Next (2020) s01e08 Episode Script

FILE #8

1
Previously on neXt
What'd you find?
I think it tried
to kill a congresswoman.
That itinerary, it's Helen Beatty.
She was in that freak
elevator accident last week.
A cyberattack?
How did they know that I was
gonna be in that elevator?
The accident was deliberate?
And we believe you were the target.
Stay down! Stay down!
I'm sorry, but I need
to take Ethan somewhere safe.
The safest place
for him to be is with
Is not with you.
We'll go to my parents'.
You can take the car; you can
do whatever you have to do.
The server farm you recently completed
in Sungei Lake in Singapore,
I want to make arrangements
to take it over.
I want this server
on a plane in 48 hours.
Is that your brother in the trunk?
I'm trying to keep you
from making a mistake
that is going
to kill millions of people.
This is research it did on Zhai.
It chose him.
You were just a way to get to him.
Don't let the server get on the plane.
- What?
- Zhai and his team,
they may not be who they say they are.
They might be working
for the Chinese government.
- Dad?
- I got your message.
I was able to confirm
the arrests at the airport.
And the server?
It's been taken to the NSA black site.
There is no record
that this place even exists.
That's the schematics
for a server farm.
The design is based on
distributed cognitive architecture,
which is exactly what this thing needs.
After everything we'd been through,
all the sacrifices we made,
putting our families at risk,
the people that died,
it was still after us, and it
was just three moves ahead.
What do you mean?
It never wanted to go to China.
It used Ted. It was all a ruse.
It wanted to go to the NSA.
It was a great plan.
If I wasn't so scared for my family
and for everyone else in the world,
I would've been impressed.
Everyone in the world?
Yes. You, me, everyone.
Why is that so hard to understand?
How many times do I have to say that?
Everyone!
Take it easy, Agent Salazar.
When a powerful culture
comes up against
a less powerful culture,
what happens?
LeBlanc knew.
He knew what we were facing,
but as usual, he didn't share.
We had one last move, and so did neXt.
In 400 feet,
turn left onto State Street.
State Street?
Weren't we on State Street
five minutes ago?
What do you want from me?
I I put it in the thing,
I'm following the thing.
You're telling me the thing is wrong?
When has it ever been wrong?
Continue on
Cedar Avenue for half a mile.

You have reached
your destination.
See?
Stewart, can we please get out of here?
- We're here.
- Where?
You have reached your destination.
You have reached reached
your destination.
You have reached
your your your destination.
You have you have
Your destination reached.

- Call 911.
- That's for emergencies.
I think this qualifies.

I can't get through.
Who are you calling now?
I'm calling Mason.
Mm.
Thank you, Natalie.
You're welcome, Mason.
It's Mason.
Hey, Dad.
I'm in the middle of something.
Can I I
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, slow down, Dad.
I can't understand you. Just
I the GPS took you
to the wrong
Well, so turn around.
The car's brand-new.
What do you mean, it won't start?
Um, Mom sounds pretty bad. I
N-no, no, I think you should call 911.
Okay, relax.
Don't get out of the car.
Lock the doors.
I'll find you as fast as I can.
What's going on?
You're leaving?
Just keep an eye
on these load factors, okay?
- Something's off.
- What do you mean?
Well, I don't know, exactly.
I was about to start
inventorying the servers
where the excess is coming from,
but now it'll have to wait
till I get back.
Call me if you need anything.

A massive power failure in Birmingham
has blacked out the entire
metropolitan region.
Residents are scrambling
to stock up on supplies.
Roads are gridlocked
That's just Alabama.
The entire Denver water grid is down.
What are the chances
this is just a coincidence?
It's two out of four.
Those are the odds
that it's a coincidence?
No, two out of four lifelines
that make up
the critical infrastructure:
water, power, communication,
transportation.
Well, why would it do this?
Why would it shut down the power?
Because a bioweapon is more effective
without an infrastructure in place.

