Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams (2017) s01e09 Episode Script
Safe & Sound
1 [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[ PETER GABRIEL: "COME TALK TO ME".]
The wretched desert Takes its form The jackal proud and tight In search of you I feel my way Through the slowest heaving night Whatever fear invents I swear it make no sense Look at this guy.
Fucking cliché.
Uh-uh.
No.
Don't do that.
Please don't do that.
Mom, he's checking the registration.
Mom - I know what he's doing.
- Mom.
We have a permit to cross without scanning.
[MAN.]
Ma'am, please get back in your car.
I just want you to look at it.
I mean, just come on, look at it! Fine.
- Sir, I'm an elected official.
- Elected by who? West American citizens, choosing to live free instead of regulated.
We're here to take back our representative seats to stop the constant encroachment into our Bubbles.
- What encroachment? - Um, satellite surveillance, for one.
That has been totally debunked by I don't need to explain myself to you.
My daughter and I have a yearlong Eastern pass, and we intend to use it for all 365 days, whether you like it or not.
Good luck with her.
Thanks.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Fake nature really offsets the brutalism.
Don't worry.
We can beat this place.
Look at what they're wearing.
Hi, sheep.
This is what we're fighting.
Mindless conformity creates a willing slave class.
And now Big Tech wants us to put the chains on too.
Or maybe they just like the clothes.
Oh, please.
Those clothes? Cupcake night tonight? You can go now.
[ALARM BLARING.]
Where's your Dex? - My what? - Your Dex.
I don't have one.
Security line.
[SCANNER BUZZING.]
You're good.
Arms up.
Turn around.
You're good.
Next! You.
Mom-shirt.
Arms up.
Turn around.
Leave it on.
Keep it visible.
[WOMAN.]
MagLev bombings, restaurant shootings seems like every day, there's a new threat.
Which is why I love that my school is a certified Simi Safe Zone.
From the moment I walk through that doorway, I can finally relax, because no one can touch me.
And I'm learning at a whole new level.
For the first time, everything I need in one perfect device, tracking my past, protecting my present, preparing my future.
[P.
A.
SYSTEM CHIMES.]
[WOMAN.]
Your attention, students.
Stop by the Dex bar after class to see the latest model of T4 simulator [BOY.]
What's up, red band? - Security check! - Ooh, what's in the bag? Terrorist contraband? That's my lunch, man.
Hey, no need to steal.
We'll give it up for free.
Yeah, I'd rather not catch any diseases today.
Oh, come on.
I bet you got a good PPO.
What we've got clears up real fast.
- [P.
A.
SYSTEM CHIMES.]
- So gross.
[WOMAN.]
Your attention, students.
The meet-up for the Music 201 class Never flinch.
We're not Dexed, so there's no record of what they do to us.
Wait, wait.
I'm I'm Foster.
Hooray for you.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
[WOMAN.]
Where do you come from, Foster? [FOSTER.]
One of the Bubbles.
Orange-Morning.
[WOMAN.]
Want to show us? [ELECTRONIC BLIP.]
Could could you move it to the right a little? [WOMAN.]
Oh.
[ELECTRONIC BLIP.]
Wow.
Must be different for you.
I've always wanted to cross the Riph.
And I'm I know I have a lot to learn.
And I know I look weird.
[LAUGHS NERVOUSLY.]
Uh But I'm gonna try really hard not to be, so Yeah.
- You're cute for a terrorist.
- [LAUGHTER.]
Kaveh.
Not everyone from the other side is a terrorist.
[KAVEH.]
Most, though.
The only reason I come to school is so I don't get blown the fuck up by crazy Bubble People.
Why do so many of you want to kill us? We don't.
Back home, they just they say that's all propaganda.
Yep.
Better un-wash that brain, kid.
Enough.
Foster, you can sit.
Since you don't have a Dex, I guess take notes? Well, I don't think she should be allowed inside without one.
When did you cross over, like, two days ago? - Three.
- Yeah, how is that safe? Nobody knows where she's been.
We all know where you've been, Kim.
[LAUGHTER.]
[MAN.]
Lesson one: assemble the element radon.
[ELECTRONIC BLIPPING.]
Blue Team, great job! [BOY.]
Radon comes from decayed uranium.
Hey.
I was just kidding about the whole terrorist thing.
If you decide you want a Dex, I can help you out with that.
Oh, my my mom wouldn't let me.
Who says she has to know? [MAN.]
Ooh, sorry, Red Team.
Try again.
[ELECTRONIC BLIPPING.]
Everybody at the capital thinks I'm some sort of oblivious bumpkin.
And this so-called, uh, "consumer rights advocate" is like a brick fucking wall.
"Odin.
" This place really would've driven your dad crazy.
I'm sorry.
That was a bad choice of words, and I'm really sorry about the cupcakes.
And I'm sorry, and How how how was your day? How are you? I need a Dex.
One of those tracking things? [LAUGHING.]
Why? Well, because it's it's not just a tracking thing.
It it connects to all my lessons, which are all Oh, my God.
Of course it does.
Of course it does! You know, it's not a bad thing, all right? Kids here actually like school, and and nobody'll talk to me.
I can't do any of my work unless I have one.
Well, it's just a year, Foster.
One year, and I really don't want you to surrender what little freedom they allow you to have.
It's it's not a surrender, all right? It's security.
People need to know I'm safe.
Oh, pl[SPUTTERS.]
Safe.
Do not give me that "safe" bullshit, all right? I dealt with it literally all day today.
You know, there is a difference between safety and comfort.
And a difference between safety and truth, for that matter.
Do you know how many actual terrorist attacks have occurred in the past 20 years? Zero.
Zero! And no matter how many times this government announces another false instance of a terrorist attack, it still is not true.
I'm not buying you a Dex.
[SOFT AMBIENT MUSIC.]
Hey.
Hey.
Jesus.
There is literally no security on your mom's account.
Anyone who knows her birthday could siphon every credit that she's ever had.
November tenth.
[LAUGHING.]
Okay.
And you are Foster Lee.
Daughter.
All right, so this thing's gonna run an instant background check on your mom.
Has she ever been in any kind of trouble or I don't think so.
[ELECTRONIC BLIP.]
Okay, so do you want the Dex or the Dexxy-Lite? The Dex.
[CHUCKLES.]
Mm, okay.
All right.
Done.
So this thing's gonna download all of your info, and then it'll send you a drone.
Probably take about an hour.
Thanks.
[CHUCKLES.]
So, um have you ever seen a terrorist attack before? Of course.
They're on the news feed all the time.
No, no, I I mean like in real life? [SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
- Um - It's cool, it's cool.
I'll go slower.
No, I I just I needed help.
I I didn't know, um Wait, so you wanted me to help you just because? All right, well, I'm headed back.
You can, uh, wait outside for the drone.
How do I get back? Shit, I don't know.
Take the Mag or walk, I guess.
You guys love to walk beyond the Riph, right? Come on.
We got to go.
[DRONE BUZZING.]
[REFLECTIVE MUSIC.]
[FEMALE VOICE.]
Foster Lee, can you hear this message? Thank you.
