Strange Angel (2018) s01e09 Episode Script
Sacrament of the Ancestors
1 ALFRED: There is great danger in me.
For those who do not understand these mysteries shall fall into a torment called Because, and there be ripped apart by the teeth of Reason.
The answers do not exist without, but within.
RICHARD: You cant see past your own obsessions.
Having a-a vision of going to the moon doesn't make it any less impossible.
Why is it you think that Mesulam and Braxton sent me to D.
C.
? They needed someone they could trust to make a sensible presentation.
An actual scientist and not someone who believes they can will things into existence.
ALFRED: Before we make our offering to the Great Beast, concentrate on the answers you seek.
HUMPHREY: Parsons.
These parts are corroded, sir.
Paying me overtimes gonna be a lot cheaper than replacing the machine.
I didn't come down here to reprimand you.
I've noticed a change in you.
You're punctual.
No more last-minute absences, even working overtime.
Even when no one asked you to.
Yeah.
I can only assume this has something to do with your little side project not panning out.
It's aims are no longer worthy of my abilities, sir.
Well, Caltech's loss may be Pueblo Powders gain.
How would you feel about being made supervisor? ALFRED: For I am in pain, desperate for the release of union.
A ka dua Tuf Ur Biu CASSANDRA: May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
- [THUNDER RUMBLING.]
- May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
So what do you think about the offer? Certainly a big step up.
Would mean more money.
More responsibility, but we could buy a bigger house.
- Is that what you - want? I'm trying to do the right thing here.
I think you should do whatever your true will tells you to do.
You can stop that.
I know what you're doing.
What am I doing? Giving me a taste of my own medicine.
Why are you so insistent we go tonight? Because I'm trying, Jack.
What if I'm not in the mood to go to a mass? Well, I want to go.
Would you prefer I go alone? [CHUCKLES SOFTLY.]
[THUNDER RUMBLING.]
CASSANDRA: May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
[LAUGHTER AND INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
There you are.
- [TIMER RINGS.]
- Have you got a second? Make it quick, frater.
Got to get these done before mass begins.
[OPENS OVEN.]
I am this close to my next ascension.
Well, you're not the only one up for a promotion.
First degree? - Man and brother of the faith? - No.
To supervisor.
At Pueblo Powder.
Supervisor.
I don't know whether I should accept.
[SIGHS.]
Guess you'll know what to focus on at mass.
The right answer will reveal Itself.
Whether they will absorption into the infinite, or to be united with your chosen and preferred, I say unto them, "Love is the law.
" May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
[GULPS.]
May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
ALFRED: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.
- MEN: Love is the law.
- WOMEN: Love under will.
ALFRED: Come down, O, God, and become one with Man.
Come down, O, Man, and become one with Beast.
[WATER DRIPPING.]
[THUNDER RUMBLES.]
Iô, Iô, iô, Iô, sabaô, kurie abrasax kurie meithras kurie phalle.
Iô, pan, Iô, pan, pan, iô iskhuros JOAN: Sing unto me the rapturous love song.
Burn unto me perfume.
Wear to me jewels.
Drink to me.
Cause I love you.
I love you.
You're sure you want to go? If you're coming for me, the least I can do is leave for you.
ALFRED: Wait.
I guess It's not up to me.
You are not ready to participate in the workings, but we have other matters to attend to.
It was I don't really know how to put it.
Try.
Shocking, I suppose.
That's the idea, isn't it? Everyone has their own reaction.
All are valid.
I'm just trying to ascertain how it affected you.
Not up here.
But here.
According to Eastern healers this is your power center.
Did you feel it tighten during mass? Maybe.
A little.
What about here? Susan? Did my question embarrass you? I thought inviting you here tonight might help your walls crumble, but it seems to have made them taller.
- I'm sorry.
- Don't be.
I'm the one who's failing.
Can we try again? If you want to.
[INHALES.]
Who was she? Who was she? I only saw her for an instant in my mother-in-laws yard, and then she was gone.
And you have no sense of who this girl was or what she means? Who was she? We haven't made much headway.
I thought this vision of the girl was the key, but the essential agitation persists.
You made the pain go away once.
But it came back.
If I'm being honest, It's gotten worse.
You remain so ephemeral, not just to me, but to yourself.
It's It's as if you were made of air.
Perhaps It's time we tried a different technique.
[DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE.]
Ready? So, are you not gonna tell me what you two did in there? You ought to know.
You've been through his purge sessions.
Did you talk about me? No, Jack.
Not everything is about you.
Now this is the best, that I could come up with, based on the data.
It's about damn time.
Mr.
Nickels, you are aware that It's less than a month until our demonstration with the Air Corps.
I am well aware.
Of course you are.
You are a highly qualified chemist.
Thank you.
It wasn't meant as a compliment.
You were supposed to go beyond what your predecessor was able to accomplish, and instead you've given us this paradox.
Please explain how were supposed to find a-a fuel that is simultaneously a liquid and a solid.
From what I can make out of Mr.
