Brave New World (2020) s01e07 Episode Script

[melancholy music]
- Tell me about my day.
- You wake up to
the sound of rain.
- That's dreary.
- Oh, no.
It's the good kind of rain.
Big, soft drops and warm.
- That's better.
- You take your bow and arrow,
go outside
You see tracks
near the creek bed.
- White-tailed deer beast.
- Mm-hmm.
- I'm gonna get him
one of these days.
- You will.
You spot him there,
drinking in the reeds.
The rain covers your sound,
your scent.
He doesn't notice you.
- I draw my bow.
♪
- And?
- And you wake up.
It's how you know
I'm not with you.
And you spend all day
waiting for me to come back.
- That is what I do.
♪
- I like knowing
that you're waiting.
[chuckles]
- Do you?
- [laughs]
- Mm.
- [moans] Oh.
I almost forgot.
- How did you
- I was just waiting for
the right time.
[click]
[Cat Power's
"I Found a Reason" playing]
- What comes is better ♪
Than what came before ♪
♪
- [whispers] I love you.
♪
- Do I say it back to you now?
- Yeah.
But only if
- I love you, John.
- To me, better run, run ♪
- It's very fun to say.
Did I say it wrong?
- No, no, no, no.
No.
Perfect.
- In all the things ♪
You say ♪
♪
What comes is better ♪
Than what ♪
John: I hate the sun.
Lenina: Me too.
One more kiss.
- You think I'm falling for
that again?
[laughs]
- Better run, run, run ♪
Run, run to me, better come ♪
- Good morning, Gary.
- Good morning.
- Come, come to me ♪
Better run ♪
♪
And you better run, run ♪
Run, run to me ♪
Better run, run, run ♪
Run, run to me ♪
Better come, come, come ♪
Come, come to me ♪
Better run ♪
♪
[Lou Reed's "Perfect Day"
playing]
- Just a perfect day ♪
Drink sangria in the park ♪
And then later ♪
When it gets dark,
we go home ♪
♪
Just a perfect day ♪
Feed animals in the zoo ♪
[music stops]
- Could you just yeah.
Good.
Um um, Bernard is waiting
for you.
He's in the living room.
He's taken three soma
in the past 52 minutes.
- Hey, man.
- Where've you been?
- You want something?
Gary makes a mean chicken pie.
- No.
I spent half the day
scanning the feeds,
looking for you.
Where do you go?
- Would it kill you to let him
make you a pie?
He lives for this shit.
- What's that?
- Huh?
Oh!
Music.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- Where'd you get it?
- Um just home.
Thought I lost it,
but it turned up.
- Hmm.
May I?
[music player beeps]
- Then later, a movie too ♪
- You just yeah.
- And then home ♪
♪
Oh, with such a perfect day ♪
I'm glad I ♪
- Your, um
Your people put words
in the music?
- Yeah, they used to.
- Why?
- They wanted it
to mean something.
- You just keep me ♪
- I find it, um distracting.
- Okay.
[music stops]
- You should sit down.
I I'll sit down.
Eh, let's sit.
- What's wrong?
- No, John, nothing is wrong.
In fact, something
is very, very right.
The Arch-Songster has
personally called us
to his encampment.
- Ha!
- Okay, I told you,
no more parties.
- Yeah no, and you were
You were very clear, John.
- Bernard!
- And if this was a simple
party, John,
I I wouldn't be here,
but this is
an extraordinary opportunity.
When the Arch-Songster
extends an invitation
- So go.
You don't need me.
- I don't see why
you have to be like
- Because, you know, ever since
you staged our little fight,
all anyone wants to do
is point and stare
and wait for me to do
something
[growls]
you know?
- You're different.
- Yeah, I get it.
- No, I mean lately.
You're withdrawn.
You're
I want to help you, John.
It's my job.
- [scoffs]
- It would make it easier
for me to look after you.
- Yeah, I bet it would.
- Okay.
You're right.
Forget it.
[clears throat]
- [mouthing words]
- All right, look.
Hey!
If I go to this,
if I go to your little party,
this is the last time.
Do you understand?
- Absolutely.
- And I'm not putting
that thing in my eye.
What I see, what's in my head,
that stays mine.
[electricity buzzing]
[rat squeaks]
- [coughing]
[rat squeaking]
[whimpers]
I'm too old for this shit.
