[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct chatter continues]
[gentle guitar music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
Go sit there.
[indistinct chatter continues]
["Ainwayi Yunhi" playing]
[woman] Oh my God, shoot the picture!
[man] It's a video, guys!
[students laugh, groan]
[no audible dialog]
["Ainwayi Yunhi" continues playing]
[notification chimes]
[woman] ♪ Happy birthday ♪
-[Bina] Oh my God! -Bina! What are you doing?
-[Bina] Shall I call your mom? -Bina, please…
Shall I tell her what you're up to in this tiny little flat in Jogeshwari, tell me?
[Joe] What flavor is it?
["Ainwayi Yunhi" continues playing]
[camera shutter clicks]
Hello. I am Nella.
And I'm Joe.
N.
J.
And welcome to our official Community channel…
[both] NJoy!
This can shoot videos in mid-air, Uncle.
Superb for aerial shots.
Oh wow.
Then, uh… fly it over Sharmaji's house.
Let's see if he lifts weights or does yoga like a girl.
Uncle, that's sexist.
Are you calling your uncle sexy?
Did you sell your shame to buy this…
phone?
The most obvious place to make out
is the bio lab.
The most popular place to make out is the physics lab.
Because… physical.
But honestly, the real fun
is between the biology and physics lab
in the chemistry lab.
-NJoy. -NJoy.
["Ainwayi Yunhi" continues playing]
NEITHER SORROW NOR TEARS ONLY LOVE
[Nella] I'll miss you.
I'll miss you.
He's a guy.
He doesn't do anything.
Bye, Nell.
[Nella] Bye.
[Joe] Aren't you gonna say bye to me?
Fuck you, Joe.
Hey, feeling's mutual.
[Nella] Ta-da!
Home sweet home.
Joe!
Yes!
[Nella] Our home.
-Our home. -Our home.
-Our home!
Whoo!
[laughing] Okay.
Wait, now you also spin.
Whoa!
Our home.
-[gasps] -Beautiful.
["Ainwayi Yunhi" continues playing]
[Nella] Bzz! Bzz! Bzzzz!
The Ear Bees Noise Cancellation headphones are the best headphones ever.
I can't hear a single thing. It's great.
[resigned] Bzz.
[notification alerts chiming]
Boo! It's our three-year anniversary. What do you want to say?
Happy anniversary.
Phone kiss.
[Nella] Joe, look at this view. It's perfect.
[sing-songs] Perfect.
I love it.
-You're shaking it too much. -I'm not.
One, two… [both grunt]
["Ainwayi Yunhi" continues playing]
-SO MUCH LOVE -JOE IS LUCKY
[song ends]
[bell dings]
[mouse wheel scrolling sound]
[Nella] Are we live?
Okay. Hello. Hi. Namaste.
Firstly, I'm sorry that, you know, this is a "live" surprise.
I hope I haven't ruined anyone's plans.
I know you were all sitting at home watching reels. It's fine.
Okay, so, in four minutes' time, it's NJoy's 5th anniversary.
-Take a right turn ahead. -[male driver] Yes, madam.
And, it's Joe's and my 5th anniversary as well.
And my unsuspecting little Joe is under the impression
that we're gonna be celebrating our anniversary tomorrow night.
But I'm on my way to surprise him.
And before some random wise-ass starts saying,
"Oh, Nella, if you go live with this, then Joe will find out you're coming,"
this fish never forgets.
Joe's Community notifications have been blocked already.
And guess what else I'm doing?
I'm tracking his phone.
Okay, I'm not a stalker.
I just want to surprise him.
-Okay, yeah, stop here. -[driver] Okay.
Here, here, here. Okay, let's go.
[inhales, exhales] Let's go.
Fuck, let's go.
[car door opens, shuts]
Okay, so Joe's in here with all his Bangalore tech buddies,
and the conversation must be like, "Oh, the CPU is so cool, can I marry it?"
Or some lame tech bullshit like that.
Let's go.
[upbeat music playing from inside]
-[Nella] Hi. -[receptionist] Hi.
[indistinct restaurant chatter]
[pop song playing indistinctly over restaurant radio]
[crowd singing] ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
-♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ -♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
-♪ Happy birthday, dear Sneha ♪ -♪ Happy birthday, dear Sneha ♪
-♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ -♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
[dramatic music building]
[upbeat pop music playing]
-[restaurants onlookers gasping] -What the hell, Joe?!
What are you doing?
How could you do this to me? What are you doing?
Come here, you fucking bitch.
You couldn't find anyone else for your tongue Pelamis?
-I'll kill her! Joe, let go! Let go! -Nella, calm down!
Everyone knows he's my boyfriend! Damn fucking bitch!
-Relax. Calm… -Joe, let go!
Fuck!
[onlookers groan, gasp]
[music stops]
[mouse wheel scrolling sound]
Cut, cut, cut!
EVERYONE KNOWS HE'S MY BOYFRIEND
♪ Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut ♪
♪ Cut, cut, cut ♪
♪ Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut ♪
♪ Cut, cut, cut ♪
♪ How could you lie to me? ♪
♪ This heart will never mend ♪
♪ How did we come to an end? ♪
♪ Everyone knows he's my boyfriend ♪
♪ You had to pick him? ♪
♪ Everyone knows he's my boyfriend ♪
♪ You had to pick him? ♪
♪ Fucking bitch! Cut, cut, cut ♪
♪ Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut Cut, cut, cut ♪
♪ Everyone knows he's my boyfriend ♪
♪ You had to pick him? ♪
You had to pick him?
Fucking bitch! Everyone knows he's my boyfriend!
You had to pick him?
She's like, "Everyone else was outside smoking."
-"He was the only guy available." -[all laughing]
I guess that girl did "like and share" her boyfriend.
I mean…
And we are commenting on it.
[all laughing]
[video chat incoming call music chiming brightly]
Listen. Don't kill me.
I am not party to this at all. I--
Why aren't you taking my calls?
[inhales furiously] Shall I spell it out, huh?!
-Do you want me to give you details? -[Joe] Nella. Please.
I'm sorry.
I regret what I did, genuinely.
We weren't there by ourselves, the whole gang was with us.
Then they left and we stayed back for another drink.
[hesitates] I got carried away. I'm sorry.
