And now that I have your attention, I'll begin.
Welcome.
As you know, this entertainment is called Dispatches from Elsewhere -
a title that I assure you will have more relevance
as the story progresses.
Unless this is your first experience with a limited-run episodic,
which our records indicate it is not,
then you're aware of the storytelling convention
which dictates that filmmakers spend an unnecessary amount of time
to introduce you to our protagonist, his occupation,
the particularities of his life, and, most importantly,
the obstacles which stand in the way of his happiness.
As the first of my many gifts to you, my friends,
I propose we skip this convention
and get on with what you came here for - the story.
I propose I return to you 20 minutes of your life
by reducing the standard introduction to a mere two minutes.
This is Peter.
Think of him as you.
He is you if you lived alone and woke every weekday
to your iPhone alarm, still set to the default chime "radar."
Peter is you if you walked to work in the morning,
which he neither enjoys nor does not enjoy.
He never makes eye contact with his fellows
and assumes his fellows never make eye contact with their fellows.
Peter is you if you worked a reliable job
at a company offering on-demand listening
of over two millions songs for a modest monthly fee.
In addition, the company's innovative algorithm
conveniently informs you of songs you will enjoy
based on your prior listening history,
saving you the hassle of unpleasant
and unnecessary musical exploration.
Peter is you if you walked the same route home as you did to work,
only, as I'm sure you understand, in the opposite direction.
He generally stops into his corner bodega to procure dinner,
which often consists of packaged sushi
with a small packet of brown liquid salt and spicy green putty.
Peter is you if you ended your day in the same place you began it,
with no change.
Every day like the others,
with the exception of meaningless, arbitrary deviation.
Burrito instead of sushi, perhaps.
And this is tragedy in its most quietly devastating costume.
A life without risk. A life without real pain.
A life without real joys.
This is existing, not living.
At least that is my philosophy.
And at the end of the day, that's all I've got.
So, my friends, I think we've got the idea.
Now you know Peter.
Squint your eyes, and Peter is you.
Enough so, at least,
that I think we can jump right into the day something changes.
I should like to confess now that I lied to you once
and only once during my introduction.
I can assure you, however, that I remain a reliable narrator.
Norman?
Normal?
Are you normal?
-I'm sorry, what? -Are you Norman?
Oh, no. No.
Oh, man. Sorry.
-That's OK. -Can I help?
-No, it's an accident. -OK. Sorry.
I'm sorry. No, sorry.
I understand.
Work stuff. Work.
Work. Work stuff.
Work. Work. Work stuff.
OK.
Great.
Hello?
Peter?
Yes.
How did you know that?
You called.
Well, yes, I... I saw the man -
the man from the sign.
He was putting up his own "have you seen this man" flyer.
I'm not surprised.
Thank you for calling the Jejune Institute,
Pennsylvania Headquarters.
We would like to invite you to a special orientation session.
I'm sorry, orientation session?
We are located at 12616 South 7th Street,
Suite 1607.
That's so many numbers.
Would you like to procure a writing implement?
No, I'm fine.
Saturday at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
Oh, I don't think that I can, actually.
For those dark horses with the spirit to look up and see,
a recondite family awaits.
And how has this week been, socially?
Have you had lunch with a co-worker? Any interesting conversations?
No.
Try any new restaurants?
Watch anything new on TV?
No.
Peter, can I ask you a question?
Yes, of course.
Why do you come see me?
Well, it's free, you know?
It's included in my medical benefits,
and I've never had medical benefits until this job,
so I just thought...
"Heck, Peter, take advantage of the opportunity and...
see what psychiatry's all about."
What are your thoughts so far?
I like it. I do.
I think our conversations go pretty well.
I know that you do a lot of the heavy lifting.
I wish I brought more.
There are times that I feel guilty about that after our visits.
Like... maybe I'm boring to you or something.
I understand what you're asking me. I...
-Keep talking. -I am talking.
Sorry. Sorry.
I guess I'm just settling into the idea that this is it,
that this is what life is.
I don't really have anything to say about that yet.
You feel stuck.
No, I feel nothing, mostly.
Maybe like a sense of loss, but I don't know for what.
Don't you think it's time you found out?
Where you headed?
I'm not sure. The Jejune Institute?