You will need to reapply HearGel every two to three months.
[ELECTRONIC BLIPPING.]
Off.
Go away.
Go away.
Um, help? Hu [GROANS.]
Human help? [MAN.]
Hi, you've reached Live Customer Support.
Is this, uh, Foster Lee? - Yeah.
- [MAN.]
Hey there, Foster.
Wow, I just see you booted up your very first Dex, so congrats on that.
How can I help? [CLEARS THROAT.]
Um, I'm stuck on the the calculator.
[MAN.]
Okay.
Well, in order to close any app, you just need to give it one of these.
Do you see that? Four fingers in, double quick squeeze into the palm.
Try it for me? There it is.
The immigration log says this is your first time in the East.
That must be overwhelming.
- I'm yeah.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
[MAN.]
The Dex is tough for a newcomer.
Soon it will all be second nature to you, but until then, it's a little like, uh Like learning formal Cantonese.
- [MAN.]
Yeah.
- Pretty much.
- [MAN.]
Sure.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
All right, uh, well, you have a few basic moves that sort of make up your foundation.
Is that your hand? [MAN.]
Uh, no.
What makes you think this is me? Pretty bunny.
[MAN.]
Uh, the thumb-index pinch.
That's another one.
Yeah, nine times out of ten, that will be your primary select function.
You're a total natural.
I'm gonna forget all of this by tomorrow.
[MAN.]
No, no, hey.
I do these tutorials all day, and I've never seen anybody take to it so fast.
I guess you're meant to be here after all, huh? You still with me? Yeah.
Yeah, thanks.
[MAN.]
You all right? I'm fine.
It's just you're nice.
[GIGGLES.]
[MAN.]
Oh.
[LAUGHS.]
Um, well, is there anything else I can help you with, then? What's your name? [MAN.]
Oh, um that's kind of against policy.
Oh.
Oh, I'm sorry.
[MAN.]
No, it's dumb.
I I I'd love to tell you.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh, no, I I understand.
[MAN.]
Yeah, um all right, here comes the boilerplate, then.
Ma'am, have we fulfilled your customer support needs today? Oh, yes.
A-plus-plus.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
- [MAN.]
Ridiculous.
In that case, just remember that Simi's always here for you, and have a safe night, okay? [WARM MUSIC.]
Morning.
[WOMAN.]
You want the entire history of modern warfare in two words? "Better hiding.
" Every enemy learns to embrace the strategic power of surprise.
Jacob Balewa, can you spot the terrorist? Foster Lee, help him.
[ELECTRONIC BLIPPING.]
Wait, I I know that pin.
That's he's from Deer-Brush, one of the Bubbles.
[WOMAN.]
Ooh, missed him.
But that's where the NowTek programs come in.
No more human error.
Due to countless attacks over the last 20 years, companies like Simi developed systems that would identify the enemy before they ever posed a threat: Suspicion Scanners, Temperature Gauges, even the Dexes you're wearing today.
There's nowhere left to hide, right? But wait.
What if the terrorists didn't know they were terrorists? What if they were even hidden from themselves, with no idea that they'd eventually be activated? That would be the best, most dangerous hiding of all.
I'm talking about mind control.
Hey.
Nice Dex.
Thanks.
It's Kim, right? Can I give you some advice? You seem really sweet, but you gotta fix your Kaveh problem.
My what? You led him on, got your Dex, and then shut him down? No.
No, no.
I Well, that's what he's been saying.
By the end of the day, everybody's gonna know that you stole that Dex from your mom.
What am I supposed to do? Do him.
Or else you're screwed.
Kaveh can make your life a living hell, and for this, he will.
I get it.
I've heard how careful you need to be in the Bubbles, but we're safe.
Kaveh's on Steriles.
It's okay to have fun here.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Hey.
Can we talk? Okay.
So yesterday, I've I panicked, and it's just not how I actually feel about you.
"Feel about me"? Okay, I'm not good at this, obviously.
So could we just I want to.
Yeah, think I'm gonna pass.
[LAUGHTER.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[LAUGHTER.]
[EXHALES.]
Sink.
Water.
Just turn the fuck on! [MAN.]
Whoa, whoa, Foster, you all right? - Hi.
- [MAN.]
Uh, your vitals just spiked like crazy.
[STAMMERING.]
How did you [MAN.]
I I set up an alert, just to make sure that you were doing okay today.
So hey, what's going on? This place hates me.
And nothing works.
[MAN.]
Ah, looks like you were just talking to someone named, I think, Kaveh? Is this this have anything to do with him? He just humiliated me.
On purpose.
At first, he wanted to hook up with me, and now he's [MAN.]
Oh, God, high school.
I remember it very well.
Dirt is everything.
Well, fortunately for you, you do have a friend in the security business, yeah? Let me look into this kid for you.
I'll see if I can find something that might even things up.
Is that legal? [MAN.]
Ah, it's a favor.
It's just you know, it's Ethan looking out for his buddy Foster, all right? And and we won't even have to hook up or anything.
- I promise.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
Ethan.
- Okay.
- [ETHAN.]
All right.
Well, just slap that ridiculous smile back on your face and have an A-plus-plus day.
- [ELECTRONIC CHIME.]
- [WOMAN.]
Breaking news.
Another terrorist attack was put down today on the Periphery line.
The origin of the attacks and the identities of the attackers are not yet known.
So it's just a coincidence that this supposed attack happens the first day we sit with the committee? I mean, how fucking stupid do you think we are, Odin? [ODIN.]
Um, Mrs.
Lee, if you honestly believe this violence has anything to do with you [IRENE.]
There was no violence! This is blatant propaganda.
I mean, you people need bogeymen to to justify your policy positions, and the Bubbles have been your scapegoats for way too long.
Wow, uh, frankly, uh, that's, uh a bewildering statement.
Fuck you.
Look, the Reformation was not intended to pit our country against itself.
People were supposed to choose what side they wanted to be on and accept the benefits and limitations of that choice! [ODIN.]
Is this a civics lesson now? But the harder you push us, the harder we are gonna push back! [ETHAN.]
Foster, you there? Ethan, hi! [ETHAN.]
Hi.
I'm sorry I took so long.
I got sucked into a pretty crazy rabbit hole.
W what do you mean? - About Kaveh? - [ETHAN.]
Yeah.
I started checking his records looking for personality defects or vices or whatever.
But what I found was weird.
Two weeks ago, Kaveh starts taking off his Dex at school.
He leaves it off for 15 minutes exactly once every day.
And that's against the rules, or [ETHAN.]
No.
Well, sort of.
Look, kids do it all the time.
They're cheating on a test or smoking Iso's, really whatever they don't want recorded.
Here's the weird part.
Every time Kaveh went offline, so did 13 other kids at 13 different schools.
That is 14 kids slipping off their Dexes at the exact same moment across two time zones in the middle of the day.
That feels suspicious.
What are they doing? [ETHAN.]
I have no idea.
But, Foster I may need your help.
With what? [ETHAN.]
I need somebody to follow this Kaveh kid, just to see where and why he's taking off his Dex.
I don't want to present all this to my boss only to realize it's some dumb new game app.
