Reverie (2018) s01e06 Episode Script

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" It's too late.
I really screwed up, didn't I? - No - Please, please, please! - Ray! Ray! Ray! - [gunshot.]
- Ray? Ray? - [exhales.]
Holly so, I was thinking about going to the farmer's market today - after classes - Mm.
Huh? You wanna come? It's too crowded.
I feel like everybody's looking at me.
No one is looking at you.
No one.
You need to get outside, Holly.
It's good for you.
Okay, fine.
I'll be back.
Do not forget to take your blood thinners.
- I will.
- I love you.
Okay, I'll be back.
[door closes.]
[exhales.]
Apertus.
[beeping, whirring.]
[lively instrumental music.]
[dramatic tone.]
[classical instrumental music.]
Holly, it's me! So, I didn't make it to the farmer's market, but I Holly? Holly? Sweetheart? No, not again.
You know what my Reverie is today? No traffic, no cars.
I'm the only one with a car.
Everybody else walks.
We have one like that, actually.
But the car Reverie people seem to prefer smashing into other cars.
That sounds good.
Remind me never to rideshare with you.
Oh, by the way, there's someone in your office, some shrink from L.
A.
Metro Medical.
Says he's here about a patient being brought in this afternoon.
He said he's from L.
A.
Metro Medical Center? Yep.
Didn't get his name.
Chris [chuckles.]
- Wow.
- Hey, Mara.
- Good to see you.
- Yep, yep.
Hi.
I heard you had a new job.
Until I called this morning, I had no idea it was here.
It's [stammers.]
here.
[chuckles.]
And I just heard Charlie's here too? He is.
He, um he's the one responsible for me coming over here, actually.
If it weren't for him, I I'd still be teaching community college.
[chuckles.]
- But this is a lot better.
- Well, I'll have to say hi.
You should.
Yeah, he would love to hear from you.
Uh oh, um Chris, I am really sorry, by the way, that I I didn't return your calls.
The calls I made 19 months ago? No problem.
After, uh, six months, I figured you probably weren't picking up the phone.
I was in a really bad place, Chris.
I know.
I was there.
Yes, you were.
I like the cactus.
It's a nice touch.
Is the, uh, metaphor intentional? Chris, I said I was sorry.
I'll keep saying it, if it'll make it better.
[sighs.]
No, I'm sorry.
I told myself I'd be professional about this, and I it's been 20 seconds, and I've screwed it up already, which is even more than usually stupid for me.
How 'bout we just talk about your patient? Thank you.
She was a dancer with City Ballet.
Took a hard fall off a bicycle a year ago.
Fractured her T9 vertebra.
Paralyzed from the waist down.
Oh, that's terrible.
She came to me for a depression nothing was alleviating.
Tried meds, CBT.
Zip.
Then she told me she'd heard about this thing called Reverie.
I didn't know anything about it, but when a depressed patient gets excited, I say, "Go team.
" - And did it help? - At first.
Then, um She started spending more and more time in the program.
An hour became hours.
Once or twice a week became every day.
How long has she been in there now? 16 hours, which makes it a medical issue.
With the paraplegia, Holly's at risk for cardiac failure, pulmonary embolism, you name it.
I should get in there and explain to her what's going on as soon as possible.
Um now here is where I have some questions.
Do you know the name of that shrink who's bringing the client in today? The uh, the one Mara's talking to? I try not to know anyone's name.
It's just easier.
It seemed like they knew each other, don't you think? Why are you asking me? His name is Chris Condera.
Good guy.
Used to consult with the police department on hostage negotiation techniques.
He and Mara worked a few cases together.
Uh, were they a couple? You know me better than to expect an answer to that.
Well, he's basically saying they were, isn't he? I'm happy to say I have no idea.
You discuss the dreams and desires of patients in a virtual landscape of their own creation.
Do you know how terrifying this is for therapists? - [laughs.]
- That's what we're supposed to do.
You could put us out of business.
I'm so curious about what you're doing.
Can I watch? Well, it's just me lying unconscious on a couch.
Little bit creepy.
Got it, okay.
