Perception s03e05 Episode Script
Eternity
So, I read your papers on peripheral neuropathy yesterday.
Five precious hours of my life that I'll never get back.
Memorizing facts and then regurgitating them in 2,000 carefully crafted words is not science, people.
It's intellectual bulimia.
Real science happens when we explore what we don't know.
Galileo, Curie, Einstein.
They all had the imagination and the guts to look at a set of facts and say, "Okay, but what about this? And what if that?" They asked questions.
So, instead of revisiting what we already know, let's spend this hour in pursuit of ignorance Our own.
And since Mr.
Lewicki is an expert in the field of ignorance, he will lead the discussion.
I'm sure something is going on with my father.
But in the future, I'd appreciate it if you would call me.
- I'm leaving him.
- What? I tried to talk to him about moving to an assisted-living facility.
I found this great one in Belmont Park, but he screamed at me to get out of his life.
And you took that literally? The man has Alzheimer's.
I'm sure he was upset He's upset all the time now.
I can't take it.
I just went through this with both of my parents.
But at least they were nice to me.
Your father is abusive.
Look, I have my own life to live.
I know the two of you don't get along.
But here he's at the condo.
You'll need them to get in.
Uh What the hell is this? I already told you, Dad.
It's not safe for you to stay at the condo alone, so So you brought me to this dump.
This dump is my house.
And I'm not exactly thrilled that you're here, either, but since you sent Wendy running for the hills, this is our only option for the time being.
Wendy will be back.
She's a woman.
Gets emotional and blows things out of proportion.
Ah.
Your mother was an expert in that regard.
Like when she got cancer? God.
If only mom could have lightened up a little bit, huh? Oh, you think sarcasm is funny.
I think it's a healthy coping mechanism, unlike denial.
Wendy's not coming back okay? You've got to find a place to live where you'll be cared for.
I should have been nicer to her.
I-I should have tried harder.
Yeah, you should have participated in the clinical trial I signed you up for.
The meds would have helped with your mood, and and and slowed the memory loss.
Okay, enough with the "I told you so.
" Where's the John? I appreciate you giving up your room, Lewicki.
- It's temporary, I promise.
- I'm giving up my room? I just think he'll be more comfortable in his own space.
You know, maybe you can wire up that old TV that's in there.
And he's gonna want some kind of red meat, so you'll have to go shopping.
No offense, Doc, but if I have to look after two Pierces, I'm going to blow my brains out.
Fine.
Fine.
My father My responsibility.
Well, where's the goddamn toilet paper?! Give him a hand in there, will you, please? What? I got to I got to get the door.
Kate.
Thank God.
Y-you have a case, right? Just give me two seconds to get my things together.
Daniel, slow down.
I do have a case.
But it involves the murder of someone you may know.
Who? It's a neuroscientist named Landon Jennings.
Never heard of him Unless that's a prerequisite for my involvement, in which case, yes, Landon Jennings and I were very close.
Landon Jennings was killed? Did you know him? Well, of him.
He's a pioneer in artificial intelligence.
Don't you have some work to do in the bathroom? Mm, sounds like your dad figured it out.
- Your dad's here? I want to meet him.
- No, you don't.
I heard a beautiful voice.
And, look, it belongs to an equally beautiful woman.
Kate Moretti, James Pierce.
- My pleasure.
- I, uh, see we've solved the mystery of where Daniel gets his good looks.
So, you're Daniel's special lady friend.
I approve, Son.
She's a special agent with the FBI.
She has a case she needs my help with.
It's extremely time-sensitive, so we have to go right now.
The case isn't that time-sensitive.
Your dad's charming.
Plus, aren't you a little bit old - to be embarrassed by a parent? - Unfortunately, no.
And the charm's an illusion, believe me.
Anything you want to talk about? Yes, I want to talk about the case.
You brought it to me 'cause the victim's a neuroscientist? I brought it to you for the same reason the will county police brought it to the FBI it doesn't seem possible.
Whoever killed Jennings got in and out of a secure safe room and then vanished into thin air.
A locked-door mystery.
Thank you.
I feel better already.
According to the police report, Jennings lived here with a personal assistant.
He could give Lewicki some tips on dusting.
Place is spotless.
He came back from an errand to find Dr.
Jennings Looking like this.
Cause of death is asphyxiation, but the forensics came back blank.
No hairs or fibers.
Just a nasty bruise on the back of the head.
Hmm.
Not your average padlock.
Oh.
The door is solid steel with seals on the edges.
Well, there's more.
Wow.
I value my privacy, too, but this is a bit extreme.
Okay, here's my take I'm Jennings.
I'm at my desk working.
You're the killer.
- Okay.
- Somehow, you get through that door.
Well, either I disable the lock, or I knew the code to begin with.
Right, I jump up in a panic, knock over my chair, make a run for it, but you grab me.
There's a wild struggle.
We knock a bunch of stuff over.
I scream.
The gardeners outside hear me.
He can't get into the house.
It's all locked up.
Exactly.
Finally, you get leverage, slamming me to the ground here.
The blow to the back of my head leaves me unconscious.
You then, with a gloved hand, block my breathing passages till I die.
Then you leave, sealing the door behind you, and disappear.
Makes sense.
The question is, why did Jennings hermetically seal himself in here in the first place? Either he's paranoid, or there's something very valuable he wanted to protect.
Check this out.
Interesting symbols.
Some sort of code.
I think that whatever Jennings was protecting can be accessed from this computer, and the killer tried to log in.
I don't know anything about his computer.
Dr.
Jennings trusted me with things like his checkbook and his laundry, but that room is basically an extension of Eternity labs.
It's above my pay grade.
What's Eternity labs? Uh, where they do the R&D for the artificial-intelligence work.
Dr.
Jennings' study was wired into it.
He preferred to work from home.
So there's access to all of his intellectual property there.
Billions of dollars worth.
That explains the security.
Any idea who did this, Felix? No.
No, but whoever it was had the code to unlock the door.
Plus, they knew I'd be gone by 7:30.
What happens at 7:30? Blueberry scones come out of the oven at Dimitri's.
Dr.
Jennings has me make a daily run.
He didn't come out of his study when I got back, so I went in and found him.
You have the code, too.
In case of an emergency, but if you think I would ever hurt Dr.
Jennings Maybe you would give the code to someone for a price.
No.
No.
Dr.
Jennings wasn't just a boss.
He was a friend.
By "friend," you mean? I mean friend.
I started working here after Dr.
Jennings' divorce.
He needed someone to talk to.
Any idea if he kept in touch with his ex-wife? Landon was the most Passionate man I'd ever met.
We could be in the middle of a crowded restaurant, and he would make me feel like we were the only two people in the world.
And then he got Involved with this hush-hush project, and it just It just swallowed him up.
Sounds like something that would be tough on a marriage.
Yeah, suddenly, I found myself Looking at wedding photos while he locked himself in that study.
Did you know the code to get in? Yeah.
I mean, he's probably changed it a hundred times since then.
He was paranoid about his work.
And what was the project that he was involved in? He never told me, but he did let me know we were almost broke because of it.
Oh, and, by the way, if anything should happen to him, that I wouldn't get the life-insurance money.
The project would.
And I said, "just tell me that this so-called project "is a 25-year-old with big boobs, because at least I can make sense of that.
" Did Dr.
Jennings do a lot of socializing for work? Not once that project started.
Then the only people he saw were at the lab.
Welcome to Eternity.
I'm Yael.
I'm one of the assistants here.
The news about Dr.
Jennings was such a shock.