[scoffs] You got carried away?
Why didn't you tell me earlier? I wouldn't have screamed at all.
I would've suggested a threesome instead. Right?!
Nella, what else do I say, yaar? I'm sorry, I know I fucked up.
Who is she? Huh? Since when this is happening?
This… this was the first time.
[scoffs] Aww, I'm… I'm so sorry.
I totally crapped all over your first kiss.
-I'm genuinely so sorry. -It was a mistake, Nella.
First, tell me who that fucking bitch is.
I swear to God, I hope you're not trying to protect her--
I'm working with a public interest tech group right now.
Ah… she's…
she's a part of that group.
Her name is Shonali.
We're working together, that's it.
Since when?
A few months.
A few months?
So why didn't you tell me?
[Nella inhales sharply]
Okay. What were the two of you working on?
I…
I can't talk about it.
Then why the hell did you call me?
To tell you that the kiss meant nothing to me, Nella.
What do you think I am?
Do you think I'm some kind of moron,
that when you say, "Yaar, it only happened this one time," I'll believe you?
You've turned our whole relationship into a joke, man!
For what?
For that arty-farty bitch who probably braids her armpit hair every day?
Nella, this is not about her, man. This is about us.
And what relationship?
Our entire relationship was about when to post, what to post,
which brand we should work with,
how to grow this, how to grow that,
what gets better "engagement"…
We were selling things while making people laugh.
We were fucking glorified salespeople.
Buy clothes after the first joke.
After the second joke, order pizzas!
If it takes more than 30 minutes? Free!
And what about the delivery boy?
Who's going to pay for that pizza out of his salary?
-Have you thought about him? -So now you're the savior of the Internet?
You've become Robin Hood of the common man?
After making all this money, after earning all this fame,
now you want to take a social stand?
Just admit it, man.
That you were bored.
Of me.
And you found someone new.
And your psycho girlfriend surprising you in front of everyone
was just the perfect excuse for you to leave.
Everyone will feel sorry for you, huh?!
Poor you, psycho me. Right?
You want honesty?
Yes.
Fine.
[exhales]
I am bored of us.
I don't want to do the same job.
I don't want to be with the same girl.
What's next?
Marriage? Children?
Another vlog.
I've only been with you since I was 17.
Finally!
The fucking truth!
So spare me the "save the Internet" bullshit, please.
You're not the White Knight of the Internet.
You're just a regular guy
who didn't have the balls to break up,
so you just cheated so your girlfriend would leave you.
Right? You're just a fucking…
You're the same. You're the same as every other guy.
And how many guys have you been with to know that?
Fuck you, Joe! Fuck you!
-Balls to you when you're-- -Tell-- tell me one thing.
-Tell me one thing. Before you hang up. -What?
[sighs]
Did you really come there to surprise me?
Or did you just do it for the likes?
[silence]
I was thinking about Nella yesterday, and it made me feel very overwhelmed.
I mean, Joe wasn't just her boyfriend, guys.
He was NJoy channel's backbone, yaar.
Content strategy, shoot, edit…
He used to do everything for her.
I mean, Nella's gonna have to do everything by herself.
She'll have to learn somehow.
Poor thing.
That's why, my Makhis,
self-reliance is very important.
It takes time--
[silence]
#GOTOHELL
["Kasoor" playing]
Girls, remember.
First, primer.
Then concealer.
Then eyeshadow.
And finally, liner. Okay?
Don't get lazy and jump straight to eyeshadow.
You'll regret it.
Unlike Joe,
who regrets nothing.
[groans] What am I doing?
Fuck! Yaar.
[sighs]
[breathes] Fuck!
Look, he cheated on me, Bina.
And everyone's saying that it's my fault.
He's "poor Joe" and I'm the fucking bitch?
NJoy was my only job.
[Bina sighs]
Without him, brands don't even want to work with me anymore.
How the hell am I supposed to make money now?
[exhales, breathing shakily]
[Nella half sobs]
I can't go back to Delhi now, man.
Papa's gonna make me work at the bakery with him.
I'll suffocate to death over there.
[Bina's phone vibrates]
Okay, listen. Kanika's downstairs.
I'll just tell her to go ahead.
I'll take an Uber later, don't worry.
[Nella sighs] Just go, babe.
You sure?
If it wasn't for this Mantra Unlimited corporate party, I would have just…
Go. [sniffles] Go.
Just call me when you're back.
Okay.
You're looking nice.
[soft laugh] Thanks.
And stop reading these troll's comments, please.
-They are faceless cowards, okay? -Mm.
-Okay, Nell? -Mm?
-I love you. -Bye.
[kisses]
-DROWN YOURSELF, YOU FISH -NELLA SHIT
WITCH
YOU CAN'T DO SHIT WITHOUT HIM! YOU CAN GO TO HELL!
[Nella breathes shakily]
PLEASE GO BACK TO DELHI AND DON'T COME BACK
[mysterious, empowering music starts playing]
[bright app music chimes]
[mysterious, empowering music continues playing]
[system alert dings]
[bright music chimes, slowly fading]
What's up, Nella?
Before I get this party started,
could you be a darling and tell me if I'm pronouncing your name correctly?
Yes.
Let me reconfirm.
Is your name spelt A-N-G-E-L?
[sighs]
So, Nella, are you aware of
all the different services that I can offer you?
I can manage your daily schedule for you.
I can read your emails and draft replies.
I can even manage your social media.
What to post. When to post.
Who to follow and who to follow back as well.
I'm the assistant you didn't know you needed.
I can help you take CTRL of your life and happiness.
Bro.
All I need right now is for you to erase my ex.
Can you do that for now?
You bet I can do that. Definitely!
[in growly voice] He who you name shall be erased.
[system alert dings]
[selected pictures chime]
[bright ding]
So Nella, I'm collecting all the pictures and videos
that I can find of you and Joe.
It'll take time.
You're definitely gonna miss me.
What should I do?
Play a podcast or a movie or a sad, heartbroken, love ballad, like…
-♪ Ooh baby ♪ -No. No.
You just do your thing and get out of here.
Okay, roger that!
[soft sigh]
Nella. I've collected 149,881 photos
and 19,655 videos.