The gentleman that we talked about is here.
Peter.
A pleasure indeed.
Oh, thank you.
Answers await on the floor 16.
OK.
This way?
"Exit the elevator and head towards the hallway.
Immediately look right.
Look right again.
And a third time.
Head down the hallway."
"Bipedal in a forward direction.
Continue bearing to the front."
"At the end of the hallway,
utilize this key at the double doors
to enter the Induction Center."
Welcome to the Jejune Institute,
Philadelphia Induction Center.
Please have a seat in the armchair which has been provided for you.
Orientation will begin in five,
four, three, two, one.
Hello.
We are the Jejune Institute,
purveyors of Nonchalance
and a myriad of innovative products designed to fill the void.
Current offerings include PoliWater,
a more condensed form of water
with astounding regenerative properties.
Clone-free human-replication systems
designed to create an external ambassador
with one's sovereign form.
And our most exciting development yet -
Jejune's The I.D.E.A., patent pending.
And now a word from our founder,
Octavio Coleman, Esquire.
Hello, and welcome home.
I truly hope that our introductory video
has provided you with at least some context
for where you find yourself now.
Nod if you agree.
Then perhaps I can offer you a simple explanation.
For often, in my experience,
it is only through the greatest simplicity
that we find understanding
and, from understanding, truth.
Nod if you agree.
My name is Octavio Coleman, Esquire,
and for more than 40 years I have given my life, my spirit,
and my vital energy in pursuit of one endeavor -
to illuminate the oneness which lays hidden in plain sight,
right before your eyes and under your nose.
To highlight the illusion of separateness
which permeates our thinking
and is responsible for all forms of human strife.
This has been a long road, my friend,
and there have been times along the way that we as a collective
and I as a leader questioned the fruitfulness of this undertaking.
Dark nights where voices whispered
that I had indeed been laboring under a delusion
and that my vision-quest was, in fact,
a fool's errand.
But I've proved myself wrong by proving I was right.
And you are a key to unlocking our vision.
You see, my friend, it is a very unique person indeed
who finds themselves in the chair in which you sit.
It is a rare soul who pulls the tab from the flyer,
a rarer soul who calls the number,
a rarer soul who reports to our humble headquarters as directed,
and the rarest of souls who sits before me
prepared to answer my future call.
Know it or not, my friend, you...
contain something.
Perhaps something hibernating,
perhaps something not yet born,
but something that I promise you is unique,
vital, and essential.
We all share one common wish - a secret.
One rarely uttered
but more universal than any hope ever hoped.
That one day it will be revealed that there's been a mistake.
That one day you will learn that you are meant for more.
That one day someone will arrive from the mundane nothingness
and say the words, "No, my friend, not you.
You don't belong here. Come with me.
You belong with the special ones."
I am here, and that day is upon you.
No, my friend, not you.
You don't belong here.
Come with me.
You belong with the special ones.
What is happening?
I do believe that this moment of emotional revelation
is quite enough for one day.
Now, in the drawer beside you, you will find an induction card.
Should you desire to explore this relationship further,
provide us with the requisite information
and we will gladly find you when your moment has come.
Thank you, my friend.
"Do not return to reception.
Head through the fire door. Alarm has been disabled."
"Take the stairs to level one.
Do not run, but do not go too slowly.
By now they will be coming for you."
"Abandon this card and answer your phone."
Shit.
Hello?
This is Commander 14,
fearless skipper of the Elsewhere Society
and mortal enemy of the Jejune Institute.
You don't know what you've gotten yourself into. You will.
Don't talk, think, or worry. Report to the South Street location.
The address will arrive on your phone
via end-to-end encrypted multimedia message.
OK, but...
Hello? Hello?
Two-seven-seven-point-seven-seven South Street?
Divine Nonchalance? What the hell does that mean?
-Sorry! That's my fault. -Come on, man.
Touch me, and I'll kill you! You hear me?
Yeah, real tough now, aren't you? You ass-sucking piece of shit!
-Jesus. -No one tricks me, ass-face!
I'm not trying to trick you. I'm not an ass-face.
-You're an ass-face. -I'm not an ass-face!
-You're an ass-face! -I'm not! I'm just me. I'm me.
Are you not part of the thing?
What? No.
I'm really confused about what's going on.
