Unstable (2023) s02e06 Episode Script

1
[whimsical music playing]
J-bone! Glad I caught you.
- Hey, I wanna thank you.
- You're welcome.
- You don't know what I'm thanking you for.
- If I say you're welcome, you'll move on.
This is clever. No, I wanna thank you
for introducing me to Peter,
the man who just may be
the future of Dragon Industries one day.
Okay. Not this game again.
- What game?
- Trying to make me jealous.
[scoffs] This is no game.
This is as sincere as I get.
- Oh, that I believe.
- Okay, well, believe this.
Peter's battery is going
to blow the roof off BioTexpo.
You're gonna present the bio-battery?
You think that's a smart idea?
Yeah, it's smart because Peter's my guy,
and this is his baby,
which makes it my baby.
- Yeah, but it's not even ready yet.
- Mm-hmm. You are jealous.
That's not what I said.
[theme music playing]
I'm not sure why I try with him at all.
He is the most insane person alive.
- Who?
- Who do you think?
Sounds like somebody needs a day off.
We should get out of here.
Go to Malibu or Ojai.
I have a job.
You're good, bro.
The job will still be here
when we get back from Ojai.
Wait, shouldn't you be buckling down?
You almost got fired.
Oh yeah, that was a very close call.
We can talk about it
on the drive up to Ojai.
I'm not going to Ojai.
Some of us have responsibilities.
Easy, pal. You are not
the only one with responsibilities.
Sorry.
I think I need more responsibilities.
Are you trying to impress me
by taking more initiative?
Sure. That.
So let me take some stuff off your plate.
You know, dirty deeds,
dark arts, puppet master shit.
Oh, what is it exactly
you think I do around here?
No clue, but what if I told you
that I really believed in our mission,
like, repairing the planet or whatever?
How would that go?
Uh, I'm far too busy right now
to hold your hand, Georgia.
I know your position on hand-holding.
- I show affection in other ways.
- Right.
Name one.
How's this? You can, uh, shadow me
whilst I'm working
if you promise
I'll have no idea you're there.
You won't even know I exist.
Which I know is your ultimate fantasy.
[uptempo instrumental music playing]
I wonder why Peter called this meeting.
[chuckles] Did he say anything to you?
The meeting?
No. Uh, no, I don't think so.
Not to me.
I don't really, um, I don't know.
Maybe he's finally
about to announce team lead.
This could be my big moment.
Hello.
Hello, hello, hello.
As many of you have already heard,
I'll be presenting the bio-battery
with Ellis at BioTexpo.
And he is gonna crush it. Really.
I'm super stoked for him. [chuckles]
[chuckles] My man.
Um, very exciting stuff,
but also, I gotta say, a lot more pressure
to produce more results,
which, of course,
requires a lot more leadership.
Speaking of leadership, Ruby here will be
taking on a lot more responsibility
as team leader reporting directly to me.
Thank you, Peter.
Um, I'm excited to work with all of you
in this new role
and, uh, to take credit
for all of your work.
[all laughing]
Peter, Ellis is ready for you.
- Let's get back to work.
- Congrats.
- Thanks.
- Nice.
- Wow. Um did you know about that?
- Kinda. It all just sort of, um
No, you don't have to explain.
[scoffs]
You don't have to tell me, uh, anything.
[tense music playing]
[door opens]
We're live in just under a minute.
Everyone feeling good?
- I think the new guy's a little nervous.
- [chuckles] I've never been on TV before.
- Don't worry. Just follow my lead.
- I'd prefer you both stick to the script.
Ah, ah. This isn't my first rodeo.
I literally sang the national anthem
at the Calgary Stampede.
Oh, cool.
[TV news intro playing]
Welcome back to Quick Money.
I'm Donna Marks.
And we begin with a stock
we've been keeping a very close eye on.
Dragon Industries has just announced
they'll be unveiling
something big at BioTexpo.
Joining me, of course, is the CEO
of Dragon Industries, Ellis Dragon.
Good to be with you, Donna.
And with him is the brilliant mind
behind Dragon's exciting new technology,
the man some are even calling
the next Ellis Dragon, Peter Martin.
Hello, Donna. Um, thanks for having us.
Now, a working bio-battery
is the Holy Grail of the industry.
Is it not? I mean,
it's a once-in-a-generation innovation
that could really save
a beleaguered Dragon Industries.
[scoffs] I don't know
how beleaguered we are.