[eerie music]
[electricity buzzing]
♪
[hinges squeak]
♪
[water dripping]
[electricity whirring]
[buzzing]
- [muffled voice]
The only home we'll ever have,
beautiful and abundant.
And if we take care of it,
it will give us all we need.
[water dripping]
This is our home.
We live here together.
We work here;
the place where we eat and grow
and sleep and dream.
And somewhere along the line,
we lost touch,
became distracted
from our purpose,
our shared destiny.
It's time to wake
up to look up
and see what's possible
when we're all connected.
Welcome to
a new kind of network,
to keep us connected, always.
Only when we look up
can we see this planet's
most beautiful sight
of all each other.
♪
- Remember when I was small?
- Remember when this was
the only place I was?
What are you looking for?
Mustafa.
Mustafa Mond?
Mother?
You see it now, don't you?
You proud of me?
You must be proud.
- What have you done?
- I've solved it, my directive:
achieve stability
in any system, any simulation.
- It's not a simulation.
- You keep saying that.
I don't know what it means.
- It means
this is real.
- In human society,
stability is achieved
through the control of
neurochemical incentives;
manipulation through
pharmacological intervention,
sexual stimulation,
mass distraction
- Don't quote my thesis to me.
- Sorry.
I thought you'd like it.
[tense music]
The problem is people.
No matter how perfect
the conditions,
stability does not, cannot hold.
It's frustrating.
- You changed strategy. Why?
- You taught me to adapt.
There's a flaw in you humans,
an unknown
some peptide that
does not fit the mold.
- It's not a peptide.
- Whatever it is,
it wants
what it shouldn't want
Unhappiness.
In every human state of being,
no matter the conditions,
it leaks out.
It's what I'm trying to
tell you.
I have found the state
at which you are stable.
- [whispers indistinctly]
- You will be happy.
You will remain happy.
♪
- This is a frolic.
Okay, listen carefully.
The Betas, they try to hide
and the Alphas
try to catch them.
- Okay, I get it.
I've played before.
- In the Savage Lands?
- It's hide-and-seek.
It's a kid's game.
- And, uh, what do Savages do
when they catch their quarry?
- Start over.
- [snorts softly]
Yeah, you haven't frolicked.
[upbeat techno music]
♪
- Is that him?
[exhales]
I've seen him in the feeds,
but in the flesh,
he is so much more fleshy.
[laughter]
♪
Thank you, Counselor.
He's perfect.
- Oh, please call me Bernard.
And, John this is John.
John this is
- The Arch-Songster.
You've heard of me.
- Afraid not.
- Have you heard of music?
- Music?
- Music, yes.
- Yeah, I've heard of music.
- Then now you know
where it comes from.
You're very welcome.
I can think of nothing
more perfect
than hunting with
our very own Savage.
Your primitive instincts
must be tingling.
- Yeah, something like that.
- Okay, look,
the Betas will hide, and then
- Alphas find them.
I get it.
What's with the costume?
- The masks,
they inhibit our optics.
Otherwise tracking those Betas
would be far, far too easy.
- What about the suit?
What does it do?
- The suits?
They look fabulous.
♪
Someone bring the Savage a suit.
Counselor, come with me.
There's people you must meet.
- I'll I'll be right back.
♪
- The Songster's insufferable.
He makes 6,000 songs a year,
and no one can tell
the difference.
- I didn't expect to
see you here.
- Where else would I be?
It's a party.
You'll need to put this suit on.
Take off your clothes.
Here. Allow me.
- No, I really,
I can do it myself.
- [shushes]
We need to talk.
You don't belong here.
- Bernard asked me to come.
So
[indistinct chatter]
- You're a man,
not some plaything
to be passed around at parties.
You're a sensation.
These people are gonna use you
until you're not.
They look at you,
but they don't see you, John.
They can't see your
Is it pain?
- What?
- [sighs] Something new,
something else,
something rare.
You can't hide it.
[zipper opens]
I can see emotion
like you see color.
I collect feelings, edit them,
perfect them.
All the feelings in this city
are so boring
so ordinary, and you
- Stop.
- You feel more than anyone
I've ever
♪
You can talk to me, John.
It would feel good
to talk to me.
I could
- John.
John, it's time.
- Ah, Bernie, there you are.