We want to help with the investigation any way we can.
Were the two of you close? He mostly kept to himself, but we all felt close to him.
It was the nature of the project.
Exactly what is the nature of the project? Immortality.
This is Dr.
Esper.
He heads the Eternity project.
We're developing technology which will allow human consciousness to be uploaded to a computer, where it can live forever.
Human consciousness isn't something that can be uploaded.
And even if it could, nothing lives on a computer.
What I'm about to show you has untold proprietary value.
Suffice to say, we go to great lengths to protect it.
I do hope that the FBI can be discreet? L-Dub, wake up.
It's Landon Jennings.
For the last two years, we have been recording Dr.
Jennings' thoughts, ideas, and memories and uploading them into the system.
Each upload session was taped with motion-capture video, which we used to build the hologram.
We call him "L-Dub" for "Landon W".
Please introduce yourself.
Hi, I'm Kate Moretti.
Nice to meet you, Kate.
I am not gonna pretend that that thing is a real person.
Come on, Daniel.
Play nice.
Fine.
Hi L-Dub.
I'm Dr.
Daniel Pierce.
Dr.
Daniel Pierce What an arrogant prick.
Oh, you've programmed it to insult people.
That's that's very impressive.
L-Dub must have recognized your name.
L-Dub, do you know Dr.
Pierce? I met Dr.
Pierce in 2002 at the Ted conference.
I asked him to join my telekinesis project, but he said he didn't want to waste his time on magical thinking.
Yep, kind of seems like he knows you.
You see the cameras around the room? L-Dub can see you, and he associates your facial expressions with emotion.
But he can't feel those emotions.
That will change.
L-Dub, show us the neurochip.
This is the technology that powers L-Dub's mind.
It is the first microprocessor designed to mimic the neurons in the human brain.
It assimilates multiple information streams, making complex associations, then adapting to make itself more efficient.
Already, L-Dub can process our payroll, adjust the air-conditioning based on how many people are in the lab, even compose his own music.
So this is the intellectual property that Dr.
Jennings was worried about protecting.
Until our patent is approved, yes.
It's still not consciousness.
It's not even close.
It's closer than you think.
If we load L-Dub with enough data, we believe that he will eventually cross that line into life.
Like Abe Lincoln in the hall of presidents at Disneyland, except he was made of plastic.
We've advanced well beyond animatronics, Dr.
Pierce.
In two years, L-Dub's brain will live in a body of advanced robotics.
By 2045, we will be able to live free of our biological bodies Free of sickness, free of pain.
Life without biology is science-fiction.
I got a question.
L-Dub, do you know if Dr.
Jennings had any enemies? Eric Bieniemy played running back for the university of Colorado from 1988 to 1990.
Do you have a favorite football team, Kate? Yeah, the the Chicago dumb-ass robots.
They're an expansion franchise.
L-Dub knows the meaning of the word "enemies," Dr.
Pierce.
But like you and I, his word recognition isn't perfect.
Maybe you can answer the question, then.
A shot in the dark, my former partner might qualify Carter Humphries.
We started circling a similar idea when Jennings found me and offered me three times the salary.
When I told him I was leaving, Carter lost it.
Kenny Esper is smart, but way too sensitive.
You didn't threaten him or Jennings when he said he was leaving? In the heat of it all, sure, but revenge is a dish best served cold, right? I surrounded myself with younger, hungrier talent, and I beat those assholes to the punch.
And what's the punch? I just signed a $40 million venture-capital agreement.
So, uh, can't give you the details.
But the bottom line is, I have a way to preserve consciousness that will leave eternity in the dust.
So there's a race to immortality.
And I'm wearing the yellow Jersey.
Hello? It's Max.
Excuse me.
Lewicki? What is it? So, does your dad have certain beliefs you didn't tell me about, like, say, a man can never be at one with the world unless he's butt-naked? He took off his clothes.
Yeah.
About an hour ago.
And he won't put them back on, Doc.
Well, loss of boundaries is part of the Alzheimer's.
Yeah, well, I still have my boundaries, Doc, and you said he would be your responsibility.
So you need to get back here.
Turn off the heat and open the windows, and when he gets cold, he'll get dressed.
- I got to go.
- I - do not Sorry.
- Everything okay? - Perfect.
What's that? Apparently, Dr.
Humphries has been getting some fan mail.
"Your work is an abomination.
"It may make you rich, but it fundamentally violates God.
"Make no mistake, "he will respond with the ultimate punishment.
Yours truly, Theodore Ludlow.
" - Yes, I wrote that.
- Along with a similarly threatening letter to Dr.
Jennings? To warn him, not threaten.
Do either of you know Moore's law? Over the history of computing hardware, - performance doubles every two years.
- Exactly.
So in 30 years, computers will be millions of times smarter than humans.
We are staring our extinction in the face.
That's the point I was trying to make.
Along with the point about the ultimate punishment? Is that what you delivered to Dr.
Jennings? You've obviously never seen "Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
" Actually, I read the play.
That's what God's wrath will look like.
If I was president, "T2" would be part of every school curriculum in the country.
Who's gonna survive the apocalypse? Not us.
The machines.
It's lunacy on both sides.
Anyone who thinks that computers are gonna be human in 30 years is delusional.
Doc, you said it yourself Great scientists should ask "what if?" Fine.
Ask "what if?" Just don't tell the world that you're creating immortality when you're not.
Dad, your napkin's already folded.
Please just eat.
Daniel's always been intensely afraid of dying.
T-that's why he's upset.
I am not upset.
And I'm no more afraid of death than anyone else.
Well, I believe in God, so I'm not really scared of dying.
I have Alzheimer's.
By the time I die, I won't even remember what fear is.
Nobody appreciates gallows humor anymore.
What's he doing? I'm not sure.
Doc? It's snowing.
Snowing? The thermostat's been hacked.
Lewicki, did did you let someone in the house? Daniel, you're being paranoid again.
Knock it off.
That's it.
The killer didn't break in to Landon Jennings' study.
It was the hologram.
Okay, okay, so, w-what do we know a-about our hologram friend, L-Dub? That he doesn't know the real you.
Esper said it also controls the air-conditioning system at Eternity labs, right? Yeah, so? So Jennings' study is wired into Eternity labs.
I'll bet somebody could use L-Dub to manipulate Jennings' air-conditioning, as well.
- Okay, why would someone want to do that? - Liquid nitrogen.
It's a common coolant used in HVAC systems.
L-Dub could have been programmed to engineer a leak.
What would that do? If you if you release enough liquid nitrogen into a sealed environment, it reduces the concentration of oxygen in the room and causes asphyxiation.
- How long would that take? - Less than five minutes.
And and it's virtually untraceable, which is Which is why forensics found nothing on Jennings' body, other than the bump on his head, which, as you said, he probably got when he collapsed.
Nobody made it past that locked door because nobody had to.
Okay, but what about the mess or the noise that the gardner heard? May may maybe Jennings panicked when he realized he was choking.
The room was trashed because he was trying to survive.
L-Dub, did you adjust the air-conditioning at Dr.
Jennings' house on the morning that he died? Uh, let's not talk about that.
That was a bad day.
Did you program L-Dub not to talk about this? "This," being your ridiculous theory that he was instructed to kill Dr.
Jennings? No.
I told him it was a bad day because it was.
Perhaps you're framing your question the wrong way.
Okay.
L-Dub, did anyone instruct you to adjust the air-conditioning at Dr.
Jennings' on the morning that he died? No.
Do you ever have bad days, Kate? - Why does his arm keep doing that? - Probably just a glitch from one of his motion-capture sessions.