Your stock dipped 30% last spring
as you were facing
criminal charges for arson.
That's a family matter,
and, um, I'm not gonna get into it here,
but I will say that I will do
whatever it takes to protect my family.
Well, we have another report here
of an incident of you stealing
an employee's car
while in an impaired state.
- Was that also a private family matter?
- Maybe.
Uh, Donna, um, I've been following
your career for a very long time,
and let me just say that I am a fan.
Thank you.
And as a fan, I have to say,
I know you're better than this.
- Well, hold on.
- No, no, no, you hold on.
Okay, you're prying
into people's family drama
and mental health struggles
to create some kind of viral moment,
and that's just
You know, I'll tell you exactly
what that is. That is a distraction.
It's a distraction from the real truth,
which is that there is a ticking clock
on lithium batteries.
Our cell phones, our electric cars,
our entire way of life is unsustainable
without renewable energy.
Yes.
[sighs]
We turn to the housing market now,
where home prices are up 16% and climbing.
While supply continues to dwindle,
consumer demand is at an all-time high.
Great job. You guys nailed it.
Really? I felt like
I was talking too much.
No, you were great!
- Wasn't he, Ellis?
- No.
He wasn't great.
He was better than great!
Everybody, give it up for Peter!
- [Peter laughs]
- You heard it. He's the next me.
- Oh boy.
- Not good.
I feel light-headed.
Oh, okay. Do you wanna
go and lie down in your office?
Say, uh, Anna, can I show you something?
Sure.
Uh
Um, take Ellis to his office
and get him properly hydrated.
- And don't touch anything.
- All right.
Hey, wait up, big guy!
[whimsical music playing]
- What do you think of this Peter fellow?
- I don't.
Bless you.
Hey there. Everything okay?
Yeah, yeah. Sure.
- Thank you, Georgia. That'll be all.
- No, no, no. I want her to stay.
She gets it.
- What did Peter want?
- Oh, he was just a bit alarmed.
Some crackpot sent him
a threatening email.
They did?
Yes, but it's fine. I forwarded it
to security. They're not concerned.
I didn't get a death threat.
Bullet dodged.
Should we head up to the conference room
to prep for Bloomberg?
Why don't you let Peter do it?
He's getting all the death threats.
You know what?
He can do all the interviews.
And BioTexpo.
Peter can do it all.
Everybody wants to kill him.
Uh, um, Ellis, I I um
Where's all this coming from?
I don't move the needle anymore.
I'm not even worth a slug of lead.
You know, there was a time,
not too long ago,
when it was me they wanted to kill.
I thought it would last forever.
I'm not sure
what we're reminiscing about here.
Don't you get it, Anna?
Do you know who gets death threats?
Visionaries. Change agents.
- Superstars.
- Superstars.
You know, perhaps that death threat
wasn't meant for Peter.
Perhaps it was meant for you.
Really? What do we think?
Seems like a stretch.
Well, Georgia, it could have been
a decoy threat,
hoping that we would divert our resources
to protecting Peter,
thereby leaving our big, important top dog
vulnerable for the strike.
- Yup, I can see that.
- Nah.
You know what, Georgia's right.
Why would anybody wanna kill me
when they can kill the new me?
Georgia, may I speak with you
for a second?
[whimsical music playing]
A huge part of my job is
[smacks lips, exhales]
keeping Ellis's spirits up,
even if that means taking
the occasional liberty with reality.
- Oh, like lying?
- Call it whatever you want.
I love that. Let's go back in there.
I wanna learn from the master.
- Absolutely not.
- So now I'm being punished?
It's how I show affection.
[whimsical music plays]
And I thought things
were going well with Georgia,
but then this morning,
I think I pissed her off.
- You and Georgia spent the night together?
- Yeah, but that's not
- So you forgave her?
- For what?
The whole firing thing.
Why would I forgive her for that?
That was my dad trying to get to me.
Yeah, yeah. All him.
She's an innocent victim.
- Jackson Dragon. Come with us.
- [Jackson] Yeah?
- [Jackson groans] Malcolm!
- Jackson?
- [man] He can't help you, pal. Come on.
- [Jackson] Malcolm, they're taking me.
J J Jackson?
Dad, what's going on?
[Jackson chuckles]
I don't understand.
This morning,
Peter got a minor death threat,
and then this afternoon,
I got a way scarier one.
Okay.
Jackson, why are you here?
