Welcome. Please, make yourself comfortable.
As you know, this entertainment is called
Dispatches from Somewhere,
a title that I assure you will have more significance than you can--
-Thank you. -Should I try it again?
Maybe this time with just a touch more quiet longing?
I can't imagine that would help.
You blew it, Tom.
We'll be in touch.
Our cryptic conductor,
cloaked in secrecy and pantsuits,
orchestrating her symphony from the wings of the stage,
unseen and unknown.
Well, perhaps not entirely.
You may recall several brief but intriguing appearances
earlier in our tale,
numbering, by my count, no less than three,
but no more than five.
You may have even guessed at their significance,
correctly identifying this mysterious madame
as no mere background player.
If this is the case, I applaud your deductive powers.
If not, take heart.
Her presence heretofore has been carefully calibrated
to sustain narrative coherence
without diminishing the potential for a satisfying,
if not entirely shocking, reveal.
Chucks? Chucks Dorp?
That can't be right.
So, who exactly is this abstruse architect,
this enigmatic engineer?
Simply put, this is...
Lee!
Think of her as you.
The mayor's office called. Rittenhouse Square Park is good.
But the Liberty Bell thing... We've got to go with an alt.
We've offered Mackenzie the Clara role,
but her mom-ager wants three solos.
And Linda and I agree that this is the best of the bunch.
The printer needs approval on these Jejune materials.
OK. Nix the bell.
Two solos are our best and final.
And find a different color scheme. It's too political.
Instill a sense of wonder,
don't remind people they're in an overheating hellscape
on the verge of ideological collapse.
This 'Squatch looks like something I hit with my car. We can do better.
-OK, what's this? -It's a flyer.
The dolphin communications system testing.
It is?
Because that is a porpoise.
A porpoise that's not even wearing a transmissions helmet,
which leads me to question what system exactly
is facilitating said communication?
And did I or did I not say I wanted pull tabs?
-I said I wanted pull tabs! -Right.
While we're on the subject, casting sent these over.
I should warn you at least half of them are porpoises.
Lee is you if you ever had a regret so big you just couldn't shake it,
no matter how hard you tried.
Lee is you if you finally had the chance to make amends,
to put things right.
Only now, all you are...
is afraid that you're in over your head,
that you can't pull it off,
but afraid, most of all,
that even if you do,
it won't change anything.
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.
Oh, dear.
Nod if you agree.
I really don't know what I'm agreeing to, but...
I like your suit.
Please.
The only possible answers are nod yes,
nod no, nod yes then no...
Is this a cult?
...nod no then yes, don't nod.
It sounds exciting.
So, exciting is good... sort of.
Five pre-recorded responses, and then press a button.
That's child's play.
I mean, it's kind of fun and all,
but if weird sex stuff is involved, I am gonna be so disappointed.
No, my friend. Not you.
You don't belong here. Come with me.
You belong with the special ones.
And how has this week been?
You know, it's perfectly normal to experience an increase in anxiety
after a major life event.
Even the ones we're supposed to celebrate.
You've spent years building that division.
I know. I just thought...
I just thought I would feel different.
I've done everything I was supposed to do.
Now I've got everything I thought I wanted -
recognition, success,
more money than I even know what to do with.
Only now I...
Do you ever worry that you're not the hero of your own story?
Is this about Clara?
No.
Maybe. I don't know.
It's just...
Sometimes I wonder.
What if it turns out that I'm actually the villain?
Jejune, change your tune!
And, scene. Oh, man. Did you see that?
That might have been the most ambiguously sinister walk
of my career.
I am hyped.
Does anyone else see this hardcore at my nine o'clock.
Copy that. You want us to put security on him?
Forget it.
We're behind schedule as it is. What's the worst he could do?
OK, call me crazy, but I think it's possible that guy just--
I know. He got in the trunk.
Yeah.
Jejune, change your tune!
Pedal! We're coming, Fredwynn!
Out of the way! Out of the way!
Listen up.
There's been a change in plans. The audience plant is out.
And Granny is in.
Who am I?
Can I even remember anymore?
Well, no more, my friends. No more.
Now, I need a volunteer for the demonstration.
-Crap. -Great show of hands.
Come on, Janice. Come on.
Let me see. Let me see. And...
Pick me!
Yes! That's what I'm talking about. We are back on game, people!