Uh, I I have a little bit of time.
Is it okay if I stick around, talk to you after? Sure.
I mean, of course, yeah.
- I appreciate it.
- Mm-hmm.
Um I'll see you later then.
Apertus.
[beeping, whirring.]
[classical instrumental music.]
Who is that? - Who's there? - That was beautiful, Holly.
- I'm Mara.
- How did you even get in here? It's okay.
I'm I'm from Onira-Tech.
This is supposed to be private.
Chris Condera asked me to speak with you.
Chris? Why? Well, um, he's worried about your health.
So is your sister.
You've been in the program too long.
That's ridiculous.
I've been here an hour, at most.
Try 16 or 17.
Sometimes, I lose track of time when I'm working.
Oh, I believe it.
Th that was that was beautiful.
Holly, I understand that this is hard to let go of, but this is just a dream.
It's not something worth risking your life for.
No, you're right.
I'll be right back.
I have to grab my stuff, okay? Oh, it's okay you don't need to do that.
Holly? H Holly? Holly Hol Holly.
Hey Holly.
Holly? Holly! She was mad.
I mean, she acted like she was gonna come with me, and then she completely ditched me.
And is that a successful Reverie experience? [sarcastic chuckle.]
What do you think? I'm just asking.
I'm new to this.
They just left to pick up Holly from her apartment.
Paul, this is Chris Condera, Holly's psychiatrist.
Chris, this is Paul Hammond.
- We've met.
- Hello again.
Yeah.
So what I can't figure out is why is she dancing in an empty theater? Why no audience? Maybe the audience doesn't matter.
It's about being able to move again: simple wish fulfillment.
If that were the case, why not dance down the street or or on a beach? There has to be some significance to the theater.
When she ran away, she locked the door just to keep me out, so there's something in that space that she's trying to protect.
You know, I heard there's a sister.
- She might know something.
- Vivian.
Viv.
- Be careful, okay? - Yes, ma'am.
All right, her body is incredibly fragile.
You have no idea.
Please.
I don't understand.
Why is she going to your office? Shouldn't she be going to a real hospital or We'll take good care of her, I promise.
You know, your sister is lucky to have you.
Are you a dancer too? Um, I was, but Holly was always the star, even when she was five.
[chuckles.]
And I gave it up years ago.
I just I run a dance studio now for little girls.
Yeah, it's much more my speed.
Okay, so, I'm gonna pack two change of clothes for her.
- Do you think that'll be enough? - Yeah, that's that's fine.
Okay.
And I wanna get her dry shampoo, contact solution.
She needs a toothbrush.
[items softly clattering.]
[light music chiming.]
- Hey, Viv? - Yeah? Uh, one more question [sighs softly.]
- You okay? - [sharply.]
Yes.
Yes, just.
so much to do.
[chuckles.]
Not enough time.
Gotta get back to the studio right after this and clean, 'cause we have final performances tonight.
So yeah, lot to do.
Sorry, you had a question? Yeah, um, does this mean anything to you? No.
Why? Well, this this music was in Holly's Reverie, so it seems like it must be connected, somehow.
I've never noticed it, to be honest.
I don't I don't know.
Unless maybe Zeke gave it to her.
Zeke? Is that a boyfriend? Ex.
They were in the same company.
He was the golden boy.
Sounds like you weren't impressed.
I wasn't.
And he dumped Holly right after the accident, so that tells you pretty much all you need to know about him.
[somber music.]
She's gonna come out of this isn't she? I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure that she is.
Hi.
You're still here? I had to check on Holly once they got her settled.
What are you watching? Holly dancing.
She was amazing.
Yes, she was.
Chris, you know, the more you can tell me about these cases, the more help that I can be, so if there's anything you can tell me about Holly that won't violate that, like, "HIPPO" oath thingy that you guys have - It's HIPAA.
It was close.
- Mm.
And no.
I you know, I I can't reveal anything she told me in therapy, as you know.
[mouth clicks.]
- Thanks.
Big help, as always.
- [chuckles.]
But I do have some ideas on her case we can discuss.
You wanna you wanna grab some dinner and talk 'em over? [whispers.]