Is it possible to see footage from a session where Jennings used the phrase "bad day"? Why would you want to see that? Every time he uses that phrase, his arm glitches.
Look, I'm very busy.
I could get a warrant, Dr.
Esper, but you probably don't want the kind of publicity that goes along with an FBI raid.
He says it a few seconds after the 38-minute mark.
I mean, t-this is the kind of quality we need to make sure L-Dub has.
It's really it's It's all about the nuances.
We have to keep digging.
Damn it! I'm having a bad day.
That's it.
I should have seen it earlier.
Seen what? Magnetic Apraxia.
It's a neurological disorder.
People who have it compulsively grasp or or use whatever object is near them.
In this case, t-the sensor on his wrist.
But it also explains t-the the strips of tape that I saw on his desk.
He had a dispenser, so he continually used it, ripping off pieces and sticking them to the edge.
- So, what does it mean? - Well, the condition is linked to several neurodegenerative disorders that affect the frontal lobe, all of which are fatal.
- Dr.
Esper, you must have known this.
- No.
But I I knew there was something wrong.
He didn't recognize one of our engineers last week A guy who'd been working here for years.
Diminished cognitive function is part of it.
But but he did he never acknowledge that there was a problem? I asked him once if he was okay.
He snapped at me that he was fine.
He was a man that took a lot of pride in his intellect.
He also signs everyone's checks, so I didn't push.
I'm curious as to why you didn't bring this up the last time we came by.
We're trying to preserve Dr.
Jennings' mind here.
If it ever got out that it was deteriorating, the viability of the whole project would be at risk.
I was simply trying to manage the problem.
But now that Dr.
Jennings is dead, you don't have that problem.
And since his life-insurance payout goes to the lab, everybody still gets their checks.
Look, I I withheld information.
But I am not a monster! I still think L-Dub could have been programmed to sabotage the air-conditioning and programmed to deny it.
We have to talk to every employee with the access and the knowledge to do it.
I'll get a list.
In the meantime, let's try to prove your theory on the other end.
Snake's up, if you want to take a look.
Here we are in the duct.
So far, everything's cool.
Air-conditioning humor? Sorry.
Oh.
Hang on.
Looks like we're going around a corner.
Oh.
Hello.
Some sort of canister for compressed gas.
Is there any chance that canister's just part of the unit? No.
That's what we like to call an aftermarket extra.
Looks like we just found our murder weapon.
The tech guys found a wi-fi receptor and a trigger mechanism built into the canister from the air-conditioning duct.
So, someone from Eternity could have programmed L-Dub to send a signal to release the liquid nitrogen.
- I was right.
- You were right, but probably wrong.
We traced the parts used to make the device to two different companies, both with shipping manifests to a P.
O.
box owned by Carter Humphries.
The rival? Well, he couldn't use L-Dub.
How would he get access to Jennings' house? We'll find out.
We're bringing him in for Well, hello! Special agent Kate Moretti, FBI! Um Mr.
Pierce, it's good to see you again.
It's good to see you, too.
You people are nuts.
The jury at your murder trial isn't gonna think so.
They'll connect the dots the same way we did.
No, there isn't gonna be a trial 'cause I didn't kill the guy.
But you did threaten him, and the parts used to make the device that did kill him were all sent to a P.
O.
box in your name.
I'm telling you, I don't know anything about that.
But you do know something about engineering.
I mean, you could have built that device with your eyes closed.
I want my lawyer.
He's got a story.
He's just doing everything he can not to tell it.
He might have built the device, but somebody had to help him plant it in Jennings' study.
Maybe what he's not talking about is his partner.
Look, I get it.
I had access to the air-conditioning vent.
I knew exactly when Dr.
Jennings would be locked in his study, but you're ignoring two important facts.
What would those be? Number one, Dr.
Jennings was like family to me.
Family members kill each other all the time.
And number two, Carter Humphries was a colossal scumbag, and I would never associate with anyone who sleeps with another man's wife.
Whose wife are we talking about? Dr.
Jennings.
The affair basically broke up the marriage.
It was after Landon hired Ken Esper away, you know, and told me that he didn't want to have kids.
Carter hit on me at one of those stuffy fundraisers, and we just sort of fell into bed out of mutual bitterness.
Was that bed in Dr.
Jennings' house? Well, "bed" is a figure of speech, but, yes, Carter was over at the house a few times.
Were you two ever in the study? Sure.
It was symbolic.
You know, a way of defiling Landon's work.
That was the whole point.
Actually, the whole point was for Humphries to plant the device that killed your ex-husband.
Was he ever alone in the study? Oh, my God.
There was one time afterwards He said he would go get us a glass of water, and I gave him the code to get back in.
Well, Felix was right about one thing Carter Humphries is a scumbag.
Agreed.
You'd think sleeping with Jennings' wife would satisfy his thirst for revenge.
Apparently, he was pretty parched.
Or this murder has nothing to do with revenge at all.
T-think about it would Humphries plant a device to kill Jennings, and then wait more than a year to set it off? There's there's too many loose ends, like the code we saw on Jennings' computer or or Humphries' big venture-capital agreement.
They have to be connected somehow.
Careful, Daniel, all right? Not everything is connected.
Look, either way, I'm meeting with Donnie to draw up an indictment.
We've got more than enough to charge Humphries.
Yeah, but not enough to know what really happened.
Look who's burning the 9:00 P.
M.
oil.
Working on a case, which, unfortunately, involves sifting through computer schematics, patent applications, and endless drivel about something called "Wetware.
" Hey, you you taught a symbology class.
Does this mean anything to you? Well, it does bear some hallmarks of Chimu Indian iconography.
You think it's some sort of computer code? I have no idea.
The whole thing's a giant race to a finish line - that doesn't exist anyway.
- I don't follow.
The murder victim was a pioneer in artificial intelligence.
He was convinced that he could make computers that can feel.
It's total nonsense.
Little known fact Back in the early '80s, my best friend was the first guy at CLMU to get a walkman.
People said, "Daniel, you're shutting out the world," and you said, "no, technology just opened the world up.
I'm embracing it.
" I was stoned.
You were fearless.
Remember years ago when the university set up e-mail accounts for everybody? Mm-hmm.
The first time I opened my in-box, I had six messages.
I was convinced that they were encrypted communiqués from government agents.
I freaked out and turned the damn thing off.
I guess I never understood why computers scared you so much.
Yeah, well now you do.
And yet here you are, all alone in a dark office, delving into them.
Well, I'm trying to solve a murder.
And maybe avoid a certain houseguest? It's your father, Daniel.
Hard as it is, you need to be with him.
Let me give you a ride home, huh? Hmm.
A puzzle.
Uh-huh.
Well, either you're trying to infantilize me or bore me to death.
As long as you're staying here, we are gonna face your Alzheimer's straight on.
That means meds, puzzles, exercise routine, whatever it takes.
Oh, so, you'll be taking your meds, too, huh? I'm I'm not the one that's been parading around the house naked.
No, you're just hallucinating snow and screaming at the thermostat like a crazy person.
"A crazy person," Dad? Really? - Was that insensitive? - It's offensive, but that's always been your strong suit.
Hey, you know something? I'm tired of the chip on your shoulder.
- I was a good father.
- Correction You were a good provider who was never around.
- Revisionist history! - Not for the important stuff, and certainly not when I got sick.
I took you to the hospital for your tonsillectomy.
I'm talking about the psych hospital, Dad, and you know it.
I took you to Disneyland! - Oh, that was mom! - Bullshit! You paid for the plane tickets.