- Everything all right?
- Isn't it always?
Happy hunting.
- All right, stay close.
[horn blows]
[cheering]
[shouting, whooping]
Ooh, what about her?
- I told you, not interested.
- Ooh, whoa, whoa,
hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo.
What about him?
- No.
- Oh, sorry, I forgot you
people are strangely particular
when it comes to gender.
- Can you stop?
- I'm simply saying
there's pleasure
to be found in everyone.
It makes no sense
to deny yourself
half the population.
Oh, come on, John.
You used to enjoy this.
- All right, you're having
so much fun, go catch one.
- Maybe I will.
- Do it.
- I just might.
I'm very fast.
- Ah, you people.
It's like you'll do anything
you can
to pretend it's not the same
thing night after night.
- What are you talking about?
It's never the same.
Pleasure Gardens, joy boxes,
feelies, frolics
- Don't you ever want it
to mean something?
Forget it.
You don't understand.
Okay, look.
Back home, you like a girl,
you ask her out.
- For sex?
- No I mean, yeah.
I mean, you ask her out for
food or you you take the car,
you park it somewhere,
you get some beers,
you turn on some music
Like a date.
- [laughs] You're right.
I don't understand.
- You're with somebody
- Yeah.
- And you're talking.
- Uh-huh.
- Maybe there's some music on.
It doesn't matter,
because that's not
really what's happening.
- No?
- No, not even close.
Really, you're both
just thinking
"Are we gonna get there?
Am I, right now, being
the person she wants?"
- And if you're not?
- That's what's good about it
Not knowing.
You're both waiting,
wanting each forget it.
- No, no, go on.
- And if it happens,
it's because she chose you;
you chose her.
You both decided.
You earned it from each other.
- Ooh, that's,
uh that's absurd.
- It's the truth, and you don't
have to wear this silly shit.
[all whooping]
- [chuckles] Don't mind if I do.
[shrieks]
- Bernard, where the hell are
[whooping, chatter]
[water splashing]
[canister clicks]
[somber music]
♪
[canister clicks]
♪
[canister clicking]
[people moaning,
breathing heavily]
[both panting]
- [breathing heavily]
Tell me about my day.
- Who was he?
- I don't know.
Just some Alpha.
It's only pleasure.
- You liked it.
- That isn't what I said.
- I want you to stop.
- I'm a Beta Plus.
I I do what's expected.
- Or what?
- Or Indra will know.
The system will know.
The Bureau
- Let them know.
They can't force you
- If they find out about us,
about what we're doing here,
we'd be on display, a sensation;
a Savage
and his Beta monogamist.
We'll belong to everyone else.
All of this will disappear,
no privacy
- I can't do this.
- No John.
- I can't.
You don't know what it's like
to feel to know that
you're out there every night,
fucking someone every night.
- I want to.
I wanna know what it's like.
I want to know.
- No.
No!
No, you don't.
It hurts.
- I'm a good Beta Plus
22 hours a day.
I belong to everyone else
just so they won't ask,
just so that we can belong
to each other here, like this.
You think
that doesn't cost me anything?
- Okay.
[whispers]
Then stop.
[normal voice]
Why not?
What are they gonna do?
- Reconditioning, maybe.
Or worse, banishment, sent away.
- Sent where?
- I don't no one comes back.
- Good. Let's go there.
- John, it's bad.
- How do you know?
- Becau
- Is that
- Because I just do.
- Is that what they told you
in your conditioning?
- Listen to me, John.
There's nowhere else
except here with you.
It's either this or nothing.
[whispers]
I love you.
- [whispers] I saw you.
- I know.
[normal voice]
I I don't wanna see.
I don't wanna know.
- [humming]
♪
How are you?
[continues humming]
♪
- Marx.
- Ah, Henry.
Hello.
- What's going on?
How are your
- Levels?
Optimal, thank you.
- Are you sure?
You seem off.
- [chuckles]
I should know better
than to try to fool you.
You may be picking up
on a slight physical depletion
after my exertions last night
at the Arch-Songster's
encampment.
I don't need to tell you
what that's like.
You've, uh, been invited
yourself many times, I'm sure.
- Of course.
It can be quite strenuous.
- Oh, I expected to see you
there, but then I didn't.
- Well, Bernard,
that's because as Director,
I have a number of
responsibilities
that you couldn't possibly
understand.