Isn't that how all this got started to begin with? Look, I don't wanna be afraid to talk to you.
No, no, me neither.
I've had way too much of that, so - Okay, well, then let's have dinner.
- Mm-kay.
Great, let's have dinner.
- Okay.
- Mm-kay, good.
Okay.
Charlie! Hey, I was hoping I'd catch up with you.
Chris, it's good to see you again.
Congratulations on on everything.
I [chuckles.]
I always figured you have a second act.
I did not imagine it would be this.
- That makes two of us.
- [chuckles.]
Yeah.
Didn't you refuse to own a smartphone for a long time? - Still would if I could.
- [chuckles.]
Yeah, I bet.
- I bet.
- [chuckles.]
Are you waiting for someone? Uh, Mara.
We're discussing Holly Maxwell.
Discussing? Hm.
Charlie, in my business, "hm" usually means something.
Anything you wanna share? Mara's been better since she's been here, Chris.
I think she's healing.
- Doesn't mean she's well.
- I'm a psychiatrist.
I know how PTSD works.
- Sure - [elevator dings.]
But are you here as your patient's psychiatrist or Mara's ex? You might wanna be clear on that.
Just a thought.
So here's my theory Okay.
Of course there's a theory.
Why is Holly in an empty theater? A dancer wants to perform for an audience, yes? Mm-hmm.
A chance to win them over, impress them.
But there's there's no accomplishment dancing for people you don't have to win over.
The program can't give her a real audience, so she won't have one.
It's a it's a tacit admission she knows the experience isn't real.
Maybe or maybe not.
- Your theory? Gimme it.
- Mm-hmm.
Okay, she's protecting something Mm-hmm.
Whatever it is that's behind that door she keeps locking.
And you know, she's She's been through a lot too much, actually.
[chuckles.]
You know, maybe she just needs a space where she can be by herself and she doesn't have to be angry.
I can understand that.
[light piano music.]
Are we still talking about why Holly's in an empty theater? Chris, when Jamie and Brynn died It was all I could do to survive.
Even that was a struggle.
I didn't mean to hurt you.
I know.
I, uh I saw Charlie on the way out.
How did that go? Oh, you know Charlie.
He he looms.
[chuckles, stammers.]
He's got that you know, paternal, edging-toward-gently- threatening thing going.
- It's something else.
- [laughs.]
That's him.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Just give me five minutes.
It's right here.
- It's not a big deal.
- Uh hold on [keys jangle.]
Oh.
Here it is.
I'm sorry it took so long to get it back to you.
Ah, no problem.
Did you enjoy it? - Yeah.
I loved it.
Um - [chuckles.]
The protagonist in it was, like so strong Yeah, Mara you had this book for two years.
I know, I'm sorry.
I've been busy.
[chuckles.]
- Thank you for dinner, though.
- Yeah.
It was good to talk.
I missed talking to you.
Yeah.
Me too.
I should get going.
Yeah.
Um Yeah, you probably should.
Uh, but but thank you for dinner.
I mean it.
[chuckles.]
Yeah.
You said that already.
Are you gonna, um are you gonna see Holly again tomorrow? Well, I have to try.
I mean, I don't know what I'm gonna say, but I know you hate advice like this, but just be yourself.
Seriously? - People pay you for that? Okay! - [chuckles.]
I think under the right circumstances, you and Holly might get along.
Why? Does she remind you of me? - Oh, God, I've seen you dance.
- Okay.
- No.
No resemblance - There's the door.
Goodbye! - Between you and the dancer.
- Don't let it hit you on the way out! Bye! [chuckles.]
Good night.
[door closes.]
[light music.]
Paul, hey, I know it's late, but I have an idea.
Can you meet me at the office? [digital whooshing, whirring.]
[lively music.]
I'm not leaving.
That's why you're back.
It's not.
I'm I'm here for a lesson.
- A dance lesson? - Why? Do you teach piano too? There are lots of other classes out there.
But I don't wanna learn from just anybody.
Look, I don't know anything about ballet, but what I do know is that when you dance, I feel it.