Mom and I went to Disneyland.
You went to some conference.
I took you to Disneyland! I distinctly remember! - Now you're confused.
- You think I'm confused?! Pick up the phone and call your mother! She'll tell you! Mom died 25 years ago.
Dad.
No, no, no, no! No! Doc.
Everything okay? No, Lewicki, everything is a mess.
What's that? What is that? Let me see that.
What is it, Doc? It's the real motive for murder.
This is a joke.
Gyricore? This is the neurochip.
It's ex it's exactly the same.
Humphries submitted his patent application two months before Eternity did.
His venture capital kicks in when he gets approval.
The son of a bitch stole my work! The other possibility is that you stole his work.
- What?! - You were partners, but then you realized you could make three times the money working with Landon Jennings, so you brought him Humphries' research - and passed it off as your own.
- Carter doesn't have the mind - to come up with something like this.
- Which is exactly what you told Jennings.
But when he found out the truth, you had to kill him so he wouldn't expose you.
A-are are you out of your minds? I'm not the murderer or the fraud.
Carter's stolen the last two years of my life.
How so? Eternity labs isn't exactly lacking for security.
How could Humphries have access to something as important as the neurochip design? He couldn't, unless he was physically in the lab.
The the only other way of accessing our data is Is through my laptop.
Oh, my God.
Did somebody else have access to your laptop? My girlfriend.
At least that's what I thought she was.
We broke down the security footage from Carter Humphries' office building.
12 visits in the last year, all in the middle of the night.
But that's okay.
I guess spies don't need sleep.
I'll give you something on Humphries.
That's what you really want.
No, I'm fine with just locking you up.
But if you want to have a conversation, tell me everything, and we'll see where we go from there.
I needed a job to stay in the country.
Humphries was the only one who made me an offer, which, of course, came with a catch.
You would be working for Eternity labs, instead of him.
He said they stole his idea, and we were going to get it back.
Didn't that strike you as a little bit unusual? No, it was exciting.
And he spent the next month teaching me exactly what Dr.
Esper would want in an assistant.
When did you and Esper start sleeping together? Two weeks in.
Humphries scripted the whole thing.
I was the girl staying late at the lab, trying to heal her broken heart with work.
Esper thought he was my knight.
He fell in love and started to share his life with me.
- Including his laptop.
- And I passed flash drives of the latest development to Humphries.
And you passed along Jennings' schedule, too When he would be at home, when he would be at the lab.
- What? - Humphries needed that information to carry out the murder.
Who else could have given it to him? The murder? Humphries had nothing to do with that.
Neither did I.
I don't have a problem.
It's a very complex case.
Bullshit.
Oh.
Daniel.
You all right? Yeah.
Yeah, I'm fine.
What is it? He says there's been an emergency.
Doc, he won't open the door.
He won't answer me.
It's been like 30 minutes.
Dad? Dad? Dad, open the door.
We We got to break this open.
I'll get the fire extinguisher.
Dad? Why didn't you answer me? We thought something horrible happened.
I had an accident.
Hey.
Y-y-you okay? We need to talk.
Daniel, I can't live this way anymore.
I'm falling apart in front of your eyes.
I need you to help me work out an alternative.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
If if if you're talking about something drastic, you can forget it.
We're not having that conversation.
Do you understand? I was talking about moving in to the damn facility in Belmont Park.
Oh.
You don't have to do that, Dad.
You can stay here.
I know I haven't been around much, but I w I will be.
- I will be.
I'll try harder.
- You don't understand, Daniel.
It's not about you.
It's about me.
I want to make one decision about my future While I still can.
I understand that, Dad.
I understand.
Don't overreact, Son.
Thank you, Dad.
Thank you.
You you just helped me solve the case.
L-Dub, I'd like to log in to Landon Jennings' computer.
Good luck.
Well done, Dr.
Pierce.
One down and four to go.
- You broke the code.
- No, no, it's not a code.
It's a progressive matrices test.
It measures a person's ability to combine logical and creative thinking.
The computer shows me a series of symbols, and I have to complete the pattern.
- How did you know ? - Don't ask.
It'll make your head hurt.
Smart man.
You are logged in.
L-Dub, how often did Landon Jennings take this test? Every day for 223 days.
See, this is how Jennings logged into his computer every morning.
He had to answer all of the questions correctly, or he couldn't start his day's work.
- He was testing himself.
- Because he knew he was sick.
If he got even one question wrong, it meant that his brain had deteriorated past the point where he could feel helpful or productive or even just proud of himself.
And because of his condition, he knew he might not recognize it when that day came.
But the test would prove it.
That's why he created it He wanted to make a decision about his future while he still could.
We've been searching for his murderer, but the killer's been in front of us all the time.
The moment that Landon Jennings got a question wrong, the moment that he had proof he was no longer the man he used to be, his computer sent a wi-fi signal to a device he planted in his air-conditioning duct that triggered a valve which released liquid nitrogen into his study and killed him.
Oh, my God.
He committed suicide.
Right.
But he didn't do it alone.
Why are you wasting time with this theory when Dr.
Jennings' killer is still out there?! I get it, Felix.
Eternity labs doesn't get the life-insurance payout if the death is ruled a suicide, and I'm sure that Dr.
Jennings would appreciate your loyalty, - but there's no way - But he didn't kill himself.
We have proof that he did, and you unlawfully assisted him.
Now, we also have you on conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
So if you want to minimize your jail time, start telling us the truth.
The first few months that I worked for Dr.
Jennings, I barely saw him.
He'd be locked in his study all day and night, except for when he came out for food, but he usually ate at his desk, so I was alone most of the time.
And then one night, Dr.
Jennings came out of his study early.
He just wanted to hang out.
So we started shooting the breeze every night.
One of the smartest men in the world.
He talked to me like I was one of his peers, and he listened.
I never really had a friend like that.
But there was a catch.
One night, Dr.
Jennings decides the time is right to tell me he has a fatal brain disease.
I didn't believe him because he seemed completely normal, but he said, soon, he'd start losing control of his mind and body.
He said he couldn't live that way, and he needed me to make sure it didn't happen.
I was horrified.
I I didn't want to help anyone die, especially not him.
But he told me everybody had the right to die on their own terms, and the only way to keep the eternity project funded was to make it look like murder.
He didn't want his condition to stop him from changing the world.
I realized there was honor in that.
He needed you to be in on the plan because he knew someday he might forget.
That's right.
First thing I had to do was order the parts for the liquid-nitrogen device.
And make it look like Carter Humphries did.
The P.
O.
box was Dr.
Jennings' idea A final "screw you" for sleeping with his wife.
The parts came, he built the device, and we planted it in the vents.
Jennings took that test every morning when you went out for scones.
That way, if you had a change of heart while it was happening, you couldn't stop it.
Every day got a little more stressful, especially when his symptoms started to show.
We we both knew it was coming.
And then it did.
I know I carried out his wishes, but would it have been so bad if he had stuck around a little longer? Even if he wasn't at his best, at least he'd still be alive.
Think of your life as a story.
Actually, you already do.
FMRI studies show us that following a story A narrative with a beginning, middle, and end Causes our brains to release cortisol and oxytocin.
These chemicals give us the uniquely human ability to connect with someone, even a total stranger, and empathize.
In other words, stories are what we use to find meaning in our lives.
Now, imagine for a moment that we lived without the understanding that our story must eventually end.
What if our lives were as infinite as the universe, if the ticking clock never stopped? What would our story be then? Would we still love? Or care? Would those tiny, fleeting moments that mean everything Mean anything at all?
