks]
- [chuckles]
- Did my water haptics
completely revolutionize
the medium and create
an experience
unlike anything
anyone has ever felt?
Yes, obviously.
But that's not the point, is it?
- Isn't it?
- No.
No, Bernard.
No, it's not.
Because they want it all again.
They're clamoring, now,
and I have to give it to them.
But bigger, better, more.
I don't know more.
What if I can't? What
- Well, you will.
You always do this to yourself.
- And no one helps me.
Surrounded by these people.
These Epsilonic cowards.
They talk about me.
They do. I hear them.
They want me to fail.
Zoe, that pneumatic little Beta,
spying for Marco Hoover.
- Oh, stop it.
- Oh, yes,
and I have to announce
Pleasure Bomb 139 tonight.
I barely have a concept.
All I have is
[gasps]
- You all right?
Don't. Don't talk.
Oh, this is very good soma.
- Soma is soma.
- Don't talk.
Sorry, I thought
I was having an
- Oh, no.
- Never mind. I'll do it later.
- Helm.
- Yes?
- I've brought you something.
[soft piano music]
- So let me get this straight.
So she just says some stuff
and waves her hands,
and you do all the work?
- I just calibrate the haptics.
- Right, but the haptics
are the whole thing.
You just told me.
- The haptics
create the sensations.
Like
The way your skin constricts
when you plunge into water.
- You're doing it again.
You're changing
the subject, Zoe.
- I am?
- Yes, you're being very
- Welcoming.
- [laughs]
- Warm. Stimulating.
- [laughs]
You're Beta, right?
- Of course.
- Do you ever want
to be an Alpha?
[dispensers clicking]
- Everyone wants to be
what they are.
- Can we Get you anything?
- Trying to have a conversation
here. Thanks.
- Soma fizz?
- Sure. Bring us
a couple of those.
- Two soma fizzes.
- You know, it seems like
the Alphas
have it pretty good. I mean
- Betas have it better.
Every night's a party.
- Yeah, but don't you
get tired of that?
- Anything else?
- You know what I would love?
Is for you to get it yourself.
[dispensers clicking]
- [laughs] You want me to
But I'm I'm a Gamma.
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah, but that's the Delta,
that's
- It would make me super happy.
[dispenser clicks]
Where I come from,
everybody wants to be on top.
- Where's the fun in that?
Alphas sit around all day,
worrying about the social body.
If I wasn't a Beta,
I honestly don't know
what I'd do.
- Why do you have
to be anything?
- Stop.
[dispenser clicks]
You can't.
I-I mean, we, we don't talk.
Like this.
- Talk like what?
- Well, like you're talking.
[dispensers click]
- You got a problem
with the way I talk?
- Well. We're not Savages.
- Get up.
[tense music]
Get up, you Beta Minus
motherfucker.
Stand up!
♪
Let's go.
- Where are we going?
[clattering]
[glass shatters]
- You. Clear these.
- [laughs]
Relax, I'm just
fucking with you.
[dispenser clicks]
- What did you do?
- Me?
- Is that what I think it is?
- Helm, this
- I know you.
- You do?
- You upstaged my feelie.
I loved it.
Something unexpected at last.
I've never seen anything
pull focus like that.
- Thanks.
- I rescued him.
- Yeah, you and I,
we're going to
What's that word?
The Savage one?
- Fuck.
- We're going to fuck.
Oh, I love that.
- What?
- Right now.
Best idea I've had today.
- Uh, Helm, a word?
- What?
- John is still adjusting.
And you have to understand
that sex, for Savages,
it's, um
It's an exertion.
Yeah, no, it takes
an emotional toll.
They need preparation time,
recovery, it's
Well, it's a deficiency.
But John, I'm sure,
would like to come
to your party this evening?
- Yes. You will bring him.
A sensation for my sensation.
- Your what?
- Oh, it's just a party.
- You're adorable.
Go away.
I have to work.
- Ah. John.
["Fur Elise" playing]
♪
- Why are you all
just sitting there?
- You banished us. Remember.
- No.
Now get to work. All of you.
Except you.
♪
You get the fuck out.
[music flourishes, ends]
- Is she serious?