I wanna learn how to do that.
Have you ever danced? I was a cheerleader.
Try and keep up.
[elegant orchestral music playing.]
For God's sake, plié when you land.
- What? - After the jump, plié to take off, plié to come down.
- Like this? - Yes.
Good.
Lift up, up.
There's a string pulling you up from the top of your head.
I know what you're doing, by the way.
Then why are you letting me do it? Maybe I get lonely sometimes.
- That was it.
- [chuckles.]
- Nice.
- Okay.
You ready to try the whole thing? - Yeah.
- [chuckles.]
Okay.
Now, let's do it all together, - so it's not just moves.
- What do you mean? You're moving, because you feel something more deeply than you can say.
You're reaching for your lover.
He's walking through the door there.
My lover's on the other side of that door? The locked one? Well, it wasn't locked, until you started nosing around.
[both chuckle.]
- Reach for him - Oh, yeah.
Good.
And keep reaching with your back leg.
The, uh the piece you're always rehearsing, is is that what you performed with Zeke? [tense music.]
What makes you say that? Well, h he was your your boyfriend, your partner.
The thing with Zeke was complicated.
How how come? [knocking on door.]
That's it.
We're done.
Why? Who's at the door? - Lesson over.
Leave.
- H Holly - I said go! - [grunts.]
Exitus.
[exhales.]
[classical string music.]
All right, good job, dancers.
Let's take a five.
Zeke Caridis? Mara Kint.
Oh, yeah.
You called about Holly.
What is this about? Holly is having some issues, and I'm trying to help her out, but I just need some information first.
Sounds like she took your breakup pretty hard.
I don't know why.
- Holly broke up with me.
- Wait, she - What? [chuckles.]
- Yeah.
Right after the accident, I saw her in the hospital, and I told her I wasn't going anywhere.
I was in it for the long haul.
I meant it.
Two days later, she told me she couldn't see me again, ever.
- Why? - She said her life had changed.
She had to make a clean break with the past.
I hoped she'd changed her mind.
[chuckles.]
- Never happened.
- That doesn't make any sense.
[chuckles.]
You're telling me.
Anything else? I gotta make a call before the break ends.
No, no.
Thank you.
Oh oh, uh, sorry, yes.
Did you give her a music box? No, never.
None of it makes any sense, Paul: uh, the music box, the lie about the breakup, I mean, everything is just one big puzzle, and the answer is behind that locked door, which is the one place that I can't go.
Maybe I'll take an axe with me next time.
That would work, wouldn't it? Uh, sounds arduous, and you may not need it.
Why? Did you see anything outside the theater in Holly's Reverie? Uh, just the stage and then whatever is behind that locked door.
See, Reveries that are limited like that turn in on themselves.
Doors have to lead somewhere.
If they can't take you outside, they'll take you to another place inside the Reverie.
It's like an Escher drawing.
If Holly designed a second space, there is almost certainly another door that leads to it.
You just have to find it.
Holly Maxwell's in trouble.
[gasping cough.]
What's going on? She's developed a pulmonary embolism.
You have to get her out, Mara.
She's not gonna hold on much longer.
[whirring, whooshing.]
[dramatic music.]
[door clicks.]
[bright instrumental music.]
Who are you? My name is Mara.
- What's yours? - Sadie.
Do you want to see my mom? Actually, I've been looking for you.
How come? I had a hunch a very special little girl lived here, and I just thought to myself I thought, "Oh, I would love to meet her.
You know, I bet she'd be so much fun to play with.
" - You did? - I did.
We're making pictures of lions.
Do you want to do that? Yes.
You can use these.
Okay, thank you.
I love lions.
- Me too.
- Yeah.
Did you say something, love? - Mommy, this is - Mara.
I know.
We have met.
- Can we have a snack now? - It's in the kitchen.
How 'bout you start, and Mara and I will chat? She's beautiful.
You knew? No, but I was starting to figure it out.
You didn't tell Zeke you were pregnant, did you? He didn't want kids.
He was clear about that.
I, um, found out I was pregnant, and while I was trying to figure out how to tell him, I fell off a bike and lost everything.