Five precious hours of my life that I'll never get back.
Memorizing facts and then regurgitating them in 2,000 carefully crafted words is not science, people.
It's intellectual bulimia.
Real science happens when we explore what we don't know.
Galileo, Curie, Einstein.
They all had the imagination and the guts to look at a set of facts and say, "Okay, but what about this? And what if that?" They asked questions.
So, instead of revisiting what we already know, let's spend this hour in pursuit of ignorance Our own.
And since Mr.
Lewicki is an expert in the field of ignorance, he will lead the discussion.
I'm sure something is going on with my father.
But in the future, I'd appreciate it if you would call me.
- I'm leaving him.
- What? I tried to talk to him about moving to an assisted-living facility.
I found this great one in Belmont Park, but he screamed at me to get out of his life.
And you took that literally? The man has Alzheimer's.
I'm sure he was upset He's upset all the time now.
I can't take it.
I just went through this with both of my parents.
But at least they were nice to me.
Your father is abusive.
Look, I have my own life to live.
I know the two of you don't get along.
But here he's at the condo.
You'll need them to get in.
Uh What the hell is this? I already told you, Dad.
It's not safe for you to stay at the condo alone, so So you brought me to this dump.
This dump is my house.
And I'm not exactly thrilled that you're here, either, but since you sent Wendy running for the hills, this is our only option for the time being.
Wendy will be back.
She's a woman.
Gets emotional and blows things out of proportion.
Ah.
Your mother was an expert in that regard.
Like when she got cancer? God.
If only mom could have lightened up a little bit, huh? Oh, you think sarcasm is funny.
I think it's a healthy coping mechanism, unlike denial.
Wendy's not coming back okay? You've got to find a place to live where you'll be cared for.
I should have been nicer to her.
I-I should have tried harder.
Yeah, you should have participated in the clinical trial I signed you up for.
The meds would have helped with your mood, and and and slowed the memory loss.
Okay, enough with the "I told you so.
" Where's the John? I appreciate you giving up your room, Lewicki.
- It's temporary, I promise.
- I'm giving up my room? I just think he'll be more comfortable in his own space.
You know, maybe you can wire up that old TV that's in there.
And he's gonna want some kind of red meat, so you'll have to go shopping.
No offense, Doc, but if I have to look after two Pierces, I'm going to blow my brains out.
Fine.
Fine.
My father My responsibility.
Well, where's the goddamn toilet paper?! Give him a hand in there, will you, please? What? I got to I got to get the door.
Kate.
Thank God.
Y-you have a case, right? Just give me two seconds to get my things together.
Daniel, slow down.
I do have a case.
But it involves the murder of someone you may know.
Who? It's a neuroscientist named Landon Jennings.
Never heard of him Unless that's a prerequisite for my involvement, in which case, yes, Landon Jennings and I were very close.
Landon Jennings was killed? Did you know him? Well, of him.
He's a pioneer in artificial intelligence.
Don't you have some work to do in the bathroom? Mm, sounds like your dad figured it out.
- Your dad's here? I want to meet him.
- No, you don't.
I heard a beautiful voice.
And, look, it belongs to an equally beautiful woman.
Kate Moretti, James Pierce.
- My pleasure.
- I, uh, see we've solved the mystery of where Daniel gets his good looks.
So, you're Daniel's special lady friend.
I approve, Son.
She's a special agent with the FBI.
She has a case she needs my help with.
It's extremely time-sensitive, so we have to go right now.
The case isn't that time-sensitive.
Your dad's charming.
Plus, aren't you a little bit old - to be embarrassed by a parent? - Unfortunately, no.
And the charm's an illusion, believe me.
Anything you want to talk about? Yes, I want to talk about the case.
You brought it to me 'cause the victim's a neuroscientist? I brought it to you for the same reason the will county police brought it to the FBI it doesn't seem possible.
Whoever killed Jennings got in and out of a secure safe room and then vanished into thin air.
A locked-door mystery.
Thank you.
I feel better already.
According to the police report, Jennings lived here with a personal assistant.
He could give Lewicki some tips on dusting.
Place is spotless.
He came back from an errand to find Dr.
Jennings Looking like this.
Cause of death is asphyxiation, but the forensics came back blank.
No hairs or fibers.
Just a nasty bruise on the back of the head.
Hmm.
Not your average padlock.
Oh.
The door is solid steel with seals on the edges.
Well, there's more.
Wow.
I value my privacy, too, but this is a bit extreme.
Okay, here's my take I'm Jennings.
I'm at my desk working.
You're the killer.
- Okay.
- Somehow, you get through that door.
Well, either I disable the lock, or I knew the code to begin with.
Right, I jump up in a panic, knock over my chair, make a run for it, but you grab me.
There's a wild struggle.
We knock a bunch of stuff over.
I scream.
The gardeners outside hear me.
He can't get into the house.
It's all locked up.
Exactly.
Finally, you get leverage, slamming me to the ground here.
The blow to the back of my head leaves me unconscious.
You then, with a gloved hand, block my breathing passages till I die.
Then you leave, sealing the door behind you, and disappear.
Makes sense.
The question is, why did Jennings hermetically seal himself in here in the first place? Either he's paranoid, or there's something very valuable he wanted to protect.
Check this out.
Interesting symbols.
Some sort of code.
I think that whatever Jennings was protecting can be accessed from this computer, and the killer tried to log in.
I don't know anything about his computer.
Dr.
Jennings trusted me with things like his checkbook and his laundry, but that room is basically an extension of Eternity labs.
It's above my pay grade.
What's Eternity labs? Uh, where they do the R&D for the artificial-intelligence work.
Dr.
Jennings' study was wired into it.
He preferred to work from home.
So there's access to all of his intellectual property there.
Billions of dollars worth.
That explains the security.
Any idea who did this, Felix? No.
No, but whoever it was had the code to unlock the door.
Plus, they knew I'd be gone by 7:30.
What happens at 7:30? Blueberry scones come out of the oven at Dimitri's.
Dr.
Jennings has me make a daily run.
He didn't come out of his study when I got back, so I went in and found him.
You have the code, too.
In case of an emergency, but if you think I would ever hurt Dr.
Jennings Maybe you would give the code to someone for a price.
No.
No.
Dr.
Jennings wasn't just a boss.
He was a friend.
By "friend," you mean? I mean friend.
I started working here after Dr.
Jennings' divorce.
He needed someone to talk to.
Any idea if he kept in touch with his ex-wife? Landon was the most Passionate man I'd ever met.
We could be in the middle of a crowded restaurant, and he would make me feel like we were the only two people in the world.
And then he got Involved with this hush-hush project, and it just It just swallowed him up.
Sounds like something that would be tough on a marriage.
Yeah, suddenly, I found myself Looking at wedding photos while he locked himself in that study.
Did you know the code to get in? Yeah.
I mean, he's probably changed it a hundred times since then.
He was paranoid about his work.
And what was the project that he was involved in? He never told me, but he did let me know we were almost broke because of it.
Oh, and, by the way, if anything should happen to him, that I wouldn't get the life-insurance money.
The project would.
And I said, "just tell me that this so-called project "is a 25-year-old with big boobs, because at least I can make sense of that.
" Did Dr.
Jennings do a lot of socializing for work? Not once that project started.
Then the only people he saw were at the lab.
Welcome to Eternity.
I'm Yael.
I'm one of the assistants here.
The news about Dr.
Jennings was such a shock.
We want to help with the investigation any way we can.