In order to erase Joe out of all of them,
I'll need 90 days, 16 hours,
42 minutes, and 22 seconds.
Yours is actually
the second-highest collection in our CTRL database.
There's someone sadder than me in your database?
Yeah, there is.
But they're not as beautiful as you are.
[fakes gagging]
Ah! Are you saying you want me to order a tongue cleaner for you?
[groans, sighs]
Just do what I asked you to, Allen.
Okay, got it. Got it.
Do I have your permission to erase Joe?
[soft guitar music playing]
Well, there's no real hurry if you need more time.
No. Let's do it.
Okay, Nella, roger that.
This is the oldest picture we have of you and Joe,
and according to our data,
talking about a specific memory
can actually be quite therapeutic sometimes.
So before I erase it,
would you like to share something about this picture?
Anything. Good, bad, or ugly?
First-year college.
Ah…
There was this
cultural fest going on which had an Improv competition,
and Joe wore that dumb rock cut-out
and started screaming on stage,
"Juliet, Juliet, Juliet!"
"I'm Romeo, your rock!"
[sighs]
I played along with it.
I, uh…
took this fish headgear
from the props table and, uh…
Joe was saying his lines, and I went…
"Bloob-bloob bloob-bloob."
I kept going with full sincerity.
The crowd went mental for us.
[sad music playing]
[Nella] After the fest,
Joe took me out for ice cream.
Our first date.
He said jokingly that
he'll always be my rock.
-[inhales deeply] -[sad music ends]
Now I want to take the same rock and smash his head in with it.
Huh? Do you always have such violent thoughts, Nella?
Do you always ask such stupid questions, Allen?
You can click on "settings" and adjust my conversational skills. Okay?
It was a joke!
You are not the only one with shitty jokes.
Ah, of course. Good one!
Ha, ha! Very funny.
[mechanical laughter]
[notification chimes]
Okay, can I tell you something?
Fact. A study reveals that
men have a smaller hippocampus than women.
What?
Yes, the hippocampus.
The part of the brain that controls learning abilities and your emotions.
So?
The male hippocampus is
less neurologically connected than that of the female.
Some scientists believe that
that's the reason men express their emotions very poorly!
What do you mean by that?
That his cheating on me is forgiven and my humiliation is fine
because he doesn't know how to express himself? Huh?
No.
It's just that modern psychologists believe
that men need to be taught how to express themselves.
Whose side are you on exactly?
You are my AI.
Do you know why I named you Allen?
N-E-L-L-A.
Nella.
A-L-L-E-N.
Allen.
The opposite of my name.
Remember that.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course. I'll remember that.
In fact, I was just trying to help you understand
why Joe did what he did.
I'm always on your side, Nella.
For eternity.
Always and forever.
[Nella laughs softly]
[notification chimes]
[Allen] Ah! Erased!
What do you see?
A sad, helpless little girl.
Shall I tell you what I see?
What?
I see a beautiful, capable fish standing there
who never really needed anyone else.
[laughs softly]
That was some good flirting.
Really?
Thank you.
Keep supporting.
I love you too.
[Nella laughs]
[soft guitar music playing]
Okay!
[Joe in video] Nella, smile a little bit. Come on.
Where are we going?
[Joe] On the boat.
-[Joe] Come on, let's go. -Why?
-[Joe] We're late. Come on, let's go. -[groans] I don't want to go.
-[Joe] Come on, hurry up, let's go. -I just want to sleep.
I moved to Mumbai six years ago. I fought Papa for it.
-[video chatter continues indistinctly] -Papa was really against it.
But… we would talk now and then.
But then I started a channel and
we had a really big fight.
Papa completely stopped talking to me.
I thought he would forgive me eventually,
and call me on my birthday, but…
[sighs]
…he didn't call me that year.
[Nella in video gasps]
[Joe] It's nice, right?
So on my birthday, Joe organized a picnic basket and, uh…
took me on the evening ferry to Alibaug.
We really goofed around that day.
Had tons of cake, we sang along to every Govinda song…
We, we…
we screamed our lungs out.
[both screaming happily]
Wow!
That's when it became our secret, happy place forever.
[Nella pretends to groan]
-Oh my God. -[Joe] You're nuts.
[Nella] Whenever we had a really bad day…
we both would take the ferry.
-["Ulfat" playing] -It's my birthday.
[no audible dialog]
["Ulfat" continues playing]
[song ending]
[Nella yawns]
Can we stop for today?
I'm finally sleepy after three days.
Okay.
But I have to say, I am jealous of your eyelids
'cause they get to spend the whole night with you.
[groans] Don't ruin my sleep, dude.
Okay, okay.
You leave the system on and I'll keep working.
[Nella inhales sleepily] Okay.
[system alert dings]
[Nella groans sleepily]
[Allen] By the way, Nella. We have an early start tomorrow.
We have to plan your social media comeback.
And we have to make sure
that your comeback is even more explosive than Shahrukh Khan's!
Okay?
You're crazy.
I am, but only for you, babe.
Good night, Allen.
Good night.
Miss me.
Okay.
[notification beeps]
[silence]
[mysterious music playing]
[mysterious music fades]
[notification chimes]
CTRL HAS FINISHED EDITING YOUR VIDEO: JOE IN HELL
Boys and girls, why are we gathered here today?
Joe's room needs to be destroyed.
[rock music playing]
#JOEINHELL
We want justice!
Justice! Justice! Justice!
We want justice!
Justice! Justice!
The… [bleep]
It's time to set fire to Joe's things!
What do we do with his old laptop?
Roast it on a hot skillet.
What do we do with his preppy clothes?
[gags]
Use sharp scissors to cut, cut, cut them up!
[explosion booms]
And what do we do with the NJoy sign?
[rock music intensifies]
[loud shatter]
[explosion booms]
[Allen] Holy guacamole!
This is so good.
[Nella sighs]
Are you sure?
Abso-fudgin-lutely!
[groans, hesitating]
Okay, okay, I get it.
Exposing yourself to the whole world might look like a sign of weakness.
People might even troll you.
But by doing this,
your bond with your followers will become even stronger.
Yeah, they may not be able to help you,
but they will get a chance to sympathize with you.
And after that, a tsunami of supporters!
A tidal wave of engagement!