Oh, you're like me! You saw the video?
-Yes. -It's crazy, right?
I don't know what's going on, but it's fun!
Well, I'm very confused and scared, so...
Yeah. Sorry.
I was just... role-playing.
Oh, OK. That was good. You're very authentically threatening.
Thanks. It's a little skill I've developed.
Yeah, that's cool.
I still don't understand what's happening.
Me neither, but I think it's some kind of new ad campaign or something.
Someone's gonna pop out and try and sell us something.
"Surprise! This experience brought to you by Bender Elmore."
Bender Elmore?
It's got to be something like that.
Some kind of major corporation.
Whatever this thing is, it is not cheap.
People don't spend money unless they're trying to make money.
Actually, I sometimes spend money on things that don't make me money.
Like... Like cable television.
I guess you're right.
Somebody could be trying to entertain themselves.
Are you watching me, you sons of bitches?
I'll shove that Institute right up your tight corporate asses.
You say "ass" so much.
Want to do the next part together?
Next part?
"The... The power is within you.
Find her."
Honor system.
Only get away with that in a hidden alley.
Right.
Yeah.
Do you see anything you want, before we go?
This place has lots of things that are new to me...
that I would like to touch.
Yeah, no kidding.
"Elsewhere." It says...
It says "elsewhere" on that... on the brick.
I don't know how they did that.
They probably had to get a special mold made,
which isn't easy to do.
I'm not in construction, but I do... I have...
Who knows?
Are you ready?
Are you sure it's allowed?
Allowed?
To do the next part together.
I don't know if there are rules or...
I mean, you're an adult.
You can think for yourself, right?
I've never really thought about that as a concept.
Yes, of course. Yes, yes.
Whatever... Whatever you think. Yes.
Here.
Try this.
It will calm you down.
I'm afraid of drugs. Sorry.
This is a good drug.
Look, this thing, whatever it is, it's supposed to be fun.
And things like this don't just happen, so don't waste it.
You can't post-enjoy things.
That's why people who film concerts on iPhones are morons.
Right. OK.
It's in there snugly.
Just please don't mess this up for me.
Of course.
Oh, wow.
That's so neat. I've seen people wear these.
I felt like how I've felt a few times
when I went to the movie theater and saw a beautiful film.
How, when it ended and I went outside,
colors seemed brighter.
The world seemed like a better place.
I wanted to keep feeling that way.
For the first time in my life I was walking around,
looking at the world through a new pair of glasses.
Up until then, life had been this series of unfulfilled promises.
Work hard and you will be happy.
Do the right thing and good things will come your way.
So, naturally, we kept expecting someone to show up
and take it from us... but the Institute never came.
For the first time since I was very young, I felt...
I don't know if this sounds stupid.
Actually, I do know it sounds stupid. I don't care.
I felt like there was magic.
I felt like there was real magic.
Maybe I could be a part of that.
Because suddenly all the signs around me
that I had allowed to dictate my life...
...they lost their power.
And what happened?
It lasted a few days or so, and then...
much more easily than I would have hoped, it just drifted away.
Is there anything you took from the experience that has stayed with you?
I guess how differently life must feel to her.
I was so scared. She was having so much fun.
And what does that make you feel?
That I wish I was more like her.
-Hello? -Peter!
This is Commander 14 of the Elsewhere Society.
You are needed now!
Commander, hi. It's me.
It's Peter. I'm here. I'm just in the middle of my dinner.
Dinner can wait, Peter.
The human body can survive weeks without food
and days without water.
I need to know now - are you in or are you out?
-I'm-- -Now, Peter!
I'm in!
Your location will be transmitted via encrypted multimedia message.
Your help is required posthaste!
OK, I... Hello? Hello?
-Hello? -The time is nigh.
Listen very carefully.
Dance.
I said dance!
The only way to proceed is through rigorous physical jamming.
So dance!
Dance, you lanky son of a bitch!
Dance!
Excellent. Keep dancing.
Hang up this phone and dance.
Dance, mother-lover!
-Dance! -OK, but just--
Hello?
Simone!
Peter.
-What the hell, dude? -Hi.
I don't know if that was Bigfoot or a yeti or Sasquatch,
but that thing can dance.
Yeah, it was Bigfoot.