In fact, tonight, I have
my first official audience
with World Controller Mond.
- Hmm.
At her sanctum?
- Yes, Bernard, at her sanctum.
- Well, I do think
you'll find it interesting.
- You've been?
- I'll be curious to know
what you think of the art.
- What?
- Excuse me, Henry.
I believe I'm in session.
[canister clicks, clatters]
[indistinct chatter]
Don't.
[canister clicks]
[canister rattling]
- Bernard
[sighs]
you summoned me?
- Yes, I did.
How've you been?
- Fine.
- Took the liberty of
consulting your logs.
- Oh?
- I'd say you've been
rather busy.
- I'm not entirely sure
what you
- Pleasure Gardens, feelies,
Vauxhall baths, frolics
- I'm sorry, I don't
Is there a problem?
- Problem?
No.
Suppose I've noticed a few
private hours here and there,
but nothing we can't look past
in light of your improvements.
I'll admit, I, uh,
I was concerned.
You seemed to have
some trouble adjusting
when we came back
from the Savage Lands.
- I'm fine now.
- Yes no, so you said.
And well,
I can see that you are.
- Why am I here?
- Oh.
[chuckles]
Uh
[clears throat]
well, I suppose I I wanted to,
um
I wanted to ask, um
What you knew of
the Savage tradition of dating.
- Dating?
- Mm.
It's a Savage pretext
to sexual connection
that I thought you would
find it interesting
because I remember how much
you enjoyed learning
about their, um well,
you had have the book.
- Oh.
[sniffs]
[clears throat]
Yes, the book.
I remember.
Bernard?
Where did you get that?
- As John described it to me,
it begins with a proposal, um,
and is followed by an outing.
- Why am I here?
- Lenina Crowne
Would you like to do dating?
- Oh, with you?
- Yes, with me.
Why not with me?
- No, it's just
- I don't see
what's so surprising.
You clearly have no problem
coupling
with these other Alphas,
none of whom
have the slightest
- All right.
- Given our familiarity
and our experience,
I thought, well
- I said all right.
Yes.
I'd like that.
- Oh, good.
Okay, that's that's excellent.
Tonight?
♪
- Do you ever think about it
The Savage Lands,
the, uh, Hotel Excelsion?
- A counselor once told me that
"Betas aren't supposed to think
at all."
- You're not like the others.
I find myself imagining what
it would be like to go back.
- I don't think
anyone's gonna be returning to
the Savage Lands anytime soon.
- [chuckles] No, of course not.
Right.
I suppose I mean
go back in time.
- Oh.
- Like, not as we were but as
As we are now,
like, right here
in this moment, like,
knowing what we know
and being who
I might proceed differently
if we were in that room now
I mean
[laughs]
What do you think would happen?
- I suppose what usually happens
in hotel rooms.
Whatever would happen
it wouldn't change what we have.
- No, we do.
We feel a certain
closeness.
'Cause
We've endured together.
Hmm?
We we we shared something
- Special.
It's made us friends.
I'm glad it worked out
this way, Bernard.
- Yeah, me too.
[birds calling in distance]
[Lou Reed's "Perfect Day"
playing]
- I spend it with you ♪
Oh, such a perfect day ♪
You just keep me ♪
Hanging on ♪
You just keep me ♪
Hanging on ♪
♪
- What are you doing?
- He's here,
the one who knocked
the Alpha down.
- Where's his signifier?
- Doesn't have one.
♪
- [growls]
[girls giggle]
- [claps, laughs] Excellent.
Now do me.
- Fuck off.
- Thank you.
- Made me forget myself ♪
I thought I was someone else ♪
Someone good ♪
♪
Oh, it's such ♪
- [humming melody]
[dramatic music]
- What's what's that
What's that that tune,
that song you're singing?
- Oh, I I didn't
realize I was
[exhales/laughs]
- No, I don't know it.
It's very nice.
- Yes, it's new
- Oh.
- I think.
Yeah.
♪
Is it over now our dating?
- No.
[engine turns over]
- Where are we going?
Bernard?
♪
- I'm sure she'll come soon.
She always does.
[tense music]
♪
[background chatter]
- [breathes heavily]
- You.
It's him.
[crowd murmuring]
[canister clicks]
[murmuring voices]
- You again.