What's all this?
I told him about the Dragon Slayer.
- That's what we're calling him. My idea.
- I don't think we need to worry Jackson.
Well, what other choice did I have?
I need to make things right between us
in case something unspeakable
were to occur.
Of course.
So, they're warning you
to stop talking about the bio-battery?
Well, once again, I'm bringing
revolutionary technology to the masses.
That makes me very dangerous
to the status quo.
Which is why your father has no choice
but to get back on TV
and hype, hype, hype. Right?
Can't let the crazies win.
Here's the best part. I've hired an expert
to come in and try to find this bastard.
Oh. You have?
[spluttering] I thought
we agreed to ignore it.
[Western music plays]
- Right, where do I set up?
- [Anna sighs]
[clicks tongue]
Leslie's the specialist. Very good.
Is it very good? 'Cause I think
this is beyond Leslie's skill set.
My hunch,
this sicko is no stranger.
- Might even be someone who works here.
- Ooh! I never would've thought of that.
Perhaps we cast a wider net.
Well, whoever it is, I'm gonna look them
right in the eye, and I'm gonna tell 'em,
"These colors don't run."
- What colors?
- Stop treading on me!
I'm a wartime president.
- I'll need to conduct some interviews.
- You have full authority.
Suspension of habeas corpus. Martial law.
Message received, chief.
We're going full Zero Dark Thirty.
[dramatic music playing]
- [Anna] What's he doing?
- Since when does he limp?
Um No, no.
- Stop that! Don't do that!
- [Jackson] Hey!
No, no. No, no. Stop it!
[intriguing music playing]
[Leslie] Hmm
Mm-hmm.
Mmm.
- Hmm.
- [Luna smacks lips]
- Uh, can I help you?
- Why'd you do it?
Do what?
You are good.
This is gonna be fun.
I'm here to sniff out any traitors.
- Traitors?
- Yeah.
Think of me as a human truffle pig.
Okay, is this about the threat on Peter?
Threat on Peter?
He got one too? That's interesting.
[Leslie chuckles]
So, Peter's becoming
kind of a big deal around here?
- Yeah, I guess so.
- Huh.
He was really good on Quick Money.
You don't think he's making a play,
do you? Just gunning for the top spot?
Yeah, I wouldn't put it past him.
[Luna sighs]
He made me think I had this promotion
in the bag. Then he just gave it to Ruby.
[chuckles]
Just 'cause they're old friends.
So, you're telling me he's on the rise,
and this Ruby fellow has his ear?
- [Leslie chuckles]
- Um
I think I've gotten all I need.
Thank you very much.
Okay.
Sorry, who are you again?
Oh
Nobody.
Hey. Just making sure you're okay.
Some pretty scary stuff
going around the office today.
We're dealing with it.
First, Peter gets a threat.
Now I'm hearing Ellis got one too.
Both on the same day. It's so weird.
It comes with the territory.
When you're changing the world,
you're bound to ruffle feathers.
Especially when the CFO
is taking liberties with reality.
Right, Dragon Slayer?
[uptempo instrumental music playing]
[door closes]
Wrangling Ellis often requires
a little out-of-the-box methodology.
The Dragon Slayer is a little further
out of the box than I typically veer.
I get it. Give the old man a scare.
Make him feel vital. Respect.
Thank you for understanding.
So, how dark are we going
on this next one?
I have a lot of ideas.
Some real nightmare shit.
I do appreciate the offer,
but the Dragon Slayer works alone.
[intriguing music playing]
[Leslie] Well, well, well.
If it isn't Miss Ruby.
I Yes?
I hear congratulations are in order.
[chuckles] Excuse me?
Your buddy Lumis said
you got yourself a sweet little promotion.
- Luna.
- No, Lumis.
- No, Luna.
- Who's Lumis?
Luna told you that?
You can be mad at her. [laughs]
Wait, uh, why?
It doesn't matter.
You've got friends in high places.
Shit. I told Peter this would happen.
So it's true then.
You are in really tight with Peter.
He and I have a special, uh, friendship.
Maybe it's time
for us to form an alliance.
We could be a power couple.
Me and you.
Sorry. I gotta go anywhere else.
Um, do you know if he's happy
with his live-in therapist?
[whimsical music playing]
Oh, Peter. All done with CNBC?
Yeah, but, uh, I gotta tell ya,
I'm out there by myself.
Doing a lot of talking.
I could really use some support.