Were the two of you close? He mostly kept to himself, but we all felt close to him.
It was the nature of the project.
Exactly what is the nature of the project? Immortality.
This is Dr.
Esper.
He heads the Eternity project.
We're developing technology which will allow human consciousness to be uploaded to a computer, where it can live forever.
Human consciousness isn't something that can be uploaded.
And even if it could, nothing lives on a computer.
What I'm about to show you has untold proprietary value.
Suffice to say, we go to great lengths to protect it.
I do hope that the FBI can be discreet? L-Dub, wake up.
It's Landon Jennings.
For the last two years, we have been recording Dr.
Jennings' thoughts, ideas, and memories and uploading them into the system.
Each upload session was taped with motion-capture video, which we used to build the hologram.
We call him "L-Dub" for "Landon W".
Please introduce yourself.
Hi, I'm Kate Moretti.
Nice to meet you, Kate.
I am not gonna pretend that that thing is a real person.
Come on, Daniel.
Play nice.
Fine.
Hi L-Dub.
I'm Dr.
Daniel Pierce.
Dr.
Daniel Pierce What an arrogant prick.
Oh, you've programmed it to insult people.
That's that's very impressive.
L-Dub must have recognized your name.
L-Dub, do you know Dr.
Pierce? I met Dr.
Pierce in 2002 at the Ted conference.
I asked him to join my telekinesis project, but he said he didn't want to waste his time on magical thinking.
Yep, kind of seems like he knows you.
You see the cameras around the room? L-Dub can see you, and he associates your facial expressions with emotion.
But he can't feel those emotions.
That will change.
L-Dub, show us the neurochip.
This is the technology that powers L-Dub's mind.
It is the first microprocessor designed to mimic the neurons in the human brain.
It assimilates multiple information streams, making complex associations, then adapting to make itself more efficient.
Already, L-Dub can process our payroll, adjust the air-conditioning based on how many people are in the lab, even compose his own music.
So this is the intellectual property that Dr.
Jennings was worried about protecting.
Until our patent is approved, yes.
It's still not consciousness.
It's not even close.
It's closer than you think.
If we load L-Dub with enough data, we believe that he will eventually cross that line into life.
Like Abe Lincoln in the hall of presidents at Disneyland, except he was made of plastic.
We've advanced well beyond animatronics, Dr.
Pierce.
In two years, L-Dub's brain will live in a body of advanced robotics.
By 2045, we will be able to live free of our biological bodies Free of sickness, free of pain.
Life without biology is science-fiction.
I got a question.
L-Dub, do you know if Dr.
Jennings had any enemies? Eric Bieniemy played running back for the university of Colorado from 1988 to 1990.
Do you have a favorite football team, Kate? Yeah, the the Chicago dumb-ass robots.
They're an expansion franchise.
L-Dub knows the meaning of the word "enemies," Dr.
Pierce.
But like you and I, his word recognition isn't perfect.
Maybe you can answer the question, then.
A shot in the dark, my former partner might qualify Carter Humphries.
We started circling a similar idea when Jennings found me and offered me three times the salary.
When I told him I was leaving, Carter lost it.
Kenny Esper is smart, but way too sensitive.
You didn't threaten him or Jennings when he said he was leaving? In the heat of it all, sure, but revenge is a dish best served cold, right? I surrounded myself with younger, hungrier talent, and I beat those assholes to the punch.
And what's the punch? I just signed a $40 million venture-capital agreement.
So, uh, can't give you the details.
But the bottom line is, I have a way to preserve consciousness that will leave eternity in the dust.
So there's a race to immortality.
And I'm wearing the yellow Jersey.
Hello? It's Max.
Excuse me.
Lewicki? What is it? So, does your dad have certain beliefs you didn't tell me about, like, say, a man can never be at one with the world unless he's butt-naked? He took off his clothes.
Yeah.
About an hour ago.
And he won't put them back on, Doc.
Well, loss of boundaries is part of the Alzheimer's.
Yeah, well, I still have my boundaries, Doc, and you said he would be your responsibility.
So you need to get back here.
Turn off the heat and open the windows, and when he gets cold, he'll get dressed.
- I got to go.
- I - do not Sorry.
- Everything okay? - Perfect.
What's that? Apparently, Dr.
Humphries has been getting some fan mail.
"Your work is an abomination.
"It may make you rich, but it fundamentally violates God.
"Make no mistake, "he will respond with the ultimate punishment.
Yours truly, Theodore Ludlow.
" - Yes, I wrote that.
- Along with a similarly threatening letter to Dr.
Jennings? To warn him, not threaten.
Do either of you know Moore's law? Over the history of computing hardware, - performance doubles every two years.
- Exactly.
So in 30 years, computers will be millions of times smarter than humans.
We are staring our extinction in the face.
That's the point I was trying to make.
Along with the point about the ultimate punishment? Is that what you delivered to Dr.
Jennings? You've obviously never seen "Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
" Actually, I read the play.
That's what God's wrath will look like.
If I was president, "T2" would be part of every school curriculum in the country.
Who's gonna survive the apocalypse? Not us.
The machines.
It's lunacy on both sides.
Anyone who thinks that computers are gonna be human in 30 years is delusional.
Doc, you said it yourself Great scientists should ask "what if?" Fine.
Ask "what if?" Just don't tell the world that you're creating immortality when you're not.
Dad, your napkin's already folded.
Please just eat.
Daniel's always been intensely afraid of dying.
T-that's why he's upset.
I am not upset.
And I'm no more afraid of death than anyone else.
Well, I believe in God, so I'm not really scared of dying.
I have Alzheimer's.
By the time I die, I won't even remember what fear is.
Nobody appreciates gallows humor anymore.
What's he doing? I'm not sure.
Doc? It's snowing.
Snowing? The thermostat's been hacked.
Lewicki, did did you let someone in the house? Daniel, you're being paranoid again.
Knock it off.
That's it.
The killer didn't break in to Landon Jennings' study.
It was the hologram.
Okay, okay, so, w-what do we know a-about our hologram friend, L-Dub? That he doesn't know the real you.
Esper said it also controls the air-conditioning system at Eternity labs, right? Yeah, so? So Jennings' study is wired into Eternity labs.
I'll bet somebody could use L-Dub to manipulate Jennings' air-conditioning, as well.
- Okay, why would someone want to do that? - Liquid nitrogen.
It's a common coolant used in HVAC systems.
L-Dub could have been programmed to engineer a leak.
What would that do? If you if you release enough liquid nitrogen into a sealed environment, it reduces the concentration of oxygen in the room and causes asphyxiation.
- How long would that take? - Less than five minutes.
And and it's virtually untraceable, which is Which is why forensics found nothing on Jennings' body, other than the bump on his head, which, as you said, he probably got when he collapsed.
Nobody made it past that locked door because nobody had to.
Okay, but what about the mess or the noise that the gardner heard? May may maybe Jennings panicked when he realized he was choking.
The room was trashed because he was trying to survive.
L-Dub, did you adjust the air-conditioning at Dr.
Jennings' house on the morning that he died? Uh, let's not talk about that.
That was a bad day.
Did you program L-Dub not to talk about this? "This," being your ridiculous theory that he was instructed to kill Dr.
Jennings? No.
I told him it was a bad day because it was.
Perhaps you're framing your question the wrong way.
Okay.
L-Dub, did anyone instruct you to adjust the air-conditioning at Dr.
Jennings' on the morning that he died? No.
Do you ever have bad days, Kate? - Why does his arm keep doing that? - Probably just a glitch from one of his motion-capture sessions.