But if my instincts are right, this could be the dirt you needed to shut him down.
No more trouble.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
There, he just went offline.
Go check the door.
Thirteen minutes.
He should be coming out soon.
And then what am I supposed to do? Talk to him or You okay? Yeah.
Yeah, I'm I'm fine.
I'm just waiting for a friend.
- And talking to yourself? - To my Dex.
Tech support was just helping me figure out some of the functions.
[CHUCKLES.]
I only heard you.
HearGel.
"HearGel"? Do you need help or something? No.
[ETHAN.]
You have the newest model.
The company thought that HearGel would be too invasive, but so far, people seem to like it.
My dad used to talk to himself.
[ETHAN.]
W what? I think I want to stop.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
[ETHAN.]
Jesus, that girl isn't Dexed! New target.
You need to follow her now.
Foster.
She she helped me on my first day.
[ETHAN.]
Wait, she approached you? Why? I don't know.
Th this was supposed to be about Kaveh, I don't [ETHAN.]
Foster.
Foster, listen to me.
There is something going on here.
I don't know what it is, but I need your help, please.
As a friend.
I will be with you the whole time.
She squeezed through that gate.
[GATE CREAKING.]
Ow.
[ETHAN.]
If you can get her talking, then I'll be able to lock down a genetic voice profile.
[ECHOING.]
Hello? [MILENA.]
Who is that? It's Foster.
Are you following me? I guess.
Why? I don't know.
It's just, you're different from everybody else around here.
Don't you have, like, a million little Dexxy friends now? Bunny-fucking each other's rat babies or whatever it is you all do.
Don't have any friends.
Never have.
I'm Milena.
Hooray for you.
[LAUGHS.]
They just left it.
How hilarious is that? There really was a time before digitized libraries.
No one even bothers to look for me.
Without a Dex, it's kinda like we don't exist, which is awesome.
[ETHAN.]
Ask about Kaveh.
Come on, Foster, help me solve this.
Kaveh took his Dex off.
Why? So do you know Kaveh? Mm.
You weren't following me.
What do you really want to ask? [ETHAN.]
What do you do with him every day? Uh, I I saw you You went in in a room.
I know what he's been saying about you.
Kaveh's an asshole, but his cock works.
It's a good way to get him to leave you alone.
- That's why I do it.
- [ETHAN.]
She's lying.
Push harder.
[MILENA.]
Plus, it's really not a bad way to kill ten minutes.
[ETHAN.]
This is about more than sex.
You have to make her tell you.
Is it [PANTING.]
Are you bleeding? I guess I cut my hand on the gate.
It's okay, it's okay, just just breathe.
I'm fine.
If you want to go No, no, no.
Hey.
It's all right.
It's all right.
You're safe.
Okay? You're totally safe.
Takes a minute to get hot.
My dad got this in India.
Kinda reminds me of the Bubbles.
You've been there? I was born in Light-Lily.
My dad and I crossed over when I was nine? Just you and your dad? My mom stayed back.
Do you talk to her? How about your parents? My dad died when I was six.
Yeah.
Well, do you think your mom would be into gray-haired Asian professor types? [BOTH LAUGH.]
Maybe.
She likes tweed.
[GIGGLES.]
Here.
Try this.
Have some more.
You should come up here more.
You know, assuming you'd rather not spend [ETHAN.]
Stop drinking! - Fuck.
You scared me.
- [ETHAN.]
Get to a bathroom! - I'm I'm sorry.
- No, no, no, it's okay.
I'll just grab some paper towels I just need to go clean up! Why did you do that? - [ETHAN.]
You need to purge.
- What? [ETHAN.]
Make yourself throw up.
Go do it.
She may have just drugged you, Foster.
Good.
[RETCHING.]
[ETHAN.]
Okay, good, good.
You only had a sip or two? - Yeah, yeah.
- [ETHAN.]
Okay, okay.
Listen to me.
The voice scans came back.
Milena's father is Carter Yang.
- You know that name? - No.
[ETHAN.]
He is a massive anti-corporate activist, part of the same terrorist cell that bombed the WCO 20 years back and kicked off the last two decades of attacks.
And after that, Yang vanished.
- But - [ETHAN.]
Until right now.
[MILENA.]
Foster? You okay? Yeah! Yeah, I'm I'm fine, I'm fine.
[ETHAN.]
I don't know what's going on right now, but if he's involved, it isn't good.
[STAMMERING.]
What do you mean? Another terrorist attack or [MILENA.]
Can I come in and help? No, I'm I'm almost I'm almost done.
[ETHAN.]
I don't know.
Just do not eat or drink anything, and don't trust anybody.
Not Milena, not Kaveh, and not your mom.
I I think this may be the real reason she moved up here, to link up with Yang.
No.
No! She she doesn't even believe in terrorists, so [ETHAN.]
Are you sure about that? - Yes! - [KNOCKING AT DOOR.]
[ETHAN.]
Then what is she doing here? [MILENA.]
Foster, you have to let us in.
[IRENE.]
Foster? Foster! It's Mom.
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
Are you okay? Foster, your friend said you might need help.
- [KNOCKING.]
- Foster, honey.
[ETHAN.]
You have to go back out there.
- [IRENE.]
Come on, it's Mom.
- [ETHAN.]
But act normal.
I must do some more digging.
But I'll be back.
I promise.
Just be careful.
[IRENE.]
Open the door! Wait, wait, wait! Wait! Wait! - [FOSTER.]
I'm fine.
- [IRENE.]
You didn't seem fine.
How did Milena find you? Who knows? Nothing's private out here.
They run your school like a prison.
I'm surprised they didn't strip-search me.
She said you had some sort of breakdown.
She misunderstood.
Okay, when I hear the word "breakdown" I don't know, our family history, you know.
- Your dad wasn't exactly - Don't talk about him! All right, Foster.
All right, what What is that? What is that? - It's nothing.
- Foster? I'm I'm borrowing it.
No, you need a parent's permission for one of those.
- Um - Did you steal credits? - No, you don't understand.
- Oh, for Christ's sake.
This is why you've been acting so crazy.
Don't touch me! Foster.
Foster.
Look at me.
Honey, look at me.
You used verified credits to buy a Gov-linked tracking device.
Okay, the people I work with they are gonna know that.
So this undermines everything we crossed over for.
Take it off now.
I said take it off now! Say it with me.
"Good morning.
The universal exchange rate is most favorable today.
" [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE.]
[ALARM BLARING.]
- [MAN.]
Terrorist threat yellow.
- [TEACHER.]
Slow down! [MAN.]
This is not a drill.
- [MAN.]
Remain calm.
- What's going on? Probably just a drill.
- Where's your Dex? - My mom took it.
You won't be allowed into the safe room.
Where do I go? Security will come by to restrain you.
Restrain me? Just until the alert is over.
Stay here.
[STATIC CRACKLES.]
[ETHAN.]
Foster, get out of the building! - Ethan? - [ETHAN.]
Get outside now! [MAN.]
Terrorist threat yellow.
This is not a drill.
Remain calm.
- It's locked! - [ETHAN.]