Parsons notes, you've wasted a lot of time going back and forth between solid and liquid fuels.
- He's got a point.
- It doesn't matter.
You cant have a fuel that exists in two different physical states simultaneously.
If my solutions impossible, maybe that's cause the whole endeavor is impossible.
CHIANG: A solution to an impossible problem requires someone who doesn't believe in the impossible.
You have never loved me.
You have only thought it pleasant to be in love with me.
When I was at home with Papa, he would tell me his opinion about everything, and so I had the same opinions.
If I differed from him, I would conceal the fact because he would not have liked it.
He called me his doll child and he played with me just as I used to play with my dolls.
Bravo! Bravo! [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Knock, knock.
Come in.
Ah.
You shouldn't have.
You already got me flowers for the opening.
I really think it keeps getting better and better.
The other cast members even remembered all their lines this time.
You know, Richie, there's such a thing as being too honest.
No.
I-I didn't mean You have been splendid from the start.
You know, there's something I wanted to ask you.
Yeah? What would you think about asking the Parsons to join us for dinner? Why? Well, isn't it time we met each others friends? Aren't you gonna say something? I don't know.
Last time you talked about Jack, you made it pretty clear you two were finished.
Now you want to make peace? That's right.
Uh, it just so happens there's something I need to ask him.
What? Um It's work related.
Then ask him.
Why do I need to be there? Because It's less likely to turn into a bloodbath if there are women present.
[JAZZ BAND PLAYING.]
That's the girl Richards been seeing? Why does she look familiar? Not from What on earth is she doing with him? Jack.
Susan.
Thank you so much for coming.
It's so wonderful to see you both.
Oh, um, this is Marisol.
Marisol, Susan and Jack Parsons.
I've heard so much about you.
Likewise.
We've met already, actually.
Science Fantasy Society? Oh, yes.
Of course.
That author - Jack Williamson? - Good memory.
You know I don't forget things easily, Rich.
Shall we? [LAUGHTER AND INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Thanks, Richie.
Bon soir, madames et monsieurs.
- Can I interest you in a drink? - Great idea.
Well have your most expensive bottle of red, s'il vous plait.
It's your treat, right? It's just It's really great to see you, Jack.
Yeah.
You said that already.
Well, it bears repeating.
Truth is, I wasn't sure that you'd come.
All water under the bridge.
Really? To err is human, to forgive divine.
You forgive me? Does anyone else hear an echo? No.
It's ju No, you're right.
Thank you for your forgiveness and thank you again for coming.
Thank Susan.
Sheâs the one who talked me into it.
What? It's the truth.
Someone at this table ought to be telling it.
[SUSAN CLEARS THROAT.]
You know, I could stand to freshen up.
Excuse me.
["BABY, WHAT YOU DO TO ME" BY HELEN FORREST PLAYING.]
Gracias.
When the ghost of a grin Starts to dimple your chin What a dither I'm in Oh, baby, what you do to me [DOOR OPENS.]
When you wrinkle your nose I decided I could use some freshening up myself.
Knock yourself out.
Till it tickles my toes Oh, baby, what you do to me You need to borrow some powder or something? Were alone now.
You can stop pretending.
Perhaps you thought I didn't remember? Hoped, more like it.
What are you doing with him? And don't try to tell me this is all some big coincidence.
"There are no coincidences," "only the moment your will and path collide.
" Excuse me? Right.
You're new.
The Grand Magus sent me after Richie.
It was for your husbands sake.
Help keep the rocket project from hitting the skids.
Why would Alfred care about that? He lets you call him by his first name.
Interesting.
He's devoted to his flock.
I thought he was only helping Jack, but he was helping me, too.
By forcing you to go out with Richard? He didn't force me.
It was part of my workings.
I was just supposed to boost Richie's confidence.
Sticking with him was my idea.
Thing is, ever since I was little, I wanted to be famous.
That's why I joined the Agape.
I thought it would help me get there.
I don't understand.
How is Richard helping you become famous? That's the point.
He's not.
I realized being adored by a man like him, starting a family, that's what I truly wanted all along.
[CHUCKLES LIGHTLY.]
The Great Beast works in mysterious ways, that's for sure.
Does Richard know about any of this? You and me both know he wouldn't approve.
You should hear the way he talks.
The guys head over heels for me.
And do you care about him? Of course.
Then you should come clean.
Nothing good ever started with a lie.
Thank you.
So What do you think of Marisol? She seems swell, Richard.
Are you gonna tell me what were doing here? What do you mean? I know this cant just be a social call after what you did.
We don't need to rehash it.
I am sorry that you felt it necessary to quit the team at such a critical juncture.
The fact of the matter is, we still need your help.
I knew it.
I knew you'd be back on your hands and knees, begging me to rejoin the team.
- If you'd let me finish - I'll save you the trouble.
I'll come back on one condition.
That we scrap this whole JATO business and put the military's money towards our original objective.
- Jack - No negotiations, Richard.
Those are my terms.
Take it or leave it.