Is it possible to see footage from a session where Jennings used the phrase "bad day"? Why would you want to see that? Every time he uses that phrase, his arm glitches.
Look, I'm very busy.
I could get a warrant, Dr.
Esper, but you probably don't want the kind of publicity that goes along with an FBI raid.
He says it a few seconds after the 38-minute mark.
I mean, t-this is the kind of quality we need to make sure L-Dub has.
It's really it's It's all about the nuances.
We have to keep digging.
Damn it! I'm having a bad day.
That's it.
I should have seen it earlier.
Seen what? Magnetic Apraxia.
It's a neurological disorder.
People who have it compulsively grasp or or use whatever object is near them.
In this case, t-the sensor on his wrist.
But it also explains t-the the strips of tape that I saw on his desk.
He had a dispenser, so he continually used it, ripping off pieces and sticking them to the edge.
- So, what does it mean? - Well, the condition is linked to several neurodegenerative disorders that affect the frontal lobe, all of which are fatal.
- Dr.
Esper, you must have known this.
- No.
But I I knew there was something wrong.
He didn't recognize one of our engineers last week A guy who'd been working here for years.
Diminished cognitive function is part of it.
But but he did he never acknowledge that there was a problem? I asked him once if he was okay.
He snapped at me that he was fine.
He was a man that took a lot of pride in his intellect.
He also signs everyone's checks, so I didn't push.
I'm curious as to why you didn't bring this up the last time we came by.
We're trying to preserve Dr.
Jennings' mind here.
If it ever got out that it was deteriorating, the viability of the whole project would be at risk.
I was simply trying to manage the problem.
But now that Dr.
Jennings is dead, you don't have that problem.
And since his life-insurance payout goes to the lab, everybody still gets their checks.
Look, I I withheld information.
But I am not a monster! I still think L-Dub could have been programmed to sabotage the air-conditioning and programmed to deny it.
We have to talk to every employee with the access and the knowledge to do it.
I'll get a list.
In the meantime, let's try to prove your theory on the other end.
Snake's up, if you want to take a look.
Here we are in the duct.
So far, everything's cool.
Air-conditioning humor? Sorry.
Oh.
Hang on.
Looks like we're going around a corner.
Oh.
Hello.
Some sort of canister for compressed gas.
Is there any chance that canister's just part of the unit? No.
That's what we like to call an aftermarket extra.
Looks like we just found our murder weapon.
The tech guys found a wi-fi receptor and a trigger mechanism built into the canister from the air-conditioning duct.
So, someone from Eternity could have programmed L-Dub to send a signal to release the liquid nitrogen.
- I was right.
- You were right, but probably wrong.
We traced the parts used to make the device to two different companies, both with shipping manifests to a P.
O.
box owned by Carter Humphries.
The rival? Well, he couldn't use L-Dub.
How would he get access to Jennings' house? We'll find out.
We're bringing him in for Well, hello! Special agent Kate Moretti, FBI! Um Mr.
Pierce, it's good to see you again.
It's good to see you, too.
You people are nuts.
The jury at your murder trial isn't gonna think so.
They'll connect the dots the same way we did.
No, there isn't gonna be a trial 'cause I didn't kill the guy.
But you did threaten him, and the parts used to make the device that did kill him were all sent to a P.
O.
box in your name.
I'm telling you, I don't know anything about that.
But you do know something about engineering.
I mean, you could have built that device with your eyes closed.
I want my lawyer.
He's got a story.
He's just doing everything he can not to tell it.
He might have built the device, but somebody had to help him plant it in Jennings' study.
Maybe what he's not talking about is his partner.
Look, I get it.
I had access to the air-conditioning vent.
I knew exactly when Dr.
Jennings would be locked in his study, but you're ignoring two important facts.
What would those be? Number one, Dr.
Jennings was like family to me.
Family members kill each other all the time.
And number two, Carter Humphries was a colossal scumbag, and I would never associate with anyone who sleeps with another man's wife.
Whose wife are we talking about? Dr.
Jennings.
The affair basically broke up the marriage.
It was after Landon hired Ken Esper away, you know, and told me that he didn't want to have kids.
Carter hit on me at one of those stuffy fundraisers, and we just sort of fell into bed out of mutual bitterness.
Was that bed in Dr.
Jennings' house? Well, "bed" is a figure of speech, but, yes, Carter was over at the house a few times.
Were you two ever in the study? Sure.
It was symbolic.
You know, a way of defiling Landon's work.
That was the whole point.
Actually, the whole point was for Humphries to plant the device that killed your ex-husband.
Was he ever alone in the study? Oh, my God.
There was one time afterwards He said he would go get us a glass of water, and I gave him the code to get back in.
Well, Felix was right about one thing Carter Humphries is a scumbag.
Agreed.
You'd think sleeping with Jennings' wife would satisfy his thirst for revenge.
Apparently, he was pretty parched.
Or this murder has nothing to do with revenge at all.
T-think about it would Humphries plant a device to kill Jennings, and then wait more than a year to set it off? There's there's too many loose ends, like the code we saw on Jennings' computer or or Humphries' big venture-capital agreement.
They have to be connected somehow.
Careful, Daniel, all right? Not everything is connected.
Look, either way, I'm meeting with Donnie to draw up an indictment.
We've got more than enough to charge Humphries.
Yeah, but not enough to know what really happened.
Look who's burning the 9:00 P.
M.
oil.
Working on a case, which, unfortunately, involves sifting through computer schematics, patent applications, and endless drivel about something called "Wetware.
" Hey, you you taught a symbology class.
Does this mean anything to you? Well, it does bear some hallmarks of Chimu Indian iconography.
You think it's some sort of computer code? I have no idea.
The whole thing's a giant race to a finish line - that doesn't exist anyway.
- I don't follow.
The murder victim was a pioneer in artificial intelligence.
He was convinced that he could make computers that can feel.
It's total nonsense.
Little known fact Back in the early '80s, my best friend was the first guy at CLMU to get a walkman.
People said, "Daniel, you're shutting out the world," and you said, "no, technology just opened the world up.
I'm embracing it.
" I was stoned.
You were fearless.
Remember years ago when the university set up e-mail accounts for everybody? Mm-hmm.
The first time I opened my in-box, I had six messages.
I was convinced that they were encrypted communiqués from government agents.
I freaked out and turned the damn thing off.
I guess I never understood why computers scared you so much.
Yeah, well now you do.
And yet here you are, all alone in a dark office, delving into them.
Well, I'm trying to solve a murder.
And maybe avoid a certain houseguest? It's your father, Daniel.
Hard as it is, you need to be with him.
Let me give you a ride home, huh? Hmm.
A puzzle.
Uh-huh.
Well, either you're trying to infantilize me or bore me to death.
As long as you're staying here, we are gonna face your Alzheimer's straight on.
That means meds, puzzles, exercise routine, whatever it takes.
Oh, so, you'll be taking your meds, too, huh? I'm I'm not the one that's been parading around the house naked.
No, you're just hallucinating snow and screaming at the thermostat like a crazy person.
"A crazy person," Dad? Really? - Was that insensitive? - It's offensive, but that's always been your strong suit.
Hey, you know something? I'm tired of the chip on your shoulder.
- I was a good father.
- Correction You were a good provider who was never around.
- Revisionist history! - Not for the important stuff, and certainly not when I got sick.
I took you to the hospital for your tonsillectomy.
I'm talking about the psych hospital, Dad, and you know it.
I took you to Disneyland! - Oh, that was mom! - Bullshit! You paid for the plane tickets.