Get in the light.
In the sun.
[MAN.]
This is not a drill.
Remain calm.
[ETHAN.]
Foster, can you hear me? Wh what's happening? [ETHAN.]
The sunbeam is not strong enough to hold this frequency.
I need you to get outside to the park at F and 41st Street so that we can talk.
We set off security drills at every school in the East so that they would think that we were panicking, that we didn't know which schools they were targeting.
Foster, you were right.
They are planning an attack on Runciter High, and they are expecting you to do it.
A one-bedroom apartment in Greensboro blew up this morning, home of Dennis and Justin Bolton.
They found traces of homemade explosives in the walls.
Now, Justin went to one of the schools we've been tracking.
He had no record of suspicion.
He'd just gotten a Dex.
Does any of that sound familiar to you? I compared two of his psych profiles, one from when he was a kid and the other taken just last month.
Th they were totally different.
I need a doctor.
[ETHAN.]
You're not sick.
- I'm talking to ants.
- [ETHAN.]
No, I told you.
Their antennae can bounce our s You have taken two psych profiles in your life.
Do you remember? One after my dad died and the other just two weeks ago for immigration.
[ETHAN.]
Yes, and just like Justin's, your childhood profile bears no similarity to the new one.
That little girl was strong, and she was confident and social.
Is that really the way you'd describe yourself now? They changed you! I need to talk to someone.
I need to see a a face so I know this isn't all happening inside my head.
[ETHAN.]
Grow the fuck up, Foster! I know that your dad heard voices.
I know that he lost his mind and killed himself, but that is not you.
This is happening! This is how the world really works! And people are gonna die unless you fucking listen! So are you listening? Yeah.
[ETHAN.]
Radical Western terrorists want to undermine the values of Eastern society.
By targeting our certified Safe Zones, they will rattle public faith.
But we never thought that they would use their own kids to do it.
Innocents who can cross the border with no subversion record! Why else would she have brought you here? But I would never do that.
[ETHAN.]
But what if I hadn't found you and shown you what was really going on? You said it yourself.
"This place hates me.
" Right? She wanted you to hate them back so you would want to lash out, and then they'd use a chemical agent to trigger you.
Milena's father has raised her for this.
That is how mind control works, Foster.
And there are 12 other kids out there just like Justin who have probably already been triggered.
Well, then stop them! - Close the schools! - [ETHAN.]
We can't.
We tip our hand, they will shift plans, and we would lose the only advantage that we have.
What advantage? Me? [ETHAN.]
In order to cut the head off this cell, we have to catch you attempting to commit an act of terrorism, that very same act we now know they were gonna force you to commit.
But I I don't even have a Dex.
- How could I - Your mom took it.
She could easily have given it back.
But we can't wait for that.
We have to control an attack ourselves so that we can stop it.
You want me to attack? We won't let you hurt anybody.
Foster, the night that we met, I told you you belonged here, and I meant that.
Take out your notebook.
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
Okay, good, I need you to follow these instructions exactly.
Here's to a rough week.
But in the end, we're still you and me.
And cupcakes.
Listen, I know that I've been harsh.
I was up all night last night, and I realized it's a bad idea to be less present and overbearing.
It's a bad combo.
So I'm sorry.
The Dex thing I get the appeal.
I get it.
But I am just worried that you're too young to understand exactly what you're giving up.
I mean, you are trading independence for security that you don't need.
I mean, look at the news the other day, the news about the terrorist attack at the border.
I mean, the truth is, somebody probably crossed with a letter opener in their purse, and then it becomes a knife, and then it becomes a gun.
[STAMMERING.]
And then, a month later, the official report comes out, and they've caught a bunch of insurgents who are intent on blowing up the whole world.
And they hate people like me because when we call them out on their lies, we challenge their monopoly on reality.
Not to mention that right now, we are the only thing standing in between them and half a continent of more power and profit.
- But the thing is - Mom, I I have to tell you something.
Okay, but I have a point.
I really do.
I believe in my core that independence and free thought are worth fighting for, and I would sacrifice everything for these ideals, but I cannot force them on you.
I mean, you live here.
You're 16 years old.
I have to respect your decisions.
What did you want to ask me? I I just I understand.
I understand why you took it.
And I I think I'm gonna try another day without it just to see how it goes.
Yes! Oh.
You got so much from your dad.
The best parts.
[DARK MUSIC.]
Foster? [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
Foster! [GASPS.]
[ALARM BLARING.]
You okay? [BOTH GRUNT.]
[SCREAMS.]
Ethan! Ethan! Move away! Good.
Grab it.
All secure.
[ODIN.]
As of today, I can confirm that the thwarted attack at Runciter High was perpetrated by a lone radical from the Bubble community of Orange-Morning.
We believe that Irene Lee acted independently, mentally abusing her own daughter until she agreed to carry out what would have been a suicide bombing.
So today, I'm happy to announce two major new policies.
First, we will be granting Simi Corp permits to implement their NowTek systems throughout the Riph.
Second, there will be a mandatory student tracking and security policy financially supplemented at the federal level.
Now, to, um tell you a little more about this historic action, I'd like to bring up a very, very special guest.
You all know her by now.
Foster? [APPLAUSE.]
The past two months have been the most challenging of my entire life.
When you all first saw me, I was scared, nervous, and very confused.
That's because the person you saw was not me but rather an unwilling cog in an evil and destructive machine.
My mother will spend the rest of her life atoning for her crimes.
But with Simi Corporation's help, we can prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.
And I hope knowing that every student will now have their own Dexterity Device will be as comforting to you as it is to me.
Our children deserve to be safe.
I deserve to be safe.
And now for the first time, I am.
[APPLAUSE.]
Safety and comfort might not be the same thing, but people do need both.
Or they'll go really crazy.
People need someone to trust even if they can't see them, even if their voice comes from, um a sunbeam or a or a tree.
[SOFTLY.]
Foster.
Foster.
Come come here.
Come with me.
You did great.
Such a brave kid.
Without her cooperation, none of this would have been possible.
Let's give her one more round of applause.
[APPLAUSE.]
That was a fantastic job, Foster.
You know what? Let me take you to lunch.
Seriously, anything you want.
It's on me.
You've earned it.
Guess who just ordered a Dex.
Irene's daughter.
Got one of the kids at her school to hack her mom's account.
[FOSTER.]
forget all of this by tomorrow.
Oh, no, look.
I I do these tutorials all day, and I've never seen anybody take to it so fast.
I guess you're meant to be here after all.
You still with me? You've got the newest model.
The company thought HearGel might be a little too invasive, but so far, people seem to like it.
[FOSTER.]
My dad used to talk to himself.
What? [FOSTER.]
I think I want to stop.
Jesus, that girl isn't Dexed.
[FOSTER.]
I need to see a a face You got to scare her, or you're gonna lose her.
Let me handle it.
"Grow the fuck up.
" Say it, now.
Grow the fuck up, Foster! I know your dad heard voices.
I know he lost his mind and killed himself, but that is not you.
This is how the world works.
This is happening, and people are going to die because you wouldn't fucking listen! So are you listening? [FOSTER.]