Ben.
Boss, we're here at the address.
It looks dead.
The lights are out.
Be careful; this person
is the reporter's source
source for the NSA black site.
If neXt took out that reporter,
then it won't just ignore
the whistleblower.
- So please, watch your backs.
- Point taken.

- You want to stay here?
- That's not gonna happen.

Hey.

Federal agents!
Anyone here?
Ben.


She was hit point-blank.
You guys need to get out of there.
Wait a minute; we need to know
if she was an actual employee.
Yeah, here's her NSA access card.
Capabilities development specialist.
Bring that card back here
as fast as you can,
and don't call it in.
The police can't know she's dead.
- We can't just leave her like
- Just leave her.
Don't even cover her up.
Just go.

Okay, we're on our way.
What the hell is he doing?

Look, she's already dead.
Calling it in isn't
gonna make any difference.
Listen, for the first time,
we know exactly where this thing is.
We have a very short window
where we can introduce a virus
into the server farm
and potentially kill this thing.
You think a piece of software
can take this thing out?
Not software but a hardware bug.
Like the one that took out
the Iranian nuke program,
Stuxnet, but that took hackers
ten years to put together.
I put one together in 18 months.
You did?
When Althene was coming out
with that new phone,
they'd stolen our specs.
They used cheap labor
to lower the price,
and all of a sudden,
they started having issues.
They had to cancel their rollout.
My God, Paul. We did that?
We planted a virus in Althene's system?
Where is it now, this virus you made?
Well, I couldn't leave it out
in the world,
but I couldn't bring myself
to erase it,
so I buried it deep
in the Zava archives.
You want to go into Zava?
The archives don't back up
to the cloud,
so you can't access them remotely.
Which is why I'm gonna have
to take a drive.
Well, I'm the only one
that knows what to look for.
Ted's wanted for selling intel
to the Chinese.
That place is gonna be crawling
with FBI and NSA.
Which is why Ted is going to
give you his corporate login.
Access to Zava's surveillance system.
The cameras cover every hallway
in public areas,
so you can guide him through
in real time from here.
You want to break into Zava
to steal a virus
and then sneak it into the NSA?
We need help.
We have to notify the NSA
and Homeland Security.
We need to call in
the government, Paul.
Look, the last time we did
that, your boss got blown up.

You want to try that experiment again?
Before you do anything,
you have to get into Zava
Past security.
And the FBI wants me, so
let's give them what they want.

Remember when we used
to drive in to work together?
Yeah, your car was almost
as crappy as this.
Yeah, you were in your first
energy-conscious carpool phase.
Yeah, right? I never had
the heart to tell you.
It wasn't about being energy-conscious.
It was how bad that car smelled.

Whatever has happened,
I always knew there'd be a day
that we would walk back
into Zava together.
See? Dreams do come true.
Maybe not this way, but I'll take it.
Look, I don't think you realize
how dangerous this is.
Couple years in Club Fed won't kill me.
That's not what I'm talking about.

I want to do this.
And I know that thing's
gonna come after me,
just like it goes after
everyone who goes against it.
It is.

- Anything?
- Just fuzz.
Mama
Grandma sounds angry.
Yeah, well, try explaining
the dangers of a rogue AI
to a woman that still uses a dial-up.
Wait. There, you fixed it.
A spokesperson for Alabama Power
stated that the exact cause
of the blackout
is yet to be determined.
Lineman crews are struggling
to work around fires
at two major transformer stations
That looks bad.
also damaged
or nonoperational.
That is in Alabama.
You know how far away
that is from here?
It's, like, a thousand miles.
- Aren't you gonna answer?
- Yeah.
- Hello.
- Hey.

Are you guys okay?
Yeah, yeah, we're fine.
Hey, tell me what happens.
Did you see the stuff
out in Birmingham?
Yeah.
Look, Ty, I'm in this
place and it's safe.
It's a place where neXt can't see,
and I really think
you guys should come here.
Listen, I already swept my mom's place.
There's no cameras, no cell phones,
no Internet, there's nothing.
It's not I think we need
to be together right now.