I think Ellis will be joining you
for the rest of the interviews.
He's feeling much better.
Stop! I'm I'm sorry. The Dragon Slayer
has written a second letter.
- That's that's impossible.
- Uh, who's the Dragon Slayer?
A deranged mofo. Obviously.
Shh!
Listen to this.
"It won't be your scalp
I'll be taking after all."
"Instead, I will erase your bloodline,
kill your only heir,
and make a bolognese of his remains."
[Leslie retching]
[Leslie coughs]
[Leslie groans] God.
[Leslie coughing]
This this letter sounds different.
More, um, graphic and immature.
- Maybe it's a copycat.
- It's on the same stationery.
There's a, uh, lack of subtlety here
that seems incongruous.
Absolutely.
Something seems to have snapped.
He's more unhinged.
He's no longer moored by any code.
He's determined to make the son
pay for the sins of the father.
Right. Right.
So I guess I'm flying solo again.
- Yeah.
- Yeah. Wheels up, captain.
All right.
[Anna smacks lips, exhales]
You wanted to see me?
Uh, Jackson, I I don't mean to alarm you,
but the Dragon Slayer
now has you in his sights.
He wants to reduce you into a meat sauce
and, I'm assuming, serve you
over rigatoni or tagliatelle.
Both pair well with chunkier sauces.
Really glad
you didn't want to alarm me there.
I really think you should
get back out there with Peter.
Can't be backing down
over a little juvenile bluster.
Anna! You don't understand.
You're not a parent. Prepare the bunker.
Whoa. I don't think that that's necessary.
Couldn't agree more. Don't we want to give
Leslie a little more time to crack this?
Who, me? Oh yeah.
I can keep us all safer if I'm up here.
You know, rattling cages, busting skulls,
digging into
shifting power structures, etcetera.
You have two hours to solve this.
But if not, we disappear.
Right. Plenty of time.
Somebody has to clean up the vomit.
[whispering] Oh, you are one sick puppy.
Right? I really knocked it out of the park
with my letter.
No, the opposite.
Dragon Slayer's only goal
was to pump up Ellis's ego.
Not threaten his firstborn and send him
into hiding in some secret bunker.
Dragon Slayer also likes to have fun.
He's not some lame-o tight-ass.
Oh, you have made this so much worse.
Is there a version of having you around
which doesn't make my life more difficult?
Okay. Chill.
We can fix this.
[whimsical music playing]
Hey, have you seen Jackson?
Why? Gonna tell him you were never fired
and you and Ellis were playing him?
- 'Cause that would be great for me.
- What? No. Why do you care?
Secrets give me rashes.
And I'm already breaking out.
Get some ointment, bitch.
I just really think
that you should come clean.
- I know that you're a good person
- Oh, Jackson!
- Where are you going?
- To a bunker, I think.
But I'm glad I caught you
before I went into total isolation
because I wanted to apologize
for being a dick this morning.
Oh, it's fine.
No, it's not fine.
I was upset about something my dad did,
and I lashed out at you,
which isn't cool,
'cause I really like you.
Aw. I like you too.
But speaking of Ellis,
what is a version of a death threat
that would pump his ego way up
but make him feel safe enough
so you guys don't have to disappear?
Why do you care about my dad's ego?
I don't.
The Dragon Slayer does.
[uptempo instrumental music playing]
- What the hell is wrong with you?
- What are you talking about?
- Georgia told me about the letters.
- He thinks mine was better.
- I said, "More disturbing."
- It's the same thing.
I can't believe
you'd do something like this.
Do you have any idea
how much stress I've been under?
What other choice did I have?
Are you telling me the only option you had
was to manufacture a death threat?
Well, it it did seem that way
at the time.
And it would have worked
had this one not intervened.
Well, I was just trying
to impress you, Mama.
[Jackson] What do we do now?
- Well, the only way out is in.
- What does that mean?
I think what Georgia's saying is
the third letter's the charm.
All right. The first thing we need to do
is make it clear that I'm not in danger.
Uh, "Decided to spare your son,
so no need to get knickers in a twist."
Oh my God. "Knickers in a twist"?
You might as well just sign, "Love, Anna."
[Anna groans]
How about something like,
"I Googled your son
and, although he is cute as hell
and a certified short king,
he just isn't worth my time."
"So I've decided to focus all my rage
on the only Dragon who matters."
- How's that?
- I would lose the "short king" part.