Yeah.
Got her.
[ PETER GABRIEL: "COME TALK TO ME".]
The wretched desert Takes its form The jackal proud and tight In search of you I feel my way Through the slowest heaving night Whatever fear invents I swear it make no sense Look at this guy.
Fucking cliché.
Uh-uh.
No.
Don't do that.
Please don't do that.
Mom, he's checking the registration.
Mom - I know what he's doing.
- Mom.
We have a permit to cross without scanning.
[MAN.]
Ma'am, please get back in your car.
I just want you to look at it.
I mean, just come on, look at it! Fine.
- Sir, I'm an elected official.
- Elected by who? West American citizens, choosing to live free instead of regulated.
We're here to take back our representative seats to stop the constant encroachment into our Bubbles.
- What encroachment? - Um, satellite surveillance, for one.
That has been totally debunked by I don't need to explain myself to you.
My daughter and I have a yearlong Eastern pass, and we intend to use it for all 365 days, whether you like it or not.
Good luck with her.
Thanks.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Fake nature really offsets the brutalism.
Don't worry.
We can beat this place.
Look at what they're wearing.
Hi, sheep.
This is what we're fighting.
Mindless conformity creates a willing slave class.
And now Big Tech wants us to put the chains on too.
Or maybe they just like the clothes.
Oh, please.
Those clothes? Cupcake night tonight? You can go now.
[ALARM BLARING.]
Where's your Dex? - My what? - Your Dex.
I don't have one.
Security line.
[SCANNER BUZZING.]
You're good.
Arms up.
Turn around.
You're good.
Next! You.
Mom-shirt.
Arms up.
Turn around.
Leave it on.
Keep it visible.
[WOMAN.]
MagLev bombings, restaurant shootings seems like every day, there's a new threat.
Which is why I love that my school is a certified Simi Safe Zone.
From the moment I walk through that doorway, I can finally relax, because no one can touch me.
And I'm learning at a whole new level.
For the first time, everything I need in one perfect device, tracking my past, protecting my present, preparing my future.
[P.
A.
SYSTEM CHIMES.]
[WOMAN.]
Your attention, students.
Stop by the Dex bar after class to see the latest model of T4 simulator [BOY.]
What's up, red band? - Security check! - Ooh, what's in the bag? Terrorist contraband? That's my lunch, man.
Hey, no need to steal.
We'll give it up for free.
Yeah, I'd rather not catch any diseases today.
Oh, come on.
I bet you got a good PPO.
What we've got clears up real fast.
- [P.
A.
SYSTEM CHIMES.]
- So gross.
[WOMAN.]
Your attention, students.
The meet-up for the Music 201 class Never flinch.
We're not Dexed, so there's no record of what they do to us.
Wait, wait.
I'm I'm Foster.
Hooray for you.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
[WOMAN.]
Where do you come from, Foster? [FOSTER.]
One of the Bubbles.
Orange-Morning.
[WOMAN.]
Want to show us? [ELECTRONIC BLIP.]
Could could you move it to the right a little? [WOMAN.]
Oh.
[ELECTRONIC BLIP.]
Wow.
Must be different for you.
I've always wanted to cross the Riph.
And I'm I know I have a lot to learn.
And I know I look weird.
[LAUGHS NERVOUSLY.]
Uh But I'm gonna try really hard not to be, so Yeah.
- You're cute for a terrorist.
- [LAUGHTER.]
Kaveh.
Not everyone from the other side is a terrorist.
[KAVEH.]
Most, though.
The only reason I come to school is so I don't get blown the fuck up by crazy Bubble People.
Why do so many of you want to kill us? We don't.
Back home, they just they say that's all propaganda.
Yep.
Better un-wash that brain, kid.
Enough.
Foster, you can sit.
Since you don't have a Dex, I guess take notes? Well, I don't think she should be allowed inside without one.
When did you cross over, like, two days ago? - Three.
- Yeah, how is that safe? Nobody knows where she's been.
We all know where you've been, Kim.
[LAUGHTER.]
[MAN.]
Lesson one: assemble the element radon.
[ELECTRONIC BLIPPING.]
Blue Team, great job! [BOY.]
Radon comes from decayed uranium.
Hey.
I was just kidding about the whole terrorist thing.
If you decide you want a Dex, I can help you out with that.
Oh, my my mom wouldn't let me.
Who says she has to know? [MAN.]
Ooh, sorry, Red Team.
Try again.
[ELECTRONIC BLIPPING.]
Everybody at the capital thinks I'm some sort of oblivious bumpkin.
And this so-called, uh, "consumer rights advocate" is like a brick fucking wall.
"Odin.
" This place really would've driven your dad crazy.
I'm sorry.
That was a bad choice of words, and I'm really sorry about the cupcakes.
And I'm sorry, and How how how was your day? How are you? I need a Dex.
One of those tracking things? [LAUGHING.]
Why? Well, because it's it's not just a tracking thing.
It it connects to all my lessons, which are all Oh, my God.
Of course it does.
Of course it does! You know, it's not a bad thing, all right? Kids here actually like school, and and nobody'll talk to me.
I can't do any of my work unless I have one.
Well, it's just a year, Foster.
One year, and I really don't want you to surrender what little freedom they allow you to have.
It's it's not a surrender, all right? It's security.
People need to know I'm safe.
Oh, pl[SPUTTERS.]
Safe.
Do not give me that "safe" bullshit, all right? I dealt with it literally all day today.
You know, there is a difference between safety and comfort.
And a difference between safety and truth, for that matter.
Do you know how many actual terrorist attacks have occurred in the past 20 years? Zero.
Zero! And no matter how many times this government announces another false instance of a terrorist attack, it still is not true.
I'm not buying you a Dex.
[SOFT AMBIENT MUSIC.]
Hey.
Hey.
Jesus.
There is literally no security on your mom's account.
Anyone who knows her birthday could siphon every credit that she's ever had.
November tenth.
[LAUGHING.]
Okay.
And you are Foster Lee.
Daughter.
All right, so this thing's gonna run an instant background check on your mom.
Has she ever been in any kind of trouble or I don't think so.
[ELECTRONIC BLIP.]
Okay, so do you want the Dex or the Dexxy-Lite? The Dex.
[CHUCKLES.]
Mm, okay.
All right.
Done.
So this thing's gonna download all of your info, and then it'll send you a drone.
Probably take about an hour.
Thanks.
[CHUCKLES.]
So, um have you ever seen a terrorist attack before? Of course.
They're on the news feed all the time.
No, no, I I mean like in real life? [SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
- Um - It's cool, it's cool.
I'll go slower.
No, I I just I needed help.
I I didn't know, um Wait, so you wanted me to help you just because? All right, well, I'm headed back.
You can, uh, wait outside for the drone.
How do I get back? Shit, I don't know.
Take the Mag or walk, I guess.
You guys love to walk beyond the Riph, right? Come on.
We got to go.
[DRONE BUZZING.]
[REFLECTIVE MUSIC.]
[FEMALE VOICE.]
Foster Lee, can you hear this message? Thank you.
You will need to reapply HearGel every two to three months.