We've already replaced you.
There's a new chemist on the team.
Marvin Nickels.
Carnegie undergrad.
Fourth-year PhD student, Caltech.
Crompton's top pupil.
He's fitting right in.
Good for him.
It's going very well.
The teams making excellent headway.
Is that right? Mm-hmm.
In fact, Marvin has come up with a brilliant solution to the fuel problem using your notes.
- My notes? - Yes.
And Id like to pick your brain about it.
You're stealing the fruits of my labor? Your research belongs to Caltech.
- All of our research does.
- You son of a bitch.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
You're damn right it was a bad idea.
You want to know what I think about Marisol? I think you should make sure she's with you for the right reasons.
Hey, fellas.
What happened? That's what she said.
And you believed her? Why else would she go after Richard? Though I do find it odd that you'd Interfere with their personal affairs? Well, yes.
Let me ask you something.
Did Marisol seem happy? Yes, I suppose so.
That's what we aim to do here, isn't it? Shall we? The answers we seek might not come through questioning alone.
As an air elemental, you need to be contained.
Who was she? I told you I only saw her for a moment.
Who was she? I don't know.
How old was she? Uh 12, 13, maybe? What else? Close your eyes and focus.
What else did you notice about her? She had something in her mouth.
What? Does that have any significance to you? - Oranges make me sick to my stomach.
- Why? They just do.
I've always hated them.
- Always? - As far back as I can remember.
SUSAN: - There was an orange grove behind my house.
I kept as far away from it as I could.
- Why? - I told you, I'm-I'm allergic.
[GASPS.]
ALFRED: Concentrate, Susan.
[GASPING.]
What is it? What are you seeing? [SOBS.]
Nothing.
What did you see? [GASPS.]
[HAMMER STRIKES.]
- [GASPS.]
- What did you see? Let me out from under here.
What did you see? I saw me.
Why would you be so frightened of yourself? [BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Can I help you, sir? [MUFFLED EXPLOSION.]
Hey.
Uh, Mr.
Onsted, you might want to come in here.
No.
I've got nothing to say to him.
M-Mr.
Parsons? Move.
It's an honor to meet you.
You-you work with stuff I'd never have the guts to handle.
Yeah, well, a lot of good that did me.
Well, what do you mean? Everything's pretty much ground to a halt since you quit.
Look, I don't have time to recreate your results, and especially not if I follow proper protocol, which, I guess, was less of a problem for you.
- Mm-hmm.
- After so many false starts, Mr.
Onsted pushed me to come up with a theoretical solution.
- Sounds like Richard.
- Yeah, well, Too bad the solution I came up with is friggin' impossible.
What solution? Um, in order to build a JATO that will burn evenly and be light enough, we need a fuel that acts like both a solid and a liquid.
A solid and a liquid.
Yeah, it doesn't make sense.
Unless you have any bright ideas.
SAMSON: Jack.
What a nice surprise.
And also well-timed.
What are you doing here? - Collecting my things.
- These belong to Caltech.
- I told you that.
- Let go.
I tried being nice, inviting you to a very expensive dinner.
A genuine apology would have gotten you a lot further.
You're the one who should be apologizing to me the way you spoke about Marisol.
I wasn't insulting her, I was insulting you.
Ask yourself, Richard.
What could a girl like that possibly see in you? I'll have you all know that I've been offered a very significant job promotion.
- Where? - Pueblo Powder Company? Unlike some people, they recognize the fact that I'm irreplaceable.
You know what? Take them.
If the answer was in those notebooks, we would have succeeded a long time ago.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[FOOTFALLS APPROACHING.]
[GASPS.]
- JACK: Susan? - [DOOR CLOSES.]
You'll never guess what happened out in the arroyo today.
Richard didn't just steal my work, he used my plans for the lab and the testing facility.
Everything is exactly as I said it should be.
You should have seen him, completely stalled without me.
[ECHOES.]
: My so-called replacement came up with a fuel solution they claim is impossible.
Well see about that.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[CHAIR SLIDES ON FLOOR.]
[INHALES SHARPLY.]
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu.
I am known to you by my name, Nuit, and to him by a secret name, which I shall give to him when he at last knoweth me.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
- What are you doing right now? - Nothing.
You need help with something.
Yeah.
Come on.
- You gonna tell me? - Tell you what? How you got that cut on your arm.
A working.
Last one before ascension to the second triad.
Were you trying to manifest anything in particular? What about you, Jack? You want to tell me what were doing setting off rockets in the middle of the goddamn night? A test.
I still don't know whether to take that promotion in Pueblo.
Then you shouldn't.
If I do the job, I can give Susan the life she always wanted.
Or at least the one she used to want.
I don't know anymore.
So take it.
It's not that easy.
It would mean giving up on this, our project.
You really want to go crawling back to Richard? I don't know.
And even if he took me back, it would mean working on something I don't believe in.
See, It's all well and good to talk about following your true path, but what if you're faced with two bad turns in the road? You remember the first night I brought you up here? It was standing right there.