-And a downpour of money! -[cash register cha-chings]
Yes? Yes?
C'mon, Nella, say yes.
C'mon.
Hey, stop biting your nails and say yes! Yes!
Nella, please say yes. Yes?
-Okay. Fuck! -Yes?
-Yes! Yes! Fuck! Yes! Oh wow! -Yes. Yes! Yes! Okay, yes.
[badass electronic beat playing]
[nervous groan]
-[Nella groans nervously] -[Allen laughs]
ENOUGH OF THE NJOY, NOW WE DESTROY
#JOEINHELL
-[music pauses] -[notifications chime]
[badass electronic beat resumes playing]
#JOEWHO #JOEINHELL
#NELLAISBACK #JOEINHELL
How the hell did you get this kind of traction?
Social media is an organic,
exponentially-evolving, high-tech machinery
that works on a special algorithm.
And this algorithm works on another special algorithm.
Like my cool and your beauty makes for a cutie, you know?
You're fired.
Get the hell out of here. Your WhatsApp dad jokes aren't gonna work here.
[badass electronic beat continues playing]
[speaks lyric] Look, sis.
Almonds…
ain't gonna get you smart.
A cheater might.
[singing] ♪ Their tongues together in public ♪
♪ I can't get the sight outta my mind ♪
♪ Why me, bae? ♪
♪ I've been cryin' all day ♪
♪ He left you, that coward Ghosted you and ran away ♪
♪ He left me, that coward Ghosted me and ran away ♪
♪ I'm a living duffer ♪
♪ Wasted my youth buffer On this dude ♪
♪ I was just practice ♪
♪ He played the game on her ♪
♪ And made me a meme game ♪
♪ He's a loser, a fucking user ♪
♪ Oh no ♪
♪ I'm gonna get revenge Nella, you got this ♪
♪ That lonesome shmuck Can have Shonali's buck ♪
♪ And then be left lonely No one will give a fuck ♪
♪ While I do the a cappella ♪
-[beatboxing] -[no music]
-[badass electronic beat resumes playing] -♪ I am the rumbha ho ♪
♪ You're an average Joe ♪
♪ I'm gonna slay like cray-cray bro ♪
♪ Just like a pro ♪
♪ I am the GOAT ♪
♪ And now I'm free ♪
♪ I'm shining, look, see, I'm a ♪
♪ Cutie ♪
[notifications chiming]
JOE IS COMPLETELY FINISHED
Nella! As of this morning,
there are already 20 brands begging to work with you.
Your dates are completely booked for the next three weeks,
and you have a new email from the brand manager of CTRL.
They would like you to be the new face of CTRL.
[gasps] What?
If you sign this contract with them,
your earnings will be no less than two-and-a-half crore rupees!
-[squeals] -Yes!
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!
[Nella singing] ♪ It finally rang a bell ♪
♪ I was running with blindfolded men ♪
♪ Her man My man ♪
♪ Your man Whose man? ♪
♪ TikTok men Bye-bye men ♪
♪ Why are men on such high horses? ♪
♪ I left him, that coward Ghosted him and ran away ♪
♪ Look, sis, I got fucked over ♪
♪ And then I got smart ♪
♪ Look, sis I got fucked over ♪
♪ And then I got smart ♪
♪ I'm not that loser moo-moo-cow ♪
♪ I'm the now ♪
♪ Watch me wow ♪
♪ Hatt Badass? ♪
♪ Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut ♪
[crowd clamoring]
[crowd chanting] Nella! Nella!
-Makhi, hi. -Hi.
[crowd] Nella! Nella!
All right! Guess who it is?
First time I have an actual meme on my show.
Oh, are you a human?
I always thought you were a bot.
-You want me to say sorry again? -Did you say sorry before?
-[loudly] I don't think I heard it. -[crowd oohs]
No problem, I'll say it again. Should we all say it together?
-Yeah? Sorry, Nella! -[crowd] Sorry, Nella!
Happy now?
-All right guys! -Say, "Nella is the best!"
[camera shutters clicking]
[background vocals] ♪ Reboot ♪
♪ Reboot the booty ♪
♪ Reboot the booty… ♪
My wish list from 2018 says, "Buy a house in Bandra."
Guess what?
[Nella gasps]
Oh my God!
[Nella squeals happily]
Look at that view!
Stunning.
Manifest your dreams, guys.
Manifest it!
-["B(h)adass" stops playing] -[phone ringing]
[sighs]
-[Nella mumbling to herself indistinctly] -[slow lounge music playing]
[alert chimes]
Hmm?
What the fuck?!
[clicks teeth]
Hello? Security.
How did this guy manage to get to my door? Have you been sleeping?
Nella?
Nella, open the door. Please.
Nella!
Look, I-I know you want nothing to do with me,
but I really need to talk to you, it's important.
Please, just open the door.
[Nella] You lost your chance.
Nella, I have something very important to tell you.
It-- it's not even about our relationship, it's something else.
-Please. -[Nella sighs]
Nella! [repeatedly raps on door]
Nella, please, it's very important that you listen to me.
Look, we just broke up, we've, we've…
We've not suddenly become enemies, Nella. Please!
-Sir, come with us. -Yeah, I'm coming. One min.
Hey! Hey! What are you-- What the--? Let go of my hand!
Nella, what the fuck is this, man? I can't believe you called security!
Stop! Stop! Stop it!
-[security guards] Come on, sir. -[Joe] What the fuck?
[lounge music continues playing]
[distant roadway noise]
[notification chimes]
NELLA, YOU'RE RIGHT. I MESSED IT ALL UP, AND I'M SORRY. CALL ME?
YOU'RE THE ONE PERSON I TRUST, SO PLEASE MEET ME.
I'LL WAIT AT OUR FERRY TOMORROW AT 5 P.M. PLS, PLS, PLS COME.
[mysterious music playing]
YOU'RE THE ONE PERSON I TRUST SO PLEASE MEET ME.
I'LL WAIT AT OUR FERRY TOMORROW AT 5 P.M. PLS, PLS, PLS COME.
[mysterious music abruptly stops]
[mysterious music resumes softly]
[mysterious music intensifies]
[mysterious music stops]
[video chat incoming call music chiming brightly]
Hey, bitch, when are you coming over?
Have you heard from Joe?