[ELECTRONIC BLIPPING.]
Off.
Go away.
Go away.
Um, help? Hu [GROANS.]
Human help? [MAN.]
Hi, you've reached Live Customer Support.
Is this, uh, Foster Lee? - Yeah.
- [MAN.]
Hey there, Foster.
Wow, I just see you booted up your very first Dex, so congrats on that.
How can I help? [CLEARS THROAT.]
Um, I'm stuck on the the calculator.
[MAN.]
Okay.
Well, in order to close any app, you just need to give it one of these.
Do you see that? Four fingers in, double quick squeeze into the palm.
Try it for me? There it is.
The immigration log says this is your first time in the East.
That must be overwhelming.
- I'm yeah.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
[MAN.]
The Dex is tough for a newcomer.
Soon it will all be second nature to you, but until then, it's a little like, uh Like learning formal Cantonese.
- [MAN.]
Yeah.
- Pretty much.
- [MAN.]
Sure.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
All right, uh, well, you have a few basic moves that sort of make up your foundation.
Is that your hand? [MAN.]
Uh, no.
What makes you think this is me? Pretty bunny.
[MAN.]
Uh, the thumb-index pinch.
That's another one.
Yeah, nine times out of ten, that will be your primary select function.
You're a total natural.
I'm gonna forget all of this by tomorrow.
[MAN.]
No, no, hey.
I do these tutorials all day, and I've never seen anybody take to it so fast.
I guess you're meant to be here after all, huh? You still with me? Yeah.
Yeah, thanks.
[MAN.]
You all right? I'm fine.
It's just you're nice.
[GIGGLES.]
[MAN.]
Oh.
[LAUGHS.]
Um, well, is there anything else I can help you with, then? What's your name? [MAN.]
Oh, um that's kind of against policy.
Oh.
Oh, I'm sorry.
[MAN.]
No, it's dumb.
I I I'd love to tell you.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh, no, I I understand.
[MAN.]
Yeah, um all right, here comes the boilerplate, then.
Ma'am, have we fulfilled your customer support needs today? Oh, yes.
A-plus-plus.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
- [MAN.]
Ridiculous.
In that case, just remember that Simi's always here for you, and have a safe night, okay? [WARM MUSIC.]
Morning.
[WOMAN.]
You want the entire history of modern warfare in two words? "Better hiding.
" Every enemy learns to embrace the strategic power of surprise.
Jacob Balewa, can you spot the terrorist? Foster Lee, help him.
[ELECTRONIC BLIPPING.]
Wait, I I know that pin.
That's he's from Deer-Brush, one of the Bubbles.
[WOMAN.]
Ooh, missed him.
But that's where the NowTek programs come in.
No more human error.
Due to countless attacks over the last 20 years, companies like Simi developed systems that would identify the enemy before they ever posed a threat: Suspicion Scanners, Temperature Gauges, even the Dexes you're wearing today.
There's nowhere left to hide, right? But wait.
What if the terrorists didn't know they were terrorists? What if they were even hidden from themselves, with no idea that they'd eventually be activated? That would be the best, most dangerous hiding of all.
I'm talking about mind control.
Hey.
Nice Dex.
Thanks.
It's Kim, right? Can I give you some advice? You seem really sweet, but you gotta fix your Kaveh problem.
My what? You led him on, got your Dex, and then shut him down? No.
No, no.
I Well, that's what he's been saying.
By the end of the day, everybody's gonna know that you stole that Dex from your mom.
What am I supposed to do? Do him.
Or else you're screwed.
Kaveh can make your life a living hell, and for this, he will.
I get it.
I've heard how careful you need to be in the Bubbles, but we're safe.
Kaveh's on Steriles.
It's okay to have fun here.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Hey.
Can we talk? Okay.
So yesterday, I've I panicked, and it's just not how I actually feel about you.
"Feel about me"? Okay, I'm not good at this, obviously.
So could we just I want to.
Yeah, think I'm gonna pass.
[LAUGHTER.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[LAUGHTER.]
[EXHALES.]
Sink.
Water.
Just turn the fuck on! [MAN.]
Whoa, whoa, Foster, you all right? - Hi.
- [MAN.]
Uh, your vitals just spiked like crazy.
[STAMMERING.]
How did you [MAN.]
I I set up an alert, just to make sure that you were doing okay today.
So hey, what's going on? This place hates me.
And nothing works.
[MAN.]
Ah, looks like you were just talking to someone named, I think, Kaveh? Is this this have anything to do with him? He just humiliated me.
On purpose.
At first, he wanted to hook up with me, and now he's [MAN.]
Oh, God, high school.
I remember it very well.
Dirt is everything.
Well, fortunately for you, you do have a friend in the security business, yeah? Let me look into this kid for you.
I'll see if I can find something that might even things up.
Is that legal? [MAN.]
Ah, it's a favor.
It's just you know, it's Ethan looking out for his buddy Foster, all right? And and we won't even have to hook up or anything.
- I promise.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
Ethan.
- Okay.
- [ETHAN.]
All right.
Well, just slap that ridiculous smile back on your face and have an A-plus-plus day.
- [ELECTRONIC CHIME.]
- [WOMAN.]
Breaking news.
Another terrorist attack was put down today on the Periphery line.
The origin of the attacks and the identities of the attackers are not yet known.
So it's just a coincidence that this supposed attack happens the first day we sit with the committee? I mean, how fucking stupid do you think we are, Odin? [ODIN.]
Um, Mrs.
Lee, if you honestly believe this violence has anything to do with you [IRENE.]
There was no violence! This is blatant propaganda.
I mean, you people need bogeymen to to justify your policy positions, and the Bubbles have been your scapegoats for way too long.
Wow, uh, frankly, uh, that's, uh a bewildering statement.
Fuck you.
Look, the Reformation was not intended to pit our country against itself.
People were supposed to choose what side they wanted to be on and accept the benefits and limitations of that choice! [ODIN.]
Is this a civics lesson now? But the harder you push us, the harder we are gonna push back! [ETHAN.]
Foster, you there? Ethan, hi! [ETHAN.]
Hi.
I'm sorry I took so long.
I got sucked into a pretty crazy rabbit hole.
W what do you mean? - About Kaveh? - [ETHAN.]
Yeah.
I started checking his records looking for personality defects or vices or whatever.
But what I found was weird.
Two weeks ago, Kaveh starts taking off his Dex at school.
He leaves it off for 15 minutes exactly once every day.
And that's against the rules, or [ETHAN.]
No.
Well, sort of.
Look, kids do it all the time.
They're cheating on a test or smoking Iso's, really whatever they don't want recorded.
Here's the weird part.
Every time Kaveh went offline, so did 13 other kids at 13 different schools.
That is 14 kids slipping off their Dexes at the exact same moment across two time zones in the middle of the day.
That feels suspicious.
What are they doing? [ETHAN.]
I have no idea.
But, Foster I may need your help.
With what? [ETHAN.]
I need somebody to follow this Kaveh kid, just to see where and why he's taking off his Dex.
I don't want to present all this to my boss only to realize it's some dumb new game app.