- Everyone here just does
what feels good, John.
What was that commotion
back there?
Everyone seemed kind of
out of sorts.
- They just fell.
It was funny.
Shit just falls down sometimes.
- No, it doesn't, John.
This is your home now.
It's really important
that you learn our ways.
Make connections.
- I'm not like you people.
- Linda wanted
this place for you.
She wanted you to become part
of our social body.
[dispenser clicks]
[softly]
John.
You just need
to embrace this place
and let it be wonderful.
[soothing music]
♪
- [breathing heavily]
[tense music]
♪
[grunts]
[sobs]
[grunts]
[dispenser clicks]
♪
[soothing music]
[dispenser clicks]
♪
[dispenser clicks]
[dispenser clicks]
[footsteps approaching]
- John.
John.
What's that?
What are you wearing?
- These are clothes.
- Didn't you print the outfit?
It came with the invitation.
This. Yeah.
You you need to put this on.
- This is more my look.
Gary made it.
He likes me better in this.
- Who's Gary?
- This is Gary.
- John,
Gammas don't have opinions
about this sort of thing.
- Sure they do.
You just never think to ask.
Gary, tell him what you said.
- No, don't put Gary
in this position.
- Gary has a great eye.
Tell him what you said, Gary,
go on.
- John is too long-waisted
for that jacket.
[John claps]
- Gary, could you just give
a moment, please?
- [stammers]
- It's okay. It's okay, Gary.
Just Thanks.
You need to put this on.
I understand that
you're intimidated and unsure,
but there's a way of doing it
- You're intimidated and unsure.
And you look stupid
in that thing.
Mm-hmm.
Look, you told me
to embrace it, right?
- Mm-hmm.
- I'm embracing it.
- Hmm.
- Let's go.
You look great. Come on.
[upbeat electronic music]
[indistinct chatter]
- I imagine you wished you'd
changed your clothes now, huh?
- Nope.
- You know,
if you had your optic in,
you'd be seeing shooting stars.
[imitates explosion]
♪
Two greens, please.
[pounding electronic music]
♪
- There you are.
[mellow electronic music]
Down there, it all
seems random, just a party.
You have to come up here
to see the design.
They think I just chose
their costumes.
But when I did,
I chose more than that.
Who they'd meet.
Who they'd touch.
♪
It's fun to play Indra
sometimes.
- What's Indra?
- Indra's everything.
The system. The connection.
Indra made all this.
Except that.
I made that.
If you'd have worn what I sent,
you'd have blended in perfectly
with that pattern just there.
- Well, I hope I didn't ruin it.
- Oh, I like that you keep me
on my toes.
♪
- So you made 139
of these things?
Must be hard to keep coming up
with ideas.
What's this one about?
- Firefall. It's about freedom
from gravity.
You know, the moon,
space, floating.
And there's fire.
- Hmm.
But what happens?
What's what's the story?
- You're on the moon, you float,
you fall into a crater,
and there's fire.
♪
What?
Oh. And there's an orgy
at the end.
- That's That's not a story.
♪
- I'd need three blues
to go it alone with a Savage.
- There's something
unrestrained about him.
Don't you think?
Like he could snap
at any second.
- Yeah, well,
maybe he'll snap you.
♪
His name is John.
And he's here as my guest.
Not as your entertainment.
- He's your Savage?
- Yes. I rescued him
from the Savage Lands.
- Does he eat a lot?
♪
- He does, actually.
[laughter]
He does.
Always eating. Loves it.
Can't get enough of it.
In fact, for someone who eats
as much as he does,
you'd expect him to be
well, larger than he is.
[laughs]
♪
- And the people
who had hurt the boy,
they suffered
for how they'd treated him.
But still he wasn't free,
because the demon had
to be paid.
So she came for his mother.
- What did the boy do?
- Well, they ran.
The demon close on their heels,
they ran until they reached
the very edge of the kingdom.
- They escaped. Good.
What?
What? Speak?
- They were trapped.
'Cause just beyond
that frontier,
there was a river of fire.
That's where she caught them.
She grabbed the boy,
lifted him over her head
♪
And threw him in the fire.
- [gasps] What?
No.