We are back on...
Hello!
Hi!
-Miss Lee, come meet my new friends! -OK, whose kid is this?
Sorry. I'm so sorry. The babysitter canceled last minute.
-I told you not to bother Miss Lee. -But they're waiting at the door.
Who's waiting at the door?
The pretty lady and the old lady
and the tall man and the weird man.
-Come on. -Where is it?
-Right here. -Oh, my God!
Hey, I've got the Stone of Soteria!
The good news is that team finally found Clara's house.
The bad news is they also found your house.
I thought I told you to keep an eye on them.
I did. That's how I know about the whole house situation.
But don't worry. I'm sure they won't actually go there.
I said that because I'm nervous.
They are definitely going there, as we speak.
What?
Shit.
Shit!
Why can't you just let me give you a magical experience? God damn it!
Bad news, everyone. They have Clara.
We need your help right now.
Bad news, everyone.
They have Clara. We need your help right now.
Get them to the finale, whatever it takes.
Stop the music! Please, stop the music!
That's not Clara. There is a real Clara.
That's not her.
But there is a real Clara, and she is out there...
-Do you want us to throw them out? -No.
They deserve to stay, maybe more than anyone.
Now I'm awake. I'm awake, and I am pissed off.
There's one last thing I think I have to do.
Calm yourself. It's just a game, son.
The truth is that Clara is dead,
and it's all my fault.
Thank you.
Let me see that.
T. Emerson.
So, last night was pretty crazy.
The song and the dolphin.
Good crazy, right?
I mean, I'm not mad about it.
That means I liked it.
I know.
I did, too.
Hey. Any luck?
No.
No T. Emerson anywhere.
T. Emerson, where are you?
Damn it, it could be anyone.
Peter, you take the flower girl.
Janice, the walking people.
-Try them. -OK.
Simone, see if those Goth kids
have seen anyone that could be our contact.
Fredwynn, that's a funeral.
Guys.
Found it.
Over here.
"Clara Torres.
March 15, 1979,
December 6...
1999."
Hey. Clara here.
Oh, man, I just got stage fright, and there's no one else around.
Oh, my God, it's her.
The real Clara.
OK, so, there's something I've been thinking about a lot lately.
How I can't tell which comes first -
feeling unhappy or feeling alone.
Maybe it doesn't even matter because, really,
they're both just symptoms of the same disease -
the illusion that we're in this thing all by ourselves,
that our pain and our hopes and our fears,
that they're ours and ours alone.
And that gave me an idea.
See, I used to make art
because I wanted to show people the magic all around us.
But I'm starting to think I was missing the point.
I don't just want to make beautiful things.
I want to create something that floods people's systems,
that spins them around so many times
that nothing makes sense and all they can hold onto,
all they can see is each other.
Because that's where the real magic is.
It's in the connections.
So, yeah, that's my big idea.
Maybe it's crazy or stupid.
But then again,
maybe it's not.
Maybe it's up to me to find a way to bring people together.
I don't know how I'm gonna do it, but I have to try.
After all, we only get just a little bit of time
on this spinning rock, right?
Is it really so crazy to want to change the world
in whatever time I have left?
According to this...
Clara sold her company to Lee, and...
she died six months later.
So, the whole thing, the game, the craziness, all of it...
It was all for her.
Yeah.
For Clara.
All right, I got milk, coffee, hot tea with lemon,
and a cran-apple to support waste elimination,
which you didn't need to tell me, yet here we are.
Now, let me see if I got this straight.
The Architect, AKA Lee,
is the real-life Lady in Black.
She felt so guilty about convincing Clara to sell out her ideas
that she created this whole crazy game
as a way to, like, atone for her sins.
Then you guys took it so seriously that you almost ruined everything.
But she felt bad about that, too,
so she ended up making a whole new ending
just for you.
That's about the shape of it, yes.
I can say this much.
It has been a real trip eavesdropping on you guys.
I think I'm gonna miss you.
You don't have to miss us. We'll come back.
I mean, we're friends now, and this is kind of our place, right?
I'm sorry.
I...
-I've got to take this. -OK.
Excuse me.
So, what are you guys feeling? I'm thinking pancakes.
Would you like to go out with me... like, on a date?
Not "like" a date. I mean an actual, literal date.