And the "cute" thing,
but apart from that, quite effective.
Good job.
That's as close to a hug
as I'm ever gonna get.
[Jackson] Oh.
[intriguing music playing]
Is it true
what they've been saying about Peter?
- What have they been saying?
- That he was really good on Quick Money.
So good that he'll be running the place
before too long.
I don't know anything about that.
Well, guys like us need to know.
If the Ellis ship sinks,
there's no need for us to follow it
to the bottom of the lagoon.
Let's you and I jump into
that Peter lifeboat
and let him row us to shore.
Aren't you Ellis's therapist?
Well, I'm also my own therapist
and my most important client.
Huh. I'm gonna tell Ellis
what you're up to.
[laughing]
You don't wanna do that.
[dramatic music playing]
[exhales] Oh, this is great news.
According to this latest letter,
Jackson is no longer in his sights.
It's just me
with my ass hanging out there.
Just the way you like it.
So, how about we stay above ground,
do the remaining media,
and head to BioTexpo after all?
I'm in.
That's my guy.
[Leslie] We found our man.
Malcolm, AKA the Dragon Slayer.
No, Malcolm's not the Dragon Slayer.
I've known him since I was a kid.
- Silencio!
- Ow! What the
It's called deep cover.
And I wouldn't put it past him
to concoct a credible story
about how I'm the one who betrayed you.
He did betray you.
Just like Leslie predicted.
That's not funny,
and I'd tread lightly if I were you.
- What does that mean?
- What's he talking about?
If you don't tell him, I will.
Ugh, fine.
It was my idea to have Ellis fire me.
- Are you happy?
- Wait, what? Dad, is that true?
Doesn't that seem like small potatoes
with all the death threats flying around?
- You didn't get any threats.
- What about the letters?
- Anna wrote them.
- Just the first one.
The second one was all me.
The third one was
more of a collab jam session
Nope. Stop.
Why?
You were in such a low place.
I just wanted to
build you back up a little bit.
I see.
Well, congratulations.
My confidence is now at an all-time high.
[sighs] Oh, Ellis.
Jackson, listen
Save it.
[Leslie] Hmm.
[sighs] Looks like I solved the case
after all.
You're free to go, Malcolm.
Come on.
[intriguing music playing]
Oh, screw this.
Yeah, that was, um
That was quite a day.
Just to say the least.
Are you concerned at all?
About the threat.
The, uh, the only genuine threat
that we received today.
No. This? No.
It's just some internet weirdo.
Oh, security said it came
from a Sydney Grossman.
Apparently, he was someone you worked with
back in the day.
[Peter] Hmm.
No, I can't say I remember the name.
But, you know,
it's not as catchy as "Dragon Slayer."
Yeah, well, not my finest hour, but, um
[exhales]
Ellis and I, we have our thing. It's
It's definitely something.
He's He's a complicated guy.
Sure. Sure, but, uh, it does take two.
- I suppose it does.
- [chuckles]
Another round?
Why not?
["Black Out Days (Future Islands Remix)"
[by Phantogram playing]
[car beeping]
- Where are you going?
- I'm not a bozo, Jackson.
- I'm tired of being treated like one.
- Sure. Yeah.
But don't you think your behavior
has something to do with that, champ?
Hard to say.
But maybe I'll find the answer out there,
somewhere, on the open road.
But I do know it's getting harder
for this cat to know who he can trust.
Yeah. I know that feeling.
And don't even think
of asking to come with me.
Do you want me to come with you?
- I probably shouldn't be alone right now.
- Okay.
Stay, ay-ay-ay-ah ♪
Away-ay-ay-ah ♪
Away-ay-ay-ah ♪
And stay ♪
I'm hearing voices all the time
And they're not mine ♪
I'm hearing voices
And they're haunting my mind ♪
And stay ♪
I'm hearing voices all the time
And they're not mine ♪
I'm hearing voices
And they're haunting my mind ♪
And stay, ay-ay-ah ♪
Away-ay-ay-ah ♪
Away-ay-ay-ah ♪
And stay, ay-ay-ah ♪
Away-ay-ay-ah ♪
Away, ay-ay-ah ♪
And stay ♪
I'm hearing voices all the time
And they're not mine ♪
I'm hearing voices
And they're haunting my mind ♪
And stay ♪
I'm hearing voices all the time
And they're not mine ♪
I'm hearing voices
And they're haunting my mind ♪
[song ends]