-Yes. -Yeah, thought so.
We have to...
Yeah, yeah. Are you having fun yet?
I have so much anxiety but in a really good way.
I think that's called excitement.
Right. OK.
Three, two, one.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Radio Nonchalance -
Dispatches from Elsewhere.
As we begin our live broadcast,
there remains a task at hand to be completed
while simultaneously absorbing the message
and meaning of our transmission.
Within your envelopes resides a colored paddle.
These will serve as identifiers for your immediate family.
Please remove your paddles now
and find those with whom you shall proceed on this journey.
Take a moment to look around you
at the faces of the other intrepid souls you can now call family.
You've all been selected as Agents of Nonchalance.
And now cryptic radio brings you the secret of Nonchalance.
What is the secret?
What is Nonchalance, and who are its hidden followers?
Are they friendly, or are they a menace?
And what does their existence portend to today's world
of political, economic, and spiritual bedlam?
Listen carefully, and we will tell you.
This is your announcer, Commander 14,
trusted servant and head honcho of the Elsewhere Society,
broadcasting for a limited time on this special frequency.
Like Saint Peter in prison,
the keys to your cell rest at your feet.
Reach down and unlock the door.
Emerge as free men and women.
-Hey. -Hi.
You find the others. I'll wait here.
You don't want to come with us?
I don't want to be distracted. Every piece of evidence is essential.
But first, a warning.
OK.
Beware of false Nonchalance.
The false prophets are even now consolidating their forces
as they endeavor to find her, Clara, the special one,
keeper of Divine Nonchalance.
Beware especially the one the world calls
Octavio Coleman, Esquire,
for he is, in the present era,
the main opponent of The Elsewhere Society
and a cynical and fiendishly inspired deviser
of false Nonchalance,
founder of the evil Jejune Institute,
CIA operative and informant,
saboteur and provocateur.
Octavio Coleman, Esquire...
Excuse me.
...behind the monitoring...
Excuse me. Can I see your...
Oh, we match. Do we match?
-We do, yeah. -We match. Oh, I'm so glad.
I thought I was alone. I'm not alone. Couldn't find anybody.
-All alone. So glad. -I'm Peter.
Peter. I can hardly hear you.
-I'm Peter. -Peter.
-Simone. -I'm Janice.
-Hello, Janice. -Hello.
I can hear now. I took it out.
-We have another one. Come on. -OK, great.
Oh, I'm just...
-OK? -Yeah, yeah. I'm in.
My friends, there is a world behind this world
which has been hidden from you.
No longer.
The power is within you.
It always has been.
Now, listen closely, my friends, as I exit the realm of obfuscation
and make your assignment abundantly clear.
You must find Clara!
She is the harbinger of great things to come,
the bringer of Divine Nonchalance.
Find her before the evil forces of Octavio
and his wretched Institute,
and rewards will abound.
Find Clara, and we will change this world!
That was batshit crazy!
It was quite an elaborate hoax.
-It's thrilling. -I'm sorry. What do you mean, "hoax"?
You think this is some type of prank or something?
No, no, no, not a prank.
A lovely charade -
you know, wonderful evening out.
Lev is gonna... Lev is my husband.
He is gonna have quite a laugh when he hears about this.
I'll tell you that right now.
There's something far more meaningful than a laugh being had here.
-There is? -This is a government operation.
What was your name again?
Jani-- Mrs. Foster. Well, no. Janice.
-OK. Janice. -Mrs... Janice, yes.
Janice.
I've been keeping track of every clue, major or minor,
since the moment of induction.
There's code in that broadcast.
And more importantly, more infuriatingly,
they're keeping track of all of our personal data -
cellphones, emails, et cetera.
This is clearly some type of high-level social experiment.
Oh, my.
I don't want to be rude,
and I really mean this as a sincere question,
but are you a crazy person?
They say crazy people don't always know they're crazy,
but in my experience, that's not always the case.
I scored 1590 on the SAT when I was 13 years old.
I missed one question, which I still dispute.
-I'm not crazy. -OK.
I'm acutely aware of patterns,
and I feel like one is operating here.
All of this...
All of this is funneling towards something.
It's certainly an...
an out-there story they've concocted.
I'm still trying to wrap my brain around all of it,
the missing girl - Clara.