To be clear, I'm talking to Simone. Fredwynn, you're great, but--
I'd love to.
-You would? -Yeah.
That's definitely what I was hoping you'd say. Oh, great.
Janice, Simone and I are gonna go on a date.
She said yes. I asked her.
Well, it's about time.
I'm happy for you guys.
Look, I've got to go.
Duty calls.
-Would you...? -Of course. Yes.
I want to hear all about this date when next I see you.
-OK. -Bye.
Bye, Janice.
I am also gonna leave this establishment
and return to my residence.
-Oh, really? -Yes.
OK.
I haven't had a sleep burst in 36 hours,
and that murder board isn't gonna scrapbook itself.
OK. Hey, man.
-You got this? -Yeah.
-No. -All right.
Yeah, I'm...
pretty exhausted, if I'm honest.
Besides, I think if I stayed and ate with you now,
then, legally, this would be our first date, so...
Right. Yeah. Case law is already settled on that one, I think.
Yeah.
-Until tonight? -Until tonight.
I really look forward to it.
Thank you.
Simone. Hey.
Hi.
I am so sorry that I am so late.
I was gonna make an excuse about getting lost.
I just couldn't decide what to wear.
You look beautiful. I mean, really.
Here, sit down. This is your seat.
-Thank you. -Yeah, of course.
Scooch you.
For... madame?
-Yeah, thank you. Thank you. -I ordered that.
I heard that that's a nice thing. So... Starter sips.
Well... to starter sips.
So, tell me, slick,
you bring all the girls to this here feed barn?
No, I've never been here before.
I googled "most romantic restaurants,"
and this had the most stars, and so I just picked it
because I really wanted this to be nice.
Oh, shoot!
Darn it. I did that. It's OK. No, no, no.
-You shouldn't have to do any work. -Don't worry.
I think I'm probably very nervous.
Hey, I am, too.
Contrary to what you might think,
I don't spend a lot of time fine-dining
with extremely tall and handsome gentlemen.
Extremely handsome, huh?
Well, technically, I said "extremely tall."
Got it.
Hey, for the record, I am really glad we're doing this.
I am, too.
Yeah. Big time.
I'm really bummed it's over. You know what I mean?
Yeah.
Everywhere I look, I think, "Is it back?"
There was a guy in my apartment today, for example.
He had this mischievous look.
I was looking at him like I was sure something fun was gonna happen,
and then...
Yeah. And then just nothing happened.
I feel like there's beauty withdrawal or something.
That's exactly what it is.
But, you know, we have real life.
Yeah.
So, I want to get to know you.
Real-life Peter, what is he all about?
Totally.
What do you want to know?
Well, all I know about you is that you worked in music data
and that you live in the same building
as a guy with a mischievous grin.
So, let's go with...
anything.
-Big or small. -Right.
Just say the first thing in your head.
-I mean, it's just a lot of choices. -Yeah.
-Don't think. Just say the-- -I get nosebleeds.
I get nosebleeds.
OK. Yeah, no. That's interesting. It is.
-Oh, good. -Yeah.
I don't get them so much anymore.
I got them a lot when I was young. Gushers.
When I was young, my mom took me to get an MRI
to get to the bottom of what was happening,
and I have something called a brain-nub...
in the back.
You can't see it anymore but it's there.
It doesn't do anything. It just causes my nose to bleed.
It doesn't give me extra processing power or anything like that.
So...
-Yeah. -And, so, what happened?
One day, the nosebleeds just stopped?
I wish. They slowed down a lot.
I assume that my skull grew to accommodate the nub.
-Probably. -Took some pressure off of it.
Yeah. I get them sometimes if I'm feeling really stressed or sad.
Simone, I just want to interject.
I haven't had to talk about myself
in a really, really, really long time.
And...
I'm finding that I don't know what to say.
Everyone around here is so charming, and I wish that I was charming.
But I don't feel charming.
-You want to get out of here? -So much.
Please.
Hey.
All right, I did it.
-Ready? -Yes.
I can't believe neither of us have ever done this.
I know.
OK.
What do you think?
Pretty sure they both taste the same.
That was fun.
Yeah.
But we didn't really have to talk much because our mouths were full.
So, let's start with something easy.
What's your favorite movie?
That's not easy. Favorite movie? There's so many.
I don't know. What's yours?
The Secret of NIMH.