You mean the mountain lion? No, Jack, the Great Beast.
He showed you the way.
He did it then.
Hell do it again.
[GRUNTS.]
[DISTANT SIREN WAILING.]
[ERNEST RUBBING HANDS TOGETHER.]
[EXHALES.]
Okay.
[DEBRIS FALLING.]
You've fired off a million rockets, Jack.
Don't let this one mean more than it has to.
"Who am I, and what shall be the sign?" Whats that? - Book of the Law, - first chapter.
Verse 26.
That's all I needed, a sign.
To point me in the right direction.
You're just gonna give up? Jack! You want a sign? Here's your goddamn sign.
What are you doing with that? I took it.
There is no law beyond "do what thou wilt.
" That was my fathers.
Oh, you mean the one that abandoned you? Shut your fucking mouth.
Nothing else matters in this life but being true to yourself.
I tried.
People keep getting in my way.
Open your damn eyes! You remember what it felt like when I took you up in that crop duster and everything else just faded away? I'm going home, Ernest.
Let go of me.
Not gonna happen, Jack, not ever.
I am the only one who's gotten you closer to what you want.
[GRUNTING.]
Get the fuck off me! A ka dua.
Tuf Ur biu.
[SCREAMING.]
Never forget who you are, Jack.
You're not a supervisor.
You are a marvel! Am I part of your "workings"? Cant outrun your destiny, Jack.
A man of will knows no boundaries.
Stay the fuck away from me.
Jack! If we take the entire population of Los Angeles County, It's roughly 2.
5 million people, and divide that in two, because I'm only interested in women, obviously, but then, uh, we need to remove everyone that's not age appropriate, which reduces that number by at least two-thirds.
So 416,666.
66.
Well, it's-it's a repeating decimal, so lets just call it 416,667.
Yeah, let's.
But then we need to reduce it even further.
For one, I don't own a car, so am somewhat limited geographically.
And accounting for age-appropriate women that live in a close proximity, that brings the number down by at least three-quarters, and lets face it, I'm not gonna find every age-appropriate woman nearby attractive and an even smaller percentage will be interested in me.
What'd I say about selling yourself short? The point is, um, when you account for taste, there are about 5,208 women in all of Los Angeles that are theoretically suitable, or .
2% of the entire population.
And when you factor in women that are single and, more critically, how many I'll get along with Well, at that point, the math gets quite complicated.
Mm-hmm.
Suffice it to say, you, my dear, are a statistical anomaly.
One in a million, or rather, um in 2.
5 million.
Why are you telling me all this? Cant you see that you are literally the one for me.
This math proves it.
Did something make you doubt it? Richie.
You don't need math.
You just need faith.
You're right.
I've never felt this way about anyone.
I wasn't even entirely sure that I was capable.
I guess this is my way of trying to say something that could more efficiently be expressed in three words I love you.
Oh.
And I'm fairly certain that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Did I say too much? And I'm sorry, but it's the truth.
No, no, It's not that.
It's just There's something I have to tell you.
The night we met wasn't a coincidence.
- ALFRED: What happened next? - [GASPS.]
[HAMMER STRIKING.]
- [HAMMER STRIKING.]
- [GASPS, WHIMPERS.]
ALFRED: What happened next? I told you, that's all I can remember.
- It's not working.
- Try again.
- [HAMMER STRIKES.]
- There's nothing else.
ALFRED: Keep trying.
Please, can we stop? [CRYING.]
ALFRED: What is it? Are you seeing something? Tell me.
VIRGIL: Susan? Susan.
[SUSAN YELPS.]
VIRGIL: Come on.
ALFRED: Who is it? Who was there with you, Susan? [PANTING.]
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
I'll take it.
Wise decision.
Was surprised you needed so long to think on it.
Hey, um, do you know what happened to the guy who lives here? Beats me.
Landlord said he took off without paying rent.
He a friend of yours? No.
Hardly knew him.
Hello? Hello? Jack! Jack, what are you doing? I'm getting rid of everything.
You should understand.
You're such a big believer in purging all of a sudden.
I'm done pretending.
I'm not gonna lead mankind to the moon.
I'm not gonna bend the world to my will.
I'm a gainfully employed chemical company supervisor.
Jack It's okay.
It's okay.
This is for the best, really.
You were right about the Agape.
It does corrupt people.
It makes them believe that they can have anything they want, however twisted.
- Jack, I don't - Please, let me finish.
Ernest left this godforsaken neighborhood, and were getting out of here, too.
You want three bedrooms? Why not four? Heck, maybe well have twins.
But most of all, you can stop punishing me by going.
Okay? I've learned my lesson.
I just want things to go back to the way they used to be.
What if I cant? I don't think I can go back to who I used to be.
I don't want to.
Please don't say that.
I-I know I've made some mistakes.
It's not that.
I I learned something today, something about myself.
What? What? I'm sorry.
Does the Grand Magus know? - Don't, don't.
- I'm done with all of it.
I want my wife back.
Shit.