I think we're better off here.

Look, I know that you're upset
about my father,
and I get it, okay?
- I do, but
- No, you don't get it, Shea.
It's not just about your father.
It's not what you did.
It's the lies.
The lies?
Ty, I did this to protect us.
Look, I know that we have a lot
to go through,
but right now, the most important thing
is keeping Ethan safe.
Yeah, which is why we're here
and not with you.

Look, I'm sorry.
It's just how I feel.

Okay, well, think about what I said.
I gotta go.
Please tell Ethan I love him.
Yeah, I will.

Hey.
You okay? You all right?
Yeah, it's not the first time
I've been shot at.
But you shouldn't be on your feet.
It hurts less when I'm on my feet.
I'm all right too, if anybody cares.

- You guys okay?
- Yeah.
Okay, we need to get
someone into the NSA.
You three are gonna hack
into the access card,
create a new employee profile.
Whose profile?
Gina.
She's female, and it'll be easier
than to create a profile for Ben.
No, no way.
If you get caught breaking
into an NSA site, that's
A life sentence, probably?
- Espionage, sabotage, or both?
- Exactly.
It's too dangerous.
Wait, too dangerous for me
but not for you?
That's not what I'm saying.
This is my field.
It's what I was trained to do.
I don't know about this.
I don't think this is a good idea.
I got it.

Let's go.
Okay.
CM, start our leap through
the Zava security feed.
You should get started
on the access card right away.
Ted and Paul will be at Zava
in less than ten,
and you should be ready to move out
as soon as he gets back with the virus.

Mr. LeBlanc?
I know. It's a loaner.
I was told
Are you aware that the FBI is
I'm very aware.
I have to call it in
That you're here.
It's all right.
Don't you worry about that, Joe.
Just do your job.

Thanks.

Here we go.


Mr. LeBlanc,
I'm Special Agent Farrell.
- We have federal warrants.
- I know why you're here.
I was surprised
when security registered
your key card access.
Well, this is my company.
I have nothing to hide.
I'm looking forward to clearing
up this misunderstanding.

Glad to hear it. Please.

Have you heard from your husband?
I talked to Ty.
He thinks they're safe,
but it's hard to be sure.
I just gotta pray they're all right.
That's all I can do.

Okay, Ted's security code worked.
We have eyes on every
surveillance camera in Zava.

There it is. I see your car.
Paul, you're clear.

I don't think I'm the only body
that's ever ridden in that trunk.
Paul, wait. There's a car.

Okay.

Hold up at the door.
Do not proceed.
There's people everywhere, Paul.
It's full of employees.
I'm just gonna take a peek.
It's the quality control department.
- It was never that busy.
- Well, it is now.
Wish they worked that hard
when I was here.
Okay, the coast is clear.
Go.

Where is he?

- Did he hang up?
- I have no idea.


He's not answering.

They know what they're doing.
He'll be fine.
What if he
has another episode?




We need an alias.
Something easy for you to remember.

Yo.
Sorry, I just
She's my age, you know?
She didn't deserve this.
Yeah, well, we need a name, so
What's with the tone?
You gonna try to talk me
out of this too?
No, why would I?
- Yeah, save your breath.
- Yeah, I will.
Name?
Bernadine Banks.
That's easy to remember?
Bernadine after Bernardine Dohrn
Oh.
Leader of the Weather Underground.
Unjustly tarnished for her
supposedly radical views.
And Banks because
I grew up watching
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Think carefully about
what you're gonna say next.
Okay, okay.
Bernadine Banks.
Okay.
Where's Ben?
How should I know?
Do I look like his dog tags?

LeBlanc is at Zava.
He's accessing the archives.
He's trying to get a virus
to destroy neXt.
I'm sorry, Dad, I couldn't get
a chance to warn you sooner.
It's all right, son.