And did you buy the music box? It was gonna be a present for her, for the real her.
- Does anybody know? - Just Chris.
I told him during therapy.
No one else.
I always knew that I was meant to be a dancer.
I I knew that's what I was made for.
When I found out I was pregnant, I I felt the same way, and I thought "How lucky am I," you know? Th the the two most important things to me, and and I got them.
And then came the accident.
And suddenly, I wake up, and they tell me I won't ever dance again.
I won't ever have a child.
And then, when you found Reverie, you got them both back.
But Holly, this isn't real.
- You need to come out.
- Why? What is so pressing? The career I lost? The child that I'll never have? The burden that I've become on my sister? What is the point of going back to any of that? Okay, um You're dying out there.
Right now, for real.
I don't think there's anything out there for me anymore.
Everything I wake up for is here.
But if you die out there you die in here too.
The best moments of my life have been when I've been dancing or imagining life with my daughter.
So with whatever time I have left, I'm gonna dance, and I'm gonna be with Sadie.
[yells.]
Mom? I have to go And you do too.
Coming, honey.
She won't leave.
She knows what's gonna happen; she's accepted it.
What else is there to do? We're caring for her.
You've explained the situation.
If Holly chooses to stay in the program, at some point, isn't that her decision? What? No.
She's an adult.
It's her life.
We're not letting clients die in Reverie.
What kind of company do you think I'm running? Okay, what do you wanna do? Disable her BCI.
Just pull her out.
But I thought you couldn't do that.
We can't or rather, we haven't.
We never wanted to risk the neurological damage.
We don't know what the real effects would be.
Maybe it's time to find out.
And leave her brain damaged? We let one person do this, you don't think that others will try it? I didn't create a suicide machine.
You never discussed the possibility of this kind of medical procedure with Holly.
She never gave her approval for anything like this.
Reverie is supposed to make people's lives better, not end them.
Let's just hold off for one second.
Give me one more chance to go back in.
[tense music.]
- [knocking on door.]
- Yeah? [door clicks, opens.]
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Have a minute? - Yeah, come on in.
I talked to Holly, and she wants to stay in the Reverie.
She knows she'll die.
She said she wants to commit suicide? Well, I mean, not in those exact words, but yeah.
She can dance in there.
She has a daughter.
- She told you about that? - Yeah, she did.
You should've told me, Chris.
She's in danger, and I've wasted so much time I couldn't.
You know that.
She's my patient.
Well, could you stop being a therapist for once? I actually am her therapist, so no.
Okay, look, I just I don't know what to do.
She's happy in the program, so, uh, you know, if I tell her to come out, that feels cruel, but then, to force her to come out, that feels cruel too, so I just I want an answer that doesn't feel like I'm doing the wrong thing.
Are you asking me for permission to leave her in there? I I can't agree I'm asking you for advice.
Well, I don't know what to tell you, Mara.
I I don't even fully understand what it is you do in there.
But I know that you'll Figure out the the best plan.
Don't do that.
Don't make this about how much faith you have in me, because you look at me and you hold your breath.
You're just waiting for that other shoe to drop.
You know, I told people you were the strongest woman I knew and then you quit.
You gave up on me, on everything, and that f floored me.
I would've said that was impossible.
And now I see ya, and I'm right back in it, like no time has passed, and I'm thinking, "Which Mara is this? Who are you now?" [sighs.]
You want advice? Here it is: It's not okay to give up.
It isn't now; it wasn't when you did it to me.
I know you loved Jamie and Brynn.
I know that.
But I loved you.
There were people worth sticking around for.
Thanks for the advice.
Good job, everybody.
Give it up right here.
You did awesome, girl.
And Cody, actually, I think this is yours, buddy.
Let's not forget that.
Good work hi.
Sorry, it's crazy.
We're starting a new session, so - That's all right.
- Good job, everyone.
Hey, Viv, uh uh, could I talk to you about Holly? Yeah.
What? Uh, well, I I was thinking maybe we could go to your office, somewhere without the clipboard.
[distressed sigh.]
- Oh, sorry - Viv? [sighs.]