[GROWLING.]
[ROARING.]
For those who do not understand these mysteries shall fall into a torment called Because, and there be ripped apart by the teeth of Reason.
The answers do not exist without, but within.
RICHARD: You cant see past your own obsessions.
Having a-a vision of going to the moon doesn't make it any less impossible.
Why is it you think that Mesulam and Braxton sent me to D.
C.
? They needed someone they could trust to make a sensible presentation.
An actual scientist and not someone who believes they can will things into existence.
ALFRED: Before we make our offering to the Great Beast, concentrate on the answers you seek.
HUMPHREY: Parsons.
These parts are corroded, sir.
Paying me overtimes gonna be a lot cheaper than replacing the machine.
I didn't come down here to reprimand you.
I've noticed a change in you.
You're punctual.
No more last-minute absences, even working overtime.
Even when no one asked you to.
Yeah.
I can only assume this has something to do with your little side project not panning out.
It's aims are no longer worthy of my abilities, sir.
Well, Caltech's loss may be Pueblo Powders gain.
How would you feel about being made supervisor? ALFRED: For I am in pain, desperate for the release of union.
A ka dua Tuf Ur Biu CASSANDRA: May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
- [THUNDER RUMBLING.]
- May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
So what do you think about the offer? Certainly a big step up.
Would mean more money.
More responsibility, but we could buy a bigger house.
- Is that what you - want? I'm trying to do the right thing here.
I think you should do whatever your true will tells you to do.
You can stop that.
I know what you're doing.
What am I doing? Giving me a taste of my own medicine.
Why are you so insistent we go tonight? Because I'm trying, Jack.
What if I'm not in the mood to go to a mass? Well, I want to go.
Would you prefer I go alone? [CHUCKLES SOFTLY.]
[THUNDER RUMBLING.]
CASSANDRA: May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
[LAUGHTER AND INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
There you are.
- [TIMER RINGS.]
- Have you got a second? Make it quick, frater.
Got to get these done before mass begins.
[OPENS OVEN.]
I am this close to my next ascension.
Well, you're not the only one up for a promotion.
First degree? - Man and brother of the faith? - No.
To supervisor.
At Pueblo Powder.
Supervisor.
I don't know whether I should accept.
[SIGHS.]
Guess you'll know what to focus on at mass.
The right answer will reveal Itself.
Whether they will absorption into the infinite, or to be united with your chosen and preferred, I say unto them, "Love is the law.
" May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
[GULPS.]
May you be granted the accomplishment of your true will.
ALFRED: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.
- MEN: Love is the law.
- WOMEN: Love under will.
ALFRED: Come down, O, God, and become one with Man.
Come down, O, Man, and become one with Beast.
[WATER DRIPPING.]
[THUNDER RUMBLES.]
Iô, Iô, iô, Iô, sabaô, kurie abrasax kurie meithras kurie phalle.
Iô, pan, Iô, pan, pan, iô iskhuros JOAN: Sing unto me the rapturous love song.
Burn unto me perfume.
Wear to me jewels.
Drink to me.
Cause I love you.
I love you.
You're sure you want to go? If you're coming for me, the least I can do is leave for you.
ALFRED: Wait.
I guess It's not up to me.
You are not ready to participate in the workings, but we have other matters to attend to.
It was I don't really know how to put it.
Try.
Shocking, I suppose.
That's the idea, isn't it? Everyone has their own reaction.
All are valid.
I'm just trying to ascertain how it affected you.
Not up here.
But here.
According to Eastern healers this is your power center.
Did you feel it tighten during mass? Maybe.
A little.
What about here? Susan? Did my question embarrass you? I thought inviting you here tonight might help your walls crumble, but it seems to have made them taller.
- I'm sorry.
- Don't be.
I'm the one who's failing.
Can we try again? If you want to.
[INHALES.]
Who was she? Who was she? I only saw her for an instant in my mother-in-laws yard, and then she was gone.
And you have no sense of who this girl was or what she means? Who was she? We haven't made much headway.
I thought this vision of the girl was the key, but the essential agitation persists.
You made the pain go away once.
But it came back.
If I'm being honest, It's gotten worse.
You remain so ephemeral, not just to me, but to yourself.
It's It's as if you were made of air.
Perhaps It's time we tried a different technique.
[DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE.]
Ready? So, are you not gonna tell me what you two did in there? You ought to know.
You've been through his purge sessions.
Did you talk about me? No, Jack.
Not everything is about you.
Now this is the best, that I could come up with, based on the data.
It's about damn time.
Mr.
Nickels, you are aware that It's less than a month until our demonstration with the Air Corps.
I am well aware.
Of course you are.
You are a highly qualified chemist.
Thank you.
It wasn't meant as a compliment.
You were supposed to go beyond what your predecessor was able to accomplish, and instead you've given us this paradox.
Please explain how were supposed to find a-a fuel that is simultaneously a liquid and a solid.
From what I can make out of Mr.
Parsons notes, you've wasted a lot of time going back and forth between solid and liquid fuels.