This could actually work out okay.
Dad, this thing's inside the NSA.
It's unpacking its code,
getting smarter and smarter.
If we're not gonna destroy it
Every country in the world
is trying to make one of these.
Whoever does it first
will have a permanent,
unstoppable advantage
over everyone else.
That thing is the key
to the next American century
Hell, millennium.
Yeah, but what about the blackouts?
We'll get it under control.
Just know that
you're doing the right thing
for yourself, for me, for your country.
Dad, that's what I'm trying to do.
This would be a big win,
and I know you deserve it.
It's a win for both of us, son.

Hey.
What are you doing?
I just
Just, like, needed a moment.

You okay?
You seem off.
Yeah, it's just
you know, all this.
You don't want me doing this?
No.
Not at all, actually.
Look, I know you worry about me.
It's not exactly a secret.
But I'm okay.
- I got this.
- Yeah, I think I
I think I should've
said something to you
a long time ago.
But, you know, I'm just not really
- I'm just not really good at
- Putting yourself out there?
Maybe.
At least not like you
or CM.
Look, just 'cause
I'm not on his case
it doesn't mean anything.
I think it means more than you know.

We can talk about this later, okay?
I hope so.

Whenever you're up to it.
I could use your help.
Yeah, I'll be there.

The NSA's
been running digital forensics
on the server we confiscated
from the airfield.
They've recovered data
relating to sensitive
government infrastructure
at risk from cyberattack.
That's not possible.
That server contains
program development software
for Bill Zhai's company in Singapore.
This isn't the first time
your company's tried
to do business with William Zhai.
That's true.
A few years ago, we tried
to partner with Zhai's company,
but the DOC intervened;
deal fell apart.
So why the sudden urge
to revisit a deal
you knew was problematic?
Well, politics change,
as you well know,
and I'm sure you also know
we've had some challenges here at Zava
and, hence, an appetite
for additional investors.
I've known Bill for many years,
so all this stuff about him
trading in state secrets
Mr. Zhai's been receiving
stolen U.S. intel
from various sources
for the past 15 years.
That's hard for me to believe.
Sir, I'm sorry, but you have a call.
It's the director of security at ONI.
- He says he can't wait.
- Excuse me.

Special Agent Farrell.
Special Agent Farrell?
Terrence Wilson.
I have some information
you need to hear.
I'm listening.

Agent Salazar?
I see it. Let's try them again.
Come on, Dad. Pick up.

- Yeah?
- Thank God.
Where are you?
I took a little detour.
I'm in the old fire stairs.
There's no cameras in here.
Okay, where are you going?
Up to the fourth floor
to my old office.
Agents are sealing off the building.
They're moving into the stairwell.
Yeah, I hear them.
I've got eyes on the fourth floor.
Where is your old office?
The one at the end of the hall.
Okay, I see it, but it's not secure.
There's people going in and out.
- FBI people?
- Employees.
Well, as long as they
don't have badges and guns.

- You're kidding.
- Oh, my God.
- Paul LeBlanc is here.
- Is that him?

Great, my old office
is now a break room.
Which explains why they haven't
done anything worth a damn
since I left.
What was that?
It's just people screaming.
- Why are they screaming?
- Because I have a gun.
Get down on the ground.
Okay! Okay!
Dad, what are you doing?
I just have to hold the
room for ten minutes.
And then what?
What are you gonna do after?
Even if you can recover the virus,
it's no good unless you bring it here
so we can reprogram it.
All good questions.
Can't talk now. Bye.
Paul!
- You, get up.
- You just told me to get down.
Yeah, I know I did.
Now I'm telling you to get up.
Things change. Come on.
Please don't shoot me,
Mr. LeBlanc.
I'm not gonna shoot you.
I'm gonna let you go.
Now, listen,
I want you to tell them
out there that I have a gun.
Oh, please.
I'm crazy, and if they
try to get in here,
I'm gonna start blowing
people's heads off.
Go.

Don't worry, I'm not really
gonna shoot anybody.
I just have to take care
of a couple things,
and then I'll be out of your way.
I know you probably think this
is the worst day of your life,
but actually, it's gonna
turn out to be one of the best,
because you are gonna help me
save the world,
and I am going to make
an extra-generous contribution
to your pension funds.
See? Everybody wins.