The cartoon about the rats?
Well, when you say it like that, it's sort of embarrassing.
There's nothing to be embarrassed about.
That's awesome. I can't top that.
You don't have to top it, Peter.
Cake or pie?
I like both of those things.
Fight or flight?
Freeze.
I learned on SVU that there's a third one - freeze.
What about you?
First fight, then flight.
I didn't see that coming.
Hi.
Hey.
What's up?
Peter...
Before you say anything, can I say something?
-Please? -Sure.
I know I'm not doing very good on this date.
But I'm gonna try really hard.
I'm getting better.
Are you, though?
Not yet, but I'm... gonna--
-Can I be honest with you? -Not yet. Don't do this yet.
No, I... Look...
I think you're an incredibly kind person.
But I just worry that we're not...
No. You know?
I'm gonna be honest.
I don't think you're ready for this.
Like, I mean, have you ever thought about
how complicated it would be...
if we were...
you know, dating?
I've thought about being happy.
A lot.
That's a really sweet thing to say.
But I...
I just think that you're only just now getting to know yourself,
and that's wonderful.
But...
you're, like, 20 years behind.
I don't understand what's happening.
Didn't you notice those guys back there?
No.
Exactly.
Well...
they were looking at us--
They were probably looking at you because you're pretty.
No, Peter.
They were not looking at me because I am pretty.
They were looking at us, and they were thinking,
"What is that guy doing with that...
trans woman?"
And they thought that if there was
maybe less people around or something,
that they would come and beat us up, or worse,
because that is my reality.
I just...
I'm only now getting strong enough to share that with someone.
And I really thought it could be you.
But I think that I need someone
who can be there for me,
and you don't even know if you like cake or pie better.
That's a simple question, and there--
I think we're getting ahead of ourselves.
No, Peter, I'm not getting ahead of myself. I'm not. I'm just...
I'm just ahead of you, and that...
breaks my heart, but that is the truth.
Can I be honest with you about something?
Yeah, yeah. Please, go ahead.
I think you've been thinking about this for a really long time
before I showed up, and it has nothing to do with me.
I understand,
but I do think that there is another way
to look at this whole situation, and maybe you and I could decide -
just listen to me, please -
just decide what we want this world to be like for us,
and maybe it doesn't have to be as scary as it is in your head.
Our story can be our own, if we just, like,
try to figure it out together.
Well, I think that you are really lucky that you have the luxury
of looking at the world that way.
-I don't want this fight. -Well, this is it. This is...
-Hey. -We're not in the game anymore.
You want to go back to just being strangers?
This is the flight part that you told me about?
Maybe you should call me
when you get to the bottom of the "cake or pie" debate.
You don't have to mock me.
I know who you want to be.
I can see him.
He's wonderful.
You're just not there yet, Peter.
It takes years. It takes a lifetime.
Until you're further on that path, I just...
I don't think we stand a chance, Peter. I'm sorry.
How many years?
-You're being too literal again. -How many years?
-I don't know. -One?
Sure.
OK.
Take care of yourself, Petri Dish.
I mean, we're friends now, and this is kind of our place, right?
I'm sorry.
I...
I've got to take this.
Excuse me.
Hello?
I mean an actual, literal date.
OK.
Where is he now?
I'm on my way.
Janice, Simone and I are gonna go on a date.
She said yes. I asked her.
Oh, well, it's about time.
And I'm happy for you guys.
Look, I've got to go.
Duty calls.
-Would you? -Of course. Yes.
Next time I see you, I want to hear about this date.
-See you later. -See you, Janice.
You, with the clipboard. Are you a "nurse"?
Yes, I'm a nurse.
Lev Foster was admitted earlier today for what I'm assuming,
based on his medical history, was another stroke.
Your relationship to the patient?
I'm his wife's game partner.
-Excuse me, sir. -I'm sorry, Janice.
I'm not the best with boundaries, but I could tell something was wrong
and I didn't know what to do.
It's OK. It's OK. He's with me.
Doctor, I so appreciate all your help over the last months.
I guess I just need a moment to think.
-Of course, Janice. -OK.
-Take all the time you need. -Thank you.
What can I do?
Nothing.
Nothing anyone can do, except me.
I have to let him go, Fredwynn.
Let him be at peace. I have to do that.
Has there been a directive regarding POLST?