- He's got a point.
- It doesn't matter.
You cant have a fuel that exists in two different physical states simultaneously.
If my solutions impossible, maybe that's cause the whole endeavor is impossible.
CHIANG: A solution to an impossible problem requires someone who doesn't believe in the impossible.
You have never loved me.
You have only thought it pleasant to be in love with me.
When I was at home with Papa, he would tell me his opinion about everything, and so I had the same opinions.
If I differed from him, I would conceal the fact because he would not have liked it.
He called me his doll child and he played with me just as I used to play with my dolls.
Bravo! Bravo! [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Knock, knock.
Come in.
Ah.
You shouldn't have.
You already got me flowers for the opening.
I really think it keeps getting better and better.
The other cast members even remembered all their lines this time.
You know, Richie, there's such a thing as being too honest.
No.
I-I didn't mean You have been splendid from the start.
You know, there's something I wanted to ask you.
Yeah? What would you think about asking the Parsons to join us for dinner? Why? Well, isn't it time we met each others friends? Aren't you gonna say something? I don't know.
Last time you talked about Jack, you made it pretty clear you two were finished.
Now you want to make peace? That's right.
Uh, it just so happens there's something I need to ask him.
What? Um It's work related.
Then ask him.
Why do I need to be there? Because It's less likely to turn into a bloodbath if there are women present.
[JAZZ BAND PLAYING.]
That's the girl Richards been seeing? Why does she look familiar? Not from What on earth is she doing with him? Jack.
Susan.
Thank you so much for coming.
It's so wonderful to see you both.
Oh, um, this is Marisol.
Marisol, Susan and Jack Parsons.
I've heard so much about you.
Likewise.
We've met already, actually.
Science Fantasy Society? Oh, yes.
Of course.
That author - Jack Williamson? - Good memory.
You know I don't forget things easily, Rich.
Shall we? [LAUGHTER AND INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Thanks, Richie.
Bon soir, madames et monsieurs.
- Can I interest you in a drink? - Great idea.
Well have your most expensive bottle of red, s'il vous plait.
It's your treat, right? It's just It's really great to see you, Jack.
Yeah.
You said that already.
Well, it bears repeating.
Truth is, I wasn't sure that you'd come.
All water under the bridge.
Really? To err is human, to forgive divine.
You forgive me? Does anyone else hear an echo? No.
It's ju No, you're right.
Thank you for your forgiveness and thank you again for coming.
Thank Susan.
Sheâs the one who talked me into it.
What? It's the truth.
Someone at this table ought to be telling it.
[SUSAN CLEARS THROAT.]
You know, I could stand to freshen up.
Excuse me.
["BABY, WHAT YOU DO TO ME" BY HELEN FORREST PLAYING.]
Gracias.
When the ghost of a grin Starts to dimple your chin What a dither I'm in Oh, baby, what you do to me [DOOR OPENS.]
When you wrinkle your nose I decided I could use some freshening up myself.
Knock yourself out.
Till it tickles my toes Oh, baby, what you do to me You need to borrow some powder or something? Were alone now.
You can stop pretending.
Perhaps you thought I didn't remember? Hoped, more like it.
What are you doing with him? And don't try to tell me this is all some big coincidence.
"There are no coincidences," "only the moment your will and path collide.
" Excuse me? Right.
You're new.
The Grand Magus sent me after Richie.
It was for your husbands sake.
Help keep the rocket project from hitting the skids.
Why would Alfred care about that? He lets you call him by his first name.
Interesting.
He's devoted to his flock.
I thought he was only helping Jack, but he was helping me, too.
By forcing you to go out with Richard? He didn't force me.
It was part of my workings.
I was just supposed to boost Richie's confidence.
Sticking with him was my idea.
Thing is, ever since I was little, I wanted to be famous.
That's why I joined the Agape.
I thought it would help me get there.
I don't understand.
How is Richard helping you become famous? That's the point.
He's not.
I realized being adored by a man like him, starting a family, that's what I truly wanted all along.
[CHUCKLES LIGHTLY.]
The Great Beast works in mysterious ways, that's for sure.
Does Richard know about any of this? You and me both know he wouldn't approve.
You should hear the way he talks.
The guys head over heels for me.
And do you care about him? Of course.
Then you should come clean.
Nothing good ever started with a lie.
Thank you.
So What do you think of Marisol? She seems swell, Richard.
Are you gonna tell me what were doing here? What do you mean? I know this cant just be a social call after what you did.
We don't need to rehash it.
I am sorry that you felt it necessary to quit the team at such a critical juncture.
The fact of the matter is, we still need your help.
I knew it.
I knew you'd be back on your hands and knees, begging me to rejoin the team.
- If you'd let me finish - I'll save you the trouble.
I'll come back on one condition.
That we scrap this whole JATO business and put the military's money towards our original objective.
- Jack - No negotiations, Richard.
Those are my terms.
Take it or leave it.
We've already replaced you.
There's a new chemist on the team.