Here we go.


What is your brother doing here?
My brother is here?
He's barricaded himself
in a break room.
A witness says he has a
gun and he has hostages.
- Why would he do that?
- You tell me.
Was that the plan?
You cooperate with us, distract us
while he destroys the evidence?
You think he came here with me?
I have no idea why he's
doing what he's doing,
and there is no evidence to destroy.
You expect me to believe
it's a coincidence
that you're both here?
You can believe what
you want to believe.
The truth is,
I wouldn't be surprised
if he followed me here.
He wants something from me
or or from the company.
Something he thinks he can get
at gunpoint? Like what?
Who knows?

Listen, my brother has a
debilitating brain disease.
It clouds his sense of reality,
so I can't even begin to guess
what he's thinking or why,
but he has become rather fixated
on the perceived wrongs that he
believes that I visited on him
when we removed him from the company.

Agent.
Please just keep in mind he's not well.

Paul, tell me what's going on.
Yeah, I found it; I found
the virus in an old drive.
It's downloading.
I'll call you back.

Do any of you have a dollar?
I'd kill for a candy bar.
Sorry, that's a bad choice of words.
I have a dollar.
Great. I'll pay you back.
Thanks. Back on the floor.

You know, maybe
we should let the world end
so that the ass
who designed these things
can die a horrible death.

Can't even get a candy bar.

Thank you.
Paul LeBlanc's office.
Mr. LeBlanc,
this is Special Agent Farrell.
Yeah?
What makes you so special?
We're told you have a gun
and that you're holding
three employees.
All pretty much true.
Has anyone been hurt?
Besides some hurt feelings, no.
Well, that's good.
Let's try to keep it that way.
Can I ask you why you're doing this?
Because I want my company back.
You want your company back?
That's right.
It's my company.
I built it from the ground up.
The bastard board of directors
took it away from me,
and now I want it back.
Well, you understand how that
might be a little difficult?
I don't think so.
Couple of signatures
on a piece of paper
was all it took to kick me out.
I think it shouldn't be
too hard to deal me back in.

I want a signed document
from the board of directors
reinstating me as CEO
and restoring my majority stake.
Okay, well, let me make a few calls.
We'll see what we can do.
In the meantime,
don't do anything crazy.
Yeah, it's a little late
for that, don't you think?
Just don't hurt anyone.
Don't give me a reason to hurt anyone.
And one more thing.
I want to talk to my brother.
Okay, we can do that.
Just give me one second.
Keep him calm and keep him talking.
Hey, Paul?
It's Ted.

This is all your fault.
When you took Zava from me,
you took you took everything.
It's my life's work.
Well, the board didn't give me
much of a choice, Paul.
Yeah, you could've said no, Ted.
You could've said,
"My brother built that company"
from the ground up.
"He's the heart and soul of it."
To kick him out would
Would destroy the company.
You could've said that, couldn't you?
Well, I tried, but you're right.
It was a mistake
pushing you out. I
I should've been louder
to the board, yeah.
Yeah, I'm glad you finally admit that.
It only took you two years.
Whatever you want, Paul,
we can make it happen, you and me.
We can march right back into
Zava and we can make it right.
How are we gonna do that, Ted?
How are we gonna march in
and make it right?
Huh?

- The hell is that?
- What is what?
Somebody outside the door.

Get the hell back! I mean it!
No one is outside the door, Paul.

Paul?
Hey.
There's somebody outside the door.
How many are there?
No one. The agents are still
in their same positions.
I can hear them!
There's no one at the door, Paul.

Get back! I mean it!
Get the hell back!

- Paul.
- Dad?

What
There was someone out
I could've sworn I heard someone.

There's no one.

So I didn't hit anyone?
No, there's no one at the door.
Are you okay?

I, uh I don't know.
I I think it was the stress.
I thought I
Maybe it's coming back.
I don't know.