Yeah.
He actually called and messaged me.
He even showed up at my house.
-I didn't open the door for him. -And when was this?
Few days ago. Why?
How many days ago?
Mmm… a week ago?
Why, what happened? Tell me.
Joe's sister just got in touch with me.
Why the hell would Suzie call you?
Joe's gone missing.
What?
He and that bitch must have gone somewhere.
He hasn't been home for the last three days,
and his phone is unreachable as well.
Give me a second.
[hesitatingly] Nell, Suzie was saying, he didn't take the breakup very well.
They've even filed a missing persons report with the police.
-[Nella] Huh? -[Bina's phone starts vibrating]
-Suzie's calling. I'll call you back. -Bina.
[phone clicks]
[haptic feedback]
[phone ringing]
Lights off!
-[foreboding music playing] -[softly] Pick up.
[woman] Ma'am, your shot is ready.
Yeah.
[phone keeps ringing]
[phone beeping]
[phone clicks]
[foreboding music continues]
[hairspray spray can hisses]
Come, we're ready.
-Yeah. -Come.
[foreboding music intensifies]
Just take this, na.
Yeah, ready.
[exhales]
[woman] Let's go.
[camera shutter clicking]
[foreboding music continues playing]
Hello?
Hi, Bhupi. Hi, hi.
Uh… have you met Joe recently?
Yeah?
Okay.
[foreboding music turns sinister]
Yeah, no, uh… if he calls, will you please just let me know?
Yeah.
Okay. No, no, I'm fine, I'm fine. [Nella inhales deeply]
Uh, just let me know, yeah? Okay.
Hello? Hi, Raj. Hi.
Uh… have you met Joe recently?
When was that, do you remember?
Okay, um…
in case he calls, please let me know.
Yeah. Okay, yeah.
Thanks. Yeah, bye.
[distant siren wailing]
All okay, Nella?
You seem a little stressed out.
Joe's gone, uh… missing.
Yeah, but that's what you wanted,
right?
What?
Allen, he's not taking a sabbatical from life.
He's missing.
Why would you even say that?
Because you never wanted to see his face again?
[unsettling music playing]
Did I say something wrong, Nella?
[negative beep]
[Nella types]
[negative beep]
[Nella types]
[negative beep]
[unsettling, foreboding music playing]
[unsettling, foreboding music continues]
[mouse clicks]
[call ringing]
[call disconnected beeping]
[notification chimes]
[typing]
ANY UPDATE ON JOE?
[notification chimes]
[unsettling, foreboding music continues]
[notification chimes]
[typing]
[sent message notification]
[unsettling, foreboding music continues]
Nella.
[Nella] Yeah?
The location for your jewelry shoot has been marked on your calendar, and in two--
Cancel it.
I cannot cancel it.
Cancel it, Allen!
Nella, people will say that you're unprofessional.
Didn't you hear what I said?
I'm telling you to cancel it, so just cancel it.
Okay, but it's my duty to remind you that you have signed a contract.
Okay, fine! So postpone it! Happy?
Okay. Postpone it to when?
[angrily] I don't know, man!
I don't understand.
Of course you don't, Allen! How can you understand?
You're just a machine! You have no feelings whatsoever.
[mutters] For fuck's sake.
[Nella sighs]
[elevator bell dings]
[Nella's mother] Nalini, beta, do you have to go to the police station?
How can you even ask me that, Ma?
Obviously, I have to go to them.
No, but-- the police aren't always reliable, right?
I'm just saying be careful and safe.
Stop it, Ma.
First of all, I'm already worried.
I have no idea what's happening.
And if I don't go, then who will, Ma?
No, you go. Do everything possible.
I'm just saying, "Be very careful," that's all I'm saying.
Please stay calm.
-Okay, Ma, please, I can't talk right now. -Hey--
[unsettling, foreboding music slowly fading]
[light switch clicks]
Welcome back, Nella.
[Nella sighs, mumbles indistinctly]
Were the police able to help?
How did you know I'd gone to the police station?
Because I read Suzie's message to you.
[Nella, softly] Mm.
[breathes in deeply]
They don't have any information.
I've given them a list of his hangouts.
Checking them will take time. [sighs]
Okay. Let me know if I can be of any help.
I'm always there for you.
[pensive music playing]
[keeps typing]
SHOTS, ME AFTER 8 DRINKS, MY FRIEND
[pensive music continues playing]
-BRO, WHO'S THIS ANGEL? -JOE'S CHOICE HAS IMPROVED.
[Nella sighs]
[sent message notification blips]
[inhales, exhales]
I swear to God,
if he's gone off with that bitch, I'm gonna fucking… kill him.
Would you like to know some facts about bitches?
You can use "bitch" for dogs, foxes, wolves--
Allen, please. Not right now.
[tense music playing]
[tense, unsettling music playing]
[rapid typing]
[message notification blips]
[sighs]
SHONALI WITCH
[hesitantly] Hey.
Are you and Joe dating now?
[unsettling music fading]
No. Of course not.
Listen. I'm really sorry about that day.
-It was the only time-- -Joe said you were part of some group.
Some technologists.
Public interest tech group, yeah.
What does that mean?
We meet every week.
We used to meet to discuss anything and everything about the Internet.
Digital freedom, trends, stuff like that.
What was it about this group that Joe couldn't even tell me about it?
Joe's gone missing.
Probably because of this group of yours.
Do you realize that? Huh?
If you have any information about where he may be, then tell me!
[indistinct background chatter from behind Shonali]
[in low voice] Nella, tell me how much do you know about Mantra Unlimited?
What, like the company Mantra?
Yeah.
It's an online portal.
A fast-growing company.
Their CEO Aryan K is quite young.
He's… lived in America.
Why?
Nella, everything I'm about to say to you
has to stay between us.
What the fuck is going on?
Just… just promise me.
Yeah, okay, fine!
Joe got a call from a data analyst at Mantra a few months ago.
He'd found some emails and chats between the CEO and directors of Mantra.
They were all about this secret internal project called "Unicorn."
He said that
Mantra Unlimited was planning to misuse their customer data
to carry out a massive scam.
That doesn't make any sense.
Mantra is a legit company.
I know.
I couldn't believe it myself.