Marvin Nickels.
Carnegie undergrad.
Fourth-year PhD student, Caltech.
Crompton's top pupil.
He's fitting right in.
Good for him.
It's going very well.
The teams making excellent headway.
Is that right? Mm-hmm.
In fact, Marvin has come up with a brilliant solution to the fuel problem using your notes.
- My notes? - Yes.
And Id like to pick your brain about it.
You're stealing the fruits of my labor? Your research belongs to Caltech.
- All of our research does.
- You son of a bitch.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
You're damn right it was a bad idea.
You want to know what I think about Marisol? I think you should make sure she's with you for the right reasons.
Hey, fellas.
What happened? That's what she said.
And you believed her? Why else would she go after Richard? Though I do find it odd that you'd Interfere with their personal affairs? Well, yes.
Let me ask you something.
Did Marisol seem happy? Yes, I suppose so.
That's what we aim to do here, isn't it? Shall we? The answers we seek might not come through questioning alone.
As an air elemental, you need to be contained.
Who was she? I told you I only saw her for a moment.
Who was she? I don't know.
How old was she? Uh 12, 13, maybe? What else? Close your eyes and focus.
What else did you notice about her? She had something in her mouth.
What? Does that have any significance to you? - Oranges make me sick to my stomach.
- Why? They just do.
I've always hated them.
- Always? - As far back as I can remember.
SUSAN: - There was an orange grove behind my house.
I kept as far away from it as I could.
- Why? - I told you, I'm-I'm allergic.
[GASPS.]
ALFRED: Concentrate, Susan.
[GASPING.]
What is it? What are you seeing? [SOBS.]
Nothing.
What did you see? [GASPS.]
[HAMMER STRIKES.]
- [GASPS.]
- What did you see? Let me out from under here.
What did you see? I saw me.
Why would you be so frightened of yourself? [BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Can I help you, sir? [MUFFLED EXPLOSION.]
Hey.
Uh, Mr.
Onsted, you might want to come in here.
No.
I've got nothing to say to him.
M-Mr.
Parsons? Move.
It's an honor to meet you.
You-you work with stuff I'd never have the guts to handle.
Yeah, well, a lot of good that did me.
Well, what do you mean? Everything's pretty much ground to a halt since you quit.
Look, I don't have time to recreate your results, and especially not if I follow proper protocol, which, I guess, was less of a problem for you.
- Mm-hmm.
- After so many false starts, Mr.
Onsted pushed me to come up with a theoretical solution.
- Sounds like Richard.
- Yeah, well, Too bad the solution I came up with is friggin' impossible.
What solution? Um, in order to build a JATO that will burn evenly and be light enough, we need a fuel that acts like both a solid and a liquid.
A solid and a liquid.
Yeah, it doesn't make sense.
Unless you have any bright ideas.
SAMSON: Jack.
What a nice surprise.
And also well-timed.
What are you doing here? - Collecting my things.
- These belong to Caltech.
- I told you that.
- Let go.
I tried being nice, inviting you to a very expensive dinner.
A genuine apology would have gotten you a lot further.
You're the one who should be apologizing to me the way you spoke about Marisol.
I wasn't insulting her, I was insulting you.
Ask yourself, Richard.
What could a girl like that possibly see in you? I'll have you all know that I've been offered a very significant job promotion.
- Where? - Pueblo Powder Company? Unlike some people, they recognize the fact that I'm irreplaceable.
You know what? Take them.
If the answer was in those notebooks, we would have succeeded a long time ago.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[FOOTFALLS APPROACHING.]
[GASPS.]
- JACK: Susan? - [DOOR CLOSES.]
You'll never guess what happened out in the arroyo today.
Richard didn't just steal my work, he used my plans for the lab and the testing facility.
Everything is exactly as I said it should be.
You should have seen him, completely stalled without me.
[ECHOES.]
: My so-called replacement came up with a fuel solution they claim is impossible.
Well see about that.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[CHAIR SLIDES ON FLOOR.]
[INHALES SHARPLY.]
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu.
I am known to you by my name, Nuit, and to him by a secret name, which I shall give to him when he at last knoweth me.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
- What are you doing right now? - Nothing.
You need help with something.
Yeah.
Come on.
- You gonna tell me? - Tell you what? How you got that cut on your arm.
A working.
Last one before ascension to the second triad.
Were you trying to manifest anything in particular? What about you, Jack? You want to tell me what were doing setting off rockets in the middle of the goddamn night? A test.
I still don't know whether to take that promotion in Pueblo.
Then you shouldn't.
If I do the job, I can give Susan the life she always wanted.
Or at least the one she used to want.
I don't know anymore.
So take it.
It's not that easy.
It would mean giving up on this, our project.
You really want to go crawling back to Richard? I don't know.
And even if he took me back, it would mean working on something I don't believe in.
See, It's all well and good to talk about following your true path, but what if you're faced with two bad turns in the road? You remember the first night I brought you up here? It was standing right there.
You mean the mountain lion? No, Jack, the Great Beast.