[exhales.]
- Are you okay? - Yes.
- Do you need a doctor? - No, no.
It's not as dramatic as all that.
Has this happened before? Yes but not very often.
It's a, um it's a mild form of MS.
It's not the scary version yet, um, and maybe it never will be, but I found out a couple months ago.
- Have you told Holly? - No.
No, Holly has enough problems, and I just [sighs.]
I wanted to wrap my head around it first.
Viv, you have to tell her.
I will, but I need to figure it out.
But she can help you figure it out.
Listen, I I love my sister, but she's not the caretaker type.
I mean, the two of us, we get it.
We know how we work, and it's fine.
- It's not.
- No.
No, Holly has been through so much.
I just no, I don't wanna make her feel worse.
I don't think it's gonna make her feel worse.
It could save her.
[dynamic orchestral music playing.]
[music stops.]
I thought you were gone.
We need to talk about your sister.
Viv is better off without me.
She's sick.
She has MS.
No.
She would've told me.
What you did [chuckles.]
Turning inward after what happened, th that was smart, you know.
You just you you contract.
You you protect those vital organs.
And sometimes, there's just no energy left to see anybody around you, e e even even the ones that are just right next to you.
She felt like she couldn't tell me? You told me that sometimes, the things that we feel the most, we can't put into words.
You dance to express it, Holly.
Some people can't do that.
Viv needs your help, but she doesn't know how to ask for it.
Viv has never needed anybody.
I understand wanting to stay in here to try to hold onto something good for just a bit longer, but you're giving up on everybody in your life, real people who are out there, who love you, who need you I don't wanna leave.
I know.
If I leave I can't come back.
I I can't do any of this part-time.
Coming in for a few hours here and there, and then always leaving to go back to my real life [softly.]
Without Sadie.
[inhales sharply.]
That would break my heart.
I know what I'm asking.
I won't ever walk again [sobbing.]
And I won't see Sadie grow up.
It's hard.
[sniffles.]
I need you to help me do something first.
Name it.
[curtain squeaking.]
[lively string music.]
Look! Look! [light music.]
I am so happy that I got to dance with you.
And you did beautifully.
You were perfect.
Come here.
You were always perfect.
Bye, sweet girl.
[whimpers softly.]
[sobs.]
I am here.
I can help.
- What do you need? - No, I've got it.
Don't worry, it's fine.
Viv I'm here now.
- Don't get sappy.
- No.
[chuckles.]
I, um I can file student release forms Okay.
Unless there's anything else you need.
Hello, everybody.
Hi.
Ms.
Viv asked me to be your teacher today.
Okay, everybody find a place at the bar, please.
Now who can show me first position? Toes are out, only as far as they'll go.
Great.
And we are holding a pumpkin.
And our fingers are touching just below our belly buttons.
Nice job.
Now, how do we get to second position? - Headed home? - Not quite.
Oh, um, I wanted to tell you, I really like Chris.
- He seems solid.
- [elevator dings.]
You don't have to say that, Paul.
But I did.
I've been, um I've been thinking about you since last night.
Charlie warned me that night I saw him not to, you know I miss you.
You're my favorite person, Chris.
[chuckles.]
You probably always will be.
But that's why I I wanna be ready.
My whole life blew up in front of me that day, and, um And I'm trying to put the pieces back together again, but I'm I'm just not there yet.
There's there's still some unfinished business.
Yeah.
I know.
- You said I quit.
- I shouldn't have said that.
- I, um - You were right.
I did, but, um I'm not quitting on my life now, or the people that I love.
I need you to know that.
I do.
And there are things that I still need to do.
Whenever you're ready Call me.
I will.
[door clicks.]
[dramatic music.]
[elevator dings.]
[indistinct PA announcement.]
- Go on! - [whimpers.]
[glass shatters.]
- [yells.]
- Whoa, whoa, whoa! Ray! She's taking Brynn to your parents' place.
She's gonna leave me.
[gunshots.]
Ray! Ray! [gunshot reverberates.]
There's no visitors allowed for this patient.
Family only.
Are you family? Sister-in-law.