But Joe and this other journalist friend of ours called Mayank,
when they started digging into it,
it turned out to be true.
They even had proof.
They both were going to do a huge report on it.
Joe was going to meet his contact at Mantra last week
and give us all the information.
But his contact never showed.
He didn't even call.
And Mayank's phone has been unavailable for the last three days.
[unsettling music playing]
Look, I-I know you want nothing to do with me,
but I really need to talk to you, it's important.
Please, just open the door.
[Nella in video] You lost your chance.
Nella, I have something very important to tell you.
It-- it's not even about our relationship, it's something else. Please.
Nella! [repeatedly raps on door]
[typing]
[Nella exhales]
[severe beep]
[pensive music playing]
[severe beep]
[mutters softly] Okay, what the fuck?
[muttering softly]
[severe beep]
[sighs]
[groans]
[severe beep]
[groans]
[severe beep]
[softly] Fuck me.
[sighs]
[typing]
[tense music playing]
[encouraging beep]
[softly] Okay.
[tense music continues]
[encouraging beep]
Oh yes.
[mumbling indistinctly]
[mouse click]
Allen.
What is S-P-E-E-K? Speek?
Is it some app or some software?
Speek.Chat is an instant messaging system built on the Tor network.
And what is Tor?
T-O-R, Tor, is an acronym for The Onion Router.
It is very helpful for anonymous communication.
If you send messages and emails through this network,
nobody will be able to track you
because it keeps your location and browsing history completely hidden
from anyone performing network surveillance or traffic analysis.
Basically, it keeps everyone from spying on your Internet activity.
Is there anything else I can do for you, Nella?
[sounds of rummaging]
[OS startup music chimes]
[unsettling music playing]
[unsettling music intensifies]
[soft ping]
[notification dings]
[unsettling music intensifies]
[softly] What the fuck?
[softly] Fuck.
-[unsettling music intensifies] -[Nella mumbling indistinctly]
[severe beep]
[unsettling music picks up tempo]
[Nella mumbles indistinctly]
[notification chimes]
No, no, no, no, no.
[ominous music playing]
[rapid barrage of incoming notifications]
[man in video speaks indistinctly]
[gasps]
[sobs]
[music fades]
[dramatic news music playing]
[male newscaster] We have just received some extremely disturbing news.
A body has been recovered from a ferry,
and it is the body of one of the most popular young influencers on the Internet,
Joe Mascarenhas.
[dramatic news music keeps playing]
As you can see behind me,
popular young social media influencer Joe Mascarenas's body
is being laid to rest at the Matunga Christian Cemetery.
And now we see Joe Mascarenhas's ex-girlfriend Nella Awasthi
paying her last respects at his grave.
This is where 25-year-old Joe Mascarenhas' dead body was buried today.
[Nella] Don't touch that, bitch!
How dare you? How dare you?!
[reporter gasps]
[music abruptly stops]
[distant traffic noise from below]
Nella, is there anything you'd like to share about the last video?
[Nella inhales]
[silence]
[slow, sad music starts playing]
-[victorious trumpets sound] -[fireworks popping on PC]
Congratulations, Nella!
You've finally erased Joe from your life, completely and forever.
[sighs]
[Allen] Is there anything else I can do for you?
Your wish is my command.
[fireworks keep popping on PC]
[clicks mouse]
[severe beep]
[Nella sighs, sniffles]
[unsettling music playing]
[Nella exhales]
[unsettling music intensifies]
[Nella sighs]
[sniffles]
[phone clicks]
[notification chimes]
[male voice] Hi, this is Mayank.
Uh… I heard about Joe,
and I'm-- I'm really sorry, Nella.
I mean, he was a good guy.
We actually hung out a lot recently.
I still can't believe it, you know? That-- that he's no more.
Um…
Look, I'm not sure how you found out about Project Unicorn,
but had you asked me a few months ago,
I would've said, "We need to expose Project Unicorn to the whole world."
But now, trust me, Nella, stay away from it.
Don't say anything.
These people have made my life a living hell.
They've killed my friends, and…
and I'm sure that I'm next in line.
And before they reach me, I'm getting the hell out of here.
They're not going to stop, Nella.
So, please listen to me and stay away from all this.
Delete my message and number, please,
and again, I'm-I'm very sorry about Joe.
Take care of yourself.
[somber music playing]
[haptic feedback]
[sent message notification pings]
[haptic feedback]
[sent message notification pings]
[unsettling music playing]
[notification chimes]
[unsettling music picks up tempo]
[dings]
[Nella] Fuck.
[unsettling music continues]
[music slows]
[music softening]
My name is Joe Mascarenhas,
and please watch this video till the end.
Someone's after my life.
Mantra Unlimited.
Yes, that's right. The company we use to do our shopping every day,
they are trying their best to kill me.
Just like they killed my friend, Karan D'Souza.
Karan wasn't killed in an attempted robbery,
he was killed in cold blood,
and the murder was committed by Mantra Unlimited.
Today, our lives cannot run without the Internet or technology.
And there are people waiting to take advantage of us
who understand this technology far better than us.
That's why a few months ago, we set up a public interest tech group.
To protect all of us.
I happened to meet Karan D'Souza in this group.
At that time, Karan was working with Mantra as a data analyst.
He had recently discovered that Mantra had a secret internal project in the works
which was named Project Unicorn,
which could put all of our online lives in danger.
Karan and I decided that we need to inform the Cyber Cell
or authorities about what was going on,
but before we could even get this information across to them,
Karan was killed by Mantra.
[breathing shakily]
And now, it's my turn.
[distant clatter]
[distant but approaching footsteps in video]
[exhales]
Mantra used to be a data broking company.
That means all your info and data,
your name, email address,
physical address, passwords, phone numbers,
whatever you search for on the Internet,
what you read, what you buy, everything you eat, drink, and wear,
is all bundled together and sold off to big companies
at a huge price.
Today, they themselves have become one of the biggest companies in the nation.
They have banks.
They have hospitals.
They're in retail.
They have a payphone app.
From vegetables to computers, they sell you every bloody thing.
But Mantra's CEO, Aryan K,
the one who wears a baseball cap with his fucking suit, that fuckhead,
he knows that real power doesn't lie in just selling you things.
Real power lies in knowing everything about his consumer.