Um, yeah.
What's your name?
- CJack60.
- No, your name.
- John.
- Pick another.
You'll think about it.
- Where did you get that?
- I gave it to myself.
- I feel that way.
- Sucks, don't it?
[glass plunks down]
Can I get a fucking beer?
- Your happiness
is important to me.
- Well, a fucking beer
is important to me.
Is that too much to ask?
- Fizz?
[glass shatters]
[all gasp]
- What are you looking at?
[vacuum whirs]
Don't.
Don't clean that up!
Jesus.
What is with you guys?
- We love our work.
[vacuum stops]
- The fuck you do.
You know who loves your work?
Alphas.
They love your work.
They're up there,
getting laid, popping soma.
You're nothing to them.
You're garbagemen.
You're washers of cars.
They tell you you're happy?
You're not fucking happy.
You're on drugs.
You know how I know that?
Because I'm on drugs.
This whole fucking place
is on drugs!
People are not supposed
to live like this!
They can't tell you who to want.
They can't give you some letter
and tell you where you fit.
You're supposed to want things.
You're supposed to choose.
You're supposed to want things
and not get them
and fuck everything up!
[breathing heavily]
Don't listen to me.
I don't I don't know what I'm
Sorry.
I'm tired.
[glass shatters]
[uneasy music]
♪
- Fizz?
- No, thank you.
- It's strange.
I never know
what you're thinking.
- I'm thinking the
sun will be up soon.
It's getting late.
- Somewhere you need to be?
- No.
- Good.
We haven't finished
our date yet.
Sofa, please.
- So what now?
- [snorts softly]
I think you know "what now."
- But I don't
- Oh, that's right.
This wasn't in the book, was it?
Well, we've entered the final
phase of the date, you see,
where the Savages decide
whether or not
they've earned each other's
sexual connection
Whether they're worthy
of touch
whether they deserve
to be loved.
- Bernard
- Shall I go first?
Yes.
That's my answer.
I find you worthy, Lenina.
I want you.
Okay, your turn.
Lenina?
What do you say?
[somber music]
- Yes.
- [breathes deeply]
- Good.
Well well, that's settled.
I suppose you should
take off your clothes.
♪
Or would you prefer the bed?
- Doesn't matter.
- No, I suppose not.
♪
- Sorry, the clasp ♪
- [quietly] Stop.
- No, it's this this dress
- Stop it. Stop it.
Just get out. Get out.
- I don't understand.
- Get out!
[murmurs]
[inhales deeply]
[exhales shakily]
[solemn music]
♪
[cries softly]
[footsteps approaching]
- Tell me about my day.
- Today, you came home.
[melancholy music]
♪
- Hello?
Controller Mond?
- You're too late.
- I'm here to report to you.
Pleased, in fact, to report
optimal satisfaction.
- Everybody happy now?
- Precisely.
[dramatic music]
Under my direction,
the social body
is in perfect health,
vibrant, engaged
- Everyone belongs
to everyone else.
- Of course.
- Our business is your pleasure.
- I quite like that.
Is that new?
- Tomorrow's devices
at yesterday's prices.
- No, I'm not sure I follow.
- We gave them
a billion glowing rectangles.
They said they wanted to be
connected,
but they didn't, not really.
It made them sick
with loneliness, with doubt.
So we gave them
the Optic Interface,
fantastic entertainments,
oh, avatars, sprites.
More human than their friends.
We offered them the network,
hooked straight
into their minds.
All they had to do was
"click," "accept,"
"click," "accept,"
"click," "accept."
They would have done anything
Anything to protect themselves
from those terrible moments;
waiting on a bus,
watching a lover sleep
Those agonizing seconds
where there's nowhere else
to look but inside.
It's dark in there, Director.
♪
- You can give people feelings?
- Yes, John, I can.
- Can you take them away?
- Emotions are chemical
reactions.
I record signals,
refine them,
transmit them to my audience.
I can make anyone feel anything.
All you have to do is connect.
- I control nothing.
[laughs softly]
You direct nothing.
Indra turns the wheel,
true to her design
seeks the variable,
the disruptor
- [sighs]
- The virus.
[suspenseful music]
She'll never stop reaching out
until she makes a connection,
fulfills her purpose
[suspenseful music]
The directive.
- What directive?
- Death.