- Yeah.
- He burned? Dead?
- That's what they thought.
But what the demon didn't know,
what none of them could know,
is that the boy
was born in that fire.
He couldn't be hurt by it.
- Not dead.
- Not dead.
Transformed.
♪
- He's a demon too.
- That's actually really good,
I didn't
[panting]
[stirring music]
♪
[distorted overlapping vocals]
♪
- What are we doing?
- Why do they do it?
Why don't we?
- We clean up.
Now.
♪
[both panting]
[both breathing heavily]
♪
[soothing music]
♪
- Jealousy. Bigotry.
Family. Modesty.
Equality. All the destabilizing
ills of their kind.
Some of these are even
celebrated in the Savage Lands.
So as an Alpha Plus,
I have to consider his
Conditioning. Hi, Henry.
- I came to see
what all the fuss was.
Imagine my surprise.
It's you, Marx.
- Bernard.
- John.
- Whew. Good party.
- I you should meet
- Hello, John.
Nice to meet you.
My name's Henry.
I'm the Director
of the Bureau of Stability.
- Okay.
- Everyone wanted it.
Bernard wanted it,
didn't you, Bernard?
And I never said anything
about wanting it,
but perhaps that's why I got it.
Don't you think?
♪
- So he's, like, your boss?
- Apparently.
- What a dick.
[pounding electronic music]
♪
Where are you going?
- Home.
- Fuck it.
- Hey, wait, what are you doing?
- You think I'm gonna
let that guy
talk to my friend like that?
It's humiliating.
- Well, he was just
stating facts.
- The fact is, he just
squashed you
like a bug in front
of all those people.
You're just gonna take that?
- What am I supposed to do?
- You're supposed to punch him
in the face.
- [laughs]
We don't do that here.
- You said this place
is all about
doing what feels good, right?
- It is.
- Okay. Well, I'll tell you
something, Bernard.
You pop that smug little twat
in his grill,
you're gonna feel fucking great.
♪
- Yeah?
Well, what what would I do?
- Make a fist.
- Make a what?
- Make a fist. I'll show you.
Do it.
Thumb on the outside. Kay.
Yeah. Bend your knees. Okay.
- Well, don't I just
- No. You do not.
No. Pay attention.
You're gonna turn your hips
And thrust off your back foot.
Boom! Like that. That's where
the power comes from.
- Whew!
- Whoa!
- Yeah. Whew!
- Whoa!
- Boo!
- Okay.
You don't need to do the sound.
Just whew!
- Shoo!
- Whew!
- [grunts]
- Whew!
- Yes. Okay.
- Kind of. It's close.
- [stammers]
Wait, will I be okay?
- What?
Might hurt your hand a little.
What the fuck, Bernard?
- Well, how much is a little?
- He just shat all over you.
- All right. Sorry. I know.
- Listen to me.
I know guys like that, okay?
If you let him treat you
like you don't matter,
then you just never will.
♪
That's not like that.
- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
[person hollering]
[pounding electronic music]
♪
- Marx,
what are you doing there?
[grunts]
[crowd gasps]
- [quietly] Ow.
♪
- [groans]
- Ah. Ow.
[crowd clamoring]
♪
[ethereal music]
♪
- Some view.
[chuckles]
- Why'd you do that?
Was it John?
Did he
- No, it was me.
I think.
It's not quite as good
as the real thing, is it?
- No.
- Do you
Do you want to go back in
- [sighs] No.
[both laugh]
- Me, neither.
♪
- If we could just
stay right here
- I know.
- We can't.
- I know.
Maybe just a little longer.
[upbeat electronic music]
♪
- It's ready.
- What are you waiting for?
Do it.
[lively electronic music]
Firefall.
♪
[music fades]
- The stone
that seemed inconsequential
meant everything.
And you missed it.
- You always were a sore loser.
- Sometimes there's nothing
to be done.
The truth is entropy.
Matter changes states.
Systems decay.
Societies fall.
People die.
- Your move.
- What do you think it means?
That you can't beat me anymore.
[contemplative music]
♪
I think it means
there's less of you today.
Ending is better
than [pieces clatter]
[tense music]
- [breathing heavily]
♪