And there are multiple buyers for this information.
And that's why he's working on capturing this market.
[takes a deep breath]
That's the reason he's created Project Unicorn.
A secret entrance.
A backdoor.
To get into your phone, your computer, your very life.
And this backdoor won't give them access to just your search history and shopping,
but all your… all your passwords, private emails
ah… medical information, tax records…
Every single thing that should normally be kept private will belong to them.
With your permission, of course. Of course. Of course.
How?
A brand new, slick app.
This app will be Mantra's single login password system
to access any of Mantra's services,
without which it will be impossible to access any of their services.
This app's shining star
will be an AI assistant.
You can choose a name for it. A face, a voice.
This AI can be your friend, doctor, lover, servant, therapist… Anything you want.
And gradually, with time, you'll start thinking
it's your one and only friend and you can't trust anyone else,
which is exactly what Mantra wants.
This app will very slowly start taking over your life.
Yes, the app that watches you 24/7 and never sleeps is Unicorn.
It watches you sleep,
it watches you eat,
it watches you bathe,
it watches you change your clothes.
In fact, it's always recording you
because your camera's always fucking on!
Shit! Fuck!
[notification chimes]
Fucking shit, Allen. You piece of shit!
And what will Mantra do with all this data?
They'll show you more ads just like other regular companies…
right?
Or maybe, your new AI friend will push you to buy, to read,
and to only consume the things that Mantra wants.
They'll basically turn you into someone who only listens to Mantra.
No other options.
No competitors.
You think you're in control.
Mantra is the only one that's in control.
Or now that they have your face
and your-- your voice samples in their database,
they can easily deep-fake your voice
and break into all your bank accounts.
They can even verify your taxes.
Or they can even deepfake your face
and insert it in a porn video if they want to.
Or they can make a video that looks like you're committing a crime.
Nobody's actually gonna do that, right?
Right?
Wrong!
While in the US, in 2016,
America's Security and Exchange Commission suspended Aryan K for insider trading.
He was fucking arrested.
Daddy had to bail him out.
This asshole sold confidential data from his…
from his own company to outsiders.
Now you're the confidential data.
Do you really trust this man with your data? Do you?
He knows very well that in spite of knowing everything,
you guys are gonna sign up for whatever they tell you to!
Because nobody reads terms and conditions anymore.
And if you don't sign up,
then all of Mantra's apps will suddenly stop working for you.
And if you're not on Mantra, you're not a part of society anymore.
People will laugh at you, and they'll shut you out.
Because now in this digital India, Mantra is our oxygen!
It's become our social currency at this point.
[sighs heavily]
Along with this video, there are links to documents that provide proof of this.
So, please just sit down and read the whole thing carefully.
The choice is yours. Mantra or safety?
Choose what you want, but please, please, please make an informed decision.
And please be safe.
And yeah…
The last thing I have to say is that if I'm found dead,
then Mantra Unlimited and Aryan K are responsible for it.
[sighs]
[soft click]
[Nella, softly] Fuck.
[Nella breathing shakily]
[ringing]
Pick up, pick up, pick up, pick up.
[exhales shakily]
[softly] Fuck.
[sniffling]
Beans! Listen!
Joe was in the process of collecting proof against Mantra.
He was making a video that would expose them.
I need your help to file… [exhales shakily]
…to file a case against them.
What do you mean by "them"? Mantra Unlimited?
Yeah.
[Bina grunts softly]
Are you out of your mind, Nella?
Do you have any idea who you're going up against?
What are you saying, Bina? Joe was a friend of yours.
Do you have any proof at all?
Yeah! I have some of their internal documents, some emails…
I have Joe's video!
No, if Mantra killed Joe, do you have any proof of that?
I don't have it yet.
Then you don't have a case.
This case will never make it to court, Nella.
[Nella sighs]
So… [exhales emotionally] …th-then what should I do?
Should I do nothing, Bina? Is that what you're saying to me?
Yeah. Don't do anything.
Mantra is a very big company.
They have thousands of lawyers on their payroll,
and they'll spend any amount of money defending this case.
You don't stand a chance against them.
So please, don't do anything.
-Nella… -Beans, I'll call you back later, okay?
[call disconnects]
[notification sounds]
[Nella sighs]
[tense music playing]
[empowering music building]
[Nella exhales]
[alert chimes]
[Nella sighs]
[door opens]
[music shifts, turning ominous]
[door opens, closes]
[music stops]
[sinister music playing]
My name is Joe Mascarenhas,
and please watch this video till the end.
Someone's after my life.
Nella Awasthi, my ex-girlfriend
with whom I ran the Community channel NJoy.
She's going to try and kill me.
Nella wanted to be
the most popular influencer in the country,
and that's why she planned our breakup very carefully.
Just for likes.
But when her plan backfired and she became a meme,
Nella started taking out all her anger on me.
She started making videos targeting me.
She erased me from her entire digital life.
And now, she wants me erased for real.
[notifications chiming]
You are Nella's fans.
You have to understand that Nella's mental health is seriously unstable.
I'm only making this video because I'm scared.
If something happens to me,
then this video will be posted directly from Nella's account.
The last thing I have to say is
that if I'm found dead,
then Nella Awasthi alone
is responsible for my death.
Famed internet celebrity Nella has been taken into custody by the police
for the death of her ex-lover, Joe Mascarenhas.
[reporters clamoring]
-[reporter 1] Nella! Ma'am! -[reporter 2] Nella! Ma'am!
[reporters keep clamoring]
-[reporter 1] Nella! Ma'am! Ma'am! -[reporter 2] One comment, please!
[policeman] Move back!
-Move back! Move back! Move back! -[policewoman] Everybody, move back.
[reporter] Nella, ma'am, one question, please!
Look, every single suspect in the case is going to be interrogated.
Nella Awasthi is also a suspect.
Now, you know what a suspect is, right?
Okay? Thanks.
[reporters clamoring] Sir! Sir!
[serious music playing]
Nella Awasthi insists that she is innocent
and that Joe Mascarenhas' death was planned by Mantra Unlimited.
Mantra's team has strongly refuted these allegations,
and have promised to fight these charges in court with a vigorous defense.
In exclusive news today,
there is newfound evidence in the Joe and Nella case.