Mom and I went to Disneyland.
You went to some conference.
I took you to Disneyland! I distinctly remember! - Now you're confused.
- You think I'm confused?! Pick up the phone and call your mother! She'll tell you! Mom died 25 years ago.
Dad.
No, no, no, no! No! Doc.
Everything okay? No, Lewicki, everything is a mess.
What's that? What is that? Let me see that.
What is it, Doc? It's the real motive for murder.
This is a joke.
Gyricore? This is the neurochip.
It's ex it's exactly the same.
Humphries submitted his patent application two months before Eternity did.
His venture capital kicks in when he gets approval.
The son of a bitch stole my work! The other possibility is that you stole his work.
- What?! - You were partners, but then you realized you could make three times the money working with Landon Jennings, so you brought him Humphries' research - and passed it off as your own.
- Carter doesn't have the mind - to come up with something like this.
- Which is exactly what you told Jennings.
But when he found out the truth, you had to kill him so he wouldn't expose you.
A-are are you out of your minds? I'm not the murderer or the fraud.
Carter's stolen the last two years of my life.
How so? Eternity labs isn't exactly lacking for security.
How could Humphries have access to something as important as the neurochip design? He couldn't, unless he was physically in the lab.
The the only other way of accessing our data is Is through my laptop.
Oh, my God.
Did somebody else have access to your laptop? My girlfriend.
At least that's what I thought she was.
We broke down the security footage from Carter Humphries' office building.
12 visits in the last year, all in the middle of the night.
But that's okay.
I guess spies don't need sleep.
I'll give you something on Humphries.
That's what you really want.
No, I'm fine with just locking you up.
But if you want to have a conversation, tell me everything, and we'll see where we go from there.
I needed a job to stay in the country.
Humphries was the only one who made me an offer, which, of course, came with a catch.
You would be working for Eternity labs, instead of him.
He said they stole his idea, and we were going to get it back.
Didn't that strike you as a little bit unusual? No, it was exciting.
And he spent the next month teaching me exactly what Dr.
Esper would want in an assistant.
When did you and Esper start sleeping together? Two weeks in.
Humphries scripted the whole thing.
I was the girl staying late at the lab, trying to heal her broken heart with work.
Esper thought he was my knight.
He fell in love and started to share his life with me.
- Including his laptop.
- And I passed flash drives of the latest development to Humphries.
And you passed along Jennings' schedule, too When he would be at home, when he would be at the lab.
- What? - Humphries needed that information to carry out the murder.
Who else could have given it to him? The murder? Humphries had nothing to do with that.
Neither did I.
I don't have a problem.
It's a very complex case.
Bullshit.
Oh.
Daniel.
You all right? Yeah.
Yeah, I'm fine.
What is it? He says there's been an emergency.
Doc, he won't open the door.
He won't answer me.
It's been like 30 minutes.
Dad? Dad? Dad, open the door.
We We got to break this open.
I'll get the fire extinguisher.
Dad? Why didn't you answer me? We thought something horrible happened.
I had an accident.
Hey.
Y-y-you okay? We need to talk.
Daniel, I can't live this way anymore.
I'm falling apart in front of your eyes.
I need you to help me work out an alternative.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
If if if you're talking about something drastic, you can forget it.
We're not having that conversation.
Do you understand? I was talking about moving in to the damn facility in Belmont Park.
Oh.
You don't have to do that, Dad.
You can stay here.
I know I haven't been around much, but I w I will be.
- I will be.
I'll try harder.
- You don't understand, Daniel.
It's not about you.
It's about me.
I want to make one decision about my future While I still can.
I understand that, Dad.
I understand.
Don't overreact, Son.
Thank you, Dad.
Thank you.
You you just helped me solve the case.
L-Dub, I'd like to log in to Landon Jennings' computer.
Good luck.
Well done, Dr.
Pierce.
One down and four to go.
- You broke the code.
- No, no, it's not a code.
It's a progressive matrices test.
It measures a person's ability to combine logical and creative thinking.
The computer shows me a series of symbols, and I have to complete the pattern.
- How did you know ? - Don't ask.
It'll make your head hurt.
Smart man.
You are logged in.
L-Dub, how often did Landon Jennings take this test? Every day for 223 days.
See, this is how Jennings logged into his computer every morning.
He had to answer all of the questions correctly, or he couldn't start his day's work.
- He was testing himself.
- Because he knew he was sick.
If he got even one question wrong, it meant that his brain had deteriorated past the point where he could feel helpful or productive or even just proud of himself.
And because of his condition, he knew he might not recognize it when that day came.
But the test would prove it.
That's why he created it He wanted to make a decision about his future while he still could.
We've been searching for his murderer, but the killer's been in front of us all the time.
The moment that Landon Jennings got a question wrong, the moment that he had proof he was no longer the man he used to be, his computer sent a wi-fi signal to a device he planted in his air-conditioning duct that triggered a valve which released liquid nitrogen into his study and killed him.
Oh, my God.
He committed suicide.
Right.
But he didn't do it alone.
Why are you wasting time with this theory when Dr.
Jennings' killer is still out there?! I get it, Felix.
Eternity labs doesn't get the life-insurance payout if the death is ruled a suicide, and I'm sure that Dr.
Jennings would appreciate your loyalty, - but there's no way - But he didn't kill himself.
We have proof that he did, and you unlawfully assisted him.
Now, we also have you on conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
So if you want to minimize your jail time, start telling us the truth.
The first few months that I worked for Dr.
Jennings, I barely saw him.
He'd be locked in his study all day and night, except for when he came out for food, but he usually ate at his desk, so I was alone most of the time.
And then one night, Dr.
Jennings came out of his study early.
He just wanted to hang out.
So we started shooting the breeze every night.
One of the smartest men in the world.
He talked to me like I was one of his peers, and he listened.
I never really had a friend like that.
But there was a catch.
One night, Dr.
Jennings decides the time is right to tell me he has a fatal brain disease.
I didn't believe him because he seemed completely normal, but he said, soon, he'd start losing control of his mind and body.
He said he couldn't live that way, and he needed me to make sure it didn't happen.
I was horrified.
I I didn't want to help anyone die, especially not him.
But he told me everybody had the right to die on their own terms, and the only way to keep the eternity project funded was to make it look like murder.
He didn't want his condition to stop him from changing the world.
I realized there was honor in that.
He needed you to be in on the plan because he knew someday he might forget.
That's right.
First thing I had to do was order the parts for the liquid-nitrogen device.
And make it look like Carter Humphries did.
The P.
O.
box was Dr.
Jennings' idea A final "screw you" for sleeping with his wife.
The parts came, he built the device, and we planted it in the vents.
Jennings took that test every morning when you went out for scones.
That way, if you had a change of heart while it was happening, you couldn't stop it.
Every day got a little more stressful, especially when his symptoms started to show.
We we both knew it was coming.
And then it did.
I know I carried out his wishes, but would it have been so bad if he had stuck around a little longer? Even if he wasn't at his best, at least he'd still be alive.
Think of your life as a story.
Actually, you already do.
FMRI studies show us that following a story A narrative with a beginning, middle, and end Causes our brains to release cortisol and oxytocin.
These chemicals give us the uniquely human ability to connect with someone, even a total stranger, and empathize.
In other words, stories are what we use to find meaning in our lives.
Now, imagine for a moment that we lived without the understanding that our story must eventually end.
What if our lives were as infinite as the universe, if the ticking clock never stopped? What would our story be then? Would we still love? Or care? Would those tiny, fleeting moments that mean everything Mean anything at all?