That means Physician Order for Life Sustaining--
I know what that is. I...
Fredwynn...
I have to make a phone call,
so I'm gonna step out in the hallway for a few minutes.
I'll be right back.
Thank you, Fredwynn.
-For coming to find me. -Yes. Yes.
-Make your call. Take your time. -OK.
Should I... Should I talk to him?
They say it's good for them, to talk.
Yes, that would be very nice. Thank you.
One follow-up.
How much does he know about subliminal advertising?
Almost nothing.
OK.
Does the name Edward Bernays mean anything to you?
Ben, it's Mom.
This is the second time I've called.
Please call me back. It's about Dad. I need to talk to you.
So, that's it, then?
You're just giving up?
You heard what the doctor said. He's gone.
Lev is not coming back.
Keeping him alive with these machines is not what he would have wanted.
You won't do it. You can't do it.
Wife, mother - that's all you are.
Your son's grown and doesn't need you anymore.
If you lose Lev, then what are you?
Nothing.
Please don't do this. I can't lose him.
You're not losing him.
I am.
You'll live your whole life with him.
And at the end, it will be up to you to let him go.
That's part of the deal, too.
That's part of loving someone.
-Please, you can't! -Yes, I can.
Trust me.
We'll be OK.
Listen.
I have more life to live,
and I have to learn to do it without him.
But I can't do it without you.
Please don't go.
Don't stop... pestering me.
Ben.
Hello.
I know.
I'm so sorry, honey. I'm so sorry.
To be clear, I'm not saying the Earth is hollow.
That would be absurd.
But do I think there's a reason
the government is working so hard to discredit
the theory's most vocal proponents?
The answer is yes. Yes, I do.
I just need you to sign here.
I'm sorry we never got a chance to meet, Lev.
Janice is a special one.
Person, I mean.
I don't know what I should be doing or saying.
Maybe I should leave.
Or maybe I should stay.
Maybe I should just stop talking.
I'd like you to stay, but I understand--
I'll stay.
I'm with you, sweetheart. I'm holding your hand.
Ben is here with you, too, in his heart.
Your son wants you to know that he loves you,
and he's holding your other hand.
I hope you can feel us both.
Hello.
Thank you all for coming.
Many of you I haven't seen in such a long time.
Lev would...
I would...
Oh, I'm not good at this.
Lev was such a wonderful speaker.
I think you all know that.
He was good at things I could just never do.
I don't know.
Maybe I was good at things that he could never do.
Maybe I don't know what I could do
because he was so damn good at everything.
Maybe.
I know one thing.
I will love and miss him all the rest of my life.
That I can do.
Hey.
Hi.
Oh, here's Janice.
-Hi. -Hey.
Thank you so much for coming. It means so much to me.
Simone.
-That was a really beautiful service. -Thanks.
-Sorry for your loss. -Thank you.
Yes. It was very moving.
Fredwynn.
I, too, enjoyed the event.
Also, I brought everyone's game file.
For the record, I considered waiting for an organic segue
to present itself...
but after running several mental simulations,
I chose now, and abruptly.
Anyway, I felt like you would want them.
I haven't looked at them.
OK, I skimmed them, but I felt like you would want to have them,
to keep them, to laminate them, burn them, whatever.
-The point is they're yours. -That's so thoughtful of you.
-Listen, I'm gonna have to go, OK? -Of course.
-I'll talk to you later. -Bye, Janice.
OK. Bye.
Name: Janice Foster.
Age 28.
Marital status: single.
Very single.
General: mistakes numbness for safety.
Efforts to protect himself with routine
have trapped him in a prison of his own making.
Terrified of her own vulnerability.
Doesn't seem to realize that strength and weakness
are not mutually exclusive.
Worries she's given the best pieces of herself away
and fails to see what's grown back in their place.
Their talents and flaws align and conflict so completely,
it is almost impossible to imagine
this team not having a meaningful impact on each other.
Whether it be for the better or the worse remains to be seen.
And one final note about this "Fredwynn."
At first, I thought he was blind to his own obsessions,
the effect they have on the people he loves most.
But he knows what it does to them.
He knows what it does to him.
He knows he should just let things go.
And yet...
he just can't seem to help himself,
because he's always so sure that there's more,
that he, and he alone, has figured out the truth.
Of course, in this case, it turns out...
he's right.