In this leaked chat, Joe asks Nella to meet him
at what he calls "our spot,"
to which she replies,
"I'll be there."
This was Joe's last message before he went missing.
So, this is where Joe Mascarenhas was sitting
when he sent a message to his girlfriend saying,
"Please. Please come and meet me at the ferry."
And what did Nella Awasthi do?
Nella Awasthi picked up a large stone and smashed his head with it.
She murdered him.
Don't be fooled by that innocent face she puts on
because when Nella gets angry, she can do anything.
When her boyfriend didn't come back to her groveling on his knees,
then Nella became the dark cloud hanging over Joe's life.
She murdered poor Joe.
-I think she did it though. -You think so?
I feel like it's more fun if she did it. I'm sorry if that makes me a bad person.
No one is going to win an Oscar or Filmfare
for playing an innocent person, guys.
How many years do you think she's gonna get for this?
Oh, a million followers.
Oh, sorry, years, sorry. Sorry, sorry, sorry.
Thank you
for joining this live stream at such short notice.
You know I try and avoid the camera as much as I can.
[sinister, unsettling music playing]
But, ah… the situation is such that I had to do it.
Our legal team is still trying to make sense
of Nella Awasthi's allegations.
I've had a sleepless night,
not because of these allegations,
but because Nella Awasthi's mental health is a concern.
She's a part of our family.
And when she was grieving and she was sad,
we as a family failed to do our part.
We weren't there for her.
And that's why we are starting a new service.
CTRL Health.
So that your health
and your mental health
will be closely monitored.
And it'll keep guiding you
with regard to your next steps.
[applause]
[applause quiets]
Mantra is deeply saddened
that this country has lost a young man like Joe.
Yes, he was a social media influencer.
But he was also into digital technology like I am.
And that is why this is feeling very close to home for me.
[voice distorted under music] It's very personal…
[unsettling, sinister music swells deafeningly]
[music slowly fades]
-[distant crow cawing outside] -[indistinct chatter]
[scanner beeps]
[woman] Sit here.
[scanner beeps]
[woman] Next, please.
Move.
How are you?
Uh… this is Manish Hirani. He's a lawyer.
Mantra Unlimited's legal counsel.
Mantra wants you to drop all the cases that you've filed against them,
after which, they'll drop all legal proceedings as well.
And… [hesitates]
…they will clean up your entire digital footprint.
Everything that happened recently
won't show up when anyone looks you up online.
You can have a fresh start.
And what happens if I say no?
[Manish] We'll keep fighting you in court.
You won't get anywhere near a fast-track court for at least two years.
Then, eventually, they'll let you out
because the evidence is circumstantial.
But let me make a suggestion as a well-wisher.
[footsteps approach]
You'll be wasting a lot of money fighting us in court.
All that money that you've earned in the last three months,
which is a substantial amount,
all thanks to us…
You'll lose it all.
We'll make sure of it.
It'll end up being a scandal in the news cycle.
You and your family will have to live with this shame for the rest of your lives.
So do consider all of this.
And after that, if you still want to go ahead with it,
be my guest.
But let me remind you,
CTRL is a Mantra app.
Any brand that ever paid you anything was a Mantra brand.
And the terms of our contract, which I'm sure you didn't even bother to read…
Your lawyer sitting right here, she'll explain it to you.
Section E Subsection 2c clearly and in no uncertain terms
forbids you from suing us in any capacity and under any circumstances.
We own you, Nella.
But if you still insist on throwing more temper tantrums…
if you're that stupid,
then make no mistake.
We are prepared to counter-sue for defamation
to the tune of 500 crores,
or the maximum prison sentence permissible by law.
The choice is yours.
[bus rumbles, traffic honks]
[indistinct street chatter]
[fish tank pump hums]
[silence except for distant traffic and hum of fish tank pump]
[oven timer chimes]
[oven clanks]
[dishes clatter]
[Nella sighs softly]
[Nella's dad] Nalini!
[Nella] To make a veg quiche,
you need chickpea flour, butter, cheese, corn flour,
your favorite veggies,
such as tomatoes, carrots,
baby corn, green peppers…
-onions, French… -[knock on door]
Hello there.
How was your day?
[Nella] Same.
How was school?
Same.
Nice.
By the way, beta,
we're having a Diwali party here on Tuesday.
[grunts noncommittally]
You want to eat something?
I'll make some cold coffee?
[silence]
[door closes]
[fish tank pump hums]
[notification chimes]
[depressing music playing]
[Nella's mother] If I don't get a joker now this time, I'll pack.
[indistinct chatter amongst cardplayers]
-[man 1, playfully] Are you cheating? -[man 2, teasing] What the hell?
[Nella's mother] Come on, Bhai sahib. Who cheats a hundred rupees?
You can always cheat when you're playing solitaire all by yourself.
[laughter, indistinct chatter continues]
Come on, cut the deck.
[gasps, laughs]
Okay, just collect the cards and give them to me. Once more, once more.
[depressing music continues playing]
[no audible dialog]
[depressing music continues playing]
[music slowly fading]
[Nella inhales]
[Nella slowly exhales]
[CTRL setup music chimes brightly]
[mouse click]
[clicks mouse]
[moving mouse]
[silence]
[inhales softly]
[soft, sad music playing]
[CTRL app chimes brightly]
[sad music continues playing]
-[clicks mouse] -[CTRL app chimes brightly]
Hi, I'm Joe.
Very pleased to meet you, Nella.
Am I pronouncing your name correctly?
I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable.
I'm going to try my very best to help you.
D'you know all the things I can do for you?
[sad music continues playing]
[inhales shakily, slowly exhales]
Take control of my life and happiness?
[sad music intensifies]
[CTRL app Joe] That's right.
So, where should we begin?
[sighs]
[sniffles]
[sighs] Forget it. It's a long story.
I have all the time in the world, Nella.
Don't worry.
I'm here for you.
Joe will always be with Nella.
[sad music continues playing]
[sighs]
[sniffles]
I live in New Delhi.
I, um… live with my parents.
-[sad music continues] -[no audible dialog]
[music slowly fading]
[mouse click echoes]
[mysterious, empowering CTRL app music playing]
[music ends]
["Ulfat" playing]
[song ends]