He showed you the way.
He did it then.
Hell do it again.
[GRUNTS.]
[DISTANT SIREN WAILING.]
[ERNEST RUBBING HANDS TOGETHER.]
[EXHALES.]
Okay.
[DEBRIS FALLING.]
You've fired off a million rockets, Jack.
Don't let this one mean more than it has to.
"Who am I, and what shall be the sign?" Whats that? - Book of the Law, - first chapter.
Verse 26.
That's all I needed, a sign.
To point me in the right direction.
You're just gonna give up? Jack! You want a sign? Here's your goddamn sign.
What are you doing with that? I took it.
There is no law beyond "do what thou wilt.
" That was my fathers.
Oh, you mean the one that abandoned you? Shut your fucking mouth.
Nothing else matters in this life but being true to yourself.
I tried.
People keep getting in my way.
Open your damn eyes! You remember what it felt like when I took you up in that crop duster and everything else just faded away? I'm going home, Ernest.
Let go of me.
Not gonna happen, Jack, not ever.
I am the only one who's gotten you closer to what you want.
[GRUNTING.]
Get the fuck off me! A ka dua.
Tuf Ur biu.
[SCREAMING.]
Never forget who you are, Jack.
You're not a supervisor.
You are a marvel! Am I part of your "workings"? Cant outrun your destiny, Jack.
A man of will knows no boundaries.
Stay the fuck away from me.
Jack! If we take the entire population of Los Angeles County, It's roughly 2.
5 million people, and divide that in two, because I'm only interested in women, obviously, but then, uh, we need to remove everyone that's not age appropriate, which reduces that number by at least two-thirds.
So 416,666.
66.
Well, it's-it's a repeating decimal, so lets just call it 416,667.
Yeah, let's.
But then we need to reduce it even further.
For one, I don't own a car, so am somewhat limited geographically.
And accounting for age-appropriate women that live in a close proximity, that brings the number down by at least three-quarters, and lets face it, I'm not gonna find every age-appropriate woman nearby attractive and an even smaller percentage will be interested in me.
What'd I say about selling yourself short? The point is, um, when you account for taste, there are about 5,208 women in all of Los Angeles that are theoretically suitable, or .
2% of the entire population.
And when you factor in women that are single and, more critically, how many I'll get along with Well, at that point, the math gets quite complicated.
Mm-hmm.
Suffice it to say, you, my dear, are a statistical anomaly.
One in a million, or rather, um in 2.
5 million.
Why are you telling me all this? Cant you see that you are literally the one for me.
This math proves it.
Did something make you doubt it? Richie.
You don't need math.
You just need faith.
You're right.
I've never felt this way about anyone.
I wasn't even entirely sure that I was capable.
I guess this is my way of trying to say something that could more efficiently be expressed in three words I love you.
Oh.
And I'm fairly certain that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Did I say too much? And I'm sorry, but it's the truth.
No, no, It's not that.
It's just There's something I have to tell you.
The night we met wasn't a coincidence.
- ALFRED: What happened next? - [GASPS.]
[HAMMER STRIKING.]
- [HAMMER STRIKING.]
- [GASPS, WHIMPERS.]
ALFRED: What happened next? I told you, that's all I can remember.
- It's not working.
- Try again.
- [HAMMER STRIKES.]
- There's nothing else.
ALFRED: Keep trying.
Please, can we stop? [CRYING.]
ALFRED: What is it? Are you seeing something? Tell me.
VIRGIL: Susan? Susan.
[SUSAN YELPS.]
VIRGIL: Come on.
ALFRED: Who is it? Who was there with you, Susan? [PANTING.]
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
I'll take it.
Wise decision.
Was surprised you needed so long to think on it.
Hey, um, do you know what happened to the guy who lives here? Beats me.
Landlord said he took off without paying rent.
He a friend of yours? No.
Hardly knew him.
Hello? Hello? Jack! Jack, what are you doing? I'm getting rid of everything.
You should understand.
You're such a big believer in purging all of a sudden.
I'm done pretending.
I'm not gonna lead mankind to the moon.
I'm not gonna bend the world to my will.
I'm a gainfully employed chemical company supervisor.
Jack It's okay.
It's okay.
This is for the best, really.
You were right about the Agape.
It does corrupt people.
It makes them believe that they can have anything they want, however twisted.
- Jack, I don't - Please, let me finish.
Ernest left this godforsaken neighborhood, and were getting out of here, too.
You want three bedrooms? Why not four? Heck, maybe well have twins.
But most of all, you can stop punishing me by going.
Okay? I've learned my lesson.
I just want things to go back to the way they used to be.
What if I cant? I don't think I can go back to who I used to be.
I don't want to.
Please don't say that.
I-I know I've made some mistakes.
It's not that.
I I learned something today, something about myself.
What? What? I'm sorry.
Does the Grand Magus know? - Don't, don't.
- I'm done with all of it.
I want my wife back.
Shit.
[GROWLING.]
[ROARING.]