Divine Nonchalance? What?
Look, I think you guys are burying the lede here.
The radio guy, he said that if we find Clara, then rewards abound.
I bet whoever finds her probably ends up on TV.
Oh, I hope not.
That's not what he meant at all.
OK. I'm sorry. What was your name again?
Fredwynn.
-Excuse me? -Fredwynn.
Fredwynn?
Yes, that's the correct pronunciation,
but I feel like if you wrote it out, you'd spell it wrong.
It's one word - Fredwynn.
Fredwynn.
-Fredwynn. -Fredwynn?
-Fredwynn. -Yeah.
It's not hard. Fredwynn.
-Fredwynn. -Yes.
Fredwynn.
-Yeah. -OK.
Well, Fredwynn, I feel like it's gonna help
if we just talk about everybody's theories for a bit
and not just yours over and over.
-Know what I'm saying? -Yeah, I understand.
Great.
How about you, Peter? You've been pretty quiet.
Anything that I might say is something I already know,
so I'm not gonna learn anything by talking.
I thought I would just listen to you and gather information to process.
That sounds enlightened, but it's selfish.
You're like a selfish Buddha.
I'm gonna call you SB, Selfish Buddha.
Well, I mean, I'd prefer you didn't.
Well, share your thoughts with the group.
OK.
Well, what if it's real?
I don't want to sound stupid or sound naive.
But he says it's a conspiracy,
you say that it's a prank,
you say that it's a game, but what if...
what if it's something real?
Hey.
Hey, don't laugh at that, OK?
That is not funny.
-That is beautiful. -It was a question, not a theory.
I said I didn't want to sound stupid. That's why I said that.
-I didn't think it was stupid. -I know.
But he especially was asking me to say something.
He was like, "Say it now. Say it now."
-I really liked your question. -It's all right.
It's all right.
Maybe we should get some pie... because it tastes so good.
Sometimes diners like this have pie.
-OK. -Is there pie, ma'am?
-Do you have pie? -Pie?
Strawberry or coconut cream?
-Strawberry or coconut cream? -Oh, my God. Just bring them both.
Bring them both.
-Pie was a really, really good idea. -Thanks.
I like... I like to eat it.
Well, yeah.
Two of each. On the house.
That's very kind.
No, it's not kind.
I think it will be amazing to watch you all decide who gets what.
Here. You can have mine.
-Oh, you don't have to do that. -No, no. I...
I got to get going. I don't want to walk home too late.
I could walk you.
No. Stay.
Enjoy the pie. Tell me which one's better.
Bye. It was very nice to meet you.
-Mrs. Foster. -Janice.
-You're...
-Simone. -Simone.
Fredwynn.
-One word. -Simone.
Peter.
I... I don't know when,
but I have a hunch I'll be seeing you all again soon.
Oh, I hope so.
Yeah.
Until then, follow your Divine Nonchalance...
whatever that means.
And just what do we mean by "Divine Nonchalance" anyway?
A casual way of sauntering down the street?
A kind of cool, perhaps?
Or something more?
Divine Nonchalance cannot be bought or sold,
packaged or purveyed.
It is a power that can only be found within.
I can tell you're still confused.
Perhaps I can help illuminate further.
Let's take a look at this again.
You like cartoons, don't you?
Of course you do.
Everyone likes cartoons.
Picture in your mind a cartoon character,
any cartoon character.
Watch as she saunters down the street,
seemingly unaware of impending danger
lurking around every corner.
Some may mistake her ease for ignorance.
Others may marvel at her naiveté.
But Divine Nonchalance
is something different, my friends.
It is a perpetual quietness of heart
when all around you is seeming chaos.
It is an unspoken understanding
that somehow, through the trials and tribulations,
fears and foes,
you are protected by some timeless innocence,
some eternal joy,
some universal love that need not be named.
But life is not a cartoon, is it, my friends?
So what, then?
Do not mess with me! I am not playing around!
Game or no game, this is gonna burn your goddamn eyeballs out!
Why do you have to ruin everything?
Simone, is that you?
Yes. I'm home, Nana.
You can go back to sleep.
Did you have a good night?
Overall, yes.
Good night.
Night, sweetie.
You're OK.
This is Simone.
Think of her as you.