But if my instincts are right, this could be the dirt you needed to shut him down.
No more trouble.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
There, he just went offline.
Go check the door.
Thirteen minutes.
He should be coming out soon.
And then what am I supposed to do? Talk to him or You okay? Yeah.
Yeah, I'm I'm fine.
I'm just waiting for a friend.
- And talking to yourself? - To my Dex.
Tech support was just helping me figure out some of the functions.
[CHUCKLES.]
I only heard you.
HearGel.
"HearGel"? Do you need help or something? No.
[ETHAN.]
You have the newest model.
The company thought that HearGel would be too invasive, but so far, people seem to like it.
My dad used to talk to himself.
[ETHAN.]
W what? I think I want to stop.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
[ETHAN.]
Jesus, that girl isn't Dexed! New target.
You need to follow her now.
Foster.
She she helped me on my first day.
[ETHAN.]
Wait, she approached you? Why? I don't know.
Th this was supposed to be about Kaveh, I don't [ETHAN.]
Foster.
Foster, listen to me.
There is something going on here.
I don't know what it is, but I need your help, please.
As a friend.
I will be with you the whole time.
She squeezed through that gate.
[GATE CREAKING.]
Ow.
[ETHAN.]
If you can get her talking, then I'll be able to lock down a genetic voice profile.
[ECHOING.]
Hello? [MILENA.]
Who is that? It's Foster.
Are you following me? I guess.
Why? I don't know.
It's just, you're different from everybody else around here.
Don't you have, like, a million little Dexxy friends now? Bunny-fucking each other's rat babies or whatever it is you all do.
Don't have any friends.
Never have.
I'm Milena.
Hooray for you.
[LAUGHS.]
They just left it.
How hilarious is that? There really was a time before digitized libraries.
No one even bothers to look for me.
Without a Dex, it's kinda like we don't exist, which is awesome.
[ETHAN.]
Ask about Kaveh.
Come on, Foster, help me solve this.
Kaveh took his Dex off.
Why? So do you know Kaveh? Mm.
You weren't following me.
What do you really want to ask? [ETHAN.]
What do you do with him every day? Uh, I I saw you You went in in a room.
I know what he's been saying about you.
Kaveh's an asshole, but his cock works.
It's a good way to get him to leave you alone.
- That's why I do it.
- [ETHAN.]
She's lying.
Push harder.
[MILENA.]
Plus, it's really not a bad way to kill ten minutes.
[ETHAN.]
This is about more than sex.
You have to make her tell you.
Is it [PANTING.]
Are you bleeding? I guess I cut my hand on the gate.
It's okay, it's okay, just just breathe.
I'm fine.
If you want to go No, no, no.
Hey.
It's all right.
It's all right.
You're safe.
Okay? You're totally safe.
Takes a minute to get hot.
My dad got this in India.
Kinda reminds me of the Bubbles.
You've been there? I was born in Light-Lily.
My dad and I crossed over when I was nine? Just you and your dad? My mom stayed back.
Do you talk to her? How about your parents? My dad died when I was six.
Yeah.
Well, do you think your mom would be into gray-haired Asian professor types? [BOTH LAUGH.]
Maybe.
She likes tweed.
[GIGGLES.]
Here.
Try this.
Have some more.
You should come up here more.
You know, assuming you'd rather not spend [ETHAN.]
Stop drinking! - Fuck.
You scared me.
- [ETHAN.]
Get to a bathroom! - I'm I'm sorry.
- No, no, no, it's okay.
I'll just grab some paper towels I just need to go clean up! Why did you do that? - [ETHAN.]
You need to purge.
- What? [ETHAN.]
Make yourself throw up.
Go do it.
She may have just drugged you, Foster.
Good.
[RETCHING.]
[ETHAN.]
Okay, good, good.
You only had a sip or two? - Yeah, yeah.
- [ETHAN.]
Okay, okay.
Listen to me.
The voice scans came back.
Milena's father is Carter Yang.
- You know that name? - No.
[ETHAN.]
He is a massive anti-corporate activist, part of the same terrorist cell that bombed the WCO 20 years back and kicked off the last two decades of attacks.
And after that, Yang vanished.
- But - [ETHAN.]
Until right now.
[MILENA.]
Foster? You okay? Yeah! Yeah, I'm I'm fine, I'm fine.
[ETHAN.]
I don't know what's going on right now, but if he's involved, it isn't good.
[STAMMERING.]
What do you mean? Another terrorist attack or [MILENA.]
Can I come in and help? No, I'm I'm almost I'm almost done.
[ETHAN.]
I don't know.
Just do not eat or drink anything, and don't trust anybody.
Not Milena, not Kaveh, and not your mom.
I I think this may be the real reason she moved up here, to link up with Yang.
No.
No! She she doesn't even believe in terrorists, so [ETHAN.]
Are you sure about that? - Yes! - [KNOCKING AT DOOR.]
[ETHAN.]
Then what is she doing here? [MILENA.]
Foster, you have to let us in.
[IRENE.]
Foster? Foster! It's Mom.
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
Are you okay? Foster, your friend said you might need help.
- [KNOCKING.]
- Foster, honey.
[ETHAN.]
You have to go back out there.
- [IRENE.]
Come on, it's Mom.
- [ETHAN.]
But act normal.
I must do some more digging.
But I'll be back.
I promise.
Just be careful.
[IRENE.]
Open the door! Wait, wait, wait! Wait! Wait! - [FOSTER.]
I'm fine.
- [IRENE.]
You didn't seem fine.
How did Milena find you? Who knows? Nothing's private out here.
They run your school like a prison.
I'm surprised they didn't strip-search me.
She said you had some sort of breakdown.
She misunderstood.
Okay, when I hear the word "breakdown" I don't know, our family history, you know.
- Your dad wasn't exactly - Don't talk about him! All right, Foster.
All right, what What is that? What is that? - It's nothing.
- Foster? I'm I'm borrowing it.
No, you need a parent's permission for one of those.
- Um - Did you steal credits? - No, you don't understand.
- Oh, for Christ's sake.
This is why you've been acting so crazy.
Don't touch me! Foster.
Foster.
Look at me.
Honey, look at me.
You used verified credits to buy a Gov-linked tracking device.
Okay, the people I work with they are gonna know that.
So this undermines everything we crossed over for.
Take it off now.
I said take it off now! Say it with me.
"Good morning.
The universal exchange rate is most favorable today.
" [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE.]
[ALARM BLARING.]
- [MAN.]
Terrorist threat yellow.
- [TEACHER.]
Slow down! [MAN.]
This is not a drill.
- [MAN.]
Remain calm.
- What's going on? Probably just a drill.
- Where's your Dex? - My mom took it.
You won't be allowed into the safe room.
Where do I go? Security will come by to restrain you.
Restrain me? Just until the alert is over.
Stay here.
[STATIC CRACKLES.]
[ETHAN.]
Foster, get out of the building! - Ethan? - [ETHAN.]
Get outside now! [MAN.]
Terrorist threat yellow.
This is not a drill.
Remain calm.
- It's locked! - [ETHAN.]
Get in the light.
In the sun.