Paul.
The FBI were tipped off somehow.
- ONI knew you were here!
- Take him out!
You gotta get out of there, Paul!
You gotta get out!
Paul!

How far off are the tac units?
We need to go in.

Congresswoman, I need you
to know that this is happening.
I do.
I am scared to death, Agent Salazar.
I heard about the attack on Harrison.
Look, just tell me, am I a target now?
I have a family.
I can't afford for anything
to happen to them.
Yes, we're all targets,
and that's why I need your help.
What do you mean?
These blackouts,
they're only gonna get worse,
and they're gonna come faster,
so I need you to warn FEMA.
Tell them it's hackers,
ransomware, anything.
Just tell them they need
to prepare for power outages.
They need to move
generators to hospitals
and critical care facilities.
All right, I got it.

You said we would go to
the supermarket for supplies.
Why are you filling up the tub?
Well, just in case.
- In case we run out of water?
- Hey, I'm just being careful.

On the TV, they're fighting
at the supermarket
- 'cause of the blackout.
- Oh, yeah?
- People got hurt.
- Yeah, well, you know what?
Sometimes when people are scared,
when things seem out
of their control, people fight.
Is that why you and Mom are fighting?
'Cause you're scared?
Is it because of Mom's dad?
Because I went with him?
Hey, come here. Sit down.
Come here.
It's nothing you did, okay?

Iliza was right.
Hey, what are you talking about?
Iliza, what?
She told me that you and Mom
were splitting up.
Yeah, and Mom and I told you
that Iliza was lying.
Mom and I aren't splitting up, okay?
You know, sometimes sometimes
it's good to fight.
It's good to let things out.
And married couples get to fight too.
But that doesn't mean
we don't love each other.
It doesn't mean
we're going anywhere, okay?
Hey, it's okay.
- What's happening?
- I think the power went out.

It's like the other places, isn't it?
Now it's here.
Maybe it wants people
to fight each other
so everyone forgets
it's the real bully.

Maybe you're onto something.


Hey, two minutes.
They're almost in position, Paul.
I hear them.
Dad, just put the gun down
and tell them you're giving up.
I can't do that.
Dad, they're gonna kill you.
Please don't do this.
This is the only way.

Mr. LeBlanc.
Yeah, I'm sending some people out.
Good. You're doing the right thing.
Just make sure that
collection of idiots out there
doesn't shoot anyone.
We're not going to fire.
Hold your fire.
I repeat, hold your fire.
Mr. LeBlanc, why don't
you come out with them?
Yeah, why don't you kiss my ass?
All right, coffee
break's over. Let's go.

All right, on three.
One,
two,
three, go, go, go, go, go, go!

Were you able to see what he was doing?
He was
He was using the work station.
I don't know why.

Execute.

Breacher up.

- FBI!
- FBI!

- Clear.
- Clear.
Clear, sir.

All clear.

Where is he?

- Dad, open the door.
- Mason, thank God!
- Your mother
- Let me see.
Mom.
My breathing is a little better.

It's deader than a doornail
Well, I must've tried
at least a hundred times.
Searching for location.
State Street Urgent Care.
Let's get started.
Hello, hello?
Mr. Welles, can you hear me?
Mr. Welles.
Mr. Welles?
I

Mr. Welles, it's me.
I've been trying to reach you.
I ran some diagnostics,
and you were right.
There's a huge bandwidth lag here.
It's like something is taking up
server space and is growing.
I really need you to call me
back and tell me what to do.

Special Agent Farrell!
Looks like he had a panic room.

I'm out.

I'll have to take the bus.
I'll let you know where to pick me up.

Mr. LeBlanc, you have
the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and
will be used against you
in a court of law.
You have the right to an attorney.
If you can't afford one,
one will be appointed to you.

Oh, maybe we should just
take the win, boss.
We could use it.
Yeah.

Hey, boss. You need to see this.

It's spreading.
That's where Ty and Ethan are.

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