[MAN.]
This is not a drill.
Remain calm.
[ETHAN.]
Foster, can you hear me? Wh what's happening? [ETHAN.]
The sunbeam is not strong enough to hold this frequency.
I need you to get outside to the park at F and 41st Street so that we can talk.
We set off security drills at every school in the East so that they would think that we were panicking, that we didn't know which schools they were targeting.
Foster, you were right.
They are planning an attack on Runciter High, and they are expecting you to do it.
A one-bedroom apartment in Greensboro blew up this morning, home of Dennis and Justin Bolton.
They found traces of homemade explosives in the walls.
Now, Justin went to one of the schools we've been tracking.
He had no record of suspicion.
He'd just gotten a Dex.
Does any of that sound familiar to you? I compared two of his psych profiles, one from when he was a kid and the other taken just last month.
Th they were totally different.
I need a doctor.
[ETHAN.]
You're not sick.
- I'm talking to ants.
- [ETHAN.]
No, I told you.
Their antennae can bounce our s You have taken two psych profiles in your life.
Do you remember? One after my dad died and the other just two weeks ago for immigration.
[ETHAN.]
Yes, and just like Justin's, your childhood profile bears no similarity to the new one.
That little girl was strong, and she was confident and social.
Is that really the way you'd describe yourself now? They changed you! I need to talk to someone.
I need to see a a face so I know this isn't all happening inside my head.
[ETHAN.]
Grow the fuck up, Foster! I know that your dad heard voices.
I know that he lost his mind and killed himself, but that is not you.
This is happening! This is how the world really works! And people are gonna die unless you fucking listen! So are you listening? Yeah.
[ETHAN.]
Radical Western terrorists want to undermine the values of Eastern society.
By targeting our certified Safe Zones, they will rattle public faith.
But we never thought that they would use their own kids to do it.
Innocents who can cross the border with no subversion record! Why else would she have brought you here? But I would never do that.
[ETHAN.]
But what if I hadn't found you and shown you what was really going on? You said it yourself.
"This place hates me.
" Right? She wanted you to hate them back so you would want to lash out, and then they'd use a chemical agent to trigger you.
Milena's father has raised her for this.
That is how mind control works, Foster.
And there are 12 other kids out there just like Justin who have probably already been triggered.
Well, then stop them! - Close the schools! - [ETHAN.]
We can't.
We tip our hand, they will shift plans, and we would lose the only advantage that we have.
What advantage? Me? [ETHAN.]
In order to cut the head off this cell, we have to catch you attempting to commit an act of terrorism, that very same act we now know they were gonna force you to commit.
But I I don't even have a Dex.
- How could I - Your mom took it.
She could easily have given it back.
But we can't wait for that.
We have to control an attack ourselves so that we can stop it.
You want me to attack? We won't let you hurt anybody.
Foster, the night that we met, I told you you belonged here, and I meant that.
Take out your notebook.
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
Okay, good, I need you to follow these instructions exactly.
Here's to a rough week.
But in the end, we're still you and me.
And cupcakes.
Listen, I know that I've been harsh.
I was up all night last night, and I realized it's a bad idea to be less present and overbearing.
It's a bad combo.
So I'm sorry.
The Dex thing I get the appeal.
I get it.
But I am just worried that you're too young to understand exactly what you're giving up.
I mean, you are trading independence for security that you don't need.
I mean, look at the news the other day, the news about the terrorist attack at the border.
I mean, the truth is, somebody probably crossed with a letter opener in their purse, and then it becomes a knife, and then it becomes a gun.
[STAMMERING.]
And then, a month later, the official report comes out, and they've caught a bunch of insurgents who are intent on blowing up the whole world.
And they hate people like me because when we call them out on their lies, we challenge their monopoly on reality.
Not to mention that right now, we are the only thing standing in between them and half a continent of more power and profit.
- But the thing is - Mom, I I have to tell you something.
Okay, but I have a point.
I really do.
I believe in my core that independence and free thought are worth fighting for, and I would sacrifice everything for these ideals, but I cannot force them on you.
I mean, you live here.
You're 16 years old.
I have to respect your decisions.
What did you want to ask me? I I just I understand.
I understand why you took it.
And I I think I'm gonna try another day without it just to see how it goes.
Yes! Oh.
You got so much from your dad.
The best parts.
[DARK MUSIC.]
Foster? [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
Foster! [GASPS.]
[ALARM BLARING.]
You okay? [BOTH GRUNT.]
[SCREAMS.]
Ethan! Ethan! Move away! Good.
Grab it.
All secure.
[ODIN.]
As of today, I can confirm that the thwarted attack at Runciter High was perpetrated by a lone radical from the Bubble community of Orange-Morning.
We believe that Irene Lee acted independently, mentally abusing her own daughter until she agreed to carry out what would have been a suicide bombing.
So today, I'm happy to announce two major new policies.
First, we will be granting Simi Corp permits to implement their NowTek systems throughout the Riph.
Second, there will be a mandatory student tracking and security policy financially supplemented at the federal level.
Now, to, um tell you a little more about this historic action, I'd like to bring up a very, very special guest.
You all know her by now.
Foster? [APPLAUSE.]
The past two months have been the most challenging of my entire life.
When you all first saw me, I was scared, nervous, and very confused.
That's because the person you saw was not me but rather an unwilling cog in an evil and destructive machine.
My mother will spend the rest of her life atoning for her crimes.
But with Simi Corporation's help, we can prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.
And I hope knowing that every student will now have their own Dexterity Device will be as comforting to you as it is to me.
Our children deserve to be safe.
I deserve to be safe.
And now for the first time, I am.
[APPLAUSE.]
Safety and comfort might not be the same thing, but people do need both.
Or they'll go really crazy.
People need someone to trust even if they can't see them, even if their voice comes from, um a sunbeam or a or a tree.
[SOFTLY.]
Foster.
Foster.
Come come here.
Come with me.
You did great.
Such a brave kid.
Without her cooperation, none of this would have been possible.
Let's give her one more round of applause.
[APPLAUSE.]
That was a fantastic job, Foster.
You know what? Let me take you to lunch.
Seriously, anything you want.
It's on me.
You've earned it.
Guess who just ordered a Dex.
Irene's daughter.
Got one of the kids at her school to hack her mom's account.
[FOSTER.]
forget all of this by tomorrow.
Oh, no, look.
I I do these tutorials all day, and I've never seen anybody take to it so fast.
I guess you're meant to be here after all.
You still with me? You've got the newest model.
The company thought HearGel might be a little too invasive, but so far, people seem to like it.
[FOSTER.]
My dad used to talk to himself.
What? [FOSTER.]
I think I want to stop.
Jesus, that girl isn't Dexed.
[FOSTER.]
I need to see a a face You got to scare her, or you're gonna lose her.
Let me handle it.
"Grow the fuck up.
" Say it, now.
Grow the fuck up, Foster! I know your dad heard voices.
I know he lost his mind and killed himself, but that is not you.
This is how the world works.
This is happening, and people are going to die because you wouldn't fucking listen! So are you listening? [FOSTER.]
Yeah.
Got her.